So Long 2012

We've had a marvelous Christmas break! 

You may think that naps with the ipad by the Christmas tree can't be topped...

But we have had our Andrus family in town. LC is a particularly big fan and has spent a lot of time photographing our favorite folks, including this cute shot!

And he has spent some time with Big Joe participating in his favorite pass time

There has also been lots of time for playing with our new toys...

Serving up some pretty fancy tea and cake parties...

Knocking down some awesome storm trooper pig towers...

And putting Rembrandt to shame...

We have made a few trips to our favorite winter watering hole...

...and never get tired of playing choo choo train!

And thankfully there has been *SNOW*! 

Right now we are fighting sleep, as we are *DETERMINED* to ring in the New Year!

Here's to another good one!

Mixed Messages

"Heavenly Father, I am thankful for Santa Claus because he makes me want to be good."

*Almost* the message we intended. 

And judging from the haul this kid pulled in, he must have been very good!

Christmas!

 Santa totally overloaded his sled this year, we were happy to relieve him of his burden!

 We ALL agree, this was the BEST Christmas EVER!

From Pokemon cards...

 To Stompeez...

 To Angry Birds Star Wars Plushies...

 To horses and cowboy boots...

We all got something special from Santa.

But the best part was spending the day just playing and playing and playing together. No one changed from their jammies or lifted a finger to cook. 

Love it! and Love THEM!

Merry Christmas! 

Our Idyllic Christmas Eve

First Stop- The Polar Express to the North Pole... 

or at least the next best thing, The MBTA to South Station

Pops tried to warn me against such an ambitious endeavor. 

I told him it was all about building memories. 

He told me to grab the camera so we could forget the memories and instead have an idyllic picture of the past.

Say, "CHEESE!"

Well, thumbs up to the train ride at least!

The train display at South Station was pretty cool too. 

Things didn't take a turn for the worse until after a tasty pizza lunch, Tadpole needed to go to the bathroom, #2. Pops took him downstairs to the Men's bathroom, but soon returned and informed me that it was unfit as it was crammed full of homeless men. 

So I took him the the Women's bathroom. 

Tadpole was mortified! 

I stood watch outside his stall and it was obvious that he only took care of #1. 

I asked him if he needed to finish his business. 

With furrowed brow, he replied, 

"I just want to get the *Hell* out of here!" 

Ya, me too. 

When we got back to the family, LC was ready for his turn in the bathroom and Pops was displeased because thanks to LC and a mega tantrum his phone had been smashed to smithereens. Later, during a wrestling match with LC, Pops lost his favorite Federalist lapel pin.

Family, isn't it about time?

Thank heavens for the "Majik Theidor" production of the Nativity!

Oh ya! And the raspberry torte that the Stone's brought. Funny how we have enjoyed their company for the last two years and we only get a picture of their gourmet dessert each time! We really honestly enjoy their company more! But seriously, could you just die?

Then it was *PRESENT* time. We made a trip to the toy store earlier in the day to pick out gifts for each other. I think we actually kept the gifts a secret for the first time ever!

Abz got LC a mini firetruck, complete with siren!

Tadpole got Abz some fancy jewelery to match her snazzy new jams.

Little Chief got Superkid a Lego Pirate Walk-the-Plank game, 

which we all played and highly approved!

And Superkid got Tadpole his first Transformers. Tadpole is a major fan!

Bring on SANTA!

2 Nights 'til Christmas

We are simply going NUTS around here! With only 2 nights to go until Christmas, we have butterflies in our stomachs and ants in our pants! 

Perhaps Superkid says it best, "I can't sleep! I'm in *SUSPENSION*!"

I personally think the reason for sleeplessness is Abizella's foot in his face!

The important thing is that the kiddos continue to carry out their tradition to double bunk as they prepare for the big day!

He's On the TOP OF THE WORLD

Superkid had his first piano recital EVER this week!

Pops and I were beaming!

He played "Jolly Old St. Nicholas" as a duet with his teacher 

and "Home For The Holidays"

And look at that posture!

It was an all around great day for Superkid! He also passed his timed math-facts quiz on his first try, without studying. 

Nice work!

Count Your Blessings

Tadpole has recently joined the payroll of Tidepool Toads Inc. and thus is now under money management instruction. He has been given a little bank with three compartments to help him divide his money into "spending", "savings", and "sharing". As instructed in the Old Testament, the "sharing" compartment is for his tithing. Each week he counts his money and divides it among the compartments.

Being the pensive kid he is, one day he was mulling over this tithing business and as we were driving along he asked, "Mom, why do I give my money to Jesus?" Seizing upon an important instruction opportunity I counseled, "Because the Lord has commanded us to pay tithing and when we obey His commandments we get blessings." Pleased at my succinct, yet comprehensive answer I was completely satisfied that Tad would happily and willingly commit to a lifetime of tithing compliance. He then scratched his head and said, "Oh, I get it. We have to PAY Jesus for our blessings!"

Oh my. This kid is going to be awesome in Law School.