Advent

My parents were both raised in the Lutheran faith - which resulted in some really fun and meaningful traditions for us as we were growing up. One of my favorites was always Advent - the time of anticipation of the Christ Child's coming. We would receive advent calendars from our grandparents every year (the kind where you open a door each day to find a surprise behind it), but my favorite was always the one my mom made that would hang on the wall. I loved it so much that I made one for my family...

Everyday we get to hang a new ornament on the tree and read a little note explaining the symbolism of the ornament and why it helps us think of Christ. We started last night for Family Night and I thought I'd share by posting an advent section in the sidebar to help us all look forward to the coming of the Christ Child.

Happy Thanksgiving, Y'all!

This year I hosted Thanksgiving dinner at my house... and for once it wasn't because I was hugely pregnant (2003) or had just given birth (2007). No, this time is was for the purely selfish reason of not wanting to pack up my kids and drive anywhere... that, and my parents and sister were willing to make the trek up here from Houston. We also invited our wonderful neighbor "The Swan" (thus dubbed by our 3 year old). After some discussion, we decided we didn't want to eat turkey, so we came up with a somewhat atypical menu that we all thoroughly enjoyed.

First, Leah entertained us with her newly found tree climbing skills.

Here she is in the pear tree in our backyard.

And soon it was time to EAT!

The star of the show... Roast Rabbit

Stuffed with all kinds of yummy veggies which made the tastiest gravy ever!

Accompanied by smoked brisket and mac & cheese

Not to mention broccoli, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and orange fluff

Mmm, mmm!

Even Peter enjoyed the meal.

And the best part was that it was nice enough to eat outside... I'm so thankful to live in this country where we can enjoy such good food and travel freely to visit with family and friends. I'm also thankful for the gospel of Jesus Christ and the freedom we are granted in this country to believe and worship as we choose. I hope you all had a wonderful holiday surrounded by the bounty and blessings of your lives.

My Daredevil

Leah has always been fearless when it comes to physical activity. She loves the rough horseplay with her dad and, even when she was little bitty, loved being swung around and getting dizzy. She's started walking at 9 months and it has been a hair-raising adventure ever since. Here is a little clip of her latest adventure, down on the greenbelt (one of the great things about Austin is the presence of these wonderful natural areas just minutes away from home).

Not sure if this is the result of Uncle Brent being around (he's recently been teaching her how to climb trees) or if it would have happened anyway, but Leah and Lincoln had been climbing around on the top of the rocks (when there's water in the creekbed, this is a waterfall) and she tried to climb down. When we nixed that idea she walked around the long way muttering to herself, "I'm going to find a way to climb up there!" Definitely a determined little girl!

Our Peter...

... is a year old!

We've had such a fun time this past year with our little guy. He is a very loving boy and brings us all lots of smiles. We're excited to have many more adventures with him!

The Silence is Broken

I know... I haven't blogged in forever. It's not necessarily that I don't have anything to blog about - it's more that I don't have enough hands and arms and spare time to do it in. Peter is in a "need Momma" stage and more often than not wants to be wherever I am - preferably in my arms. Have you ever tried to blog with a toddler sitting on your lap? Not so fun. Also, I now find myself competing for computer time with two preschoolers and two adults. So while I'm busy cleaning up messes or trying to redirect some destructive activity, someone else manages to claim the coveted seat and I get bumped from the rotation... until at last it is too late and I'd rather go to sleep anyway :)

Then Nellie tagged me on her blog and gave me a reason to fight through the stupor and ignore the little hands grabbing at my ankles... so here it is:

INDULGENCES:
1. smooth, dark chocolate
2. a good book
3. super creamy ice cream - eaten alone after the children are in bed!

FEARS:
1. losing my children in large crowds
2. silverfish - okay that's more something that gives me the heebies
3. getting bit by a mosquito carrying somethiing awful

SURPRISES:
1. I almost went to grad school in forensics - way before all these CSI shows became so popular - but I decided it would be too morbid to do that kind of work day in and day out
2. I'll try almost anything once... went skydiving in high school and rockclimbing just after Peter was born
3. My goal this year has been to find ways to cook things that I've never liked, i.e. cauliflower and brussel sprouts (I aim high)

FAVORITE TV SHOWS
1. CSI:NY - see above
2. Life
3. Samantha Who? - esp. when I get to watch it with Andrew 'cuz we get such a laugh out of it.

THINGS I DID TODAY
1. Had RS Presidency meeting
2. Vacuumed
3. Posted on my blog (more of an accomplishment than most might think!)

THINGS I AM WISHING FOR
1. my foundation to miraculously realign
2. my kids to learn to clean their room
3. rain

THINGS I LOVE
1. the smell of my neighbor's bbq
2. my baby's belly laugh
3. when my kids play together nicely

THINGS I HATE
1. potty training
2. whining
3. clogged toilets

And I now tag Tara, Marci, and Corrine