Playtime!

 I am hoping that Jack doesn't spend the wee hours of the night telling London that he is really the family dog. I mean, the tongue is cute and all, but I do hope he'll walk on two legs some day.

 This is a very typical neutral, pleasant, well rested London face. Mouth hanging slightly open, eyes begging someone to pick him up.

 I have a new adjective for Jack - earnest. He is so keen on doing everything exactly the same way it was done last time, and he wants to be understood so badly. The victorious grin he gives when you finally connect the puzzle pieces is worth all the desperate scanning through recent things you've told him to figure out what he might be trying to remind you of.

 

This is London's exuberant face. If this were a movie you would see all four limbs wildly flailing when he is making this face. I'd like to narrate him being impressed at Harmony's muscles, but they aren't that big...

 Harmony came to visit on Monday and it was fun to have a little baby in the house for a few hours. Josiah came to play too, and I had the happiest afternoon of finding a baby in every room I went in all afternoon. So happy.

 

the boys all talked and laughed through the open window on this unreal warm day

 

this kid likes me. it is very mutual.

 

He is also very determined when he focuses on something!

But, my favorite fact of all is that he can fit 5 grapes in his mouth at once. Chubby Bunny anyone?

My happy, camera-loving tiny tot

I gave the happy little squishy a haircut this week. He now looks like a monk slightly. I think it is better than debating a ponytail everyday to wrangle his toupee into shape. He had the longest hairs randomly all over his head of the toupee he was originally packaged with that never fell out. I think he looks better now. I must be an unsentimental mother, or my boys just don't have typical baby boy hair, because I don't have any compunction over cutting their hair as soon as I think they would look better with a trimmed do. I remembered to save some of London's though, so I am growing in keepsake collecting skills. What color would you call his eyes?

Highlights from the last week

 This is an example of Jack sick. He had the sweetest pleading face to be snuggled or read to. I am glad he doesn't get sick often, but he was a sweet patient.

 2012 is off to a jumpstart with many lively times. We all had our first full family sickness, and wouldn't mind if it were our last. Tricia was here to visit for a week, we can't wait for her to come back!

Last week I started making a quilt for our guest bed. The boys played really well while I cut out squares and designed the pattern.

 

 And Harmony stopped by to visit for a while. Christy has a knack for dropping in right on the days when I have both time and a need for company. I am glad they live close! Jack is enthralled with all babies and Harmony is one of his favorite names to say.

I am enjoying a calmer week this last week with lots of time to talk with good friends and rest at home. I could write many other things but nothing significant is coming to mind. I made granola bars this morning...I got my hair cut...I cut London's hair...the snow is melting...my car needs an oil change...see, nothing amazing to report. Just a good life.

Struck my fancy

 

I got on my computer to look for a picture to post from December/January, but somehow I ended up in my folder of pictures from August. I fell in love with this picture all over again. My mom-in-Canada managed to catch London on his way to snoozing and I think they both liked it this way.We love Nona.

Better days and brighter eyes

These are our two happy, healthy boys. This was before the flu epidemic streaked through our church like a bullet train on the TTC. They have been the calmest, most snuggling, messy kids this week. Here is to better days and brighter eyes.

The one that got embalmed

I have the worst luck of anyone I know when it comes to cell phones. Honestly. I don't believe in coincidences, or superstitions or the like, but my track records with cell phones is so unbelievable that I simply can't believe I have any responsibility in the matter. I have dropped, dipped, dunked, and frozen too many. That's it. It's time to write a book.

Chapter 1:

The one that was baptized....

This chapter will tell of the reverse baptism of my phone that, rather than testified of a new life, revealed a possessed hard drive that was prone to text and call people in another language and couldn't be stopped until the battery was removed.

Chapter 2:

The one that was frozen...

This will recount the tale of the one I couldn't find for a day or so until I realized it was frozen to my driveway under a sheet of ice near my car's driver side door.

Chapter 3:

The one that ate my lunch...

Obviously suited to be written in Spanish, I will have to be sure to include the phone that died from asphyxiation in a bowl of guacamole as I blindly pounded it deeper and deeper into the luscious green goop with each chip that went searching for dip while the bowl of guacamole was under my desk. 

Chapter 4:

The one that took the route of my dead goldfish...

Everyone has had a phone fall from their pocket...but not all of them land in a portable johnny on the spot. Despite the utter repulsive, disgustingness of this scenario, it had to be recalled to life as we were waiting for a very important phone call shortly after this happened.

Chapter 5:

The one that tried to buy its own case...

Today takes the "most recent" award as my phone plunged to the bottom of an open quart of semi-gloss polyurethane. It sank so quickly without a splash that I was not sure it had actually fallen into the can. After check the surrounding area I glanced into the can, only to spy the little red light flashing me an alert that I had received a text. Sigh. I wasn't sure if it would damage the varnish, so I had to remove it. I was able to rescue the memory card, so I still have my pictures, and my favorite ring tone from my sister Katrina.

So, I don't deserve insults if I don't answer my phone or return your texts. Please don't take it personally. I am not.

If this book goes over well, I may write a sequel about the gloves I threw off the ski lift to prepare to get off, or my earbuds I planted in Nutella, my wedding rings I hid under the mattress, and the retainers I stuffed down the heat vent...all in my sleep. It should be a stellar encore.

Merry Christmas.

Dear Santa, 

I've been very good...and I could use a new phone.

Love,

Amy

P.S. Don't worry. I save all of my old phones that survive so I can reactivate them as my new ones are consistently assassinated. I won't be out of touch too long.

settling in...

 Well, that's it. The house is finally clean again after hurricane "Taylor" hit home. The boys are sleeping normal hours. 4 weeks of laundry is done. Out of the last month we were home 5 days. Needless to say, when my sister and her family get back tonight, I am ready to watch White Christmas, bake cookies, and wrap stocking stuffers.

Our house was extremely occupied while we were out of town and they left us this documentary of our absence.