Day 211 - Out with the old

To ring in our new year fresh - We recycled our dead Christmas Tree. How I miss the lovely smell of fresh pine!

Day 210 - Out of the box

Here is the new faucet and just a short 4 hours later it was installed. (The nut from the old faucet was striped and we had to eventually get a hacksaw to get it off. )

Day 209 - The Faucet

It is amazing what a person will put up with. This kitchen faucet broke months ago. In order to turn it on you need to pull up on the little screw in the middle and twist it for temperature change and yes, it is a complete hassle, but you make due when you have to. Sure, we actively looked for a new faucet, but faucets are expensive and we wanted to make sure we got just the right one. So after visiting several stores and checking the Internet, we settled on one and had it shipped to our house. It was scheduled to arrive today - however, it came Christmas Eve instead. (The Christmas miracle) After using our new faucet for the last week, I can't even believe we went as long as we did without one. I absolutely love it.

Day 208 - White Christmas

This year, this was sort of our equivalent of a white Christmas. I took this two days before Christmas. After all the snow had melted, this lovely white fog settled in. It is a good thing Rudolph's nose shines so bright.

Day 207 - Gorge

...And not the land formation kind either.

So what happens if you cut someone cold turkey off of candy for a week? Think baby's first birthday, you know the kind where baby gets a piece of cake and they inhale it. This was my child, she just tore this gingerbread house to pieces and gobbled it up.

Day 206 - Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

205 - Twas the night before Christmas

The reading of the Christmas story before bed. (For those of you not sure, No we did not secretly have another child. This is our niece.)

Day 204 - Yum

I was treated to this for breakfast. For those of you unfamiliar with this delightful Danish treat, it is called an aebleskiver. It is a cross between a donut and a pancake. Let the Holidays begin.

Day 203 - You better watch out

We saw finally saw the big guy. First requested gift? A nutcracker. A nutcracker? Really?! Santa better get some elves on that one.

Day 201 - A present's view

Day 202 - A new star appeared

We finally got a tree up and decorated.

Day 201 - Older than time

I hope one day that my hubby and I can look like this gutsy old couple!

Day 200 - Christmas Program

We were treated to a preschool Christmas program. It was wonderful and I loved hearing his sweet little voice sing. While my child's face remained much the same as this picture shows throughout the program (I think he was concentrating), the little girl on the far left was incredibly animated and entertaining.

Day 199 - Trouble

Sometimes older siblings are great at reining in the mischievous tendencies of younger ones or at least tattling on them. Sometimes they ignore the mischievous tendencies and sometimes they encourage them or instigate them.

I actually think this was really cute. While I probably should have cared more that he was encouraging her to draw on herself (see this post for proof that it is a bad idea), They were getting along so well. He drew a face on every finger and the palm of her hand and they played "puppets" together.

Day 198 - Snow day attire

She loves this hat. She looks for any excuse to wear it. The other night, she wore it to bed. Yes, bed and even more surprising was that it was still on her head when she woke up.

Day 197 - Coming up roses

One of my husband's favorite things to do is something unexpected. Usually this takes form in a joke, a special surprise, or making/cleaning something, but periodically it takes shape as a romantic gesture such as surprising me with flowers. Pink roses just happen to be my favorite.

Day 196 - Laund and crown

This child has been having an on and off again relationship with using the potty. Today she decided that she was going to use it. She pooped and peed in the potty perfectly. And her timing couldn't have been better because she had a small case of the runs today (maybe that is why she did it). My neighbor did "poop prizes" for her daughter. We tried this too, but she didn't show any interest in them until today. For her efforts she received a "laund" aka wand and a princess crown. Well, if you are going to pick a random day to use the potty efficiently, I am all for sick days! Way to go!

Day 195 - Walking in a Winter Wonderland

Question: Where has all the snow gone? Aren't we in the month of December?

Day 194 - Photo Booth

Day 193 - The "sort of" kiss

Love this shot. There is such determination here just for a game.

Day 192 - Festival

We took the little ones to the Festival of the Trees. At the end, my husband attempted to take a photo.
Attempt number 1

Attempt number 2
(What is up with my son's attempt at a smile?)

Day 191 - Giggles

Today I was walking down a quiet snowy street, each of my hands filled with a warm little hand. It felt like a profound moment in time, a memory I wanted to cement in my mind. It was a moment that I truly relished being a mom. I felt the privilege of holding these small hands in my own. I have some silly kids, but I don't think I would want it any other way.

Day 190 - Take a break

This child came into my room a bit too early for my liking demanding breakfast. I said "Can you go back to bed for 15 min. and then I will make breakfast?" Child "NO!" Me: "Sigh" I laid back on my pillow, closed my eyes for half a second, having the following inner monolouge, "I guess I have to get up. I wonder how much time I can lay here before she starts getting into all sorts of mischief? probably 10 seconds." Silence. "I guess I was wrong, less than 10 seconds." I sit up and this is what I found on the ground next to my bed. It couldn't have taken her longer than a minute to go to sleep. Nice.