Now you don't

Here's Wylie minus one tooth.  A fall face-first on the hardwood floor left him with one broken bottom tooth.  So the very nice Dr. Nathan took it out for him with little to no trauma.  And, heck, the tooth fairy visited years before we would've expected.  

Now you see it...

Funny Finn

During our Sanibel vacation, we laughed out loud when Finn said:
"
I remember when I was a little kid and Grandma & Grampa lost me in the climbing thing at Chuck E Cheeses."  He went on to describe how sat in a tube and calmly watched G & G frantically hunt for him throughout Chuck E. Cheese.

We're dining at Cantina Laredo, eating chips and salsa, listening to a Mariachi trio sing "Feliz Navidad" and Finn says, "they're singing in French."

Laying down the rules upon arrival to our condo, I tell Finn sarcastically, of course, "you can jump on the bed until you get hurt."  He says, "I hit my head, but I didn't get injured."

Playing UNO, Finn is super excited. Grandma explains that when he has only one card left he should say, "UNO."  Laying down his second to last card, he shouts with huge enthusiasm, "Bingo!"

I'm at the beach, by myself, because Finn said, "No Mommy, you go and have some peace and quiet." I'll take it.

Binoculars are the best

Grampa's favorite picture--matching Christmas gifts!

New Year's Eve!

Thank goodness we have finally figured out how to enjoy New Years Eve:  Bring together three families, kiddos and all, at someone's house.  Serve a bunch of yummy appetizers.  Plan a few kid activities.  Do a "kid countdown" at 9:00 or so and then send them off to bed.  Let the adults plop down on the couch to reflect, predict, and catch up.  Toast the new year and continue talking until the wee hours.  Go to bed.  Wake up all still together and enjoy a lazy, pj-clad brunch.  And thus start off the New Year.  Thanks to the Gartner-Sitz family and the Kagay-Gollwitzer family for sharing the occasion with us.  I look forward to years and years of very similar New Years' celebrations!

Lyla is knows that George and a lei are the keys to a good party!

Wish we had more pics of the adults enjoying the party.  Brian, Sara, John, and I were there too.  I swear.

The kids get creative with a painting project.

Wylie admires Lauren's work.

Maddie pauses for a smile.

Which is more fun--painting the little car or painting the belly?