Two are better than one

David got a Leapster for Christmas. Claire already had one and he tried to play it a lot. So, even though it's not really age appropriate for him at 2-1/2, we got him his own Leapster in hopes that it would (1) keep him from playing with Claire's and (2) be a good learning toy for him over the next couple of years.



Clearly, at least part of our plan did not work. Claire doesn't really seem to mind most of the time.

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A very Hairy experiment

Will decided to grow a beard while he was off work over Christmas break. He is so hairy it took him about two days to grow this. He kept is trimmed up for most of the break, but shaved it off the day after Christmas. He said his face was getting very itchy.

I've never seen Will with a beard before (and I've known him since 8th grade) and it looked kind of nice. The first five years we were married, Will worked in the banking industry which pretty much has a "no facial hair" policy. There were lots of gray hairs in that beard ... I'm sure that three kids ages 4 and under and a sometimes crazy wife can do that to you!




Here is another hairy little man in desperate need of a haircut!! I had been taking him to our local Snip Its, but always get a different person and a haircut I am not completely happy with. Looks like we will be headed back to Meme's salon soon!



And this little man is lacking in some hair for now. He really doesn't lay on his back that much (except to sleep of course), but when he is on his back, he likes to move around. Hence, the bald spot.



I have a really awesome holiday post ready to go up, but I am having some problems posting it from my iPad for some reason. I'm going to keep trying in hopes that I don't have to re-do the whole thing in blogger. Because we all know that if I have to re-do it, you will probably never see it!

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This is Alabama Football

Well, this football season was definitely different for us since Luke arrived after the second game of the season and Claire played soccer every Saturday in September and October. But, Will managed to make it to a few games and I even got to go to the last two game of the season.

We watched so many games at home and so many games were at night, that we spent many a Saturday night upstairs in the bonus room in front of the TV. Now when ANY football game is on, Claire thinks we can eat dinner upstairs while we watch the game and eat what she calls "Alabama chips" (AKA fritos).

Here are some pictures from the Bama/Mississippi State game.







And here are some pictures from the Iron Bowl. We really enjoyed the first half. The second half ... not so much.







Loved the pom pom gloves (look on the lady wearing the houndstooth coat) and the elephant hat next to her. It sure was cold that day!






A picture of Big Al for Claire. She loves Big Al!



At halftime ... we're all giddy over our 21-point lead. The happiness did not last for long.



Finally, we all cheered on the Tide as they played Michigan State in their Bowl Game on New Year's Day. Always nice to watch a football in the warm, cozy comfort of your own home!




Roll Tide!!

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Holiday Cheer from December

We decorated the Christmas tree ... actually, Will did. I just supervised and took pictures.



I ran a 5K. I know, shocking!! I've run about five times since I had the baby and I fully expected to have to walk some, but I ran the whole thing. Will sat out with the kids as he was recovering from a cold/sinus infection. The kids ran in the kids ran in the Santa Chase and we all supported Team Madeline.

Madeline in my friend Claire's daughter who is about two weeks younger than David. She was diagnosed with Juvenile Rhuematoid Arthritis shortly after her first birthday.




The kids enjoyed seeing Santa at the event.



I got to hang out with some of my favorite friends. (Claire and Holly chaired and co-chaired the event. Colleen walked the 5K with both of her girls in a stroller.) All 4 of our families ate lunch afterwards and the restaurant may never been the same!!



Will read The Advent Book to the kids again this year. Take straight from the book of Luke, the kids got to hear parts of the Christmas story every night. It is one of their favorite things!



My mom, sister and niece came over one day to decorate Gingerbread houses. They really had a fun time. Maybe we will make this an annual "girl's day in".












It snowed twice!! Once on December 12 and again on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. We loved our White Christmas!!






Unfortunately, there was not really enough snow to do any sledding. Claire remembered our big sledding day from last January. She was content making snow angels for now.



My mom and dad took Claire and my niece Evie to see The Rockettes again this year. They had so much fun!!




My sister and I took the girls to see The Nutcracker Ballet. They
got to have their picture made with a real-live ballerina
from the show and eat ice cream at Maggie Moo's afterwards. We had a fun time.






I got to paint a cute holiday picture at Sips N Strokes with my book club group for our Christmas party. Even though on 4 of us could make it, we had a blast!







We spent Christmas Eve and my sister's house.












Santa came while everyone was tucked snuggly in bed.



We spent Christmas Day at home. We stayed in our jammies and played with new toys ALL DAY LONG!















Luke had a great First Christmas!




We even had some snow. The first White Christmas I ever remember getting. (The woods behind our house pictured below.)




The day after Christmas, we headed out in the snow to Will's parents house for more gifts and more time with family.






We spent the New Year's Eve with our next door neighbors and called it a night (and year) around 10pm. And I did not take one single picture.

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Testing, testing ...

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

I have been too busy playing with my iPad (and finishing up my CLE credit hours for the year) to blog.

Hopefully this handy little app will help!



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What have you read in 2010?

I started my 2010 book list here.

Sadly, I don't have a lot to add since then. Here is the rest of my list with several books still "in progress".

The Girl Who Played with Fire and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Steigg Larsson

These are the second and third books in Larsson's trilogy about Lisbeth Salander. I think the second book is probably my favorite of the three, although I am only about halfway through the third book. It has not been the page turner for me as much as the first two were, which is why I haven't finished it yet. Don't get me wrong, it is still very good and I am excited to see how the story ends, but it is not something I am willing to stay up late and read (and lose sleep over).

Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell

I think that anybody who has children should read this book. It is a very interesting look at the successful elite and how they became successful (hint ... its a combo of very hard work and discipline mixed with some opportunity and pure luck).

Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Stout

Nobody that read this in my book club liked this book. I have read about half of it and plan on finishing it. It is almost like a collection of short stories about people who are all connected to the main character, Olive. We liked the short stories themselves, but didn't really love Olive.

The Russian Concubine by Kate Furnivall

I've read about one-third of this book. I like it. I just didn't have time to finish it for my October book club and started reading our November book (which I did manage to finish).

Radical by Steve Platt

I've only read about 4 chapters of this book, but so far, it is AMAZING! I don't know anybody who has read this book and not been compelled to change their lives.

Luke: 3 months old

This has been a busy month for little Luke. Over the past month ...

-on stomach, lift head 90 degrees

-roll over from stomach to back (consistently) ... working hard to roll over below.

-bring both hands together

-follow an object from one side of face to the other

-hold head steady when upright (on my shoulder below)

-grasp a rattle

-bear weight on legs when held upright

-say "ah-goo"

-blow bubbles with lips

-laugh out loud (I think a little giggle escaped in the picture below)

-reach for an object

-keep head level with body when pulled to sitting

-turn in direction of voices or loud noise

-smile spontaneously (happy about celebrating his first Thanksgiving)