The Day After

Good morning, everyone. I hope we've all had a wonderful Christmas. It's been a crazy ride and we all had to be sick just to round things out. Reagen's cold has made the rounds to Hannah and mom. I've been lucky that what I got was the watered down version. A cough once in a blue moon.

Reagen is enjoying her gifts. When I got up this morning (no I won't say what the lucky hour was) Reagen was playing with her toys in the living room. They all seemed to be quite involved in a grand discussion about breakfast. I guessed they were all hungry so I broke out the Christmas quiche. What a great word, quiche. Hannah was changed and fed. The dog went for her morning constitutional and I snuck a snack in there somewhere.

Christmas morning was a melange of hi tech connections back home and low tech gift giving. Wires fed cameras that captured as much of the action as possible so that Nana and Papa D. could be a part of the kids morning. More boxes and paper for the poor recycling guy. They must dread this time of year.

Reagen made out like a bandit. We are pacing the gifts because, frankly, we need to be able to walk around the house. The tree is actually a foot taller this morning because the stack of prezzies. Hannah has been non plussed by the whole affair. She made sure she kept up her demands so as not to be forgotten. Or lost for that matter, in teh debris. Smart girl.

Me? I've been eating. My specialty. It's been fantastic. And I can't even complain about the weather being bad and keeping me in. It has been fantastic. I don't think it has broken the f-f-freezing mark yet. Mostly cloudy and fog but for one day when there was nothing but sun in the sky. No blue moon to be seen. Now I just have to catch all the World Junior Games and Maybe a Spengler Cup game or two and I'll be as happy as ever. Go Canada Go.

Felice Navidad (or something like that)

The title speaks for itself. Reagen had her first pageant today. A regular performer she is. No stage fright from any of the kids so it was a blast. Then we shot the breeze with the parents and got wasted on gingerbread cookies.

Reagen had a blast and ran like mad around the gym with her best friend for about five minutes. Reagen and Br. (her cousing, whom she likes to call her brother) played for a moment then went their seperate ways. There was a lot to do and lots of snacks to be had so you couldn't hold anyone up for very long.

There was a half dozen songs to chose from but this was by far the best. Don't look directly at the screen. It was shot from quite a distance so any little movement was tough on the video. Dodging kids and little toes didn't help either. So here is our little bit of Christmas to you. Try not to fall out of your chairs for the cuteness.

And don't hog the screen. There is enough gingerbread cookies for everyone.

It's the Most

Wonderful, wonderful.

We've been enjoying the e-mails and pictures from everyone. We received 5 boxes from the delivery truck today. She said it was the most to any one house she delivered to. Thanks to our East Coast crew for the connection. We understand now that there is yet another straggler package on the way. Just to round things up.

So the tree is starting to look a little more Christmas-y with a few more gifts under it. I even had to add a couple extra links to the train tracks to make more room. I have grown quite attached to the train set. Holly doesn't think it is healthy but it is fun. Reagen likes playing with it. Hannah likes to watch it go round and round (so do I). She doesn't miss much as you can see. Always on the lookout.

The only problem is keeping the dog off it. She's been good but her senior eyes aren't what they used to be. She'll clip it on the way by or put a paw or two on it when she lays down. Good girl.

That Was Fast

That week flew by. We've been in the midst of the Holiday madness. We are sure you can relate. Not to mention that Reagen seems to have caught about three different illnesses all at the same time. Doc says she's good to go. She is just napping a lot more these days. So, really, what's so bad about it.

Well we've rediscovered why we crawl into a hole this time of year. We stepped out for a few last minute things. Seriously, two or three things. Now, most of the world is quiet but when you shop, you take your life into your own hands. It's not as though it took us hours to get to and from anywhere, but you could really feel that everyone was hurrying and you were in the way. I don't know why I was in the way, but there I was. Short story shorter, we stayed in tonight.

We have plans for the 25th when Alex and Jeff are coming over and the 26th is a pizza day at our friend, Arlene's. New Years Eve? Wide open. I think we are going to enjoy making phone calls and taking pictures with minimal driving / flying / visiting responsibilities for the first time in a number of years. Oh dear, that makes me feel old.

So much has been happening lately. We have much more to share, though later would be better, I would imagine. It's not like we are in a rush or anything.

It's Getting Closer

Every day we take our lives into our own hands working with these two. As you can see one is a little loud and the other is always questioning. Two guesses which are which.

Reagen went to school today and they had set up a small "store" so that the littler kids could buy something for their families. If they felt like it, of course. So she came home and with the highest level of secrecy asked for tape and paper and wrapped the gifts. They are under the tree now. Not a bad job of wrapping either. Minimalist, even.


Apparently we have a new joker in the family. This is her Jonathan Winters imitation. She is hilarious. Expecially when she pretends to be Jonathan pretending to be a baby. Funny on so many levels. She likes a good laugh and a stiff drink after the shows. No requests for blue M&Ms yet.


Today we took the Christmas pictures. It started out great adn we got some really good pictures, But, as you can see, it turned into a real circus. Nobody was listening to Anybody, and Somebody forgot the cookies. Hannah and Reagen became acrobats and I threw them around for a while. I stayed flat on the floor to make sure my back didn't get thrown out. They are pretty demanding.

So Hannah is still eating like a rented mule and Reagen is getting a little eye infection thing. A little facecloth action is needed to clean up her eyelid in the morning. The Doc said all was fine and use these drops for 7 days. 2 down, 5 to go. Pretty crazy stuff around here. They'll have to commit me if the craziness doesn't subside soon.

"Mental" Note

By the by, we never did mention that if you wanted to see a "slightly" larger picture to click on the image. The picture comes up full size. Happy trails, all.

Just Enough

Well these two get along rather well. Nanny and Grandpa saw the two of them playing on their computer the other day. Reagen is gentle, until she isn't. Just excited to get to play with Hannah. It is fun to watch and one can only hope that it last for a very long time, minus the fights over bathroom time and borrowing the car. Oh, what we have to look forward to.

We've been settling into the Christmas groove. No baking yet, it is only a matter of time though. And what a god time that is. I become everyones best friend because their is so much baking laying around that you have to give some of it up. It just wouldn't be right to let just sit there. Breakfast pulls, Gingerbread Heads (Reagen's creation), stuffed anything, turkey and on and on.

We thoughtfully chose a smaller bird this year for just this reason. We forget that there really is only two of us here that are going ot put a dent into the bird.

So the motto of this Christmas will be Just Enough. Can't have too many phone calls, though.

Merry Ho Ho

Well what can I say. This is what we have to put up with day in and day out. They were both worn out from putting the Christmas tree together. I'm surprised it hasn't gone through the floor. Holly has amassed a formidable array of antique german ornament (paper thin, thank you very much) and her own personally created ornament, numbering in the thousands. You can see behind Reagen's head a corner of the tree. Everyinch of it looks like that. No tassles. No Garland. No popcorn. No room. Don't tell her I said that.



Well Reagen has been having a blast. Two nights ago Santa delivered the tree. Last night we decorated it. Tonight Reagen helped us put together the train under the tree. No pictures of that yet but here is a little snippet of the dance moves she choreographed for the decorating.



She really can move.



Oh, the festivities have only begun.

I'd like to buy the world some green space.

Oh, a little note. Holly just recently had one of her works published. In the UK of all places. The book is about making the world self suffecient and generally a much nicer place to live. They are giving a book to her and a little discount for any more she might want. She's been on cloud nine all day.

If you would like someone to talk your ear off give her a call. She's a little chatty at the moment. Can you blame her?

I'm Waiiiiiting

A friends recent post has made me think of how uttelry tech obsessed I am. I am far too embarassed to list the number of technological baubles at my disposal. Let's just say I'm addicted and leave it at that, shall we? Which leads me to an all consuming thought for the last two days.

I still don't have the powercord for my laptop. Apparently it is in the mail (Brown, I believe). I really rather miss the computer. Once it arrives I'll begin to show you the pictures that should have been accompanying these posts.

So today the Christmas tree showed up like magic. Holly told Reagen taht Santa dellivered when she was at a friends. It was her first play date away from home. She is suitably tired (yay) and I hope ready for bed at a decent hour. She is such a card and will not stop singing. I'm sure you can relate. She is also continuing to pummel her Dick and Jane books. What a great find.

Hannah is porking out. 2 lbs in the last month. She is steadily outgrowing her sleepers. There is a wake of nonfitting clothes behind her. I'm not sure how her thumb stays on, she is really working it now. Other than that, business as usual with the bottle trashing and diaper filling. If anyone wants to pop over and go on didee detail for a couple days, Mom and Dad will be indebted to you.

(Update: I could also use a proofreader. I had to check this 4 times before I put it up. Gahhh.)

What time is it?

We've had a nice couple of days. Well, not really. The weather has been mightily atrocious. Could, windy and damp. Still going. So I guess winter is here? Thanks for giving us the heads up. The house has been winterized and I refuse to go out until March 14.

Hanah has found her thumb, mixed blessing. She now puts herself to sleep (nap times) sucking on her thumb. And she has begun talking. Sort of speak. She is particularly vocal when Reagen is around. She gets really animated and starts making all kinds of noise when Reagen is playing with her or even just running around the room. So she is hitting all her marks. Reagen herself has begun to read. She is making short work of all her Dick and Jane books.

So another week of school for Reagen and we'll be just about to Christmas. She is looking forward to it this year. It has really kicked in. She wants everything she sees, bu tshe has only really asked for three things. This should be a lot of fun.

Goobie Goober

Reagen has a favourite film. Wanna know how I know this? Well, it has been playing for 6 days straight now. Spongebob - The Movie.

It has some redeeming qualities. In particular the Goobie Goober scene. My description would not do its cinematic glory any justice, but I must say that choosing ice cream to be what gets Spongebob and Patrick thoroughly inebriated is just this side of genius.

Back to today, this is the coldest, windiest, dampest day so far. Not a bad combination. Makes for some serious pajama and nappy time fun. Hannah fell asleep on my lap while read. The up side is that Mom couldn't tell me to go anywhere (on the outside, anyway,... ouch) so I finished the book while she slept. She is adorable and so alert, when she is not sleeping of course. Two guesses what Reagen is doing.

I have ordered a new power adapter for the laptop It is a leetle more up to date than this one. This computer is a workhorse but it won't let us put up images. So we have a bit of a back log to take care of, don't we. I'm sure you've been waiting. There are some really cute ones. You will love them. No, really, you will.

Bitterly Disappointed

Well that book sale wasn't run nearly as well as it was the first time we went. This time it was the complete opposite of organized. Crowded and in a warehouse is not how I like to spend a couple of hours looking around in hopes of seeing something good. There wasn't a section set aside for anything. The books were helter skelter and so were we.

That being said we made off with two boxes of books. This will give an idea of the range we saw. We got a gigantic, illustrated, complete Shakespearean collection (in one book!), ump-teen kids books, and a history of Monty Python in their own words (also rather gigantic). Some personal interest, design, and biographies also made it into the box.

Reagen was a complete doll the whole time and Hannah and I made a quick escape to our friend and web developers business for a half hour. Where Hannah promptly filled her diaper to capacity. Fortunately I could pass this off as a learning experience to my friend as he is a newly expectant father. Hannah brilliantly displayed the "poop face" and articulated the "pushing grunt" to perfection. It was text book, I tell ya. I made the, "oh isn't that cute" face and promptly ran away. Once the bum was fresh we picked up the gang and the books and hightailed it for home.

We've had a nice couple days now and we can only hope that it continues for the week. It is so nice to have sun. It really picks you up. But not as much as 'ole poop face.

TGITDBF

Thank God it's the day before Friday.

I don't think I could have handled one more day in this week. It really was jam packed, not a bad thing, but it dragged on rather long, not such a good thing.

Well tomorrow we are off to St. Catherines to the Box O' Books sale. $30/box. Last time we made off we $3k worth of books in three boxes. Oh yeah. You don't have to be Steven Hawking to now there's some good shopping to be had. We'll have the wee ones and a friend of ours along for the ride. You know, mules.

It'll give us a chance to see a friend of ours from St. Catherines, whom we haven't seen in some time. That is the way it goes once one commences with the family type activities.

Reagen is doing fabulously. Her teacher has no reservations about dumping the material on her. I mean really, people, it's JK, how much material can their be? Well, apparently quite a bit. She starts long dividion in January!

Tune in next week when you can hear a storrrry about a quack who has gone to the dogs. ($10 to whoever tells me where that line comes from. Think of it as an early Christmas gift. Limit two per customer.)

Slight bump in the road

So we are on to the backup computer. It's a little dated so I can't put up pictures for a while. I have to get a power supply cord for the laptop. We've been using it so much lately that the power cord gave up the ghost. To much bending at the waist wore it out.

We went in to check Reagen out last night and found that she was out like a light but had managed to put on her Santa hat first. It was so cute. She wore it to school today. It's just as well because it was a little chilly out so here tete was warm.

Tonight around 7 a musician friend of mine is popping by to tune up the piano. He will likely play a note or two so I am curious to hear it in action. I can't wait to see Reagen's reaction. I have to give it a little clean up as well.

This Friday, in St Catherines, about 35 minutes away, Book Closeouts is having their annual Books in a Box Sale. EVerything you can get into a bankers box (and still close the flaps) for 29.99. If I remember correctly we picked up (ballpark) $3000 of books for $100 last time. They may have a ding, torn page, be upside-down, but a book is a book. You can still learn something from it.

Holly will clean out the kids section and I will go all geeky in the medical and biography areas. The only trouble will be trying to keep Reagen's hands clean.

Where did the weekend go?

Gather ye rosebuds, people. Time, she is a flying.

We've had an uneventful weekend. It is safe to say almost all the leaves have succesfully found their way into my eavestrough. A few missed and Reagen can be seen here standing up in a pile. It nearly tipped the garbage truck when it passed by. Lovely tree isn't it. Planted solely to annoy me. That is it's only mission in life.

Reagen spent two and a half hours running amok in the MacDonalds play room. First time we've been there. We had an OK time there except for the odd fellow who wanted to discuss current events and religious topics. He made it a few sentences in before we clammed him up. We gave him the thousand yard stare and explained that our Sunday dinners typically involve relaxing after the week, not reliving it. Worked like a charm.

Hannah slept through most of the chaos. There were kids flying in every direction. Reagen had her face painted and played relentlessly. The series of tubes and slides had to have been over 25ft high. She made short work of it over and over. I would have liked to have joined her but I didn't want to get my butt stuck at the top. That's be embarassing.

New Junior Scientist

OK, seeing as how I took psych you can know how this happened. When Hannah was born at McMaster they had asked if we would like to participate in any studies that may involve babies. Why sure, we said. So we were contacted for an appointment, which we made for Thursday. Typically studies start when babies are 6 months old but these inquistive students were aiming fro the two month-ish crowd.

It was to see if babies at this age were able to percieve and or anticipate a visual "treat" that was always preceeded by an auditory cue. Well all I can say is Hannah would have given Linda Blair a run for her money with the way her head was snapping around to see the video screen.

The most horrible, excruciating part of the whole process is that they made me listen to the Beatles while I was sitting behind her. Oh.My. God. I totally cheated and slid one ear phone slightly off so I could hear what Hannah was. It was a blast. They thought she was so adorable and cooperative. Dad wasn't too proud. When it was over they made Hannah an Honorary Junior Scientist for her contributioin to science. One more for the folder.

O Brother, where art thou?

Well I was wondering what I was going to write about from day to day, but kids say the darndest things. In this case they draw 'em too.

Apparently I have a brother (name unknown, that's a bit sketchy don't you think?), according to R. She has drawn me a reasonable facsimile. I am having Cranium Envy, though. Look at the size of that noggin'. I bet he's real smart. At least I have my eyesight working for me. I even have more hair, though that may take a back seat in the near future.

New Addition to the Family

So the stork dropped by the house yesterday. However, this stork is about 24ft long and probably does 120 km/h on the highway. But she was the right one for the job.

So the Lutheran church that I bought the piano from could not have known where I was from and I bought her sight unseen. I mean, how crazy could a church get with a piano? Don't answer that. This little number (actually its # is 22235) is aptly named "Little Princess". Amherst Piano Limited existed from 1913 to 1928, until the high cost of shipping ran them out of business. They even had a scratch and dent sale after the Halifax Explosion. Enterprising, non?

So if anyone can get their hands on theme music to The Simpsons or The Prisoner, ship em up.

So it Begins

So we started out by trying to come up with a suitable name for this blog. Something that would represent all of us (and you since we want you along for the ride to). Do you have anyidea how much crap is out there? It took us twenty minutes. Holly had a stroke of genius, however, saving us from utter disappointment. Thank Dog for the creatives.

So here it begins. Who knows where it will go. there isn't a pulitzer in our future so we aren't even going to try. And if anyone corrects my spelling I will ban you for a week. We'll be posting as often as possible.

As you can see, from the very beginning, this is going to be heavily "kid-laden". And unapologetically so. It is what it is. And if you don't like it, you know where the "close-window" button is.

That being said, we miss all of you horribly and we hope that this helps keep us all closer.

T, H, R and H.