Merry Christmas

Birth Story

Gage Christian born July 14, 2007

My Lovely Lindsay friend is doing a week's worth of birth stories on her blog. Gage's story is today, day 4, read it here. Scroll down to read her first post to start the series, it's beautiful.

A Good Deed

After he shoveled the sidewalk and brushed all the snow off our car, little Noah started work on the neighbor's.

(Yes, I am taking this picture from inside the front door with warm slippers on my feet.)

The Feast

Every day leading up to Thanksgiving Noah and I thought about something we were gratful for. His was written down on a feather, gluesticked to a paper turkey and proudly displayed on the fridge.

Mine were sometimes spoken, sometimes not.
Most days my grateful had to do with one of these pilgrims. Grateful for a thoughtful boy. Grateful that Gage's cough was better. Grateful that I checked my temper when the snowglobe (that I bought to replace a friend's after an exciting playdate) was hucked down the basement stairs. Grateful for the honor to mother these two.

We had a great feast Thanksgiving day. Friends came over to eat our first ever turkey. We used Grammee's crystal glasses, ate apple crumb pie and I even used a tablecloth. We were very fancy.

And of course in the morning we ran this


and then Dave played an injury free football game with friends. We are very grateful.

Snow and a Museum

The first snow sent Noah running into our room with the morning sun barely peeking, squealing "Is it Christmas?! There's snow!"

Amazing how much that big white blanket changes things. Everything becomes exciting and playful to a 3 year old. Before breakfast he was dressed, snowsuited up and had made the first of many snowmen.


He zooms out to the car when its time to go knowing he gets to brush the snow off. He does "his job" of shoveling about 5 times a day very very happily. He digs Daddy's boots out of the closet when it starts to get dark, knowing he'll be home soon to play. He's even quick to fetch the head lamp if he knows he'll get to play longer and is generous in helping up a fallen baby.


To me being inside is suddenly more cozy and things slow down. I spend more time on my little projects, stay in my pjs just a little longer. But eventually I have to start thinking of a good indoor activity for the boys. The other day we went to a great museum with some friends.



I was surprised we hadn't discovered it yet. It was close, free and had great exhibits - tons of big, shiny, colorful things for the boys to look at.

Yes, they are holding hands. And yes, they are adorable.

Another Courageous Lion and his Monkey brother

Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate
The first one said, "My, its getting late."
The second one said, "There are witches in the air."
The third one said, "We don't care."
The fourth one said, "Let's run and run and run."


The fifth one said, "We'll sure have fun."


Then whoosh went the wind
And out went the light


And five little pumpkins rolled out of sight.

Happy Halloween!

Scenes from our Sunday Walks

We're trying to take advantage of this amazing weather while we still can. The sun still shines and its not cold enough for mittens and coats yet. Perfect for a walk through the woods.

Last Sunday was a hike on a familiar trail.

This Sunday we explored a new one. It fast became a favorite.


Noah likes to march straight down the path, or trail blaze his own. Mama points out the animals that are never too far away and tells Noah about the different trees and plants. We collect a leaf of every color and type. Noah likes to throw sticks into any water that we can find. And he'll keep a big stick for himself - for swiping with. You know, for swiping branches, or big piles of leaves.

Gage likes the ride (once we can convince him to sit in the stroller). He gets to hold a stick of his own too and will eat all the crackers and grapes he can handle. Eventually both boys end up in the stroller and then Mama and Papa get time. Aaahhhh..... I love Sunday Walks.

Zoo Days

At the Detroit Zoo this weekend we saw many an animal. The boys took a peek at giraffes, zebras, black bears, grizzly bears, flamingos, bald eagles, peacocks, lions, tigers, a gorilla, chimpanzees, snow monkeys, mandrills, praire dogs, seals, and even a great big polar bear that swam right over our heads as we walked under his habitat. Man, the list keeps going but my memory doesn't. What was their favorite you ask? Did they have a favorite exhibit?

The hay maze of course.

Cider Mill

We made a trip to the Cider Mill.

A wagon ride past the apple orchards, past the corn fields, and to the pumpkin patch.

Another wagon ride in search of 4 perfect pumpkins.

Then of course we headed to the pie barn for some cider and donuts.

The End.

Sporties for Shorties

Coach Mike would say "Run!" and Noah would run.

Coach Mike would say "Kick!" and Noah would kick.

Coach Mike would say "Jump!" and Noah would jump....or maybe he would run...or if he felt like it he would tackle his neighbor.





Noah loved this little class. A new sport each week. Soccer, football, baseball, etc. It only took two weeks before he'd participate in the whole thing without getting that itching for the playground on the other end of the field. Lots of practice following directions, lots of exerting pent up boy energy, lots of skills to learn and friends to make. Awesome says Noah. Fantastic says Mommy.

Gage is thrilled

He has got this walking thing down. Always with his hands up in the air and always with a big fat smile on his face (unless you won't let him catch up with you).

No more stroller for this dude. He insists on hitting the pavement himself. Good job Gage!

Chili and Stitches

Kate's Chili
32 oz Busch's baked beans (1 big can and 1 little can)
1 can black beans
1/2 onion diced
1 lb ground beef (cooked)
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can rotel chiles
2 packs Mild McCormick's chili sauce
1 cup brown sugar
Throw everything in the crock pot, mix together, cook 2-3 hours on low or until warmed up.

Straight from my sister's cook book, this recipe has won first place in two Chili Cook-offs. The brown sugar is definitely the secret weapon. So, this weekend we mixed it up and packed it up to try for another ribbon.

The Cook-off was just as fun as every year. A great park up in the woods. Trails for exploring, a lake for throwing sticks, a playground for getting good and dirty and a nice field on the other side of the toboggan run for some football playing.

It's time to start thinking about getting the kids packed up when a friend comes up and says, "Uh, just thought I'd let you know Dave got hit in the face playing football"
"Is he alright?"
"Ya, he's headed back."
"Ok, thanks" (but really thinking - he's a big boy, why is he telling me this?)

Then another friend
"Hey Jess, Dave collided with John and has a pretty big cut on his face"
"Oh really, is he alright?"
"Ya, but its kinda funny how he's acting right now. He's alert and oriented but pretty forgetful. I think he has a mild concussion, and his cut is going to need stitches."

Oh. Well. In that case, let's get a move on. Ice Dave. Get kids. Get stuff. Move car seats. Call insurance. Head to hospital for long night in the ER. Change of plans. Move one car seat back. Head home. Bathe baby. Baby to bed. Ice Dave. Get Noah. Move car seat back. Bathe boy. Boy to bed. Home visit from one nurse anestethist, one physician's assistant, and one radiologist. Surgery on kitchen table. THANK YOU! Eat ice cream. IBprofen Dave. Dave to bed.

Oh and our chili?

...it only got 2nd place.

FiRst sTePS

Gage baby has taken his first steps this week. He can do about 3 or 4 in a row. What a big boy. He is insistent about it and very concentrated in his practice.

One of my goals yesterday was to get video of this cute toddling. But after filling up my memory card, I was still unsuccessful.

Either this would happen




Or this would happen




Oh dear.

My Favorite Part, day 3

We had a household of sickies today. It started yesterday. I was miserable, Gage was miserable and couldn't sleep, which made Dave miserable. And poor little Noah just needed a play mate.

So, my favorite part of today? Opening up a package from Grandma (yes Noah, the one that lives in Washington with Grandpa). A beautiful quilt to snuggle Gage. Dave even made me wait for the babe to wake up before we could open it, I was that excited.

Other favorites today... A yummy yummy dinner from a thoughtful friend, playing church because Noah was so sad to miss it, and this moment brought to us by Noah himself:

Noah is playing "work" on the train table using a toy phone as his computer. Gage is getting nearer and nearer and is about to grab the phone.

"No Gage, stop. This is my dissertation!"

My Favorite Part, day 2

Noah at the zoo 2006, 2007 and 2008.

We went to our little local zoo today with some friends.

Gage paid more attention to the funny kids than he did the tiger or the lion. He would sign 'bird' when he saw a bird and say 'oo oo ee ee ahah' when he saw the monkeys.

But my favorite part was watching Noah try to feed the goats at the petting zoo. He's a cautious kid, especially when it comes to animals. The other kids were shoving handfuls of brown treats at the goats, getting their hands and fingers licked and tickled by big lips. Noah would hold one treat at a time and very slowly lean in. He would almost almost almost make contact and then drop it. Every time. I talked to him, showed him, explained to him. "You do it mom" was all he could handle. Maybe next year, sweetie.

My Favorite Part, day 1

My favorite part of the day was being able to say yes to "Can we go to the splash park, mom?"

I'm trying to remember this more:

“The biggest mistake I made [as a parent] is the one that most of us make. . . . I did not live in the moment enough. This is particularly clear now that the moment is gone, captured only in photographs. There is one picture of [my three children] sitting in the grass on a quilt in the shadow of the swing set on a summer day, ages six, four, and one. And I wish I could remember what we ate, and what we talked about, and how they sounded, and how they looked when they slept that night. I wish I had not been in such a hurry to get on to the next thing: dinner, bath, book, bed. I wish I had treasured the doing a little more and the getting it done a little less” Anna Quindlen

The day started out a little chilly. I brought sweatshirts to the park. Sweatshirts not swimsuits. We were out of snacks and very close to nap time for G.But it warmed up, the sun came out

and this boy was so ready.

Splash park? Sure Noah, let's go.

end of August

It was a perfect weekend for a road trip. Sunny skies, cool breeze. Unexpectedly I have fallen in love with this mitten state. So many neat places tucked away just waiting for us. Saturday's destination was Ann Arbor. Dave was meeting a friend for the Michigan Utah game at the BIG HOUSE. So we joined him for a yummy lunch at Zingerman's, some window shopping, and let the kids explore the children's museum. I loved the artsy feel of the downtown, the unique shops, and the kids just couldn't get enough of HANDS ON. Perfect combination. Please don't ask Dave how the game went. Or about how Steve's car broke down, or how they never made it. Please don't ask, he might just cry. Monday's destination was Silver Beach. It was sunny, the water was warm, and the beach was CROWDED. My goodness it was Olive Garden on Valentine's Day. Can you find us? We did manage to find a little piece of beach and it got better as the day went on. I'm getting anxious. The summer is ending? I'm not ready. Our last year in Michigan? I'm not ready. And I never thought I'd say that.