A Christmas Miracle?

The boy is wearing undies!  So far so good, only one accident.

Sugar Up Santa

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Pre-Spring Restoration

I love Christmas time, but as the hype builds to the big day I tend to loose a little enthusiasm.  Especially years like this one, where family celebrations are held a week early.  There is still a growing excitement spurred on by my children's growing anticipation of the special morning, but usually around this time I start shifting into the winter doldrums.  However, the winter seems to bring with it some kind of magical mental restorations.  During the heat of summer, every year, as my garden peters out, I am always overwhelmed with the desire to never garden again.  I get sick of mowing, pruning, picking, watering, weeding and most of all watching my efforts disappear under the blazing rays of the Texas summer sun.  Somehow though, the winter winds restore my lost passions concerning hard work.  As Christmas comes to a close, all I can think of is mowing, pruning, picking, watering, weeding, seeding, fertilizing, and tilling under that hot summer sun.  So, I wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy Pre-Spring Dreaming.

Here is What I Have Been Doing

Hey it's better than work!

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Samples of Latest Masterpieces

Izzy and Nathan: Christmas Time


Super Nate and the Sneaky Fox

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Next Food Network Star

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Sinus Infection

I am sick as death.

Eggnog Waffles

We added some holiday cheer to this morning's breakfast by combining two of my favorite things: eggnog and waffles.  Basically, I just exchanged the milk for eggnog in our usual waffle recipe.  They turned out pretty good, and the kids loved them.

Eggnog Waffles:
2 Eggs
1 3/4 Cup Eggnog
1/2 Cup Oil
2 Cups Flour
1 Tbsp Sugar
4 tsp Baking Powder
1/4 tsp Salt

Heat up your waffle iron. In a medium bowl, whisk eggs.  Then, add eggnog and oil, and whisk until combined.  Add the dry ingredients and whisk until the batter is smooth. Pour it in the waffle iron and done.

A Few More

More birthday photos from the spectacular Melissa Hester

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Optimism

I was at work today and had a sudden strong wave of optimism...weird.  We used to be such close friends, but somehow we have drifted apart over the last couple of years.  I miss you. Please visit more often.

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Nathan's 2nd Birthday

The boy had a good birthday.  We made a ton of stuff for it (which, in my opinion, was a little over the top for a clueless 2 year old's birthday, but hey, I'm just the dad...my job is to shut up and color).

Are those boobs??

Happy Thanksgiving

My belly is full. My mouth is happy. My eyes are sleepy.

The Matrix

I believe living in the city is like living in the Matrix.  Even if at some point you were aware the Matrix existed, as the years pass you slowly forget there is a better world out there. The family and I are currently unplugged from the Matrix enjoying a week in the country.  Yesterday, the toddler, the preschooler and I went walking across the pasture and during our journey back to the farm house black clouds invaded the sky above us.  Strong winds began to blow and tiny sprinkles touched the tops of our heads.  We all stood silently for a couple of minutes listening to the sounds of coming rain, and honestly, I felt more real and at peace in that moment than I have in over a year.  The city provides a lot of fun and excitement, but the one thing the "Matrix" cannot simulate is the perfect silence and speech of nature.  I could tell my kids were more in tune and enthralled with those 2 minutes of standing still and silent than with anything the toy section at Target or cartoons on TV can offer.  All three of us had a wonderful reminder of life outside the walls of the city.  I continue to long for the day I am free of its prison, but for now I will soak up this temporary parole, and prepare my stomach for shovel loads of Thanksgiving grub.

Estrogen Overthrow

Today's ultrasound trumpeted a regime change in our little house. After two years of gender-balanced power sharing, the females now have the upper hand.  It's a girl!  In approximately 13-14 years, the boy and I will go into hiding.

Some Friends

He Cracked the Wrong Nut

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My People

I'm excited about seeing all of these characters at Thanksgiving!

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Mission Successful

They made an impressive haul.

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Mission Candy

The primary purpose for my ever having kids has arrived. Halloween candy. Handy Manny and Rapunzel have finally reached the age of usefulness. They have been given specific orders to hunt down as much candy as possible over the next few days, and return home for Dad to take first pickins. And, much like our government, the more they earn the greater the Dad Tax levied against them. Halloween just got sweeter.

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Halloween Bracelets

Made these in about 15 minutes before church.

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Kryptonite for the Lactose Intolerant

Yet I still can't help myself.

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As Expected

Here are all my main people in the obligatory October blog post Pumpkin Patch photos:

Quality Reading

Reading is kind of big deal around our house.  We do not have cable TV or video game systems, and we actually care about being intelligent (unlike the surprisingly large percentage of society).  We enjoy our regular trips to the book store, although we seldom buy their overpriced books. Typically, we go with library books or the local thrift store and Goodwill where the children books are 10 for $3.00.  However, during our recent travels through Barnes and Noble, Nathan has started gravitating away from the overly annoying Elmo/cheesy section toward some new style books.  What can I say, the boy has excellent taste in literature.

Five Guys Burger!

Good luck finding one better.

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