So this is what hands are for...

Playing with the Shades

Cousins Christmas Party

Here are some photos from our first ever Cousins Christmas Party on Monday. We decorated sugar cookies, played "Santa says," "Pin the Nose on Santa," made balloon shapes, and ran around like crazy in Elise and Damon's backyard. Thank goodness for Shawna and Jonathan's help since there were 10 kids!

Merry Christmas!

"Out of the fullness of his grace he has blessed us all, giving us one blessing after another. God gave the Law through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ" (John 1:16-17).


Merry Christmas!!!

almost Christmas

just thought you want might to see some fresh photos...you'll especially like Havilah's booties! (-:

John woke up early from his nap yesterday so he and Billy finished the nap together on the couch.

breath of heaven

The lyrics to the old classic Amy Grant song about Mary the mother of Jesus:

I have traveled many moonless nights,
Cold and weary with a babe inside,
And I wonder what I’ve done.
Holy Father you have come,
And chosen me now to carry your son.

I am waiting in a silent prayer.
I am frightened by the load I bear.
In a world as cold as stone,
Must I walk this path alone?
Be with me now.
Be with me now.

Breath of heaven,
Hold me together,
Be forever near me,
Breath of heaven.
Breath of heaven,
Lighten my darkness,
Pour over me your holiness,
For you are holy.
Breath of heaven.

Do you wonder as you watch my face,
If a wiser one should have had my place?
But I offer all I am
For the mercy of your plan.
Help me be strong.
Help me be.
Help me.

Breath of heaven,
Hold me together,
Be forever near me,
Breath of heaven.
Breath of heaven,
Lighten my darkness,
Pour over me your holiness,
For you are holy.

Breath of heaven,
Hold me together,
Be forever near me,
Breath of heaven.
Breath of heaven,
Lighten my darkness,
Pour over me your holiness,
For you are holy.
Breath of heaven.
Breath of heaven.
Breath of heaven.

moving!

We just signed an 18-month lease for a beautiful house in the neighboring town of Peoria. We're excited to have our own grass! We're moving at the beginning of January. Here are some photos:

latkes

We're in the midst of Hanukkah so I made homemade latkes a couple nights ago (no, I'm not Jewish, just fascinated with latkes). They were amazingly delicious so I thought I'd share the recipe. It comes from one of John's favorite library books these days: Hanukkah, O Hanukkah (he picked it out!).

Latkes
5 medium potatoes, peeled
2 eggs
1/2 cup finely chopped onion or scallions
1 tbsp lemon juice
3 tbsp flour
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 tsp crushed dried parsley

Grate the potatoes. Squeeze out as much liquid as you can. Beat the eggs and add them to the grated potatoes. Add the rest of the ingredients. Lightly cover the bottom of a frying pan with olive oil. Heat the oil on medium/medium high and then scoop spoonfuls of latke mixture into the pan (about the size of small pancakes). Brown latkes on both sides. Let them cool slightly on paper towels and then enjoy! Traditionally, they're eaten with sour cream or applesauce but I ate them with ketchup and ranch dressing--now you know I'm not Jewish! (-:

Hava laughs

Here's a little video of John playing play doh and Havilah giggling (this is for you, auntie Elizabeth!). She thinks it's fabulous when I pretend to spit. I know, very feminine. So that's what the spitting noises are all about. (-: At the very beginning of the video, John gasps. Recently he's been doing this all day long (Gasp! Our Christmas tree is still here this morning. Gasp! Mom said I could have another glass of milk. Gasp! Dad is on his way home.). Practically anything is gasp-worthy, so I wanted you to get a glimpse of the fun.


Play doh and laughs

finally...some photos!

I know you've been wondering, Why doesn't she stop blabbing and start putting up pictures? Here you go:

the choosing of the Christmas tree

Hava checks it out

A girl and her daddy, it's a beautiful thing!

the tree finally gets decorated. how nice!

Chub-by!!

A tale of the E.R.

Dear Loved Ones and Adoring Fans,

Recently, I had a new and most exciting adventure. Since it was all about me, my mom has agreed to let me write the account (she is typing as I dictate, since I have not quite mastered keyboard skills). Here goes:

It was a warm and clear Wednesday evening when I popped in my carseat and headed north to visit my physician, Dr. Subir Mitra. After munching down a mini lollipop and inspecting the waiting room toy selection, I was called back. The scale reported a small weight gain as I am now 30 pounds. I could not feel prouder.

After a long wait in a room that still smelled of fresh paint, the doctor arrived. He looked in my ears, which I detest. But I was still willing to put my confidence in him, especially when he told my mom and dad that he recommended a visit to the Phoenix Children’s Hospital emergency department. Whoah! I have never been able to be an E.R. patient. I have—ever since my dad worked in one—been plotting to visit an E.R. for myself. This was my chance. I laid still and looked as pathetic as possible. Perhaps they would follow Dr. Mitra’s advice and make my dreams come true!

It worked. I got back in my carseat and headed south—deep south to PCH. We found the hospital and it was incredible. The outside was decorated with Christmas lights and my size benches of all colors and sorts. Mom and dad whisked me inside where a woman the size of an obese whale (pardon me, but I haven’t learned good etiquette yet) asked for my name and other identifying information. Since I am particular about talking to strangers—or to anyone for that matter—mom and dad gave Whale my stats. A different woman told us to take a seat and wait. Now came the fun!

The waiting room was full of children and a large flat screen television. Why don’t we have one of these babies at home?? I couldn’t help but wonder as movies flashed before my eyes.

After an hour or two, we were transported to my room. At least four people listened to my chest and I was weighed again. Then we waited on a little bed and I got to wear a spaceman gown. I tried not to think of it as a dress since it was blue, but I did feel a little self-conscious when a young woman doctor came in and wanted to poke my stomach. I told her to go away but she didn’t mind me. I don’t know why someone didn’t put her in time out! I was busy figuring out the intricacies of the Tonka Firetruck when she tricked me and poked my belly again. Some women just can’t be trusted! But at least she did say the magic words my little ears have always longed to hear: X Ray!

Now, I am no novice when it comes to x rays. In fact, I had several in the first couple days of my life (that’s a different story altogether). But still, those memories are getting fuzzy so I eagerly anticipated being taken into a room with magnetic coats and a Danger: Radiation! sign on the door. At long last, a man came to fetch me. I didn’t feel comfortable sitting in the wheelchair he provided but apparently it was policy that I sit in it. Drat! I kindly asked my father to sit in the wheelchair and allow me to sit on his lap. The young man pushing me around said it was ok. Off we zoomed through the twisting corridors of the emergency department. Aha! The Danger: Radiation! sign was there. So were the magnetic coats, and a modern art mural covered an entire wall (chickens in hot air balloons, if you must know).

Two mean men stalked in and forced me to lie still on a big bed while they put metal books under my back and around my sides. I told them to stop but they didn’t. What is it with these hospital personnel? Dad held me down but I forgive him since it was the mean men’s idea.

Somehow the metal books made a picture of my intestines. The doctor inspected the pictures of my poop waiting to be pooped and declared me healthy. Mom was expecting the doctor to find baby Jesus in my bowels since I have taken a liking to chomping his head, but, alas, baby Jesus did not make an appearance.

After much ado (another hour’s worth), they finally brought the juice I had requested at least fifty thousand times. What does a man have to do around here to get any respect? I must admit, the E.R. is not as resort-like as one would expect. Nevertheless, I am pleased to have had the experience of being a real live emergency department patient. I should like to try it again soon!

Love,
John

yawn thoughts

Boring information: it rained all day yesterday and most of today (with thunder and lightning today, too). This evening John and I went for our before-dinner-walk and it started raining again. John took off running like he could get away from it by moving quicker. Ha ha! I guess he's a desert rat after all, even with his Northwest roots.

Some random thoughts:

* Havilah is practically perfect in every way (perhaps we should have named her Mary Poppins?)--a delightful, fully enjoyable baby. I'm spoiled...but at least I know it.

* We are looking for a new place to live. So far we have looked at completely run down homes and an already-rented-to-someone-else home. And everything, everything is terribly expensive. How do people live in even more expensive cities like New York or L.A.? I don't know how they make it work. Anyway, we will keep searching because we have exactly six weeks left on this lease.

* I said "John, take baby Jesus out of your mouth" at least half a dozen times today. (Baby Jesus is, of course, a tiny Playmobil version of the man.) For some reason, John has decided that this particular Playmobil piece (out of the fifty or sixty in the set) is the most desirable for eating. What have I done wrong? (-:

* Here's what I'm trying to sort through these days: what is the right level of expectation for a two years and three month old boy who doesn't talk? What can I push him on? Trying to encourage him (ok, sometimes with chocolate!) to make English sounds. What should I crack down on? Hitting me when he doesn't get his way. But how can I communicate that hitting is not going to work--not for now, not for his future? Time outs sure make him upset. And they do give me two minutes of peace, though not quiet (that was a mini-confession). But do they work in the long run? I don't know. What is the balance between play and self-expression on one hand and learning how life works and how to play by the rules on the other hand? Again, I don't know. If you have any insight, please clue me in! The longer I parent--and I am still a beginner--the more open I am to suggestions. (-:

pictures!

Christmas is coming! We've had a cold snap (ha ha! laugh with me here!) recently. The boys threw our pumpkins in the dumpster and we pulled out our bins of Christmas decorations.



Santa properly introduced himself to Havilah by dancing while singing a goofy song about all his many names: Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, Santa Claus, and whatever else came to my, er, his mind.

Lights! John's room has a few strings of colored lights, which he's enjoying.

John's Playmobil nativity set--complete with camel, lambs, wise men in turbans, and the largest shooting star in recorded history.

John really loves motorcycles...but for now, he'll settle for his Radio Flyer quadcycle.

Banana muffins on a cozy November evening:

Like mother, like daughter...? What do you think, does Havilah look like my baby photo from when I was approximately her age?

Family picture day was Friday. These aren't even the best shots (those we are saving for Christmas photos/presents). As you can tell, the kids were more interested being photographed with their dad than with their mom. Oh well.