New Year's Eve Kindergarten Style

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OK - Last minute party plans make for a fun time for the girls and their friends...,

Complete with noise makers, fancy glasses, bubbly juice...


and New Year kisses.

Miss Rene and Dylan

Nadine and Lil' Sammy

Miss Amy and Miles

Good times and great memories!

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It's Magic - It's Christmas

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In just a few short minutes...,

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This is how Santa left the place after dropping off gifts last night...,


And this is how it looked this morning...,



Christmas morning - chaotic magic with two small children....,

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The Santa Tracker

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OK - this is the coolest thing for kids since ..., (Oh, I don't know. Sliced bread just isn't all that relevant.) It's just cool!

It's the Norad Santa tracker. The Norad (American/Canadian North American Air Defense) Web site provides regular worldwide updates in seven languages, and kids everywhere can watch Santa's progress as he drops off presents across the globe - complete with video clips, audio updates and photos.

Very cool!!

For the computer impaired, NORAD also has a hotline too. It's staffed by U.S. Air Force personnel who provide up-to-the-minute, detailed tracking information by phone.

Alex loved it. She would have spent the entire afternoon and evening tracking Santa if we'd let her. And they were both excited to get to bed - knowing that Santa had already crossed the Atlantic and was now delivering gifts on the East Coast and heading toward our home.

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Your kids can call NORAD for an update on Santa’s Christmas eve progress. 1 (877) HI NORAD (1 877 446-6723). From outside the U.S. 1 (719) 556-5211. You can also track Santa all day on the website: http://www.noradsanta.org/

To check out Santa's 2008 travels, complete with pictures and video, click here. (Click on the packages and video icons).

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2008 - Another crazy year! Crazy in great ways for our clan.

After six months on the job, Casey stopped crying -- realizing that we (read: she) would all survive with her working outside the home and began enjoying her job more than she thought she could. The work is interesting, and adult life is as stimulating as she remembered.

Dave is still happily plugging away--changing the world--inspite of the California budget deficit. Actually - with one paycheck coming from the health care sector and the other from the University of California system, we're sitting relatively pretty in these uncertain times.

Baking Day 2008

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Another annual tradition. Good times with Aunt Jane and Lil' Chewie--creating yummy Christmas treats.

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What???

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Momma?

Yes Ray?

Have you ever seen a cat explode?

Wha...??

OK. She might need therapy earlier then most...,
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Our Little Alpha

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Oh - you'll think it's just another "cute" little video of preschoolers singing "cute" little Christmas songs - way off key, but it's really a lesson in the subtle ways of the alpha child.

Watch Alex as she "guides" Rachel in the "right thing to do."



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Giving Thanks

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I've been thinking about this for the past two weeks. In keeping with our family tradition - this is the time of year we think about everything we have and all we're blessed with. And, while I know it's comparatively a lot, I've had a hard time this year because I'm connected to more than a few people whose lives are filled with chaos, mayhem and tragedy.

It's really too easy (and, it seems to me, somewhat shallow and callous) to simply be grateful that its them and not me. And really all of that chaos simply makes me sad. People are baffling animals and there is simply no way of explaining the "out-of-character" actions of people you thought you knew.

But through all of this craziness, each night I come home to my family. Dave and the girls. Ollie and Guinea. Sometimes it's a little crazy with two small kids, the house is sometimes a wreck, and there always seems to be more to do than there is time - but it's still somehow peaceful. We're all on the same team - trying our best to move in the same direction.

It's a safe place.

We're all safe, supported, and needed.

This is our soft place to fall - a shield against the chaos, mayhem, and scariness of the world outside.

This is what I'm thankful for.

And a few more things I'm thankful for...,

Fellow kindergarten moms: Rene, Heidi, Miss Jill...,
The return of Miss Molly
Our new kitchen & the ultra smooth remodel process
President-elect O'Bama and VP, Biden
Change and the growth of tolerance
Ollie and Guinie
Sweet work gig
Financial stability in unstable times
Good friends - old and new

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Daddy is thankful for...,

Alex. Watching her learn to read.
Rachel. Her love of dance and Miss Donna's class
Inside voices
Our home
Mommy

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Alex is thankful for...,

Bunny
Teddy Bears & Puppies
Soccer Trophy
Mommy Daddy, Ollie, Guinea and Rachel (Not necessarily in that order)
Abby and Dylan
Rabbits and baby owls
The whole-wide world

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Rachel is thankful for...,

Alex
Flowers
Ollie
Guinea
Mommy and Daddy
Chickies

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Christmas Season is Here

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Our Annual Holiday Photos...,

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Giving Thanks

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In keeping with our family tradition --

This is the time of year to reflect on all that we have to be thankful for. So - I sit and ponder...,

Alex
Rachel
Dave
New remodel
Ollie and Guinie
Sweet work gig
Financial stability in unstable times
where is my love letter for Dave
Our home
Good friends - old and new
personal growth