Happy New Year's Eve

We celebrated with Kenzie at 7:30 (sparkling grape juice and cupcakes!). Then because they matched in their jammies I wanted to take a picture, but Kenzie was grouchy...

So I told her she could make a silly face...

She warmed up to the idea...

This was a posed picture for her, she held her leg and face like that until I was ready (who knows!)...

Then finally, a smile from Kenzie! May the New Year bring many more photo opportunities!

"I Need to Feed Him!"

Getting out of the van at the doctor's today, Kenzie quickly said, "Mommy, come on. You need to hold my hand in the parking lot!" We took Parker in for his second flu shot, and even though Kenzie was upset that he was getting a shot, she still informed me, "I just going to say, 'It's okay, bud!' and make him feel better!"Not only did Parker get to play with the beloved Sleeping Beauty bear, but later Kenzie even tried to help feed him. (In the picture they were wrestling over the spoon - I'm not sure if Parker was done eating or just frustrated that Kenzie doesn't stick the spoon close enough to his mouth). As I was musing over how big she's getting, and what a good helper she can be, she pooped in her pants. Then I remembered why it's okay that she grow up!

Congrats to Mo

Tonight was Merrill and Candace's reception, and McKenzie was thrilled to go to a "wedding party!" She was upset when we had to leave, but Parker had just spit up all down Daddy's shirt!

She really liked the "special punch" (water) in fancy glasses! All around it was a hit with McKenzie.

Saturday at 7:03pm

I think Christmas has caught up to us!

The Chaos that was Christmas

The Arnold clan's "breakfast" (at what, 3pm? 4?)

Parker enjoying one of Aunt Caroline's famous croissants (I personally ate four; thank you Caroline!)

Present time!

Everyone waiting for their gift

I was still waiting for mine, so I took yet another picture

Parker with his present (I know, where's his hat?)

Kenzie opening her princess CD player (she's been dancing to it all afternoon)

My two exhausted guys, waiting for the snow plows to come through so we could get home

It was Definitely a White Christmas

Just taking out the trash became an adventure in all the snow (but when a diaper pail needs to be emptied, there is no arguing - you just go find the snow boots).

It's Christmas Eve!

I love Christmas Eve; all the excitement is so close! We watched The Muppets Christmas Carol last night, as is tradition, and here's how today went: I found the hat and mittens I bought last winter for Parker; Chris apologized to him.

Kenzie on the phone with Grandma Susan

Daddy putting together Parker's horse

Christmas Eve dinner: ham, rolls (Parker had three!), potato gratin, broccoli, two sparkling ciders (Kenzie took one on her own!), and peppermint ice cream cake

Daddy putting the angel on the tree (it took until tonight to find it in the garage!)

Kenzie with the gingerbread cookies she helped make for Santa

Kenzie "helping" Parker open his early present

Parker with his new toy. He loved it! And that's only the tip of the iceberg!

My Big Boy's Bath Seat

Parker had given up on the idea of reclining in a newborn tub seat, so tonight we got out the other bath seat (I have three!). Parker was so excited; he immediately started splashing.

Surprise, surprise: he's smiling at McKenzie!

Parker's 7 Months Old!

Here's how Parker got to spend his afternoon:

First I lulled him into a sense of security with some tasty Vegetable Chicken dinner.

Then I stuck him in his Santa suit!

Kenzie played peek-a-boo with him to get him to smile.

Isn't it wonderful how the hat makes his ears stick out?

Visiting the North Pole (AKA the Mall)

The true mark of parents who love their child: waiting in line 50 minutes to have her sit on the lap of a stranger for all of a minute!She was so excited to take Bunny to see Santa!

Attempts at occupying children during the long wait.

Getting closer now! Santa's just around the next corner!

And my shy little girl doesn't even ask for what she wants... but she was happy that, "He just say 'Sweetie!'" and he gave her a candy cane (which she dropped on the way outside, very devastating).

Parker had had enough of that! (Mommy and Daddy felt the same way; we picked up some Panda Express and went home to watch the Charlie Brown Christmas special!)

Another Family History Lesson

There's Parker's grandpa on the right. Do you see any family resemblance?

I Married the Cutest Little Boy (When He Grew Up, That Is)

Chris with Santa (undoubtedly he was asking Santa for a wonderful future wife).

Puppet Shows

Today at the library Kenzie discovered the wonder known as the Puppet Show. When I reminded her she has a whole collection of hand puppets, she was so excited. We don't have the fancy booth with curtains like the library, but she mostly ran around and had the puppy "eat" Mommy's hair and any puppet Daddy tried to play with!

Christmas Parties

Kenzie was so excited all day in anticipation of two parties tonight. First we went to Chris's work party, and Kenzie wound up with a huge bag of candy and two ornaments. (The ornament exchange was one where your ornament could be stolen, but after Kenzie hugged her's it was not going to be taken without a fight! One lady said, "That's a nice ornament!" and Kenzie said, "And I just got it!")Then we went to the ward Christmas party, which in comparison was quite the let down! No candy, way too much Jell-O, and no Santa! How can the party not have Santa?? That was the whole reason we went! But here's a picture of both kids enjoying their second dinner of the evening. They were both very good, and crashed when we got home!

Torturing My Children Yet Again

Christmas cards - they're not as easy as they look! Case in point: here are some photos that didn't make the cut. Parker was a little grouchy because I wasn't letting him attack the tree.

Now he's sucking on the teddy ornament he snagged, and who knows how to describe the face Kenzie's making, but she had quite the grip on his arm. "SMILE, BUD" she kept threatening.

Now the pesky cat enters the fray.

Seiko may look sweet coming to pose with the kids, but he's just trying to butter me up after barfing under the table during breakfast (twice!).

Parker in a few years?

I love this picture. Parker's Daddy is the knobby-kneed one on the left! (This is Part One of my new installment: Funny and/or incriminating pictures I've found!)