First Haircut

Kaden had his first haircut the other night! Nothing fancy but what a manly milestone!

This one I just thought was cute. It has nothing whatsoever to do with the haircut!

The Poston Zoo

We finished a unit on Animal Groups in science recently. Bailey has been really taken with the Mammals section. The other day, while I was making breakfast, I suddenly realized that Kaden was being awfully quite. He normally plays with the girls while I'm in the kitchen but usually I hear screams of protest ever few minutes. When I asked where he was Bailey informed me that he was "in the Mammal Cage". Slightly stunned, and more than a little curious, I went into the living room to find ALL of the stuffed animals arranged in various corners of the room, categorized according to their animal group. Sure enough, there was Kaden, the prize catch of her Mammal Cage! (Once I started taking pictures of Kaden, everyone wanted to get in on the action.)

(we are all aware that Parrots are NOT mammals. Emily was very insistent however that the bird be incarcerated with her.)

DUH!!!

So, the other night Steve was watching Kaden while the girls and I fixed dinner. Kaden, to Steve's great dismay, was screaming his little head off with no concern whatsoever for the basketball game his dad was trying to hear. (Although why hearing it is really necessary is something I have never quite been able to figure out) Anyway, Steve finally comes into the kitchen, also a den of chaos, and says: "So, do you have some snacks or a bottle or something for him?" Before I could even respond Bailey turns around, gives him a look that was clearly meant to mean "LOSER" and said: "Even Emily can make a bottle! You just dump it in the water and shake it!". I have to admit that an answer very similar to that had been running through my mind but I doubt I would have ever dug up the guts to actually say it! Steve took it quite well (as did Emily who I think also had reason to be offended), made a bottle and peace was restored.

So, other than a super flat tire in the Costco parking lot, alone, with two hungry, tired kids, while Steve was at a game he couldn't leave, Bailey needed to be picked up across town in 10 minutes and NOBODY in my entire phone book was at home, nothing much has happened around here. Either way, I figured I'd better post something so here's a recap of the last 2 months.

In our house, it's like a rite of passage - the day when you are able to pull yourself into the sock basket and empty it out all over the floor. ( you will not understand this if you are one of those families who are too cool for a sock basket and choose, instead, to keep them neatly folded and matched together in a drawer). By the time I got the camera, he'd already climbed back out but you get the idea.

FIRST SNOW!

We grabbed whatever we could find that was even remotely warm, threw it on and went outside to see what Kaden would think of his first snow. Bailey even tried throwing a snowball at him (her own idea of course). That part he was NOT impressed with!

We don't get much snow around here so when it sticks, school is guaranteed to be called off and everyone comes out in 3 pairs of jeans, 2 pairs of mittens and their rain boots to play in it. It stuck around long enough to make some snow angels, build a snowman and have a war over the fence with the neighbors. We all had a blast and then it melted away and left us with lovely, clear roads again. THIS is how I like snow.

Christmas

So, Christmas was "special" this year. We went up to my parents house the day after like we normally do and were planning on a week of fun with Nani, Grandpa and all the aunts and uncles and cousins. It was not to be. Starting with Emily, EVERYONE (all 14 people) came down with the most horrible flu! It even took down Kaden - the only one to have had the now-deemed-useless-flu-shot. We spent the whole week up to our elbows in yuck and misery and got better just in time to pack and come home! Definitely a Christmas to remember!

The annual Christmas Bear picture.

Christmas morning!

Somehow I got these up here out of order - Oh well.

Steve and the kids checking NORAD to find out where Santa is. Something they look forward to each year.

I just thought this one was cute!

We were taking pictures for Steve's Christmas present from the kids and this was one of my favorites.

I think this might actually work!

This is what I heard:

(Bailey - in a spooky voice) "Threeeeee cups of olive oil! Threeeee cups of toilet water!"

(Emily - in a spooky voice) "And oooonnnneee stem of apple!"

Me: "What?!"

Bailey: "We're making a potion to kill witches.

I think it might work.