Happy Anniversary, 15 years.

No, that's not good.

This won't do either, little girl.


Maybe a little better. Can you go higher?


There you go.
Happy 15th Anniversary you two. Two days later. Nice photographer you got there.

Early Merry Christmas

Last night the kids exchanged gifts that they bought for each other. Surprisingly, the each did a spectacular job of choosing just the right present for the other child.

Alex was beside himself to have his very OWN sketchbook. But ever the generous little boy, by morning, he had written inside the front cover: "Anyone may use this sketchbook." He also wrote: "Just don't waste paper and put your name beside your drawing. You may draw whatever you like, but I prefer wars."



From Alex, Ethan was given a handheld, spring-release pinball game. Actual balls have to roll into the pockets and actual math has to be computed in an actual head to figure out the score. No fancy-schmancy (super-fun) Wii in our home.

Dog always has to be in the middle.

Alex made me an ornament from his handprint. I should have taken a picture, it's really cute. But I'm too tired, see? (yawn)

And Evelyn got this really cute monkey from Ethan. He spent a whole $8 of his own allowance on it and she thought it was worth every penny.

Goofy Evelyn

This is what Evelyn does when you tell her she can have marshmellows: Stinker.

Christmas Singing

The kids' concert last week. Ethan is in the middle, hard to see. I had a lousy seat and couldn't really get him. Very short videos at the end with some of the singing.

Santa Visits SOC-AF

A couple weeks ago Ric's office had a party for the children in the group with face painting, crafts, cookies, and lots of yummy breakfast food. The kids had a blast.



And then Santa showed up and each child got to sit on his lap and tell him whether or not they'd been good this year. Santa actually had a REALLY, REALLY long chat with each child. Ethan and Alex told him that they "sometimes" (all the time) fight, but that they'd try to be good. When Santa asked what they were going to get their mother for Christmas, he got blank stares (uh-oh).

This present was for both of them to share which, when we got home, led mostly to tears and unhappiness. After Ric helped them navigate (for the 1,000th time) the nuances of sharing, taking turns, being considerate, giving a little, and a sense of fairness, they built a really cool lego set and played for hours.

This little girl also got a long talk from Santa. When he asked her if her brothers were nice to her, she replied, "sometimes." Here he is asking her if she wanted him to take Ethan and Alex's present back? She was sweet and said "no."

Boy those boys are lucky.