Merry Christmas to all!

Rather scatterbrained, only half of our Christmas cards had our name. Oh well...keeps you guessing!

Letter from Santa

Here is a personal letter from Santa to David! Whether or not you "do" the Santa thing, this is a really well done web-site! and entirely free...Have fun! http://portablenorthpole.tv/watch/89e82ef6b970c1cc8609b31064ed716f

The hills are alive...

(just a funny note: I originally typed, "the Hills are alive..." This made me laugh!)

Michael and I went to see Mary Poppins last month on Broadway Across America. Frankly, I was disappointed. There were only 2 complete original songs. A couple more were original but changed in some way and several new songs. It is not that I mind different theatre renditions from the movies, but... They changed the plot so much so that it was hardly recognizable. They took out the most amusing scenes and substituted them for rather menacing ones (I probably would not take a young child). They even added a character! The backdrops and props were wonderful, however, and the "magic" of Mary Poppins was very well done! They had Mary floating up to the balcony, Bert dancing up one side of the stage and upside down across and then back down the other side, coatracks and trees popped out of Mary's carpet bag (and I am still a bit perplexed about this one), tables broke and fixed themselves. All in all, parts were rather clever but on the whole disappointing.

Not so with the Sound of Music!!! It was very well performed and mostly accurate to the movie. (and the few changes were well done, although I am rather puzzled as to why they were made in the first place) I did have a hard time getting over a brunette, little bit plump Julie Andrews, but she had a wonderful voice and again the props were well done. There were even a few highly entertaining scenes where they used unexpected props. I was so enthralled that I forgot for a few minutes that I was not the actual audience for them in Salzburg at their music festival. If you are in Houston (or a place where they tour) and you get the chance to go, I highly recommend it!

The party of the century

Yesterday we attended our 6th party (of 8 that we have this Christmas). It was indeed the party to end all parties (even if I found our other events more intimate and enjoyable). For those who live here locally, you may be familiar with the Lanier party. We were invited since Michael is doing the investigation for one of his cases, involving an inflatable (see the irony later).

We parked around the corner from his house and rode one of the several coach bus shuttles in to his front gates. Michael, already sporting his wrist band, had to pick up ours at will call. Despite wearing his own wristband, producing his ID and being only onr letter off on the last name, they questioned him very closely since they had misspelled our last name (what a surprise since it is almost never spelled correctly). No chance for party crashers!

Once through the gates, we decided to take the train ride around his 30 acre property. Yes, full-size train, complete with train depot. Next, on to one of the food tents. We opted for the Ninfa's fajitas and County Line BBQ buffets. It was unlimited food. (other options were hamburgers and hotdogs) After food, we bypassed all the inflatables (see I thought you might enjoy this irony), the full-sized ferris wheel (I was concerned D would try to climb out while we were at the top), and rode on the carousel instead. David had fun on that. Later, we stopped to pick up hot tea and coffee while eating our funnel cakes and cotton candy before heading to catch a glimpse of the lemurs, parrots, kangaroos, and llama. This led us to the pony ride and the petting zoo (again a favorite for David). There was just enough time before we headed home to get David another funnel cake (he really was fond of those...wonder why? :) ), stop in and listen to the end of the Bon Jovi concert (yes, he was there in person), examine the European style cathedral/chapel and hamlet, and peek at the other carnival rides: the tilt-a-whirl, the free-fall drop, the pirate ship, the balloons, etc... Back on the bus and back to the warmth of our car.

Yes, this Christmas party was a bit chilly, damp, and VERY MUDDY! (we have had so much rain the past several weeks) Yes, it was quite lavish and must have cost a pretty penny. Yes, even a bit over the top... But, yes, we would go again though, simply for the novelty of it all...plus D should enjoy it more as he ages.

Xmas trees and body bags

Growing Pains

Dear son, This month I see the beginnings of the little child you are really becoming. Where did my little baby go?

I have seen the frustration you have felt so often this month as you attempt to be so grown up and can't quite accomplish it...whether it is pushing your truck around the house and getting stuck at corners, or trying to climb on furniture and not quite reaching, or just the strong desire to be so independent and yet still longing for Mama's comfort. We have seen the onset of a few tantrums over such desires and are trying to teach you how to control your emotions, even at an early age.

What a helper you are! You help Mama take off your clothes. You also try to help put your own shoes on. (not quite there yet, but...) You do make messes and take your clothes out of your dresser, but you also help put them back in! :) You push around your ball popper as if it is a vacuum when you watch me vacuum. You also love to help put away extra food that you have not eaten in a little container.

And yes, now you are eating even less than before, if that is possible, although you really enjoyed the funnel cake at the party today. Funny how you looked with suspicion at the pink cotton candy though and wanted nothing of it because of the color!

You are sleeping a bit more than before with shorter naps. You also are still going strong most nights when we put you to bed at 7:00. (but bedtime stays firm for Mama and Daddy's sakes) Guess this is part of the growing up process too...

You are so active and such a climber! You climb literally on everything! (and quite capably most of the time too) When I say, "It is time to eat; come sit down," you immediately run over to our adult kitchen chairs and climb on, sit down and wait for me to feed you that way. Still a bit messy, so Mama moves you to the high chair to eat still.

Peekaboo is also a fun game right now. You love to take all the dirty laundry out of our bathroom cabinets and hide in the cabinets shutting the doors completely behind you. You love to climb in and out of boxes still. You also love to crawl through your 8 foot tunnel (around the created bends) to the other side and back again. You love to open and shut things--doors, dental floss containers, tupperware, drawers, etc...

You also have been found several times in your crib in the morning, trying to balance duplos or books on your toes! This same balancing act occurs on your head all the time as you try to balance tubs, blocks and other items as a hat on your head.

Some of your new favorite toys are those Duplo legos and all cars. In fact, you have added the word, "the car" to your vocabulary. One morning, we were lying in bed with you, as usual a bit squirmy, and I hear, "da caa. da caa. da caa." I look at you and you are frantically pointing to Daddy's slot car next to the bed. How funny! Your Daddy loved this!

You got your two front molars this month, rounding out the number of teeth to an even six!

What a jabbermouth! You especially love talking on the phone--even if no one can understand a word of what you are saying~ You love to be tickled, and you make the funniest faces (clenching your hands and tightening your face--almost like you are having a seizure) upon command. This talent is something you inherited from your uncle Andrew.

You have mastered the lightswitch and love to push all things "buttons." (including your friend "Big Mouth Billy Bass")

This month was also full of multiple outings- including: the zoo (for the 2nd time), your first flight anywhere and trip to VA, several Christmas parties, as well as staying at home with several babysitters for several other Christmas parties.

You have become quite attached to your blanket--you have two favorites, both with a minky fabric on one side and satin on the other.

What an odd juxtaposition you are between little man and tiny baby!

Our sweet boy, we are so thankful to the Lord for you!

Love,

Mama and Daddy