Eco-Cool... or not

So... every Christmas Jim and I try to figure out way(s) to simplify the madness and focus on the good stuff (which usually isn't stuff). It's a bit tricky when there's kids involved (13 neices/nephews). We honestly WANT to be revelant to their lives, but are a bit uncomfortable with the buying-lots-of-toys scenerio. Don't get me wrong, we succomb more often than not, but generally there's lots of thought and some teeth-gnashing trying to get a balance.

ANYWAY, one of the things we try to do is recycled wrapping when possible. We learned early on that newspapers- even the comics- fail to impress the under 4 set. In fact, most toddlers refused to acknowledge those boxes as a gift! So we've decorated grocery bags with stamps, painted and re-used old blueprint papers, etc.

This year, I thought we hit a real winner. We bought all the kids new ____ (ha! you didn't think I'd write BEFORE the 25th, didya?). And then decided to 'wrap' the presents in pillowcases specially designed for each child. Well, the crafting part didn't happen... but we did scour a few thrift stores looking for kid designed cases in good condition! We get home and have much fun, ahem, assembling the gifts one by one, then putting each into a 'family' pile. Then I turned around and discovered that....

very cool, very recycled, very fun piles of gifts inside pillowcases...

mostly just look like laundry. (sigh)

Sometimes I wonder what the assorted little ones think when they get boxes from us...

Rolling right along...

I've written so many blog entries in my head, it's amazing to log on and see... none of them. Hmm. Perhaps because I'm stuck between a writing deadline on one side and a broken sewing maching/mailing-gift-deadline on the other?

Kaden News: he's rolled over TWICE this week. Very concentrated effort, so it's not happening all the time or quickly, but definitely a milestone ;) He's been a little outta sorts this week too- perhaps he caught a bit of a cold.

And with all those posts in my head... none of them are rising to the top. So Goodnight, Gracie.

Happiest Baby Award

start 'em young...

Earlier this week, we had the 4 month "well baby" checkup for Kaden. He had been a little fussy, and we weren't sure if he caught something up north (he had lots of choices: head cold, sinus infection or stomach flu). Or maybe it was just that we strapped the poor kid into his car seat for three. straight. days. with over 8 hours on the road each day? Hard to tell. I was a tad nervous, in any case. He was a bit fussy with the nurse, and mostly stared at the doctor. Then we lay him down on his back for the exam, and... watch out! He starts kicking, and squealing, and laughing! The doc says, and I am not making this up, "Well, you win the happiest baby of the day award." You could hear some other kid screaming away down the hall, but not our boy. Happy baby, indeed! There was no certificate or anything, but I was pretty darn proud. As I type this though, I'm realizing our appt. was at 8:30 am... but still, he won!

Of course, that was also BEFORE he got the vac shots. We only had two given, instead of the recommended 8. (Yes, eight!) Good thing, too, because he's a tad grumpy/clingy/fussy and generally unhappy the last 2 days. But in spurts, so it's doable. Well, mostly doable because Mom's helping out (thanks!). Jim's out of town at a youth minister conference. Before you think he got the easy end out, know that it's in CLEVELAND, he's not fully recovered from the stomach flu, and there's some kind of white pollution floating around that artic city. Poor guy!

Holidays... on warp speed

Can you describe your Thanksgiving in five words or less? Here's ours:

Kaden's first.... "stomach flu".... freezing



I thought I'd be kind and spare you the details. Except for the 3 funniest parts:

Nephew, age 10, upon hearing his family is leaving b/c his uncle and grandfather are throwing up in the background:

"What's so bad about that? They just sound like ninja warriors: hoo-YAH" Picture him making karate chops and kicks every time a noise arises from the backroom...


Nephew, age 6, telling me he's afraid of Santa. Me: so how are you going to get all that stuff you want if you won't even sit on the man's lap? Nephew: "Hmm, that's a good one, Titi. Let me think about it."


Nephew, age 7, brother of 5 others, looking at Kaden: "Aunt Kristi, wouldn't it be neat if you had NINE kids?" I sputtered through my coffee, as I'm not ready to even think about #2 yet...


It took us THREE days to drive home- and each day had at least 8 hours of driving, and 2 hours of a crying baby (no, not the driver). Yucky traffic. And it was COLD every day. We had talked of moving to North Carolina... but you know what? It's still pretty darn cold up there. Maybe Georgia...


After ignoring Christmas music and displays and ads for the past 6 weeks, I am suddenly suprised that the big day is about 3 weeks away. Yikes! I'd like to decorate the house and set up a crafty, present making station... but, um, where? Cause our little bundle of joy has taken every free inch of floor space up! And now he can actually grab things, not just swat at them... and it looks like he'll be able to roll over by Christmas. So this will be interesting...


AND-- this weekend is the Feast of St. Nicholas, the saint who inspired Santa. Check out fun stuff here.



Here's a belated 4 month photo of Kaden. I think he looks longer- you?