Milk Chocolate...

Never tasted so good than when combined with warm milk and frosty noses, or so the kids decided after romping in their first Dallas blizzard. I am not referring to the one that came over Christmas and actually left two or three inches. That one we missed. No, they were delighted to have driven through a wintery wonderland in which "the snow covered all the grass in that yard!"

(Not so much in our yard)

Upon arriving home from our morning escape, they bolted from the car, yelling, "there is enough of it to eat!!!" I was forced to close the all-you-can-eat buffet when I realized some of the participants were consuming more grass than the sought after ice crystals.




Thankfully a cup of hot coco is as good at warming the nose as it is at washing down the yard clippings.

Luci, enjoying her first hot chocolate and her first bottle. After having stumbled upon this combination we also discovered this is the only way she will enjoy either.

Christmas Morning

This year we celebrated Christmas Day at Gia and Pop pop's house, dividing four bedrooms and three bathrooms between two nursers, two fit throwers, three bed wetters, six mommies and daddies, one uncle and two grandparents.

Oh, and one giant horse.

Whether it is more appropriate to say "no one slept more than necessary" or "no one necessarily slept" depends, I suppose, on the lot into which you were divided, but it is certainly necessary to say that sleep did not interfere with any of the fun.

Here are some pictures from our Christmas morning.


Luci's new push cart and thrift store baby doll suitcase, accompanied by her two favorite baby dolls from home.



Isabelle's baby doll bed and matching thrift store suitcase with "Baby Ruth" from home. The matching suitcases thrilled Isabelle until we both realized they gave a less discerning one year old excuse to nab them both and reason to be indignant when reproached.


Of the multiple possibilities for Peter's new Kinex, these are the two creations settled upon by his uncles, primarily because the Wii was turned on in the back room, not because their imaginations were satisfied.

The kids are still amazed that the airplane was hanging from the ceiling.


Isabelle, processing with baby Jesus to lay him in his manger on Christmas morning.


The rest of His procession.


Peter has built at least two things with his Kinex every day since Christmas.



PT enjoying a ride on a couch,... oh, I mean a horse.


Isn't he cute in his new jacket!



Baby Maher's first Christmas.


The Queen
She enjoyed the day.



In the end, we all found a way to catch some rest.

Merry Christmas!

To all our Friends and Family, we wish you a very Merry Christmas!

(courtesy of my sister and her camera)

We hope your Christmas Season is full of wonder for the new life given to all of us on Christmas Day,

And that you have time to reflect on Love Incarnate, resting upon our mother Mary's lap this Christmas Season.

May you have another to share the joy such reflections bring!

May your celebrations be filled with laughter,

and merriment!

And may the peace of our new born Lord be with you through out the coming year!

A Lesson

Free of Charge.

First, push the chair into position.

Next, put the right snaps together.

Third, put the left snaps together.

Got it?


(She is SO proud of herself.)