Max loves Shrek

Max (mis) pronouncing Shrek.........viewer discretion advised, but it's too hilarious not to share!

Our Christmas Video

http://gallery.mac.com/jonpvanwagoner

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL...........

AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!

My little man!

My little guy got his first "real" haircut (I have been doing mini-trims on him for a few months now) last Tuesday.  He walked into the salon a baby, and came out a little boy!  It was a little sad to see his baby curls falling to the floor, but in the end, I got a handsome little man who was so very proud of himself.  He sat like a little statue the whole time, stone-faced.  Here are some before and after pics:

BEFORE

AND AFTER..........

SIDE VIEW

THE STYLISH SURFER BOY!

A new holiday tradition

I finally have someone to go to The Nutcracker with.........last night Olivia and I went on a mommy/daughter date that will surely become an annual tradition!  Our evening began by dressing up in our holiday best.  Doesn't Olivia look adorable?  Then, we headed downtown.  It was a very bustling holiday eve downtown, so we parked close to the auditorium, then hoofed it to the nearest restaurants.  We finally decided to eat at Macaroni Grill!  Our wait was almost 40 minutes, and when we finally sat down we were both starving!  Olivia opted for Fettuccine Alfredo, and for me, the Roasted Chicken Cannelloni...........yum!  We had to eat fast, after such a long wait, and then RUN back up the hill (about 8 blocks) to the auditorium! We made it in the nick of time.  The Nutcracker was magical, as always.  Olivia absolutely loved it, she was mesmerized.  It was a late night, though, and my date fell asleep on the ride home.  Thanks, Olivia, for being the best little daughter a mommy could ask for!

I had so much fun tonight putting together my........

Play mobile Nativity Set!  I found it! Sitting all by its lonesome on the shelf at Target tonight, and it was just what I needed to lift my spirits!  This is the shortlist of why I love it so:

1.  I put it together all by myself, and was giddy doing it!

2. The little people are darling, and all of their accessories snap on perfectly!

3. The camel has real rope on his headdress.

4. The camel HAS a headdress.

5.  The cardboard backdrop is not TOO cheesy.

6.  The three kings are unique and have little armbands that color coordinate with their robes.

7.  The kings/wise men's gifts SNAP into their hands.

8.  The angel has a wand (snapped in her hand).

9.  Joseph has a lantern (you guessed it, snapped in his hand!).

10.My kids get to play with this set, and learn about the Nativity story through play!     

WHEN HAVE I EVER BEFORE HAD SO MUCH FUN FOR $16.99?

Our 2007 family tree!

Snow is falling all around!

Last weekend we took our first annual trip to the mountain to start out the holiday season right!  First stop, our favorite donut shop!  It's a good thing this shop is an hour away, otherwise I would partake on a daily basis!  Bar none, the best donuts I've ever had. Krispy Kreme, eat your heart out!

Max concurs.

And then, we hit the slopes!  It was so fun.  Tons of snow.  No wind.  We climbed up those hills and flew down them over and over again!

The kids watch big sister!

Weeeeeee!!!!

Overflowing with junk

I would love lots of comments on this one:

I am totally overwhelmed with Olivia's art stuff!  She has coloring books, crayons, markers, sticky notes, a gazillion notepads, pencils, erasers, jewelry crafts, hama beads, you name it, and they are coming out of the walls, floor ducts, and electrical outlets it seems.  It is making me crazy.  Several times per week I clean off the bar, which is where she piles them up, and put them on the shelves in her closet, and then one by one they reappear.  It's a total rat maze for me.  I feel like I am stuck in the movie Groundhog's day!

I live in a tiny house, and I need tips on how to keep down this clutter control.  If I am having this many problems with one little girl, what am I going to do when Max and Molly start having their own "stuff?"

HELP!!!