Our Best Winter Yet

When we made the decision to move last year and stay here another 5 years (at least, Rob always reminds me), I decided that I'd better learn to love it then, gosh darn it. Bloom where you're planted and all that...you can tell I was enthusiastic. But we went to UND football games and cheered for the home team. We asked Santa for ice skates for the family (found for cheap, cheap at local thrift stores) and Haley, for one, has discovered a new passion. We persuaded my mom to visit at Thanksgiving and Rob's parents to visit in January. We stocked up on firewood and enjoyed blazing fires most nights all winter long. We went sledding and discovered a local park will lend snowshoes, cross-country skis, ice skates and hockey gear for free - add it all to the list of fun! When we sat down to make our Springtime Countdown Calendar a month ago, I thought, "Wait! We haven't made a snowman yet! Or gone sledding enough! Or taken the kids to a hockey game!" Crazy, I know.

It hasn't all been fun - we had a round of flu early in the winter and again during the holidays, and then the boys have had terrible, lingering coughs this last month. We haven't been able to use our annual passes to the indoor water park because someone is always sick. There have been days and even weeks when we could feel cabin fever setting in. I gave myself ONE day to complain about the weather back in November when it got really cold, and there have been many days when I'm stuffing the kids into their socks, boots, coats, mittens, hats, scarves, buntings and blankets that I was tempted to revert to whining and had to bite my tongue. But you know what? It seems to have paid off...this has been our best winter yet, and we're looking forward to (at least) a few more.

Grandma & Grandpa Brave the Cold

Ah, the love of grandparents is miraculous to be sure. For anyone who knows my dear mother-in-law, they will hardly believe that this is her...outside...in North Dakota...in January. We were so happy Rob's parents were willing to fly out and visit us, especially since they brought some "warm" weather with them and we got a respite from the sub-zero temperatures we'd been having.

The kids were thrilled as always to play with grandma and grandpa, and we enjoyed lots of good food, roaring fires, and our first family ice skating adventure. It was a short visit, but we all loved it! Maybe next year we can visit them in their sunny southern region - that would only be fair, right?

6 Months!

It feels like every other week I'm exclaiming about Alex, "I love this age!" And while it's true that every age has its high points (What can compare with that newborn smell? That first smile? The first blissful slept-for-six-whole-hours night?), I really do adore the 6-month mark. Maybe its just that I'm finally feeling like myself again and life has resumed some semblance of normalcy - or at least settled into the "new normal" - but I just can't get enough of this cutie. At 6 months, Alex:


-Is sitting up (mostly). We still bank him with pillows for the occasional flop.

-Loves his pacifiers, but ONLY the green newborn ones. Not blue, pink, or anything else. Santa brought him a bunch of green ones so we'll always have a back-up. Several times a day we can be heard shouting to one of the older kids, "Find me a green bink!" Don't believe me? You try putting him to sleep with the wrong one. You're welcome to try anytime.

-Has decided he loves mashed potatoes. Also bananas, but not much else besides milk.

-Is rolling over consistently enough that we can no longer leave him on elevated surfaces or in the bouncy seat.

-Love, love, loves bath time. He starts kicking as soon as he hits the water, with a very intense look of concentration on his face. Alternating-leg kicks and froggy double-leg ones that soak whoever is watching him. Maybe we have a future swimmer on our hands...watch out, Michael Phelps.

-Is a big fan of my hair. Or anyone's, I guess, I just happen to be holding him a lot. I have to admit that I kind of love when he'll fall asleep with a handful of it clenched tightly in his pudgy little hand.

-Is universally adored by everyone in the house. He gets so excited when we pick Haley up from school and seems to save some of his biggest smiles for her. He laughs at Jake, who bounces around and plays peek-a-boo to get a giggle out of him. He is so sweet, still mellow most of the time, and smiles at everyone we meet. It's hard to remember when he wasn't part of our family. I can't wait to see what fun the next 6 months bring.

Not Getting Any Younger

As requested (and reminded, year after year after year), we did not make a big to-do about Rob's birthday. We had dinner at Texas Road House but since he was sick and really not feeling well, we were very kind and didn't make him sit on the saddle. However we did surprise him with a cake and candles - it would be unforgivable in our house to let a birthday go by without cake! Just look at them - what lucky kids to have such a great dad. They keep him young, no matter how many birthdays go by.

Happy Birthday, Bo!

Haley's going to look like a hockey player soon, her teeth are falling out one after the other! She was so excited that her first top front tooth came out.

Christmas and a Blizzard, 2009

Nothing makes you count your blessings like being snowed in for Christmas. A major blizzard blew into town Christmas Eve and we were so grateful that we had everything we needed for the holiday. Haley and Jake were counting down the minutes, it seemed, until Santa would arrive and we somehow managed to corral them for a Christmas Eve dinner & telling of the nativity story before letting them open their one gift that night. They both knew to expect pajamas but Haley was thrilled to discover that hers was a nightgown to match her Samantha doll, and Jake was excited that he and Alex had matching ones. Once we wrestled them into bed Rob and I had a great time playing Santa - we always go overboard but no one seems to complain.

The next morning we listened to Jake get up at 6:30 to use the bathroom, then pause in the hallway before racing into our room to announce that Santa had filled all the stockings and left them in the hall. This was our first Christmas in this house and it was fun to figure out how to do the "reveal." It was also fun, as always, to watch Haley and Jake and their drastically different reactions to their Santa presents. Jake bounces and shouts and races from toy to toy, while Haley freezes with a huge grin on her face while she takes it all in. These kids are so amazing and we feel so blessed to be able to surprise and delight them; Christmas is certainly 100 times more fun with kids!

We spent the entire morning opening gifts (with lots of play-breaks), and the afternoon snacking and playing and reading by the roaring fire as the snow drifts grew outside. The entire town was shut down and we were grateful we hadn't planned any travel, as all the highways and airports were closed. But despite being stranded from friends and far from family, we felt the love from you all and hope that your holiday was just as wonderful!

Woohoo! New pajamas!

Alex was not very good at unwrapping. Good thing he had a big brother and sister to help.

Santa surprised Haley with a bed for her doll Samantha. Painted and decorated and with sheets and a real quilt! Santa was very proud of herself - ahem, himself.

Santa brought ice skates for the whole family, even Samantha!

So Christmas-y and cute!

Laying among the stocking spoils.

Ready for the morning.

Santa brought new sleds for the kids so they braved the blizzard to play with them. The snow drifts were big enough to sled down...it would be a while before we could try out the ice skates at the rink in the nearby park.

Christmas Pictures 2009

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I was very late taking our Christmas pictures this year and they did not turn out technically perfect. But they do capture the kids' personalities and that's always my biggest goal.

We hope you all have a wonderful holiday season and a very Happy New Year!

Christmas Fun and Decorations

The stockings are hung by the chimney with care, and Christmas activities are in full swing. We finally got to attend the annual "Santa Village" that the park department puts on and the kids had a great time making crafts and riding horses outside while waiting for Santa to show up. We finally got some snow and are anticipating another White Christmas!

Grandparents have been asking for pics of our tree and decorations...Rob also posted some video of the house on his FaceBook page.

Yeah, I know I'm cute. All bundled up and ready to head outside.

Making ornaments at Santa Village. What a fun event!

The kids got to ride on the horses while waiting for sleigh rides and Santa.

2009 gingerbread house! At least SOME of the candy made it onto the house.

Gingerbread

Haley came home with an assignment this week to decorate a gingerbread person for their gingerbread unit at school. We traced and cut one out for Jake to do too, and then pulled out all the craft supplies and went to work. They both had very clear ideas of what they wanted to do and the finished projects are below:

Haley came up with the idea for the hair and shoes herself - so sweet!

I just laugh and laugh whenever I look at this - it's so hilarious! Jake did this ALL by himself and was very proud of his finished product. He says it's a "Daddy" one...Um, I'm sure Rob is very flattered...and for the record does not wear dangly gold belts.

Thanksgiving & Mom's Visit

Grateful. Thankful. Pleased. Contented. Happy. Appreciative. I could go on and on describing how wonderful it was to have my mom out to visit for Thanksgiving. She arrived on the train from Seattle on Sunday night and the next day we dived right into the projects we had planned for the week. She painted stunning works of art on the kids' bedroom walls, did most of the holiday baking and cooking, and beat me soundly at Bananagrams. She also did the table centerpiece and we made these cute turkey place cards with the kids.

The kids of course couldn't get enough of "Grandma Ann," and the week flew by all too quickly. It was a much-needed and much-appreciated visit, and the only thing that would have made it better was to have my brothers and sisters out here also...you're all invited next year!

10, 9, 8, 7... I LOVE this retro rocket Grandma painted on Jake's wall. The jet stream curves around the corner and we're planning to add some stars around it with glow-in-the-dark paint. Blast off!

Although this was not the design I had imagined, it's what Haley picked out and we were all delighted with the finished picture - so cute!
MOM!

Per Breckon family tradition, we put up the Christmas tree the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

Is Alex really 5 1/2 months old already? He had his first solid food (rice cereal) this week - yum!

Rob and our little pumpkin! Look at those cheeks!