our boys--and girl--and the rest of our life: 2008

Friday, December 19, 2008

The Big Ultrasound

On Monday we had our "big" ultrasound--the one where we get to see all the little parts of Sprinkle. The four ventricles of the heart, the little hands, the little feet, the face, and this time we saw girl parts for the first time! So even though this blog will remain "Our Boys and the Rest of Our Life," you can start thinking of it as "Our Boys and Girl. . . ." And congratulations to McCance for being right all along. He insisted it was a girl from nearly the beginning.

A teeny foot

Tiny hands and fingers--it was more amazing to see them move!

She yawned on "camera."

And here is her little face.

Another view of her face

Monday, December 8, 2008

Sunday Pancakes

Chocolate chip, of course. Scott and McCance prefer real maple syrup. Bradford goes for just butter (Earth Balance, actually). And me--fruit. It was blueberries and strawberries this time.

O Tannenbaum

The other exciting part of a Saturday St. Nicholas Day was the choosing of a Christmas tree and the decorating of it. We got a Fraser Fir this year from the Sertoma Club, so no cutting down the tree pics (since we didn't travel to NC for it).

Scott worked on the lights while the boys and I made our own tinsel tree complete with Shrinky Dink ornaments (a St. Nicholas Day gift) to make for it.

Then we added ornaments and wooden cranberries and then the perfect Bradford-made paper angel topper. It's very festive.

Happy St. Nicholas Day!

We all love when St. Nicholas' Feast Day falls on a Saturday because we just make it a day of fun, seasonal celebration. The most exciting fun for the boys was emptying their stockings.

Thursday, December 4, 2008

The Birthday Party

Our church has a Birthday Party for Jesus every year. It's a festive and celebratory evening of praise and fun and learning. Bradford and Scott enjoyed the fellowship of that on their own this year. McCance had a mysterious rash along with some other symptoms, so we decided I'd stay home with him. Thankfully I was one of the cupcake makers for the big party, so I had some extra so we could have our own little party. (Because at three--and being McCance--the cupcake is the highlight of the party anyway.)

So after singing "Happy Birthday" to Jesus, he blew out the candle and enjoyed the birthday treat. (Notice the dog taking in the lovely scent of cupcake with chocolate frosting.)

The Trip Back Home and the Morning After

It was long, as usual, but good this time. Bradford did a lot of reading. We stopped in Tennessee to stretch and eat a real dinner. The boys fell asleep shortly after that, and we finally pulled in our garage a bit after midnight--tired, but so glad to be home.

The next morning was like Christmas after the gifts are opened--and you get to dig in and play with them! The first few hours were devoted to the previously mentioned Lincoln Log set. Later they pulled out new Legos, Matchbox cars (with a police station), books, and I began the usual after-a-trip Laundry Marathon. Bradford and McCance had such fun while we were gone, but I think coming home was just as fabulous for them.

Three Babies

Three babies will be added to my side of the family come late spring, doubling the number of grandchildren for my parents. Here are, as my brother put it, three pregnant broads.

Alisa (EDD-April 30/May 4), Stephanie (EDD-May 11), and Cara (EDD-May 24?)

And so you can really tell I'm pregnant and not just eating a lot. . .

No Place Like Home for Christmas

We have a current tradition of staying at our home with our immediate family on Christmas day, but for the past several years we've been "going home" for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving. I think Ev and Steph started this tradition so we could all avoid mailing gifts. This year I could hardly keep track of my two boys' gifts as they were opened while watching Lexi (and the grown-ups, too) in between. The upcoming years will be even more of a challenge with 6 kiddos. (Not all mine. Check the next post for details.)

Aunt Cara with "her" boys

"Thank you, Grandma, for the train."

Thaddeus and Cara

Lexi's new apron (made by me)

McCance and Scott (background) and
Bradford and Lexi check out the opened gifts

Lexi's favorite gift was Elmo, otherwise known as "Bay"

Uncle Evan and Aunt Stephanie know my boys love
to build--and play with trains. A Lincoln Log set with train and tracks!!!

The Page Family Thanksgiving 2008

I guess after 13 years, the Page Family Thanksgiving spread isn't quite the spectacle that it used to be to my sweet husband, who comes from a family who might be a bit smaller and must not love food as much as mine. So the photos of the food seem to be non-existent this year, but there was plenty for all and even a few more if you had wanted to come. Dessert was, as always in our family, the highlight and Aunt Luella provided greatly for us in this course.

The other tradition is taking the family picture. Although the actual progression of getting 27 people situated is really more fun than the final picture itself.