Pictures with Santa!

Ryanne got to go first. She gave Santa a big hug, then sat on his lap and said, "Santa, I want two purple presents for Christmas." Last week she told me, "Mom, I MIGHT get TWO (holding up two fingers, in case I wasn't clear on what that meant) presents for Christmas." That has recently changed into what she has been telling all of us, including Santa: that she wants two "purple" presents. Finally today I had to ask what that meant: does the present itself have to be purple, or just the wrapping paper? "Ummmm...just the wrapping paper," she said.

Alexander of course just looked confused. We couldn't get him to smile, but at least he wasn't screaming in terror.

Just for you, Christina!

Ryanne in front of the tree

Waiting patiently for cookies.

First batch is DONE! They are decorating Christmas cookies in school on Tuesday and parents are invited. Then, we are going to see Santa and get pictures taken.

The least bad of Alexander and my attempts at a timed picture.

He walks! With his pusher anyway. When Ryanne was learning to walk, I was so excited. Then, after she could walk, I realized it wasn't actually that great. This time around I figured I would know better. But no. I'm still excited every time he balances for 5 seconds, or attempts a step.

Not sure if any of that actually made it into his mouth.

I think the word "chillaxin' " is insanely stupid but for some reason it comes to mind here.

A couple of weeks ago, I went to Panama, which is a beautiful country, on business. We had time to sneak away to the Miraflores locks on the Panama Canal. It was hard to take pictures because I wasn't up on the railing, so I had to hold my camera over someone's shoulder. So this is as good as it gets. What I would like to point out, though, is how narrow this thing is. I was a little disappointed, honestly. I thought it was going to be wide, like the Columbia River. I know that the real interest lies in the engineering marvel and how it was done so long ago with rudimentary equipment and the way they manufactured the locks and how 30,000 people died (nice work, France) etc, but still. Of COURSE a ton of boats have to go around Argentina instead of through the Canal. IT'S TINY! I did learn that they are in the process of building a new, wider one which will allow larger ships through. So that will be good.

Other points about Panama:

1. Here, there are slums, and there is waterfront property, and the two seldom meet. There, you would see a super nice, beach front high rise condo complex, and at the foot of it - the Panamanian version of Slumdog Millionaire. It was bizarre.

2. You know how on your commute home every night, there's always that one crazy a$$hole who speeds, cuts people off, runs lights, and generally just drives like a jerk? That's how everyone drives in Panama City. It was awesome.

3. They take the American dollar. They call their currency the Balboa. It isn't. It's all about the Benjamins there, just like here.

4. The hospital we visited was called Complejo Hospitalario Metropolitano Dr. Arnulfo Arias Madrid. Take that, Kadlec Medical Center.

5. I drank the water and did not die.

6. Also, I ate crocodile. Tasted like chicken.

School Pictures

No, I won't be paying $12.50 per sheet for the pleasure of possessing any of these lovely portraits. Has this photographer ever taken pictures of children before? Just curious.

Thanksgiving: All about the Pie

Delicious Pie NOM NOM NOM

What? Is there something on my face?

Little Miss Dainty eating her chocolate pie.

What to do on a windy, cold weekend:

Eat oatmeal while wearing sunglasses

Watercolor artwork

Make a fort

Isn't he handsome?

Ryanne got to go to Disney on Ice with her Grandma - girls' night out!

Who else but Papa would dress up like Mickey Mouse to take Minnie trick or treating? What a lucky girl.

Halloween Preview

I'm not going to be here for Halloween so I put the kids in their costumes tonight and took pictures - they looked so cute!

Minnie Mouse

Sock Monkey Alexander

Bad attitude sock monkey

Bring it on, winter

Some early morning scribbles. And I mean early. This was a Saturday, but they woke me up at 6:30 am anyway.

Unintentional mohawk/fauxhawk. Alexander's head has been really dry recently, so I smeared a bunch of lotion on it. This gave him, as Ryanne put it, "crazy hair" so we shaped it into something cooler.

Hi mom!

I went to get some eggs, and when I came back, my ingredients had been nicely stacked.

Smiling Faces

Look what I can do!

Just one problem...

I'm not sure how to sit back down...

I've learned a lot about Ryanne recently. She's expressed her likes and dislikes to me (I like my dad, I don't like this soup) for ages but she has recently started being more specific about who she is. Yesterday she told me, "I love Puppy [stuffed animal seen below]. He is my best friend." Then, when she was coloring, she announced, "Pink is my favorite color!" And I swear I didn't teach her that one.


Alexander is doing his own growing. He has finally mastered crawling (hands and knees now, not commando) and his two top front teeth broke through yesterday, pretty much simultaneously, which explains why he has been such a joy to live with recently. He is also pulling himself up to stand on everything he can, which has resulted in many tumbles and bruises. We'll see how long those front teeth last.

Above is the picture I got when I told him to show me his teeth.

But you can see three of the four here!

Ryanne and I left the living room the other day, and when we came back Alexander had crawled away and we could not find him. We could hear him talking, and finally Ryanne said "He's behind my easel!" We rolled up the paper...

and there he was!

Ryanne's Ready to Wear Collection

This is what happens when we let her dress herself.

Legwarmers are a necessity in most outfits, as are a pair of mama's shoes, preferably heels.

The Favorite Cup

8 months old!!!

When did it happen?