Reason no.857.

Aside from your smile, which lights my eyes when you walk into a room, here's another reason I love you so -

This morning, Monday, Christmas vacation still, Daddy home, too. You tiptoed to our door, closed it. I vaguely remember you holding out a container, asking is this plain yogurt, and then a little later I unscrewed the top from the strawberry jam.

And then there you were with bowls on our nightstands, and cups of water, too. Inside, a scoop of plain yogurt next to a dallop of the preserves, covered in granola and a lot of pepitas. The whole kitchen cleaned up, and you so very proud of yourself.

I love you!

And to all a good night!

We hope you had a wonderful Christmas Day and hope that the rest of 2010 is restful and happy!

And, in case you were looking for a new Christmas song to add to your holiday playlist, how about this one that Alla's been singing -

Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere, go tell it on the mountain, Jesus Christ galore!

Rainbow in the snow.

Isn't a rainbow on a Monday, on a snowy day, or on any day just the loveliest thing? We're enjoying our day-long snowfall, looking forward to Alla's last day of school on Wednesday and her and Daddy being home from Thursday into the New Year. We're crafting up fun little gifts, too, and enjoying the quiet.

Frosty book.

The children were gifted a recordable Hallmark book as one of their 24 Days of Christmas. Nana and Pappi gave them the Frosty the Snowman one, and they surely love it.

Fisher spent a big part of Monday morning engrossed. Listening, turning the page. Listening, turning the page.

I love this one. Little finger to little lip.
Though Alla had enjoyed it bunches when it was first opened Sunday morning, she came home after school on Monday and enjoyed it even more.

Thanks for helping make our 24 days joyous, Nana + Pappi!

Ten on Tuesday.

1. Fisher always asks what's for dinner like this: What are we having for dinner night? I then generally do everything I can to pretend I didn't hear him so he'll say it again.

2. These measuring cups make me want to go out and buy little hooks for underneath a kitchen cabinet, just so I can display them.

3. I am nearly finished with ROOM, which I highly recommend.

4. Next up is The Passage, which Ron has been waiting for me to read since summertime, and which I hope I can finish before the new year. I have this weird thing about finishing a book before the first of the year so I can start fresh.

5. Alla picked up Happy Birthday, Moon at bedtime last night, and she read it to US!

6. Today was Fisher's last day of school before the Christmas break. When we go back in January, we'll go together on Tuesdays and then by himself on Thursdays! He's doing so well, I think he's ready for it.

7. I made beef stew for the first time this weekend, and it was super delicious. If you make this recipe, it is perfect for two adults and two children who've never had beef stew before and aren't inclined to try new things. However, if there are more adults joining you or you're expecting more saucy children, then definitely double it.

8. Did I forget to mention we were snowed in this weekend? I'm sure you've heard, but in case you haven't we got somewhere between 17-24 inches of snow on Saturday, which means that in some spots there were 2-3 foot drifts and that the pile at the corner of our lawn (hard to say that word in the middle of winter) is at least as tall as Ron. Fisher asked this morning if I could put him on top of that mountain.

9. The big snow definitely put a cramp in our plans to get a tree this weekend. Oh, well, it'll just be that much fresher for Christmas!

10. One of my last things on the Christmas to-do list is helping Alla and Fisher make their gifts for each other. Will have to show pictures of that process and finished products. It's the first year doing it, now that Fisher is old enough to help and also understand a little bit. I might be most excited for this aspect of Christmas!

Something new.

Look closely, see if you can see it, the new thing, the new part of Fisher and our lives.

There. There it is - Fisher now has an insulin pump! So we're a little busy figuring things out, learning, tired from round-the-clock checks.

Happy Monday!

Ten on Tuesday.

1. A question from Alla: Does God have a wife?

2. A statement from Fisher: I'm going to draw an observation about your hay-er.


3. Fisher's up there in his nap singing, The more we get together, the happier we'll be.


4. Alla is currently sorting her ginormous stuffed animal basket. Not to give any away, mind you. No, they all have names and are very dear to her. She's just got this idea that the most important ones need to be in the basket that stays in her room and the others need to find a different place in the house.


5. Yesterday I went to the Mall of America.


6. What an adorable ornament idea!


7. Normally we eat between 6-6:30 and it takes forever and then it's straight to bath. Last night Fisher said he was starving so we ate around 5:30, it miraculously didn't take forever, and then the kids had time to play while the adults finished their drinks while lounging in the living room. It was quite nice.


8. We got 6-7 inches of snow on Saturday, and it is just beautiful around here.


9. I picked up stamps today for holiday cards!


10. Last week a new recycling can was delivered because the city has chosen a new contractor for our recycling as of the new year. The new one is blue, the old one is green. Fisher threw an all-out fit the morning it was delivered, screaming and crying for them to take it back. Ten minutes of protesting the new can. Thankfully, it seems to be over.

Rainbow dress.

The birthday rainbow dress got put on a hook in the playroom, next to princess dresses, tutus, doctor outfit and capes, but was recently rediscovered and Alla could not wait to wear it to school. Today was the day, she hopped out of bed and brought it into the bathroom with her, because apparently it would be too long to wait to put it on after using the bathroom.

I know this dress makes her happy. She makes us happy. I hope that she will always be this outspoken, loud, independent-minded, colorful.

Ten on Tuesday.

1. I have no idea what's for dinner. Anyone who knows me knows that this is not like me. I'm extremely panicked.

2. The culprit? Thanksgiving! You do this ginormous shopping trip and on Sunday realize it was all for ONE meal. ONE. And there is nothing else to eat for the rest of the week.

3. Today is the day (usually there are one or two in a month) that Fisher has decided not to nap (go figure, it was also a school day, you'd think he'd be exhausted), so he's up there singing, Alla and me, sitting in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g!

4. How happy am I that I have that down for posterity.

5. Oh, I do have a bag of tortilla soup in the freezer! Drats, I just remembered that it was part of the batch that was so fiery my lips nearly fell off. Don't think the kids will be eating that. FYI: Make sure you don't pick up chopped jalapenos instead of diced green chiles. And if you do, double check that you don't add them to your soup. They're hot.

6. Alla got "bus sick" on the way to school yesterday. I'm worried about this.

7. Fisher is doing oh so good in school! Two more weeks til Christmas break, and then when we start back up in January, he will go on Thursdays all by himself! I can hardly believe that he's old enough to do that!

8. The house is decorated for Christmas!

9. Tomorrow starts the 24 Days of Christmas. Alla cannot wait! Fisher is going to be amazed once he realizes what is going on. I can't wait to get it all recorded!

10. The kids are both in love with Sid the Science Kid. Love love love this show.

Gobble, gobble.

Turkey Day started out with bacon, sweet potato biscuits, coffee, and the parade. Fisher was into the parade for about 15 minutes and then he was completely over it and wanting to watch his own show, Sid the Science Kid I think. I at least got to sit there long enough to finish my coffee and read the paper before the day of cooking began!We had special guests, Nana and Pappi! Here's Fisher trying to make his duck face for me. And trying not to laugh.

Here he's asking Pappi if he has his duck face on!

I could never make this whole meal without my Mom! Thanks, Mom!

See the steam?

My goofball of a husband, who I am very, very thankful for!

Fisher said it was taking beary longer for his food to be ready, so he passed the time drawing on the chalkboard.

I am so thankful for two healthy, happy, wonderful, sweet, cuddly children.

Last but not least, the wishbone! I'm pretty sure Alla asked for a magic wand with real magic in it. Or maybe a giant snowflake punch. Not sure. Either way it was a wonderful weekend!

Ten on Tuesday.

1. One of my favorite food blogs, Dinner: A Love Story, has our 24 Days of Christmas number boxes featured today!

2. They also have a book. It's on my nightstand. I review all cookbooks from the library first, since we have so many food-things to work around here. I have now read it cover to cover and added it to my Amazon wish list.

3. Fisher's favorite thing to do lately is play sink. I love how babyish he looks here. And I love remembering how little Alla loved that activity so much, too.
4. Her favorite activity is art, always art. Always creating something. And always wearing a headband. That doesn't fit.

5. Daddy's favorite activity is worshipping his iPad.

6. I do not like how tall and big boyish he looks here.

7. Our favorite Thanksgiving book is Thanksgiving at the Tappleton's. Oh, three-year-old Alla would request that one night after night well after Thanksgiving. Hurry and get to the library before the big day!

8. Today's Thanksgiving tasks are done! Cranberry sauce is in the fridge, and dry ingredients for both Coconut Apple Cake and biscuits are measured out in baggies.

9. Friday the whole family went to Daddy's work to see How To Train Your Dragon. Fisher did great!!

10. One year ago today we began a three-day stay in the hospital when Fisher was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. I am so incredibly thankful that we haven't left the house today, and that my sweet little son is upstairs sleeping soundly, healthy in his own bed.

First snow.

We woke up last Saturday to the first snow of the season! Luckily we were prepared with snow clothes already hanging in the closet. It was 6:53am when Alla popped out of bed, pulling Fisher with her and begging to go out already.

She literally ate snow for breakfast and then went out and played. Fisher was made to eat a proper breakfast.

It was a wet snow that soaked you, but she was excited nonetheless. I couldn't believe how quickly our landscape changed. One day we had trees still losing leaves, and the next it was a winter wonderland. A winter wonderland that will be sticking around for sometime, as our snow typically doesn't melt until about, oh, April. Ish.

Friday Five.

1. Two days ago I ran in shorts. Tomorrow they're calling for three to five. Inches. Of s-n-o-w.

2. Monday I took Fisher on a field trip to the airport. We found a little field and watched the planes take off and land.

3. Mornings can be hard around here. We can't let Fisher sleep past 7:30 or he won't nap. We can't let Alla sleep past 7:30 or she won't get on the bus on time. So, morning snuggles. In our bed, in her bed, together. 4. I'm thankful for their love of each other.

5. Everyday in her folder, Alla brings home papers she worked on in school that day. Everyday the papers say the same thing, I *heart* Mom. I'm thankful for her love of me.

Ten on Tuesday.

1. This is unofficially going to become the Ten on Tuesday Blog.

2. While looking closely at his little arm one sunny day after lunch, Fisher told me that he had "fuzz" on his arm, and when I told him that was just hair, he told me he wanted the hair to "go bye bye."

3. We have a Thanksgiving menu! So now I'm making a grocery list and a schedule of sorts. Last year it was very simple, so we're trying to replicate that, but also add in the stuff we couldn't do last year since we were, oh yeah, just getting out of the hospital the day before. That.

4. I told Fisher he was my doodlebug, and he told me, No I'm not your doodlebug, I'm a boy!

5. He is doing great great great in school, we are so proud of him.

6. He asked a neighbor girl if she likes trash trucks. She said no. He was appalled. Alla then asked her if she liked princesses. She said no. Again, appalled.

7. We got a new mattress pad and oh wow were we missing out on some serious warmth with that joke of a hole-y piece of crap we had before!

8. Last Friday we had Pizza Friday at Pappi's! The kiddos LOVE going there and playing with Pappi. And shutting Mommy and Daddy in the closet, apparently.

9. Alla has learned all of her kindergarten sight words!

10. One evening last week, Fisher called us from bed and said, When I wake up, can I pay-aint? Super hard to be mad at that, I mean we don't want to stifle the artistic genius or anything.

Ten on Tuesday: Halloween 2010.

1. We started Halloween morning by carving the pumpkin to Alla's heart's desire. 2. Fisher cracked up when Alla said, "You didn't tell me you were going to kill it!" They had watched Charlie Brown quite a few times by that point.3. They completely surprised me by getting in on the pumpkin-gutting!4. Later in the day they put on their costumes just in time for an early dinner with Nana and Pappi.

5. First up, the little kangaroo! Every kangaroo needs a fishing pole that they swear is a sword.6. The most beautiful Cinderella.7. And, the best one of the two of them. At least they're both in it!
8. Alla could barely contain herself, but was so good about dragging her little brother to our starting point, a few houses down, where we met up with the rest of the neighborhood gang. 9. Fisher decided he wanted to trick or treat at a few houses and then head home.

If you're a long-time reader of this blog, you will remember that Alla wore this costume three years ago, and, sadly, this is the last of the gender-neutral costumes so Fisher will have to get an opinion about it next year. (Or decide that Halloween is a stupid holiday for a peanut-and-dairy-allergic, diabetic kid.)

10. While waiting for the bus the next day, Alla told me, I'm glad we don't live near a pumpkin field, because if I spent all night waiting for the Great Pumpkin with a boy, I'd be mad.

The big switch-out.

Around here we have two sets of clothes, so one set is always in storage. This past weekend we got the winter boxes out, which is always super exciting for the kids because in their boxes are entire new wardrobes. All purchased last year end-of-season, of course.

It's quite a process of sorting through what might fit next year, what will definitely be too small and thus go into permanent storage, and what will be given away. Piled up on Alla's bed is Fisher's too-small pile, and I couldn't resist snapping a shot of all those little clothes altogether before they went away.

Someday I'll have a mountain of clothing to part with, but for now I'm too sentimental, which is why I take pictures of it all.

Ten on Tuesday: Five and a Half.

In honor of her five and a half birthday, which she's been looking forward to for quite some time, today's ten features my favorite girl!

1. Alla does not like jeans.
2. She loves to paint, write draw, make, create.
3. She could eat Trader Joe's gluten-free frozen pancakes every morning for breakfast.
4. She loves every movie she watches, declaring each one her new favorite. The latest is Tinkerbell and the Great Fairy Rescue.
5. She loves to use a baby spoon to eat her applesauce.
6. She is a wonderful big sister, she loves to make Fisher happy and to be the one who takes care of him.
7. She wishes there were more dresses (and therefore tights) in the winter box.
8. She is the greatest storyteller.
9. She loves music, always wants music on, is always making up her own songs, always singing.
10. She recently got a pink baseball hat from her Aunt Renee and she looks so dang cute in it. It just suits her, and she loves it.

Happy five and a half today, honey bunny!

The Stream.

Today is the perfect day to pay homage to the wonderful little stream just a quarter mile up the road, the spot to which I started taking Alla when she was wee and where Fisher has realized he can drive to in the pink car. It's pretty wonderful, just a simple stream with a walkway over top, and in the spring and fall when the foliage isn't too thick the kids can throw a stick in one side and then watch it come out the other. I think it's how Alla learned to count, waiting for her stick to come out. One, two, three...seventeen!

We visit in summer, but only briefly to avoid the "skeeters." We visit in fall, Fisher shoveling in piles of fallen leaves. We visit in winter, when the ground and water are frozen, walk out onto the stream, and listen to them marvel.

We return in the spring, to see green buds appearing, animals returning, water once again flowing.

We love our little stream, and what I love is that when the kids are grown and remembering childhood, it will be a special place for them. Nothing I really tried to do, nothing I had to force, just this simple little spot near our house that we visited all the time, that easily forced itself into their hearts.