Bouncing Brothers

Christmas Tree Time

Oh Christmas Tree, Poor Christmas Tree...

This year we decided to cut down our own tree. Some of our friends do it every year, and the idea of tramping through the woods in the snow with the boys seemed quite festive. Not to mention that the idea of paying $5 for the permit compared to $50 for a tree at a tree lot was appealing.

We packed the car with hot chocolate, hats, coats gloves, blankets prepared for the worst winter weather conditions imaginable, only to arrive in the woods on the warmest and most beautiful day I have ever witnessed in December. Everything went off without a hitch. Everyone in our group found trees, we cut them down, we tossed them in the pick ups, and we stopped for lunch in Sisters on our way home.

But once we got home I was left to ponder the ramifications of our actions. You see when you purchase a tree from a tree lot you know it was born and raised for that purpose on a nice little Christmas tree farm, no harm done. But we made the mistake of seeing our tree growing in nature, minding its own business, playing with its little tree friends totally unsuspecting of what was to come. I have come to the conclusion that the experience was a bit like butchering your own cow instead of buying neatly package hamburger at the grocery store. The result is a lot fresher, a lot more natural, but hurts a little more.

Poor little Christmas tree. How tall might you have grown? I have taken to apologizing to our tree each morning when I come down stairs and fill its stand with water.

Linus Christmas Quote

Linus Quote: We had just retrieved our christmas tree from the woods

kids were loaded in the car and Owen started to cry.

"Don't cry Owen. You miss you friends? They're bringing our Christmas tree."

Future Spelling Bee Champion of the World!

So, our son is a child genius, or something really close. Today we were reading a book and he was pretending to write some letters and saying them out loud when I suddenly noticed that he wasn't choosing random letters but he was actually spelling his name! When I asked him what the letters were he said "Linus" and he has spelled his name several times for me throughout the day, when no one else was around...of course when I actually tired to get him to repeat his skill so I could show off, we only got as far as "L" but that is merely details.
I am sure he gets his skills from me (did I mention that I am about to spell check this post..
wow, only four mispelled words in this one paragraph :)

Owen and Leia

So, we have decided to torture these two early. I never had cousins that were close to my age growing up. We had cousins who were much older who of course we thought were the coolest, and cousins who were much younger who we adored, but I always longed for some one my own age. That is why I was really excited when Owen and Leia were born only seven months apart. I hope they will be great friends. I look forward to torturing them with similar photos throughout their childhood and beyond.

Much to be Thankful for