Christmas Pictures

Here are some pictures from Christmas Day at my parents.

In this first picture, you can see Parker had a ball on Christmas

Below, Kallsen is checking out his Christmas presents with his cousin Davey

Here Joseph is opening his walkie talkies. These were one of the hits of Joseph's Christmas

In this next picture, Kallsen and Parker enjoy unwrapping their presents

Corn Starch is Something Special

While visiting my parents over Christmas Kallsen got a bad case of diaper rash. His first real diaper rash. We didn't bring any baby powder with us and my Mom didn't have any in the house. So we used the next best thing....Corn Starch. And it worked wonders. In fact it worked so well that Kallsen has decided he wants corn starch in his diaper all the time.

One of the things that have become almost a tradition at my parents house (with my nephews and niece) is when it is time to leave, grandchildren get to take some sort of treat with them. It could be cookies, donut holes or candy. Something to make having leave a bit easier.

None of my children have been to the point of having to take something with them when leaving Grandpa and Grandma's house. Until Tuesday morning. Kallsen wouldn't leave with out corn starch. So Grandma being the good grandma that she is got out an old Cool Whip container and while Kallsen held the container Grandma poured in some corn starch. Kallsen had his special little something to take home from Grandma's house. Corn Starch.

A South Carolina Christmas

We let the boys open their gifts last night from South Carolina. In this first picture I think Parker is in the middle of his 'happy' dance.

In this next picture, Joseph has just opened his Speed Stacker Game from Nana and Papa. This was the hit of the night. In fact the first thing Joseph did this morning when getting out of bed was get his Speed Stack game out and started to practice.

Here Kallsen is opening a South Carolina counting book. I'm sure this will be his book of choice when we read books. Currently we read 10 or more books a day with Kallsen. Lots of times we read the same book over and over again.

Merry Christmas to our family in South Carolina. My brother in law Heath got each of the boys a Clemson outfit and also bought Sara Beth a Clemson sweatshirt. We'll get a picture posted of them wearing their Clemson outfits later today.

Speaking of stories....

I was at the radio station this afternoon when I got a call from my wife. She was nearly in tears. It seems that while the boys (Kallsen and Parker) were to be taking their naps a loud BOOM came from their bedroom. We're not sure how it happened....

For all parents...

I love to read blogs that other parents write. Chi Chi Mama (click here) is one of my favorites. Read her post from December 19th. I think most parents have been in similar situations. And if you have a similar story to tell, please post it under comments.

Here are some other post to check out...Father's Daughter and Ricky, Ricky, Ricky


AJ

He's Growing Up

This morning, when getting Parker and Kallsen ready for school, Kallsen decided Daddy could pour his juice but he could screw the top on his sippy cup. And he did. All by himself. Next thing you know he'll be driving himself to school. They grow up so fast...

Get 'em Started Early

This is Parker eyeing his shot. You've got to get them into the game early. Parker will probable follow his brothers' lead and be a champion player. Disc Golf...A game for the whole family...

A Spoonful of Salsa

We went for Mexican tonight. A new restaurant has opened in Spirit Lake (about 15 miles from Estherville) and we were over that way doing some Christmas shopping and it was getting a bit late...so we decided to stop at the new restaurant and give it a try. I can't remember the name but their food was fantastic. Better than any of the other Mexican restaurants in the area.

Anyways...half way through dinner, Kallsen grabbed his spoon and took a full spoonful of salsa and gulped it down. He then coughed a bit, took a drink of his lemonade and then finished his dinner.

Kallsen has always been willing to try anything and everything. And spicy foods have never been something he has mined, but a spoonful of salsa? That will be one dirty diaper I don't want to change....

AJ

An Early Christmas?

Everyone knows that waiting for Christmas to come can take forever...and most children do what ever it takes to find out what they're getting for Christmas. Including opening gifts and trying to rewrap them when their parents aren't home.

Which is exactly what Joseph decided to do. So where do we go from here? Do we return the gifts and buy him new gifts? Do we just rewrap the gifts and let him get away with it? Do we cancel Christmas? Maybe talk to Santa about lumps of coal in his stocking?

While I'll admit to searching the house when I was younger trying to find gifts that I mite be getting for Christmas, I don't remember unwrapping and rewrapping presents. What to do, what to do...

As I'm writing this post, there is a story on the radio saying that adult women are worse that children in unwrapping and rewrapping presents. I guess that means I may have to worry just as much about my wife as I do my eldest son...

AJ

The DK Republic is posting again...

My former newsman, David Shideler...aka...DK...is posting again. David is a very right winged thinker and probable is a bigger fan of President Bush's foreign policy than most. I have always enjoyed reading his blog and have enjoyed debating him on political issues when we worked together. Anyway he had taken several months off from blogging. He's now back at it...

Back at the 'entry'

On Saturday night, my nephew wanted to go to his first 'all ages' show at 7th Street Entry at First Avenue in downtown Minneapolis. Neither my sister or brother in law were really crazy about him going downtown for a show....especially at 7th Street Entry. So I ended up being the adult escort to the show.

When I was in high school we used to take the bus downtown after school to see shows (before we could drive) and then drove downtown to see shows after getting our license. The night ended up being a lot longer than I had hoped for but my nephew seemed to have a really good time. Needless to say, I'm not as young as I used to be...

My Trio

My parents have a piano in their front room. All three boys decided to all play at once...

Get Read, Get Set....

We spent the past two weekends at my parents in Minneapolis. One thing Joseph likes about going there is my Dad has a rope swing hanging from a tree on the side of the garage. All the grandchildren (over the age of five) seem to really enjoy the swing. Here's Joseph getting ready to jump....

And here he is swinging high into the air....

For the record, I want to say Dad waited until his kids were grown and gone before putting the rope swing up...

AJ