Christmas Pictures

Merry Christmas

Christmas morning is always fun when you have three boys. I could go on and on about the fun of watching the boys open stockings and gifts. This first picture is of Joseph in his moon chair opening items from his stocking. Joseph had declared back in October that if he got a moon chair for Christmas it would be the best Christmas ever.

Kallsen got a bike from Santa. This picture is when Kallsen first got on the bike. To give you an idea of how excited he was shortly after this picture was taken Kallsen took off his shirt. And then later this morning he rode the bike from the living room into the kitchen. When he came back into the living room his was naked. Still riding the bike. And for those of you that know Kallsen, that means he was really into his new bike.

Parker also received a new bike from Santa. Parker was the one of the two younger boys that asked for a bike...and as Santa knows with two boys so close to the same age, he can't get one with out getting the other the same thing.

Christmas morning went very well. The boys all seemed to enjoy their gifts. We're going to chill a bit this morning and let the boys play and around lunch time we're going to head over to my in laws for Christmas dinner and time with my wife's family.

Merry Christmas!

Keeping Busy

This is Kallsen keeping busy this morning. As you can see, he has no fear of falling and reinjuring his calvical.

Get close...but don't touch

Kallsen is a particular child. He wants to sit next to you, lay in the bed next to you, sit on the same side of the table as you...and rest his hand on your arm or leg. But by no means shall you touch him. He has become this way or the past couple of months.

When he is feeling bad or hurt then its okay to let mommy or daddy hug or hold him. But it doesn't last long. I miss being able to hold on to him. I guess I better get as much snuggle time with Parker before he gets to be the same as his older brother.

Year number 2

I'm starting my second year with my weight loss program. Officially I've lost 60 pounds over the past year. And I plan to lose 40 more pounds during the next year.

For more on my weight loss program, please visit my weight loss blog.

Christmas Cookies

In a sling

With Kallsen's broken collar bone he has to wear this sling for a minimum of 10 days up to three weeks. And because he was already taking his arm out of the sling before we left the doctor's office, we now have to wrap his arm in the sling to keep it stable.

Needless to say, Kallsen doesn't care for the sling. But at the same time he is deciding not to ask for help doing things and wants to continue doing things for himself.

Broken Clavicle

Kallsen has broken his clavicle. For those not in the medical profession, that is otherwise known as his collarbone.

Last Saturday night I was sick and slept in the guest bedroom (known in our house as 'Joe's Room') and the boys slept with Momma. Because I was sick and my wife didn't want me to spread the germs.

While sleeping in our bed Kallsen fell out of the bed. He had complained about his shoulder hurting on Sunday. But his shoulder hurting didn't stop him from running and going crazy as kids do. As the week went on and he continued to complain, we decided to go have his shoulder looked at. And he had a broken bone.

Now, of course, we feel bad we didn't act sooner. At the same time who knew? I'm just glad it wasn't more serious. We'll post pictures when he gets his vest he'll have to wear to protect the bone while it heals. He gets fitted for that tomorrow.

Syrup covered with Kleenex

Syrup covered with Kleenex. Kinda like tarred and feathered. That was Parker on Wednesday morning.

I was getting ready for work while the boys were eating waffles with syrup. Then Parker walks into my room with shredded Kleenex all over his hands. He was in tears!

Parker had gotten syrup on his hands. And one thing about Parker...he doesn't like to have anything sticky on his hands. In his attempt to clean up his hands he grabbed the first thing he could...Kleenex. And the Kleenex just shred all over his hands. I just wish I was able to locate the camera.

Small Spaces

Parker has always enjoyed being in a basket or some sort of small space. I think it might be comforting to him. This first picture was taken in Iowa in November of 2006. Kallsen and Parker got into a small basket and played.
In this next picture, taken in March 2007, Parker makes himself at home in a block box. He spent nearly an hour in that box that day.

Parker has now found a new place to hang out. This next picture shows where he decided to hang out while Daddy was cleaning the kitchen.

Beans for Dinner

Tonight was a boys night at our house. Sara had a class tonight so the three boys and I were on our own. When Joseph and I picked up Kallsen and Parker I asked them what they wanted for dinner. Kallsen said he wanted beans. I asked what kind of beans do you want? He said, "grandma's beans."

Grandmas beans are just kidney beans rinsed and plain on a plate. One time at Grandma's house Kallsen went to the pantry and grabbed a can of kidney beans and said that's what he wanted to eat. And he's loved them every since. Not heated in any way...just rinsed and served cold on a plate.

John Edwards campaign...

...is coming to Seneca.

The democratic presidential candidate is making three stops today. I will be covering one of his stops. My newsman has been sick and I will be doing news duties today for the second time this week.

I covered President Bush's stop in Union County in 2000 when he was is a close race that year. And Bush ended up winning. While I can't say I'm a John Edwards supporter, I'm looking forward to meeting the him later today.

ADDED THURSDAY - 7:05 EST

So I was at the press only event in Seneca. I had talked to my Mom earlier and she thought I needed to ask how his wife (Elizabeth) was doing. During the press conference there were so many national reporter and other issues that the national press (I spoke up and asked one question) were covering I waited till the session was over and caught the former senator before he left. I told him my Mom wanted me asked him how his wife was doing. Edwards then shook my hand and said she was doing well and told me to tell my Mom that he appreciates her concern.

Another note...if you see any coverage on any of the cable news channels or network TV tonight the hand held microphone in the pictures is me getting sound.

A Christmas Wish

Parker is in a two year-old pre-school class. A project they did this week was to ask the kids in the class questions about Christmas and what they wanted. The teacher writes the questions and then writes the answers each child gives and sends that home on one side of some construction paper with the other side being a picture your child colored during class.

Here's what we learned about Parker. We wants a Diego and dump truck for Christmas. He wants to eat mashed potatoes and moo moo for Christmas dinner. And on Christmas day he wants to spend time with Mommy, Daddy, Brother and Granma.

The above picture was taken at Granma's house last Christmas.

A 1,200 mile difference.

Yesterday was December 1st, 2007. Below are two pictures both taken on Saturday. The first one is me leaf blowing in my back yard. The second one is of my Dad getting ready to snow blow the driveway. There's a is a 1,200 mile difference.

I love this picture of my Dad. I can understand his thoughts as he ponders why the snow blower won't start. And I can feel the cold. And taste the snow. And I remember having to shovel snow. And I don't have to shovel snow here. It may snow. If it does, it will be gone the next day.

Pecan Pickin' Party

On Saturday, December 1st, my mother in-law and Sara's uncle Steve visited us so they could take advantage of the pecans our five pecan trees produced this year. They also got some black walnuts our Black Walnut tree produced.

The Pecan Pickin' Party allowed me to get the leaf blower out so the pecans would be easier to find. Which made a nice pile of leaves for the boys to play.

Below are some of the great images Sara captured of the day.

This above picture of my mother in-law is her searching for pecans. I hope I'm still in good graces after posting this picture

Parker really seemed to have a lot of fun playing in the leaf pile. Sara captured lots of really great pictures of Parker.

Kallsen, on the other hand, decided to not look at the camera or to hide. We didn't capture as many of him, but here's one that I really like.

This last picture is the only one of the boys together that turned out.