Ethan's Theory on Music

This was prompted by the Christmas music that is playing in our house all the time lately ("church music" according to Ethan):

"I hate church music. It's too gentle. I like music that is loud and has drums and action. Church music just has pianos and violins, and no action."

He is indeed a man of action, if not refined tastes.

Google Maps Street View

Google Maps added our town to Street View today. I'm not sure how I feel about that, but it is fun to cruise around. If you type in our address, you'll notice that our neighbors were photographed inadvertently in their driveways. The kids next door look like they were hoping the camera car was an ice cream truck.

I laughed when I saw our neighbors' German Shepherd in their driveway, standing at attention and staring at our house, patiently waiting to tear us to pieces at the first available moment.

A day in the life.

Performance Day

On Saturday, two of Ginger's choirs performed in public for the first time. Her group of elementary school girls sang at a nursing home, and the group of singers from church that she directs sang at the Arts Garden Downtown. We didn't see the girls perform at the nursing home, but we went downtown to watch Ginger conduct the church group. They sounded AMAZING.

Here's a photo of Ginger conducting:

Hershey's Kisses for eyes

The other day, Ginger and the kids made a snowman that had Hershey's Kisses for eyes. Today Emma wondered what she would look like if her eyes were made out of Kisses. Here's the result:

Overheard

Emma: Dad, I think those three girls are twins.

It's been a snowy week

For all you cousins in warmer climes, check out how Andrew and Ethan go to school, in the dark and in the snow:



While they're gone, Emma bides her time making snow angels in the backyard:

Jingle Bell ROCK

Coming soon to an arena near you.





Have you ever seen anything like this before? We're not sure whether to encourage this latent talent, or push him in alternative directions.

Emma's birthday party

It was a lot of Princess FUN. Ethan and Andrew spent most of the party in hiding.

Have you ever seen so much pink and plastic all in one place?



Check out the cake Ginger made. Seriously, she is a pro. Emma loved it.

Emma turned 4 yesterday

Overheard

Emma: It takes A LOT of steps to walk to the Wall of China.
Me: Yes, it does.
Emma: 62 steps.
Me: I think it actually takes a lot more steps than that.
Emma (with an air of certainty): 68.

Sophie's first steps

She's been practicing standing still without help:

And tonight she surprised us by taking a few steps! Here's the video:

first steps

Dear Santa

Hello world

She was waving to cars as they drove by this morning, although I don't think anyone noticed.

A Christmas list

It's never too early to put a list together.


Click to zoom.

Overheard

At the dinner table tonight:

Ethan: I am never going to kiss a girl.
Me: Are you willing to put that in writing?
Ethan: No...I mean yes.
Andrew: Ethan, if you never kiss a girl on the lips then you can't have babies.
Me: Really? Why not?
Andrew: When a man and a woman kiss each other on the lips... Well, it's hard to explain.