Looking for Christmas Magic!

Sarah and Drew wish you all find the magic of the Christmas Season.

Photo by their mother, Kelli, used without permission -- SORRY KELLI!
I mean, doesn't that look like a Rockwell picture? It's amazing what a iPhone camera and some filters will do.

Drew's Second Decade: Happy Birthday!

So, this kid is probably somewhere on the other side of the country 

eating more pie or cake or something to celebrate his 11th Birthday!

How is my eldest nephew 11? Today? How does he turn 11 today?

He's had quite a year. School, family, family trips, and 

especially the trip he and mom took to Washington, D.C. in the spring. 

(Thanks for the pictures Kelli via Grumpa.)

 From the temple, to the Smithsonian's Air & Space Museum,

 to his first train/subway ride, and the super steep subway escalator,

 he and Mom were tuckered out by the end.

He's quite the big brother to Cannon and Sarah, 

with all the odd and conflicted dynamics that being a big sibling, particularly being a

big brother to a brother, and a big brother to a sister entails.

 On the one hand, there's teaching about FOOTBALL!

 Drew, even though they may bug you, you still have them eating out of your hands.

 On the other, I know you sometimes just want to play pretend on your own,

 but they pick up weapons skills too quickly

 and manage to hit you in the face. 

But even after some initial sibling screaming and squabbling, 

they still want to hang out and just watch you, and see what you are up to,

 even when you are trying to chill in front of the cartoons after a hard day of 5th Grade, 

basketball, Scouts, homework, and "just life."

(Sarah juuuuust had to see how close she could get to poking him in the head with her toes.)

Luckily, Drew's swinging some outside interests of his own, 

and running away from the rat race with his Dad and friends.

Which is really awesome.

But MY favorite part of the year is when we get to hang out, just the two of us (and hundreds of other people in a crowded games facility), or eat and talk, or play games with our own rules, or go hiking.

Drew, I know you were annoyed that you were 2 inches too short

 to drive the Go-Kart on your own, but soon kid ...

Too soon, TOO TOO SOON, *

you will be more than big enough to drive your own car - and then, we shall see.

Happy Birthday, Drewbie.

Why are you growing up so fast?

Stop it.

~photos from all over the place, c. his folks, Grumpa, iTouch, and iPhone

*Maybe my bruise from trying to get OUT of the Go-Kart will heal by then. Seriously, I still have a bruise - and this happened on Black Friday. MONTHS ago.

 

Auntie Advent: The Final Chapter

I was almost through all the Auntie Advent packages and realized I had no idea how to reciprocally THANK the kids.

Until I realized I couldn't, so I should just say Thank You in a series of ways that was as spread out as their gifts.

So late one night, I spent time printing out the following message and addressing one envelope for each letter, symbol and piece of punctuation, and filling it with little treats. The next morning I started the staggered mailing process

The kids were supposed to color in the letters and unscramble the following message:

15 envelopes later, I think everything finally got there, because I go this message earlier last week.

THANK YOU Christina, because I know you had the most to do with it.

Captain Nathan is Six!

This hero? 

"weeeellllll....."

Captain Nathan turns six today!

He's had a busy year, what with birthdays, graduations, 

fun times with family and friends, and my goodness, his imagination!

Thankfully his folks and grandparents have been sharing photos, 

like the one above and below.

But nothing beats spending time with him in person. 

Like when I got to visit in August 2015.

He's so funny and QUITE the little personality.

Don't mock his bowling form...

 or you'll get the stink side-eye. 

(Or maybe he was just critiquing the FREE root beer floats. 

"Well, actuallly...")

I don't know where he picked it up,

but he has mean form when wielding both a lightsabre and a sword.

 (Classic swagger/*drops mic*)

(Sorry Christina)

And yet, he will still snuggle in for a nap time 

OR make sure he gets his privacy respected.

Superheroes read books!

 Where they pick up tips on shield skills, robes of power/invisibility, or of the Force?

 He's a little kid who does appreciate nature, and looking for frogs in the muck,

but is a little old man who does NOT like getting cold in the pool 

and would rather spend all his time in the hot tub.

It's hard to be the only brother in a mix of three girls and the "baby" for so long. 

And now, NOT the baby. 

Keep snuggling in kiddo, I'll let you sit in the middle for as long as you'll fit.

 Hope you have a Happy Birthday!

Remember, you are Awesome!

And you are WAY Cooler than all of these very cool things.

Found via Amazon, amazingly

Postscript: Per Grumpa and on Christina's SM

This big guy is 6 years old today! 

He was so easy to please and told me he had the "best birthday ever!"

~ my August photos a mix of iTouch and Nikon