Supernumary Tooth

Or, as we like to refer to it...Jack's lucky tooth.
Yup, for you dental know-it-alls--Jack has an extra baby tooth. Frankly, I never imagined that me + Jeff= shark teeth.

Don't worry. I'll get a picture. In a couple of weeks it should have moved his two front teeth clear to the left so that he just has one giant tooth right smack dab in the middle. I can kiss that cover of Parents magazine goodbye.

Oh, the curse of the English heritage.

Biggest Loser

After struggling extensively for over two years to fight the bulge, Bruce finds success in eating less and exercising more...

Before: 16.8 lbs.

After: 15.3 lbs.

Tips that worked for him:

* Switched to "clean food" diet (specifically Science Diet W/D)

* Tried to chase Ernst under the bed at least 4 times in the middle of the night (for 6 months)

Quote: "I knew I had a problem when I couldn't even jump over the kid gate to get away from the children. It was a real eye-opener. I was fat and incredibly lazy. I was afraid that I might get stuck under the bed or something. One day I just decided that I was going to start chasing Ernie around and make his life a living hell--boy, I sure started to feel better after all that exercise. I wanted to be healthy...so I just ate my 1/2 cup of chow and took a nap during the day. It was so easy. If I can do it--anyone can."

Lachlan Helps Jesus

The Murray Family Christmas Party and live nativity...wherein Lachlan steals baby Jesus. We were equal parts laughing and embarrassed.

Jack and Lachlan, in Christmas Eve jammies, reading books with Dad. Jack has his "breever."

Twelve Days of Chaos

We celebrated the twelve days of Christmas this year. I decided that I would get something very small for the kids each day. I put it in a large Christmas box and then I would set it outside and ring the doorbell. The kids went ballistic whenever the doorbell rang because they were so excited to see what Santa had left them. I tried to keep the gifts simple (stocking ideas) so that it wouldn't be complete overload. We really had fun.

My favorite night was the night that Jack got his Elmo "big boy" underwear. He had been asking if he could have "big girl panties" for quite some time so I thought--WTH, he can wear them over top of his diaper. If anything maybe he'll get an urge to sit on the toilet and do something other than unroll the paper. He was OVER THE MOON excited for his Elmo underwear. This video was shot shortly after he got them on. He spun and danced for about 40 minutes. After the dancing he decided that wearing one pair wasn't good enough, so he put another pair on, and another, and another--this picture is with his 4th pair of underwear on. I didn't dare put another pair on for fear that it would start to cut off vital circulation to an extremity...he cried. I felt terrible so I let him carry the other three pairs with him around the house.

Lachlan got some "high heeled" shoes (just like mommy's, she declared). The shoes were hilarious. It was so hard not to laugh as she tried to walk around in them. She only wore them for a short time because she has a serious fear of falling down. The video reflects the image of a woman with peg legs walking on ice. The shoes were completely dismantled (another of her true talents) by the next afternoon. At least we got the moment on video. The socks are completely reminiscent of her Chinese heritage...

Gym Crush

I rarely want to be other women. As a general rule, I stick to the concept that you would rather have your own problems than someone else's BUT I have a crush. There is this woman who works out at the gym at the same time I do....and I want to have THAT body! Not in, I'm becoming a lesbian way, just in the "oh, my gosh I can't believe that she can do that" kind of way. This woman is so physically strong--I know that I am staring at her. I try to make it as inconspicuous as possible but there are times when I realize that I have stopped what I am doing (lifting my sad 12 pound weights) and I am literally staring slack jawed and my breathing is almost non-existent! I can't help it!!

I am not a fan of the uber-skinny person sweating it out on the elliptical for 75 minutes. There are plenty of those women at my gym. These women are genetic anomalies for the most part. The practicality of my personality it acutely aware that I will never wear a size 6 pair of pants. Besides, I enjoy eating. The smooth creaminess of chocolates, crispy saltiness of potato chips, tartness of a good vinaigrette salad dressing--fast food, slow food, clean food, commercially grown and processed, pasteurized, raw, gourmet, homemade--I like it all! There are very few things that I enjoy more than a good meal. The ultimate satisfaction.

The downside of course, becomes that I still haven't lost all the baby weight (even though I no longer have a baby) and I need to come to grips that it is going to take some real work to get back into my cute clothes. Yeah, I still have them in the closet and if I don't get on it they won't be so cute when I try to wear them in another decade.

So where does the crush come into all of this? The crush is who I want, who I hope that I have the determination to become--something realistic. The crush can do crossover lunges with 15 pound weights in each hand. aauuggh. Unbelievable! I can live with big thighs if they could do that! At least you could say that they were big for a reason--

Having a crush is very exciting. In the past, I have been highly motivated to learn new things to be a part of "their world." Maybe this will be the catalyst that will help me to do crunches with the medicine ball. At the worst, this woman will have to find another gym because she can feel the weirdos staring at her.

Winter Weather

We've had some fantastic winter storms. Jack can't even see over the snow in our yard. Lachlan can keep her gloves on so she enjoys making slides and snowmen. For some reason she really wanted to sit on top of this one...?

Santa Comes to Our Party

Okay, so my graphics are a little sketchy...this is literally the first time Jack and Lachlan have ever seen Santa in the flesh. The local church party started out with the university carolers. They were all dressed up in period costume and they sang in four part harmony--that alone nearly blew Lachlan's mind. She danced and sang...literally couldn't take her eyes off of them. In fact, she followed them right out the door when they were leaving. She later told me, "mama, next time, my ging (sing) wif dem." I almost got choked up.

The best part, however, was when Santa came shouting into the building. Jeff put Lachlan up on his shoulders so that she could see above the 400 other children. She, however, was yelling far louder than anyone else. She kept saying, "mama, daddy, Santa's here. He came to our party. Look, it's Santa. He came to our party!" Jack's mouth just hung open and he immediately butted to the front of the line. Only one little boy managed to get in front of him and run up to hug Santa--that was enough of a go-ahead for Jack. He marched right up to Santa and hopped on his lap. He nodded that he had been a good boy and when Santa asked what he wanted for Christmas he said, "another party." The kid loves a good party. Lachlan shoved her way to the front after she saw Jack get on Santa's lap, but she got a little nervous when it was her turn. Jeff told her that Santa had candy and she immediately hopped on his lap and told him that she wanted "two presents." Yeah, I never let on that she could be real specific with the gift. Much easier to shop for... When she was done with Santa she was really proud of being brave. She kept telling me, "mama, I not cry ."

Attempted Alphabet

She's got the tune...still working on the words.

How We Really Celebrate

This video was made especially for my family. The rest of you can enter it into your "now I've seen everything" file.