What better way...

...to spend a gray day?

Comfy jammies and a furry friend look like a swell idea.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Kevin and I decided to do this one very, very nice thing for ourselves this winter: 4 nights in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. Kevin's version of heaven: pizza and beer on a hot beach; my version: catching up on sleep on a hot beach :-) Actually we both slept, ate, drank, walked, read and soaked up as much of that 80-degree weather as possible in that short time and had a wonderful trip. THANK YOU so much to Gabby and Papa Meyer for letting Mateo vacation with them so we could pamper ourselves.

This Really Happened

Mostly, we've just been biding our time through these cold, cold days of winter, but I do have a cute story to share from the day of President Obama's inauguration. Mateo and I got in the car after music class and tuned in just in time for Obama to start his speech. Not living very far out of town, we arrived home right in the middle of it. I turned the car off and Mateo said, "No turn it off!". To understand the significance of this you have to know that (1) Mateo hates when I listen to "talk" radio, i.e. not music, and (2) Mateo has only made this request a handful of times when he's particular enjoying a song we're listening to. Well, my eyes brimmed with tears as I turned the radio back on and we sat and listened to Obama's speech together. Of course a few minutes later Mateo decided it was time for a snack and he wanted to go in the house "RIGHT NOW!", but still...

Also, here's one last photo from Christmas Eve - a great one of Uncle George and Mateo.

Christmas, part 2

After our visit with Nana, we rushed home to see what Santa had left under the tree. Up until this time, Mateo was most excited about Santa bringing candy canes. After this moment, he was still most excited about the candy canes. Although Santa also brought this super cool tunnel that serves as Mateo's fort.

Kevin's family joined us in the early afternoon with the exception of Gabby Jan, who wasn't feeling well. One of Mateo's favorite gifts was this padded hockey stick from Uncle Kurt. A toddler computer from Aunt Pat, a train set from Papa and Gabby Etherton, and a trampoline from Papa and Gabby Meyer also ranked high on his list. As did a number of empty pop bottles. Kids are funny, aren't they?

Christmas, part 1

Christmas morning was expectedly quiet as we made a quick visit to exchange gifts with Grandma Vi. Not entirely quiet, though, as the whirling dervish you see in the photo is representative of Mateo after a night of interrupted sleep and a breakfast of cinnamon rolls. He ended up in a timeout after biting a chunk out of the handle of Nana's walker.

In the other photo, Grandma is wearing magic gloves: initially they were too small, then they were the wrong style, then they turned into money. Ooh-ahh.

More Christmas Eve

Additional photos - and yes, Aunt Diane and Mom DID go to church like that. Sara was also sporting some gold in her classy ensemble, but I don't have a good photo. This raises a point, Meyers - we need to do a big group photo next year, okay?

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve was a blast - Corey and Sara did a super job hosting the event at the farmstead. The festivities started with a portion of the crew heading off to church services, another few trekking out in the woods to find a lost flashlight, Sara's dad preparing to fry a turkey, and the remainder getting a headstart on the all-important eating/drinking/gabbing. Cousin Andrea won "The Most God-awful Christmas outfit" award in her gift-laden cardigan and red tights (isn't she cute?), although it was a close contest with two golden sweaters, a tree skirt, a Bush-Cheney polo shirt, pleated green corduroys and many other items hunted down at thrift stores and rescued from the dark recesses of closets. The night ended with a handful of brave souls being judged by Randy, Paula and Simon in American Idol karaoke. I don't seem to have audio of that. (You're welcome.)