Okay. . .I really did it!

I have heard of parents leaving their kids at rest stops on family vacations or at home accidentally. Last night I left my son---my only son, my darling, handsome, lovable son. I could not not believe it. Luckily, I only left him at my brother's home (a nice safe place with cousins to hang out with, a fun aunt, and an uncle who will laugh about any situation.) We had gathered for our extended family dinner. Mike was driving home from a trip this weekend, so it was just me as parent. I had sent the girls out to the van. Maddie got Josie buckled in. I went into the house and found Josh and told him we were leaving. I thought he had come out and was in the van, but apparently NOT. I hopped into the driver's seat and away we went. Josie didn't say a word (she sits next to him) Maddie and Aly said they normally can't see Josh over the top of the seat (they sit in the back.) To their credit it was dark outside. Anyway, I get a call on my cellphone from my brother minutes after leaving, "Did you leave anything?" I thought I had gathered everything. All he had to say was "Count your kids," and I turned around and saw Josh wasn't in his seat---oops, my bad! Oh my gosh. I stopped the car, turned around and tried to rationalize in my head how I could let this happen. All the while my daughter Alyssa is getting mad at me for being so mean. After all she said, he could be "crying and broken-hearted." I told her don't worry, he's with Colby and Jamie and they were all laughing on the phone. He even told me Josh was laughing. Still, she reminded me that "this was serious." Shoot. I am losing "mom points" left and right. Anyway, sure enough when I got back to my brother's front door they were all laughing and I was greeted with a "And here she is---Mom of the year!" My wonderful sister-in-law thought fast and had this hilarious moment blogged before I even made it home. (You can read her version---which I admit is pretty darn funny at the Colby and Jamie link I have in my blog list.) Because my brother is you he is, I will not be living this one down anytime soon. So the polls are open if you want to nominate me for the Mother of the Year award. Thanks, Bro. P.S. Josh was happy last night and gave me a big hug this morning so I think there is no permanent damage done.

Nephew and Niece Visit

My niece, Cera and my nephew, Seth came to stay overnight with us while they were traveling through. It was so wonderful to see them. We fed them, played a little ABBA singstar and mostly talked. Josie loved Cera and Cera was good to hold ALL those stuffed animals Josie kept giving her! They may be twenty years apart, but they still bonded as cousins.

Josh's First Lost Tooth

My boy Josh lost his first tooth!

Celebrating the New Year

In Spain they have a tradition during the last twelve seconds of the year to eat one grape for each second (after you make a wish.) It actually goes really fast and is hard to do. If you are successful then your wish will come true. Mike was able to do it, and the rest of us failed. We gave each person a bag holding the 12 grapes. Here are Aly and Josie with their grapes.
We had homemade split pea soup for dinner then we also ate cheese and crackers and sausages.
Alyssa took the confetti and topped her hair---par-tay!

We take pictures of the kids each year with signs that they make. It's been a fun tradition that we started on Madelyn's first New Year's as a baby. Now I have more than a decade's worth of these fun pictures.

We let the kids do Pop-Its outside to celebrate.

We hope you have a wonderful New Year in 2009!

Idaho Stud Celebrates Birthday

My handsome hubby is one year older!
Thanks dear for all you do in supporting
our family and for loving me and our children.
HaPpY BiRtHdAy!!!

Our Christmas 2008

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Snow Play

Having a white Christmas was great. Here is Joshua and Alyssa in our front yard making snow angels.
Our little pink snow bunny, Josie was bundled up and having a great time at her grandparents' house.

























Uncle Craig is chasing Maddie down!















The cousins played with Uncle Craig outside. Aunt Jamie joined in the snow fun, too.

When the Boys Get Together

We were so excited to have my sister's family come from Texas for Christmas. We loved having Jeff, Nate, and Emmie around to play with. Here is a picture of Jeffrey and Josh comparing heights. They are just four months apart in age. The boys chose to watch Kung-Fu Panda together. Here are the boy cousins watching the movie. (Devan is sort of hidden and little Ian kept moving, so he missed being in the shot.)