Christmas Morning

Helping Grandpa open his stocking and cracker in the stocking. Most kids would be afraid of the loud "bang" but apparently, wrapping paper is much more frightening!
Em got some really cute bunny rabbit slippers and books from Grammy. The slippers had grippies on them, which made them squeak on the clean floor and Em loved dancing to make the noise... I'm not sure I'm ready for squeaks every morning though- still trying to decide.
Put a fun hat on Cooper and watch the kid light up like he's the King of the golf course! He may have slept through most of Christmas morning, but he sure was ready for excitement when we all got out of our pajamas :)

Something Old, Something New

Since traditions are obviously important to the Leslie family, we've held on to some, adapted a few, and started a few new ones this year. Todd's folks are here, which is great, and Grandma made South African cinnamon swirl bread (high altitude + yeast equals the Hindenburg of all breads!) and we also started a family puzzle.

We gave Grandma and Grandpa their stockings and the kids opened their PJs before going to bed- lovely tradition from my family.

Then, we started some new traditions. The first being a family swim, which felt great! The second being brownie bites with white chocolate peppermint Kisses in them. We ate the 'mistakes' and will have the pretty ones at Christmas dinner tomorrow. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good (and cool!) night :)

Funny Story

Since Em is still too young to understand this whole "gifts/Christmas" thing, she helped me wrap pressents the other day while Cooper slept. Her job was to throw all the extra paper away. When we were all done, she was thoroughly annoyed with the task being completed, so she decided to throw all the gifts away as well... Sometimes, I wonder about that kid!

Tooting My Own Horn

**If your name is Marilyn (aka Grandma) or Warren (aka Grandpa), you may not read the following post- it'll spoil the surprise!!!**

There are many reasons for Todd to laugh at me. I seem to do crazy things regularly, but lately, he's had a TON of reasons. You see, I'm a tradition kind of girl. Note that I didn't say a "traditional" girl. No, no. I just really like traditions. For example, stockings were always important in my family, especially since my Nana knit a monogramed stocking for each of us. Some of the traditions I really enjoy are ones from my family, or Todd's, but we've also started our own. I love that I don't have to worry about what to buy Todd for Christmas because we do something together, rather than wrap something under the tree. Last year, we left Em for the first time and went out to dinner and a concert. This year, we're leaving the kids with Grandma and Grandpa and going to a luxury resort.

Some traditions are easy to keep. We add an ornament for each kid every year. Last year, we bought Em one, this year, the kids and I will make one. I also had planned to get a new pair of pajamas for the kids for them to open on Christmas Eve and a Christmas outfit. Well, that's where I ran into some problems. Who would think Christmas-y PJs would be hard to find? Well, since it's summer here, none of the flannel/fleece stuff from the States would work (I don't like my kids cooked well-done... maybe a bit rare, but not burnt!). My mom did send the kids some really cute clothes that matched for Christmas, but like a stinker, Cooper fit into his outfit last week, but this week, oh no! After realizing that Cooper was too big overnight, I went hunting... and hunting... and hunting, but all to no avail. I wanted a nice polo or something collared that would match Em's outfit. When nothing (and I mean nothing) could be found, I got creative and turned an old cardigan of mine into a light sweater-vest for Cooper and bought the pants (the hat wasn't outgrown yet).

I also raided Todd's shelves to see what he had that I could use for the pajama situation. I came up with a pair of red plaid boxers that had a small hole, and turned them into some shorts for Em. Then, I needed something for tops and found this adorable idea for a toddler's t-shirt. Cooper's hands were a bit tricky because they were so small, but I still love how they turned out. Everything fits a bit odd (again, I repeat that I sew straight lines well, but these projects were a bit beyond my abilities- you'll see in the Christmas morning pictures, I'm sure) but I'm still really proud of myself for the effort. Cooper's outfit was originally one of those gowns that infants wear, but, in true form, he outgrew it from the time I started until the time I finished. Think of a reindeer-chested mermaid and you'll be in the same ballpark as his first final outfit.

Their hands and a foot forever immortalized in felt... at least until they have to be washed, and then all the effort will most likely come unraveled! Oh well, they look cute for now.

Then, all that was left to fix the stocking issue. I can't knit. Correction, I can knit baby blankets in two colors (but not more and they generally fall apart within the first year of use). Therefore, stockings were WAY out of my league. So, I went to something I could do- felt. (I love the internet and how you can find anything, directions and all, that show you how to make something look great without all the creativity!) I wanted to make sure that Grandma and Grandpa had their own stockings for Christmas, names and all, so they'll open these Christmas Eve when the kids open their PJs. (Those are flowers, but in forrest green, it's rather hard to tell.)

I've been working on all these projects like a crazy person, but I'm happy they're done- yes, happier they're done than how well they turned out. I've been loosing way too much sleep trying to get everything done, but now that it's done (who am I kidding, I still have three more projects sitting on the kitchen table!), I'm patting myself on the back, then going to bed. So, sleep well friends! Hope your Christmas preparations are as... productive as mine!!

Day of Reconciliation

Wednesday was a holiday. I'd love to be able to explain more, but I've got nothing beyond the name, which, for the myriad of holidays here, knowing the name alone is a big feat! Since it was a holiday, Todd was home and we managed to make it down to the pool as a family, another big feat.

I vaguely remember when "going to the pool" simply meant putting on a swim suit, grabbing a towel and going. Now, it's getting two swimming diapers, two bathing suits, two white children slathered in sunscreen, two hats (okay, one because I can't find one for Cooper in his size), myself changed, three towels (Todd can fend for himself!), floaties, pacifier, sippy cup of water, and we're off... oh, and myself changed (I forgot that one Wednesday). Even with all that standing in our way, we made it down and had a ton of fun. Cooper is more of the only-to-my-belly-button kind of kid, but Em was jumping and swimming all over.

Don't mind the razor wire... it's for aesthetic purposes only :)

Bryanston Market

There's this great organic market and artisan/craft place we discovered a few months back. We've only ever gone on Saturdays and haven't gone since Cooper was born. Todd found out, though, that the market is open a few nights during December. Tonight just happened to be the night when they had carols by candlelight. Even though we realized this at 6, the market is a good 30 minutes away and Em normally goes to bed around 6:30, we decided to throw caution to the wind, pretend like we didn't have kids to slow us down and went for it!

Em loved all the people and Cooper got so much attention from grannies that were there. It was great to feel like we could just pick up and go (not to mention the ice creamery there has the world's best mint chocolate chip ice cream. Reminded Todd and I of last year when we went to the carols and Christmas tree lighting in Brookside, MO... just a few, minor changes, eh?!

Genes and Jeans

*For those that are reading this on Todd's Facebook page... this post was authored by Brittany"

There is a point at which you, as a person, realize that you got some unsightly genes from your parents and you wish, with everything in you, that you could change that 'flaw'. I was young when I realized that my lower half was much bigger than my middle or top (thanks dad!). There were fleeting moments of foreshadowing when, at 11, I would try on shorts or pants and some wouldn't fit in the thigh, but would be huge in the midsection. By high school, this annoyance had turned into full-fledged hatred because no matter how many miles I ran, how many hours I played sports, there was no getting rid of those thighs. As soon as I got pregnant with Em, I started praying that my growing child would have Todd's legs and not mine. As soon as Em was born, dimpled toosh and all, I realized that she was doomed.

She, however, is still at that age where "chub" is still cute, and it was so stinking cute when I put her into her new "big girl" undies and there was half a cheek hanging out! Another reminder of the genes she got from me, which has insured her future hatred of jeans. For now, at least, her pants (most of them anyways) fit her and she's as happy in clothes as she is out of them.

** For those of you who would like to remind me that Em is only a year-and-a-half, much too young to be wearing "big girl undies," I'd like to say I've been putting it off for almost three months! She has been sick and tired of her diapers, and wanting to use the potty (I can say that with confidence because she'll climb on it, flush it, yell at it when her diaper was soiled, and even try to wipe with toilet paper and throw it in... she's been ready, Mommy wasn't!).**