Thanks Craigslist...

We got the best, new (to us) playground set from Craigslist in November. The set would cost $3000 to $4000 new, but Kirsten found it for $200, what a deal! Huge thanks to Julie and Doug for helping us dismantle, transport, and rebuild the set in our backyard. That endeavor ended up taking hours longer than we all anticipated, but we got it done.

While Grandma and Papa were here visiting, and I had time off work, we decided to work on refurbishing the set a bit. We restained the wood, replaced the chains on the swings, laid some sod in the backyard, and built a mulch playground area under the swings. The mulch is even made of recycled tires, very eco-friendly and low maintenance. Now the playground is like our own little park. Great job everybody!

Four Mile Cove

We took Grandma and Papa on a walking tour of a preserve in Cape Coral called Four Mile Cove. It was pretty warm despite the fact that we went in the morning in December. But we had a great time and learned about mangroves and wetland species in the area. If you look closely at the second picture, you will see a water bird drying his wings in the sun so he can fly away after his breakfast. So awesome.

Picking tomatoes with Grandma and Papa

While Grandma and Papa were here for their Christmas visit, they took the boys to a local farm that lets you pick your own strawberries and tomatoes. Kirsten and I went for pedicures and a wonderful Korean dinner out :)

This picture is of my favorite boys, all in a row!

At the park with Papa

Grandma and Papa came to stay with us for Christmas 2007. This is a great example of how much fun we had one morning at a Pine Island park.

Baking Gingerbread Cookies!

Emmett received some great chef supplies for his Christmas gifts, including a gingerbread cookie kit. Grandma and Papa were happy to assist Chef Emmett with his gingerbread cookies. Looks like they had a great time! The cookies were pretty good too :)

Merry Christmas!

The boys awoke at 5:50am Christmas morning to a pile of gifts beneath the tree and stockings stuffedd full. Harrison spent most of his time dumping his stocking, refilling it, and dumping it again. The boys received trucks, cars, pencils, special drinking cups, and various cooking utensils, including a lettuce knife and cutting board shown below. Emmett made us fruit salad and egg salad (with his new egg slicer) for breakfast. It was an enjoyable, although very early, morning.

Kirsten made a delicious standing prime rib for dinner. I made Mascarpone AuGratin potatoes from scratch (new recipe, was yummy!). Dinner was eventful, thank goodness I'd had a glass of wine. Harrison wasn't overly interested in eating so he was content playing with the salt shaker. Somehow no one realized the salt shaker was glass, until he dropped it and it shattered all over the floor. Being that we live in Florida and it was about 85 degrees outside, everyone was barefoot. So, while Papa and Emmett went right on consuming large amounts of prime rib, Grandma braved the glass shards and grabbed Harrison. She handed Harrison to me while Kirsten went for the shopvac. When I sat Harrison on my lap, copius amounts of babypoop squirted out of his diaper and all over my lap and him, so Grandma went to get me shoes. I went to wash myself in the shower and change clothes, Grandma cleaned up Harrison, Kirsten shopvac'd the dining room. Of course, when all this was through, Papa and Emmett were still eating :) Thankfully, they had saved a little for us all to finish our meal!

Florida Family Christmas

We attended a nice gathering just before Christmas at Aunt Vickie's new house in North Port. Grandma and Papa were in town already, so they joined us. The boys enjoyed playing with all of Kirsten's cousins and their second cousins (I think that's what they should be called?)

Aunt Jenny made wonderfully heaping piles of food, including chili and saffron rice. Clint even brought a peanut butter chocolate pie from Wheeler's in Arcadia. All the kids received generous gifts from Aunts and Uncles and we had a good time.

Emmett's Christmas Show

Emmett's preschool did a performance on Tuesday. It was so adorable and he really did a great job. I don't know how the teachers got a group of 3 and 4 year olds to stand on stage and sing 4 songs, without anyone crying, hitting another, or running away. Quite a feat! Plus, most of them knew the songs :) That's Emmett in the middle, top making an OH with his mouth, he was very deliberate with his mouth in all the songs. It was very cute!

And here's a picture of Emmett with the Santa that came to the performance hall for the kids. Harrison would have absolutely nothing to do with him, staying at least 100 feet away at all times. So no Santa pic for him this year. Anytime we even say "Santa", Harrison waves his hands and shakes his head "NO!"

Right back!

Harrison's new thing is sooo cute! He'll gather a few things in his arms, or a tool or something. Then walk away from you, stopping to turn around and point at you, then wags his finger and says: "Right back!" He then turns and walks away, as confident as ever off to do his important business. He did it all weekend. To me, to Kirsten, to Emmett, to the dog, the neighbor, the waitress yesterday. What a cutie pie.

I haven't gotten a picture of it yet, since it just started on Friday. But here's a cute recent picture of him, posing in his room with his brother's hat on :)