Merry Christmas!  First thing this morning I made an attempt at giving one of us a heart attack.  But we're too healthy.  Instead I got some wicked heartburn.

Our two days together as a family were awesome.  Yesterday, we went to Mass at a great neighborhood church I've been meaning to check out.  Phoebe had a chance to sing her favorite carols she's been belting out non-stop for about a month now.

We tried to downplay gifts and really focus on giving and only getting a few things.  Well, we blew that one.  Today we unwrapped presents for about 6 hours.    The time was mostly dragged out because Phoebe wanted to play every game and do every puzzle as they got opened.  But that was awesome. Thanks for all the wonderful things you sent to us or to our kids. We have lots of new games, math-based activities, and the pig!

Pigs are definitely a part of our life right now thanks to Mercy Watson.  Thanks to all of you who have built that up as these stories are stellar.  Phoebe's aunt Laura made a stuffed pig with a bunch of piglets zipped inside that come out.  Their lips have Velcro so they can attach to their mom.  We had a good laugh at that today.

We've been snowshoeing a ton a block from our house on the Mississippi River Road.  Phoebe likes to trek through the "woods."  It's a great reminder that while we can see the downtown skyline from our bedroom window, we have this great set of woods just a block away.

Alisa got me beer stuff and I got her wine stuff yea.  She won a silent auction share of local beers and paraphernalia for my gift.  The money went to Our Saviors Housing and I got to sample some great local brews, got a tshirt and a hoodie. Alisa hasn't enjoyed wine in a long time since we've been either thinking she's pregnant for 2 years or she has been.  So I got her some wine and then got sidetracked in the garage for the last 2 months making this wine rack/end table.  I picked up some quarter-sawn oak, started experimenting, swore a few times, called my dad a lot, and then this showed up. My parents added to this by sending a wine-stop with an antler on it.  Pretty cool addition.

A new wine "glass" from a local artist and the wine stopper.

Santa brought Phoebe and Alisa a deck of yoga cards.

Christmas Programs and Birthday Cake

Phoebe was an angel for our church Christmas program.

The preschoolers sang Away in a Manger

Our 10.4" snowfall last week.  Ruined by rain.

Alisa's mom made a "Mercy Watson" cake.  If you haven't read these
early chapter books, they're pretty awesome

We had a visitor on our clothesline post when we came
home the other night.  I was hoping he would stick
around to take care of some garden eaters.

Phoebe is quite loving.  She calls him "the little guy" most of the time.

We're having a horrible cycle of colds go through our house and I tested positive for strep throat this morning.  High 5!  I'd rather have a couple toenails extracted with a vice grip than get this again.  Even Peter's got a snotty nose.  I guess 2nd kid gets to start experiencing germs/viruses earlier.

Alisa's parents were here for a week.  They got to enjoy the Preschool Christmas show as well as our church program.  Rina made a cake for Phoebe and Dale built some shelving for Alisa to store sewing supplies.  Phoebe and Peter got to enjoy their grandparents a ton too.

Phoebe is very excited about Christmas.  Today she stuffed a little doll in her shirt and walked around her bedroom knocking on various things.  Apparently she was looking for someone who would take her in and help her get baby Jesus out of her belly.  We sing a Christmas song every night before dinner now and do the signs she learned for preschool to go along with them.  It's been fun seeing her get excited about surprises.  And she doesn't seem too focused on the gifts and materialism--a great relief.  

We didn't celebrate Phoeben's birthday with anyone else, but she had a great birthday at home.  Alisa made the cakes as you can see.  She got a new sweatshirt from my parents, dominoes from Alisa's, some Mercy Watson books and Legos from us and my brother's family sent story flash cards, where we get to make up stories based on cards with images.  Great stuff for everyone around here.

Peter's growing fast and hopefully gonna settle in here after a couple days of wanting to eat about every 2-4 hours.  The little butterball needs to let him mommy sleep and have some time to herself.

Otherwise, Phoebe loves "The Little Guy" and he's pretty content, unless he's hungry.  Then he's pretty ticked off.

Sorry to take so long to post.  Soon after my last, Phoebe and Alisa both got quite sick and it drained our home of all it's energy for a solid couple of weeks.