Tower of Power

First and second strikes.

Third strike: cool whip.

I'm starting to think this was a horrible (and overly expensive) gift idea.

Scotts, Simulations and Seaton's Hair

Dave's Cousin, Rhonda, and her family (Scott, Heather and Jenna) are in town from Scotland...we last saw them almost exactly a year ago today. Except we were on their turf. Today we were on our turf...and things are much tougher in H-town...so we hit the Children's Museum.


Violet pretending (God, we hope) to be a hippy.


Violet also really liked the simulated hurricane.


While at the museum, we ran into my friend, Nathan Harrison, who I haven't seen since high school. Nathan and I were on the track team together, we both threw (not ran) track. It's especially random that I would run into Nathan today, because I'm supposed to see another one of my old track buddies this weekend.

See, if you use the word "buddies" it's like you're a real jock.

Then we got another random surprise when a certain ex-band mate of Dave's stopped by the house to see Dave's new electronic drums.


I had to give Seaton and Dave a hard time, because not only are they both wearing a jacket very similar to the one Edward wore in the "Twilight" movie (sexy), but they're also dressed pretty much the same...except for the hair. Seaton's hair is like mine. It too, is fabulous.

Misc. Videos

I suggest starting with the volume turned down...

Violet wears her antlers "Geordi-style."



Our adorable God Son, Will.



Violet as uncooperative Mrs. Claus.



Micah walking.



I call this one, "She Did Not Call to Say She Loves You."

Hide the Chocolate

For Christmas we bought Violet this thing called the "Learning Tower." Basically it's an expensive step stool designed to allow toddlers and young children to safely help with things that are counter-height.

So far, Violet's counter-height help has included knocking our recyclables onto the floor and stealing chocolate. I guess she's learning all right...

These photos don't do justice to the amount of chocolate all over the counters, floor, wall, clothes, etc...

15 Long Years of Waiting..

I must have been very good this year, because I got the most awesomest gift ever from Santa. A Roland TD-3KW electronic drum kit. I love you, Santa! You are the greatest!

-Dave

RECAP: Christmas Day

This Christmas was fun. Violet doesn’t understand the Santa thing, but she does understand getting lots of new stuff. We have a video (that Dave will need to edit) that shows her reaction. To sum it up, “Oh wow!” Pause. Run to shopping cart.

As an equal rights kind of gal, I’m resolved to the fact that Violet’s gifts were purchased to make her happy – not to make a statement. So, Santa brought Violet a shopping cart, a baby stroller, a purse, jewelry and some other (way more expensive) stuff, but these were the only things she cared about. She loves the stroller and purse so much, they had to come with us to Grandma and Grandpa’s.

The best thing about opening gifts with Violet this year, she kissed each of her gifts.




I have no idea where she gets that from.


NOTE: I am kissing my gift, a remote control. If you’ve been to our house, you’ll know that we have an elaborate entertainment system. So elaborate in fact, a) most humans cannot figure out how to turn the TV on and b) there hasn’t been a universal remote that can fully control all of our equipment…until now…and I now possess this remote control. I truly love it.

Merry Christmas from our family to you and yours’.

Our Santa Lore

We have some friends, let’s call them the “Child Christmas Dream Killers” or CCDK for short. These friends are notorious for mixing up Santa details and thereby tipping off kids as to the possible non-existence of Santa Claus. For this reason, the CCDK have asked us to provide them with details as to our Santa lore.

Santa…

• gets pizza and whatever beverage Violet would like to give him…as long as it is available in our fridge. Santa may leave a few crumbs, but he’s gonna eat whatever is left out for him.


• rarely wraps presents. The elves do add red bows to gifts from the North Pole. If gifts from Santa are wrapped, the paper is red. Example Santa wrapping:
  
  


• comes in through the fire place.


• fills the stockings at our house. At Grandma and Grandpa’s house, we all pretend to be Santa and fill each others’ stockings.


• sometimes delivers presents from friends who live far away…if it’s on his route.


• requires written lists to be mailed at least two weeks prior to Christmas. He believes in the importance of social courtesies.

CCDK, please let me know if any additional details are needed. Thanks in advance for your participation.

RECAP: Christmas Eve

The day started with me realizing that the turkey I purchased four days prior was still a block of ice – so no turkey this year (well, we’ll have it later this week sometime). Luckily the fine people at Honey Baked Ham were more than accommodating with their delicious, yet overly expensive, larger ham.

We celebrate Christmas Eve with Dave’s extended family at our house. We missed you Aunt Mae Lin – Violet loved the puzzle and pully phone you sent…at least she did love them until all gifts in the world were trumped by this:




First Violet was scared of her new rocking horse from Grandmommy and Granddaddy – this is a new phase she’s going through, where she’s afraid of everything (it’s kind of annoying, but it means that Dave and I get more hugs) – but she quickly grew to love her rocking horse. Now she demands (NOTE: demands) to ride her horse. As soon as she’s sitting on the horse she puts on a very serious face and starts chanting “Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!”

After my quotient of this (really, how is it possible that someone who is already so heinous can get worse every year?), I used the birth of our friends’ Jodi and Jerry’s son, Owen, to skip out and enjoy a couple of minutes of alone time.


Congratulations Jodi and Jerry. Owen is so sweet – and he’s already an excellent scapegoat.

I made it home from the hospital just in time to help Violet put out pizza for Santa. That’s right, pizza. We have photographic evidence that Santa likes pizza, so we’re embracing it. We’re taking some liberties in assuming that he specifically likes spinach and garlic pizza from Star Pizza…which coincidentally, is my favorite too!

I just wish my piece would have been a little less pawed:


Speaking of less pawed...

After dinner, we found out that we’ve got another new Christmas Eve tradition. This one’s called, “A SUPER AWESOME GIFT FROM ATARI THE A-HOLE CAT.”

Click here to see what she got us last year.

This year, we (specifically me) got this:


Oh, what is this you’re asking? Could it be…

A) My tiny, crowded, messy closet.
B) My obsession with removing wire hangers and forgetting to take them to the dry cleaners.
C) My new designer cocktail dress that Atari (our cat) has ripped to shreds because she was accidentally locked in the closet?

The answer is D, all of the above. So, so, so pissed.

But the night closed out on a cute note, as Violet put on her way-too-big-special-Christmas pajamas and antlers.

The Beauty of Old Friends

These videos are totally embarrassing, but I'm gonna post them anyway...they make me laugh/cringe. The person dancing with me is my friend Veronika.

The best part of the holidays, for me, is seeing longtime friends when they come into town to visit their parents -- because most of our friends' parents still live in Houston or the surrounding area. Dave and I are very fortunate to have so many long-term friends. As of this year, we've been friends with most of our friends for more than twenty years.

There is a downside to long-term friends. Your comfort level around them is such that you can be a total fool in public...like at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, yesterday.

Shortly after the first video was taken, Rebecca, the videographer, was lectured by a museum security guard. At the end of his lecture, he said that people are not allowed to film or photograph this particular installation, because it always ends up on YouTube...heh heh. NOTE: While Rebecca was filming this, some random lady came into the installation and watched us dance. Weird, but I probably would have done the same thing.



This video was taken in another installation. Know that there's about five people walking towards us and we're on a smallish walkway...so we've gotta dance fast.

Peek-a-Boo

You may want to turn down the volume on your computer.

Toddlers With Sticks

Monday night we had some of our friends over for a little "Family Rock Band." It's not a good idea to arm three toddlers with sticks...but it is entertaining.

From left: Alan, Kat, V, D, Adam and the blur is Madison.


From left: Madison, Alan, Kat, V, D, Adele and Rachel.

Children's Museum with Mia (and Rebecca)

Tired and behind in holiday prep. Long story short, yesterday we went to the Children's Museum with Andrea and Mia (and Rebecca cause she's staying with us and she's a good sport). It was fun. The girls were more solitary with their play than we would have liked. This is the best photo I got of both of them:


Violet's favorite thing was being chased by Auntie Rebecca.

The Cutest Rock Band

You may actually die from cuteness as you watch this. Around 45 seconds...cute overload.

What's That?

Nowadays, we get this question a lot. It comes in three distinct formats:

1. The formal, "What is that?"
2. The moderate, "What's dat?"
3. The familiar, "Dat?"

This week, I received a slightly obscene, but much appreciated Flip video camera as a gift. Chances are there will be more video on the blog going forward. I can't promise they'll be interesting, there will just be more of them.

Love my new Flip video camera.

BULLETIN: Babysitter and Children's Museum

Friends of ours in the Heights are looking for a good babysitter. Suggestions are welcome.

We're meeting up with Mia (and Andrea), Angie and some other people at the Breakfast Klub on Monday (12/22). Then we're going to the Children's museum. Let me know if you're interested in joining us and I'll get you the full details.

Happy Eighteen Month Birthday, Violet!

Violet -

You're officially 1.5-years-old. That's amazing to me, for many reasons.

This month you found out that you're getting your first cousin. I'm sure you're excited on the inside.

You continue to be a "spirited" young lady. Telling you "no" guarantees a temper tantrum. Mommy is tough with most people, but she's a total softy for you. Daddy's a total sucker too. Disciplining you is difficult. Mommy and Daddy need to get better in this area -- quickly.

Yes, you currently throw a lot of tantrums, but you're also a very sweet girl. You love to hug and kiss your friends, family, dogs, cats, fish and stuffed animals.

Tonight you gave Grandpa his first kiss from you.


You also kissed the Highland Coo that Isla sent you for Christmas.



One of the funnier things you're currently doing is feigning being bitten. Meaning, you like to feed Mommy and Daddy (and dogs -- man, you really love dogs). When you feed Mommy (specifically Mommy...for some reason), you act like Mommy has bitten your hand and you act like you are hurt.

This tells us a couple of things. One, you understand that biting is a bad thing -- yet, you continue to do it. Two, you are naturally melodramatic. It's nice that you're taking after Daddy in that way.

Today you flew from San Jose to Houston. You were a total champ on the flight and with the time change. Thank you for being such a sweet girl...Mommy and Daddy really needed your sweetness to counteract all of the travel issues (AKA jerky business travellers -- karma's a bitch) we encountered today.

Your vocabulary grows daily. You've really taken to flash cards. Our favorite reactions to your cards are when you:

• "Who who" at the owl.


• "Ooh ooh" at the monkey.


• "Pop pop" with the rabbit card.


• Pant when you see the dog card.


• Put the hat card on your head.


• Say "hi" when you see the fish card.

For some reason, you love to say "hi" to fish. We took you to a pet store yesterday (don't send me your hate mail) and you went crazy running through the store, going up to the aquariums, tilting your head, waving and saying "Hi fish fish. Hi."

The fish thing is really cute.

A not so great aspect of this month is your nose. All things nose related. You stick everything up your nose. This mainly consists of your finger, your toys and your Cheerios. Daddy's had to fish a couple of Cheerios out, because you got them lodged in your nose...

...really though, we're almost OK with this, because the alternative is worse. The alternative is that you love to pick your boogers and eat them. As you eat them, you say, "yum." It's gross. We love and will kiss you anyway, but please consider stopping. Thanks.

Love you more every day.

Mommy and Daddy

=============
Birthday updates:

• Seventeen Months


• Sixteen Months


• Fifteen Months


• Fourteen Months


• Thirteen Months


• Twelve Months


• Year One Photo Recap


• Eleven Months


• Ten Months


• Nine Months


• Eight Months


• Seven Months


• Six Months


• Five Months


• Four Months


• Three Months


• Two Months


• One Month

Lisa and Her Fake Grass

My associate, Lisa, invited us over for dinner this evening. I had to go. I had to meet her dogs, Apex and Turbo, and I had to see her fake grass.

A year ago it came up in conversation that Lisa and her husband had the grass in their backyard removed and replaced with fake grass. I could not grasp this concept. It was explained to me that your grass always looks great, it takes very little maintenance and it feels good on your feet.

Tonight we met the dogs and Violet loved them. In fact, Violet said her first name tonight, "Burbo" AKA "Turbo."

Violet feeding Turbo (with their respective Moms and Apex's head).


At first Violet was skeptical of the fake grass, but she grew to love it. I took off my shoes and I can attest that it feels good on the foot.

Random Park Photos

First Time to Eat Sushi

Tonight we met up with Dave's cousins, Tricia and James, and their families. The food was great, the restaurant played good music and the company was excellent. It was a wonderful evening.


Double trouble. Violet and her second cousin, Marissa. It's a good thing that the restaurant is child-friendly. At one point, these two banshees were running through the restaurant shrieking.


Violet's first time to eat sushi and tofu. She loved them both. She especially loved miso soup, which I cannot stand. NOTE: She ate cucumber rolls. Don't send me hate mail/safety warnings/blah blah blah.

Photo Catch-up: Dislikes

Waking up. NOTE: Yes, she slept in her clothes. She passed out in the car and all we could do is take off her tights and shoes.


Violet loves playing in Sly and Veronika's shower while it's still wet. She doesn't like it when she falls over in the wet shower.



When Daddy takes her beer away.


Child labor.


Fake Dickensian coastal vignettes.


Carousels.

Photo Catch-up: Likes

Feeding Sly's cat, Pandora.


Drinking beer with Daddy.


Sliding on the big slide in Sly and Veronika's neighborhood.




New SF boyfriend, Hank. Hank (a random kid at the park) requested that he be the one to push Violet on the swing. L-o-v-e.