The Luminary Walk

If you live near south KC---you should go out to The Aboretum (off 69 Hwy and 179th St) and walk their luminary trail. It is so fabulous! The entire thing is lit up with little candles along the paths, as well as many light displays. There is a giant bonfire where they serve hot cider from the Louisburg Mill, and 3 different locations of carolers along the path. And Santa is there, too! Last night was perfect, we went at about 5pm (it's open from 5-8:30, this weekend and next). It was just cold enough to bundle up and get in the spirit of Christmas! My camera doesn't take the best night pictures, so these don't do it justice...

Doesn't my husband look handsome in his pea coat?! Bless his heart, he missed the end of a great OU basketball game to join us on this family outing :-)

As I've mentioned before, Brax doesn't enjoy being restrained, so the two layers of clothing, hat, hood, mittens, and two blankets were kinding of cramping his style. Not to mention it was about dinner time and he only had one nap!

Just ONE picture, son. Please!

This picture is from the website--

Thanksgiving, Round 2

Yesterday we went over to Aunt Kathi's for more turkey!!

Brax was eager to help her cook!

And of course he had to identify all the toddler-hazards he could find.

Aunt Kathi, Brax and I, Cousins Angie, Brooke and Bart, Grandpa Bob

Brax was making his own Thanksgiving dinner down in Brooke's old playroom.

Sharing with Momma.

Mike taking random pictures of me.

Isn't this the greatest little "cafe!" My Grandpa Bob built it all for my cousin when she was a little girl. Aunt Kathi kept it up even after Brooke left for college and Brax enjoys it now!

Gobble gobble gobble.

Gobble.

Brax and Daddy playing a little after dinner Guitar Hero.

Uncle Dirk shares in Mike's appreciation for all things electronic-

Brax got to sit in the mother of all gaming chairs.

Brax's New Friend

This toy cracks me up. It is "Handy Manny." If you have toddlers, you know who he is!

This particular version talks about his tools and his theory on construction. ("Measure twice, cut once." Of course.) But I really get a kick out of is his authentic Spanish accent. He sounds just like Fez from "That 70's show." Brax loves Manny! Thank you Nana Star!

16 Month Stats

HEIGHT/WEIGHT/TOOTH COUNT: Still 34 inches, 23 lbs (He lost a pound! I guess it's all the running around?) Holding steady at 6 teeth.


PERSONALITY: He's such a blend of joyful and strong willed... I would say 95% of the time he is so jolly, so happy, silly, personable, and sweet... but man when he gets his mind made up about what he does or doesn't want, if the world around him doesn't cooperate his fuse is quick to blow. (My first thought here is, "Gee, that describes most toddlers..." But then my second thought is, "Gee, that describes ME some days!!!!" Looks like I'VE got some discipline issues I need to work on MYSELF!) We are about to implement the TIME OUT chair (this will be his portable booster chair sat in a corner). For him, not me. HA! I just need a Xanax. Double HA.


WHAT HE'S LEARNED: I keep a desk calendar on the counter and jot down his new "tricks" as they come... Here's the past month in a nutshell:
Says "hot" (ta-ta) and blows on food or candles, says "mama" and "dada," stacks his blocks to make a tower, "reads" books by himself (looks at the pictures and turns the pages), walks backwards, haphazardly uses a fork and spoon to eat, signs "more" and "all done" correctly and consistently, furrows his brow--giving us "the look," turns in circles, eats off a plate without dumping it all out (sometimes), identifies his tummy, hair, mouth, arm, hand, fingers, ears and feet, walks on his tip-toes, said "bye bye" [once-does that count?], says "dibble dibble dibble" a lot (not sure on the translation yet), voluntarily gives hugs and kisses, grits his new teeth (much to my chagrin), takes his socks and pants off himself (with a little help getting started).


FAVORITE FOODS: We recently learned that he likes grilled shrimp, butternut squash, spaghetti squash, and Cinnamon Crunch Total. Other than that, his diet consists of oatmeal, yogurt, meat sticks, carrots, brown rice, noodles with tomato sauce, mixed veggies, and broccoli on a good day. No juice, just milk and water. Occasionally ice cream with Mommy. It's more fun when someone consumes the empty calories with me. He needs to pack on a few lbs anyway.


FAVORITE PEOPLE: Jace and Cameron, Aunt Laura, Mommy and Daddy, not Santa.


FAVORITE BOOKS: I Love You Stinky Face, Follow the Monsters, Goodnight Moon, Baby Cakes.


FAVORITE TOYS: His little vacuum, golf clubs, his hammer, Handy Manny.


FAVORITE ACTIVITIES: Scribbling with his fat little crayons, picking up rocks, bathtime, playing "chase" and hide and seek (glorified peek-a-boo!)


FAVORITE SONGS: Anything Aunt LuLu sings. Not so impressed with MY vocals.


DISLIKES: Being restrained in any manner--brushing his teeth, clipping nails, fixing his hair, putting lotion on or wiping his face, changing his diaper, picking his nose (I Q-Tip the boogies out every nite), HAIR CUTS. Surprisingly enough, he'll tolerate the car seat pretty well for at least 45 minutes to an hour.


FUNNY THINGS HE DID: Well this was a little sad but a little funny--he was dancing and we were laughing SO hard (WITH him, not AT him) but his feelings got hurt (I guess?) and he stopped abrubtly and broke down in crocodile tears like we had just shot his dog. We really had to butter him back up to get him to dance again! I was dancing around the room like the dorky white girl I am trying to get him bust a move again. Who knew??? We don't laugh at his dancing anymore (not to his face, anyway.)
Another funny moment was when Mike was sitting on the fireplace resting his chin on his fist, watching Brax play. We noticed that Brax kept walking around, looking at Mike, putting his little fist up to his chin, trying to imitate Daddy.

"I Ain't Gettin' Nothin' for Christmas..."

If Santa gives out coal for kids behaving badly while getting their hair cut, then Brax just might be able to single-handedly solve our nation's energy crisis. (Although we might have a problem if he melts the North Pole in doing so...)

After the show that Brax put on today at Great Clips, I wasn't the least bit surprised that this is the reaction we got during our visit with Santa...

The boy does not like to be restrained.

But dang, his hair looks GOOD!

Ahhh, so sweet and docile--just one year ago.

Isn't this the greatest Santa ever? He's been coming to our mall for 8 years!!

Brinner, Revisited

This is what happens when you've been married almost 5 years. You get wild and crazy and start experimenting... with dinner. I had heard of this egg-in-a-hole thing before, but had never tried it until now. Mike thought I was making things up, but I am sad to say that mine is not the brilliant mind who created this simple and delicious take on breakfast. Or brinner, in our case.

Try it, it's fun. And tasty.

All you need is:

eggs

bread

spray butter (like Pam, but butter flavor)

sharp cheddar cheese slices (no Velveeta!)

salt and pepper

a jar or glass or cookie cutter (I used a small mason jar)

1. Spray both sides of the bread with butter spray

2. Cut the holes in the middle with tool of your choice

3. Put it in a cool skillet, then turn the heat on medium-high.

4. Crack your eggs in the holes. Sprinkle w/ salt and pepper.

It's okay if the egg runs out a little. No need for perfection here.
***IMPORTANT PART*** DON'T OVER COOK! Leave them alone just long enough for the egg to set on the bottom enough to flip it over with a spatula. Don't break the yoke!

This is key, people.

Oops. I over cooked them. Don't let them get this brown before flipping.



Oops again. Don't let the other side get this brown either before removing them from the heat.

6. Sprinkle this side with salt and pepper too.

7. Cover up the most burnt side with cheese and serve it up.

So here is my 2nd attempt at eggs-in-a-hole.
Much better this time.This is what they should look like when you flip 'em.
You want the yolk to be runny, that's the best part.
Then you use the toasty bread circles to sop it all up at the end.

Enjoy!

Weather Permitting

It was a whopping 50-some degrees outside yesterday!

So we headed to the park...

Brax could not keep his hands off these nasty crabapple things,

or whatever they are. They are sticky and gross and moldy and I strongly dislike them.

Snack time on the bench.

My blue eyed cyclops.

He saw the big boys running up the slide and was

so frustrated that he couldn't make it up, too!

WHEEEEEEEEEEE!

Brax looks just like Mike when he was a toddler in this picture!

Pure and simple... JOY.

See ya.

My Helper Elf

Brax was eager to help with the Christmas tree...

"Are you sure you got it in there right, Momma?"

"I don't know, it seems a little wobbly..."

"There! Perfect!"

"What would you do without me??"

"What? Did you say something about 'hands off' or 'off limits' or something?

I'm not sure I heard you right....
Did you say I COULD or COULD NOT touch this?
What about these tags here? I can touch these, right?
What?
What did you say?
I still didn't hear you........"

It was so sweet... the first ornament Brax noticed was a picture of Nana Star (my whole tree is decorated with mini picure frames). Then he proceeded to give it a kiss!!!

"Daddy, come look!!!!"

"I LOVE CHRISTMAS!"

All decorated out.