Advice from my 2 year old

Every now and then something will happen to let me know my children CAN hear me talking. Yesterday, while baking cupcakes, was one of those moments.

I was chopping chocolate with a HUGE knife while Brielle sat on the counter watching me. Hyrum was pulling everything out of the cupboards, focusing primarily on small appliances with CORDS. ("all the better to drag them with, my dear.") After pulverizing a cube of chocolate I stepped sideways to grab another block and tripped over a mass of cords tangled around my legs, in frustration I snapped "Hyrum, you CAN'T play with these!"
Brielle immediately grabbed my arm and started stroking it, crooning "It's okay sweetheart. You have this big knife." At first I thought she was cautioning me not to do anything rash =0) but then she continued..."and look! You have a nice big bowl! It's okay for Hyrum to have that. Let him play with it." I couldn't stop laughing, that's exactly what we tell her when she doesn't want her brother to have a toy. (well, except it's seldom a knife that she has.) So we decided to let Hyrum continue dragging blenders and panini makers through the kitchen.

It's nice to know some things are getting through.

Baby Take a Bow!

Though perhaps not very fashion conscious, our kid is proving to be quite savvy when it comes to finance. Instead of passing her penny she has decided to hold on to it, perhaps even adding an occasional nickel or dime (because honestly I can't watch what she eats ALL THE TIME!), until it's all worth much MUCH more. Obviously we've raised her right.

Winterfest 2008

A few weekends ago we went downtown to see the Seattle Winterfest. The kids had oodles of fun, there were lights and music everywhere, more food vendors than you could shake a stick at, and an old fashioned carousel.

However, the highlight of the festivities and the reason I dragged Russell down there was to see the gingerbread houses. Several different building and architecture companies created and donated some fantastic gingerbread creations.

When I was growing up one of my favorite things was watching my dad make OUR gingerbread house. He'd bake the gingerbread from scratch, and carefully cut out all of the pieces with exactness. We'd hold our breath while he assembled the walls, and then, the BEST part was watching him decorate it! Tiled roof, wreaths on the door, icicles hanging, jeweled windows, they were amazing. I'll have to dig up an old photo one of these days. Now thanks to Costco everyone can have a gingerbread house for the holidays. =0)

I can't believe that's all made of food! Crazy!

There was a comic book theme for the houses this year, not my favorite genre, but what can ya do? However I can find a reason to be grateful, this just means they won't be doing super heroes NEXT year! Me = uber positive!

Nothing says "Christmas" like Mario Brothers.

I love the rice krispy treat castle.



I wish the streets really WERE lined with Andes Mints!!


Santa is sick in this one so Batman is driving the sleigh. Try explaining that to your two year old!


The kids enjoyed themselves too.

This one was my favorite. I expect someone on Russell's side will create a house just as amazing this Christmas, in fact I'm planning on it. =0) (We're headed off to balmy Orange county in a few weeks, we're all EXORBITANTLY excited!)

My mom would like this one too since several of the details are made of licorice! Who says Red Vines can't be functional!!


Crazy edible details. Love it.

Brielle isn't too sure about this guy.

We poked around the Teddy Bear Suite at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel. It's a room decorated for the kids and overflowing with gobs of teddy bears, as the name implies. Super schnazzy.




Brielle is checking Santa's Nice list. Oddly the names Brielle and Hyrum aren't on there. Interesting. Why is their Mother not surprised? =0)

Then a ride on the carousel, and it was time to go home.

We're so glad we live in Washington!