Retraction

Remember that sweet little "speech" I made a few days ago about not being heartbroken about the ornaments at the bottom of the tree should some harm befall them???  Okay, so I indeed have not shed any tears, however...two ornaments have bit the dust and 25+ days to go till the decorations come down.  That is an average of one ornament broken per day.  At that rate, I don't know that we will have any left come Christmas.  Hmmm...by then I will definitely be crying!

Update 7:45pm:  Make that three-and-a-half ornaments.  Sigh.  My sense of wonder has turned into a sense of bewilder.

Wonder-land

I had forgotten what a joy it is to have a toddler at Christmas-time.  That may sound sarcastic, but I actually really mean it.  The girls were so adorable while decorating the tree this year; fighting over who got to put which ornament up and which ornament each child had made, as well as Kyrie declaring that she would "put the ornaments up high while Lariska puts them lower, since I can reach higher."  (Yes, brilliant, right?)  And then an hour later, Declan got up from his nap and everything changed.  Each and every ornament on one of the lower branches was exclaimed over and brought to either Matt or I to exclaim over as well.  When we told him to go and put them back he would just run away to get another one.  Every time he walks past the tree he stops to touch one of branches and say "ight...ight".  It's really very cute.  I would try and work up some angst at the ornaments being strewn about everywhere, but really...what do you expect?  He's 18-months old and he just loves to experiment with everything he sees...besides, I was not silly enough to let the girls put any of the "precious" ornaments within his reach, so anything he gets his paws on, while not expendable will not bring on the waterworks.  Watching Declan enjoy the Christmas tree fills me with a sense of wonder (as my Pop and Van Morrison would say) and I can't do anything except for smile, shake my head, and then smile some more.

18-Months Old

Sigh.  More next week after his Dr. Appt.  Here are some photos I took to commemorate this latest milestone.  (I saw one-year old photos like this once and thought they were so adorable...I had to attempt to re-create the idea of it.  Let me tell you, this was not an easy task.  Sitting still is not in Declan's repertoire.)

Kons Family Chaos

(Pilgrims and...cowboys?...wearing a cowgirl/Easter hat?)

Our annual Thanksgiving Cards went out yesterday.  I didn't say much this year, but I did write a very short poem for each of the kids.  For posterity, here they are:

Kyrie Mikayla
Six years old
never cold
in 1st grade
sold lemonade
loves to read
wants to lead
likes to write
always right
sassafrass
soccer pass
rode a horse
loved, of course.

Lariska Jean
Four years old
heart of gold
likes preschool
swims in pool
reading books
changing looks
tinkerbell
super-swell
pretends to fly
picks Dad's tie
jump and run
our Little One.

Declan William
17 months old
rather bold
devil-full
never dull
likes to dance
takes a chance
puppy love
climbs above
laugh and giggle
run and wriggle
smile so bright
pure delight.

Hope you have a fabulous Thanksgiving and that you will remember all that you have to be thankful for!  Today, I am thankful for my girls surprising me and packing their own bags to go to the Lodge.  They are headed out this evening with Grandma and Grandpa; Matt, Declan and I will meet them there tomorrow night and we will all enjoy our T-day together surrounded by the peace, beauty and (relative) quiet of the woods.

Oh, and by the way, I have updated the blog all the way back through October, so there's lots of new posts!

Cookie Decorating?

The girls spent the night at Grandma's house while Daddy, Grandpa, and Uncle Mark (along with a bunch of Great-Uncles) were at the Lodge hunting.  I can't believe it is even close to time for such things, but Grandma and the girls decorated Christmas cookies during their time together.  Yummmm!  As you can see, this was not the least sloppy of endeavors.  Kudos to Grandma for braving this task with them (especially Kyrie!).

Bye-Bye

Declan kissing Daddy goodbye before he leaves for the weekend.

One of these days...

...these boots are gonna walk all over you.

Yes, Declan has his jammies on backwards.  We have to do this because otherwise he takes his pajamas off in his crib and then doesn't go to sleep (because he's cold, maybe?).  I just think he is hilarious begging me to put these boots on him all the time.  He loves those things.

Modern Family

Phil: You know I love your mother, but I think you also know a certain look she gets that says, "Just listen to me, I'm always right".
Haley:  You mean her face?

Classic.

Daddy Day

Today was Daddy Day at Lari's preschool.  Matt was priveleged enough to take Lari to preschool, hear the class sing some songs, demonstrate what they normally do in the morning, and then decorate a potato turkey with her (with gum drop wings!).  Lari and Daddy had a great time!

P.S. Lari is attempting to compete with Kyrie's reputation for dressing goofy.  Lately, she is wearing Christmas-y outfits.  I think there is a lot of wishful thinking going on.

Goofy Dresser

Speaking of goofy dressing...this is how Kyrie went to school today.  Oh, and this is what she classifies as "dressing her best" for a class field trip to the Sharon Lynn Wilson Center.

Happy Birthday, Mattie-Daddy

Thirty-four years young this year.  We sure do love you. 



Here come clown feet

Cleanliness...

...is next to Godliness, right?  So, Declan must be really close to God then, because this child greatly enjoys cleaning.  I really don't understand it as I do not enjoy cleaning at all.  But, Declan?  Declan loves to take out the broom and move my dust pile all around the kitchen.  He can often be seen picking up papers or shoes and putting them into the garbage for us.  One of his favorite things to do is get a Kleenex out of the box, blow his nose into it, clean off the floor or high chair with the same Kleenex, blow his nose into it again, throw it into the garbage and run away...and then come back and take it out of the garbage and blow his nose into it again...oh yeah, and then wipe my chair off with it.  (You think I am kidding.  If only.)

Visiting Grandma Starr

Grandma Starr (Kyrie, Lariska, and Declan's Great-Grandma) recently moved to a retirement home in Menomonee Falls.  It was so nice of her to invite our entire family to come and have lunch with her at her new (very spacious) place!  Two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a nice living room and kitchen and the best part - laundry and dryer right in the apartment - awesome!  Grandma Starr is always so good to our kids and had a truck for Declan and some adorable hair things that she made for Kyrie and Lariska.  Thanks Grandma Starr!  We hope we get to come over again sometime soon!

Couch or Trampoline?

Having Sisters...

...makes it hard to escape dressing up like a princess, fairy, or other category of special girl-child.