Zoolight Safari.

It's that time of the year again. I just love Zoolight Safari -- they do a great job of transforming the zoo into a winter wonderland with so many lights, blow up decorations, snow and even Santa. It's a fun, family friendly night.

This year there were snow machines outside while we waited in line for the zoo to open -- great idea. It kept the kids occupied and they didn't even know they were waiting because they were playing.

Camo clad cuties chasing the "snowflakes".

Showing Daddy the snow on his hands.

I learned last year to get in the train line immediately before it gets long and you have to wait. So we started there.

Our short wait for the train. We saw Santa on the light-filled train ride.

Then we headed toward the carousel -- on the way stopping to look at decorations, including a precious new Alabama sign. I need to go back in the daylight hours to get these pictures again.

Then we headed to the carousel. Small Fry was hilarious on the carousel -- wanting to switch animals and ride every one and also saying "woo, woo" as the animals went up and down.

Daddy was on Small Fry duty.

I got to hang with my big boy.

Small Fry is scary on a carousel -- doesn't understand the importance of holding on.

All smiles (please note the madness in the background).

We finished the night with dinner at Mexico Lindo. A great family night enjoying one of Birmingham's best Christmas traditions.

Santa.

We went to the "real" Santa, according to Fawn, the Santa that visits the Bass Pro Shops. It really is a great Santa experience -- super friendly elves who are not trying to sell you a thing, plenty of games and activities to keep the kids occupied before and after the Santa photo, and a fun carousel.

I was a bit concerned that Small Fry would want nothing to do with Santa -- at this age Fawn would not let me put him in Santa's lap. But, I think having a brave big brother made that situation much better. Small Fry loved Santa -- as did Fawn.

One of my friends who just happened to be there (who knew that BPS was such a happening place!) tried to get a picture of us in line -- a bit blurry, but captured the moment.

Say cheese! The free picture from BPS is actually great this year -- so fun!

Going over Fawn's list for Santa. Detailed with hand-drawn pictures of Tenkai Knights, Transformers, and Power Rangers Gosei Morpher.

Talking over the items.

The first time Fawn has ever mailed a letter to Santa.

Reindeer rider.

Love bug on a polar bear.

Twenty-Two Month Update.

We will call this t-minus two months. For me, two years is the official end of "babyhood." Not only is that when I wean my little ones, but that's when I stop marking the months and the milestones with such deliberateness and precision. Time continues to fly by, and we are absolutely loving this stage with our precious angel Small Fry. I think the eighteen to twenty-four month stage is magic -- absolute and pure magic!

Small Fry is certainly a little character these days. Whether its wearing his camo boots every waking moment, or sporting Fawn's hand-me-down Alabama hat to Mother's Day Out, or rocking in upside down sunglasses at story time, he is a hoot. He is very particular -- coming into his own and making his opinion know about anything and everything. Food, clothes, pajamas, books, tv shows, you name it. He's got an opinion and attempts to impose his will. And, have I mentioned he's absolutely hilarious? He can keep just about anyone in stitches if he wants to.

He's still quite a physical little guy -- running, jumping, climbing -- doing just about anything to keep up with Fawn. He tries to ride our tricycle, though can't quite reach the pedals. He even tries to drive the Power Wheel -- disaster in the making! He loves to dance, clap and sing. He loves story time at the library -- especially the songs and dancing -- where he is quick to join in the fun. With that physicality has come some unfavorable toddler behavior in the form of hitting and kicking this month. It is usually accompanied by a "no."

Speaking of "no", it is his very favorite word. He will get in a "no" funk and say it to every single thing we ask him. He also loves to stick his bottom lip out and pout. Occasionally, he will cross his arms in front of his body to really prove his point. I know I shouldn't think it's cute, but oh my this child is just precious no matter what his mood. And, good gracious the moods (and mood swings!). If someone crosses Small Fry he holds a grudge and is slow to recover. Buck "angered" him one evening when he got onto him for climbing on the coffee table; Small Fry wouldn't look at him for the rest of the night. And, if Small Fry gets mad before a meal, he simply will not eat -- perhaps he doesn't want to give me the satisfaction. Who knows? It's maddening! But, I love his strong-willed nature and pray that it takes him far in life.

Small Fry is liking school more and more. His teachers report that he knows the names of all the other children in his class. His favorite part of the morning is playground -- no shocker there. Despite how much fun he is (apparently) having while he's there, he still loves to bring the drama at drop off. He ignores me as I carry him in, lunges into a teacher's arms where he cuddles up, acts sad, and refuses to make eye contact or speak to me while I say goodbye. He is all smiles at pick up, so I know he is having a ball!

His favorite tv shows are Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Curious George, and Paw Patrol. His favorite books are the Pete the Cat books, any Mickey Mouse book, and he's really enjoying our Christmas board books. Balls still top the list of favorite toys -- or really anything he can throw while commanding someone to "go fetch" (lovely) -- but he also loves trains, Legos, or anything of Fawn's. He's loving arts and crafts and spends time each day coloring on our easel, where he declares his creations "butiful" and ends his creativity with "ta da!"

He's talking up a storm -- in pretty clear sentences now. He's starting to say funny and sweet things. He loves to ask for a kiss but it comes out "piss" so that's pretty funny! And the sweet thing can count -- to the mid-teens. How, I have no idea, but he can do it! Go Small Fry!

We had a bit of a health scare earlier this month. After yet another bout with croup (our sixth of 2013 by our count), I ended up at Children's Hospital one night because he was having trouble breathing. Before I had completed paperwork at the check-in, we were whisked to triage, and immediately admitted and bumped to a room. We were greeted in our room by a doctor, a nurse, and a therapist to administer a breathing treatment. His oxygen levels were low, and though I knew we were in good hands, I was scared. With the breathing treatment and steroids, we were able to get his breathing under control and were discharged with instructions to return if we ever heard those sounds again. The next day we reported to our ENT where I had to hold Small Fry down while they scoped his airway. It was not fun for anyone, but we received a good report that there is not a structural issue complicating matters. Small Fry is now on maintenance medicine every time he gets the slightest sniffle. It seems to be working, thank the Lord. The whole experience shook us up a bit and has made us more cautious about being out of town if Small Fry is the least bit sick. We do not want to be far from Children's Hospital! To that end, Small Fry and I hunkered down here after Thanksgiving instead of going to the farm with Buck and Fawn. Small Fry had a wheezy cough Thanksgiving day and we just couldn't risk it. We had some wonderful, quality Mommy and Small Fry time -- and I loved my days with my snuggle bug.

Small Fry, we love you -- every bit of you! We are so thankful for your health this season of Thanksgiving. Thank you for sharing your joy, your laughter, your tears and your life with us.

So big on the fort all by himself.

So cool in his shades.

So brave on a bike.

And just for laughs...Small Fry's first selfie.

Christmas Countdown.

Boys --

This post is for you, when you are a grown-up, a parent. I hope it helps you prepare your heart and your home for Christmas. Last year I read Doug Webster's A Christmas Journey: Filled With Wonder Marked By The Cross for the first time; I just finished it for the second time getting ready for this Christmas. While Christmas is certainly magical -- especially with small children in the home -- the true meaning of Christmas is even more captivating. I will save my copy of this book for you; below is the recap.

Introduction
- The Gift we celebrate at Christmas was not wrapped, it was crucified. It was not under the tree, it was nailed to the tree, and it was not opened on Christmas day, it was opened on Easter morning.
- Home is not where we're from, it's where we're going. Jesus left home to bring us home.
- Try as we might, the real joy of Christmas lies outside our circumstances and all our preparations. If Jesus had never come, the measure of our lives would be what we make of it, and as plans go awry and preparations fail, life becomes a casualty of disappointments and frustrations. For as long as life rests on our own self effort and good fortune, the joy of life extends only to the happiness of our circumstances.
- The wood of the manger reminds us of the wood of the Cross.
- The first great truth of Christmas is, "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son in given..." and the second unforgettable truth is, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).
- Like the magi, we can follow the revelation of God until it leads us to the King and we bow and worship.
- Advent reminds us of the eagerness of God to bring good news to all people. It is a message seeking a response -- a celebration that inspires true worship.
- Mary is a model of openness to the power of God. From Mary we learn about the courage to say "yes" to God. Not only will God take up the room we give him, but God will do for us and through us what we never could have done in ourselves. It is not a matter of finding our place in this world, but of allowing God's place in our lives, for it is in this way that the proud are put down and the humble lifted up.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
- Everything depends on the true identity of Jesus the Christ as the Son of God and our relationship with him.
- Christmas is about the living Lord Jesus Christ who came to earth and put on our humanity, who lived and died and rose again. If it's not about him, specifically and personally, it's really not about anything at all.
- There is absolutely nothing about God's being, character and work, that can not be said of this child who is born for us.
- The true holy family in the Bible is not Mary, Joseph and their baby; it is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
- We need the Father's love and we need it forever. No matter how greatly we are loved by family and friends, apart from God's love, we are as good as unloved. And no matter how unloved we consider ourselves to be, in Christ we are greatly loved! All other loves are transitory and undependable and need the love of God to be sustained. Even the deepest bond between husband and wife, or parent and child, proves inadequate apart from the love of the Everlasting Father.

This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger. Luke 2:12
- The manger becomes a profound illustration of the humility of God. It is a radical picture of God's self-emptying.
- The humility of the manger led to the humility of the Cross in order that the world might be saved through Christ.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27
- Above all else we long for peace with God, even if we can't identify the longing.
- To be at peace is to be whole, to be at rest in our souls and fulfilled in our lives.
- God's Shalom is not imposed, it is bestowed; it is not earned, it is given; it is not achieved, it is received.
- Shalom is the gift of God that is based on a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, who paid the price for our peace.

But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Galatians 4:4-5
- The Son of God became the Son of Man so that the sons of men might become the sons of God.
- We observe Advent not to keep a tradition, but to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- Sentimentality looks to feelings to inspire faith; love looks to faith to inspire feelings.
- The wisdom of God knows that we can act ourselves into a new way of feeling much quicker than we can feel ourselves into a new way of acting. Worship is an act which develops feelings for God, not a feeling for God which is expressed in an act of worship.
- In love, God made the first move toward us and has continued the movement ever since. The emotion we experience toward God is based on his grace-filled movement towards us. To discover the meaning of Christmas emotionally, rather than sentimentally, means moving closer to God who in Jesus Christ left the preferred place of heaven to move toward us.
- The nature of the miracle was never meant to obscure or overwhelm the identity of the One conceived.
- Mary is a model of openness to the power of God. For Mary it was about courage, taking God at his word, saying "yes" to God. She teaches us the first rule of discipleship: to find our lives we need to lose our lives in the will of God. Mary's life reminds us that the real issue in life, for her as well as for us, is not finding our place in this world, but of making room in our lives for God.
- The indwelling reality of Christ in you is surely a miracle on the order of the virgin conceiving the Incarnation of God.
- Since we are made in the image of God, our humanity is most fully realized in obedience to the will of God. In other words, we are truly ourselves when we live in accordance with the will of God. A fully human life is an obedient life, for it is only when we live according to the perfect law of liberty that we become free. Sin is a violation of the will of God and an attack on our true nature.
- The temptation we face is to live by a code of conduct rather than to live by the grace of God.
- Home is being together at the center of God's will.
- Your spouse cannot be your savior, nor can your children be your future. There is a deeper, more abiding relationship that you were created for that gives meaning and purpose to all other relationships.
- When we allow the story of our lives to be rooted in a story greater than ourselves, we are not limited to the small life that we can construct for ourselves.

Merry Christmas sweet boys -- this year and always. It is a joy to share the Advent season with you -- to bake goodies, sing songs, and do Christmas crafts. Aside from the gift of Christ himself, you my dear children (and your sweet daddy) are the gifts I cherish the most.

Love,
Mom

Mom's 60th Birthday.

My mom (our boys' Mimi) turned 60 on December 3. Mom and I planned an awesome surprise party for my dad when he turned 60 in February, and Dad and I knew we had to repay the favor and the fun for Mom. Plus, Mom is such a giver -- at work, at home, everywhere... -- that if anyone deserves a special night, it's her.

Things have been hectic in our family. My grandfather has been going through a health crisis and in November finally got a concrete diagnosis -- Stage 4 lymphoma. He had his first round of chemo the week of Thanksgiving and is tolerating it well. But, of course, Mom has been wrapped up (emotionally and physically) in care of Abou and said that we would just not worry about her birthday this year. Dad and I secretly said "not so fast" to that and planned a surprise ladies' night out with some of her friends.

We sent an evite and invited about fifteen of her closest friends to my house for heavy appetizers and cocktails on her actual birthday night. We got a great response and Dad, Allison and I got to planning the menu.

Mom started to get suspicious the day before her birthday but we easily threw her off the trail. We surprised her with Magic Muffins, decorations, and her cute grandsons at work the morning of her birthday. She said "so this is what you've been up to." Ha!

While it would have been ideal to truly surprise Mom, we just didn't think we could pull it off and have all of the food hot and ready for our guests. (Buck was unfortunately out of town for work so I really needed Dad around to help!) So, Mom and Dad came over to my house to get Mom's present from the boys. She saw the house all decorated in gorgeous tulips and old pictures of her and clearly a party about to happen. Dad told her she would have to leave him at my house so he could help get ready for her birthday party and she needed to go home and get ready. She was dumbstruck! And speechless (NEVER EVER happens)!

Ben, Allison and I frantically finished up the odds and ends while Dad got the grill going. When the guests arrived, Mom excitedly greeted them (we didn't tell her who was coming) and they enjoyed wine, cranberry margaritas, homemade cheese biscuits, and homemade spiced nuts. After some visiting time, we set out the main food: bacon wrapped shrimp, grilled and served with Thai dipping sauce; grilled pork tenderloin with yeast biscuits and horseradish sauce; grilled vegetables; cranberry-orange cheese ball with crackers; baked brie with apples and ginger snaps; hot spinach salsa dip with corn chips. Everyone enjoyed dinner, which was a relief considering we tried lots of new recipes!

After dinner I quickly headed to Lulu's to pick up my boys so they could help sing to Mimi and pass out dessert (Steel City Pops! -- Mom's favorite and perfect for her gluten-free, dairy-free diet). They were so excited to sing to Mimi and put on quite the show.

It was a great night celebrating a fabulous wife, mother, grandmother and friend. I hope it is a night Mom remembers forever.

iPic Update.

I am obsessed with the baby orangutan at the zoo.

All about Fawn.

Date night with mom -- movie and popcorn.

Children's ER :(

Dilated eyes after first eye doctor appointment.

Ball sitting.

Nothing is cuter than a fresh haircut.

That time when Small Fry picked up unidentified poo at the zoo and smeared it all over himself.

A sign of things to come?!?!

Thanksgiving 2013.

My favorite holiday -- I love the food and it's in the absolute best time of the year FALL! It doesn't feel as hectic as Christmas, and there is no pressure in gift giving or decorating. We rotate Thanksgivings between our two families and have the other family over for dinner the night before. That way we get to see everyone and celebrate with everyone but we also have time with each family and time to enjoy the day.

It was the Nichols turn to be at our house on Wednesday night and we doubled up the fun by celebrating Doc's birthday. Buck and I handled the food (our current standard meal for a large group -- Pioneer Woman ranch chicken sandwiches, crunchy ramen slaw, and potato casserole). And Lulu brought Baby Bites for dessert. It was a great meal with great company -- everyone was able to attend including Buck's grandmother, aunt, and two cousins. Because we were hosting I really didn't get great pictures -- I was running around in host mode but loving every minute. I love that the Wednesday night before Thanksgiving is our "thing" and we are setting a family tradition of our own.

Enjoying the Baby Bites.

This guy dove in head first to the Baby Bites -- eating them in one bite. It was hilarious, and we had to cut him off after two.

On Thanksgiving morning, we decorated our house for Christmas! Sneaky Buck went to get a Christmas tree the day before. And, despite my suggestion that we all go for the "Christmas tree experience" he assured me that the boys would not be impressed by a trip to our local Whole Foods -- probably right! It was a really fun activity for Thanksgiving day, and I hope it is a new tradition for us. It was so nice to look ahead to Christmas and have our house decorated before the beginning of Advent. After Small Fry's nap we went to my parents' house for Thanksgiving with the Leavers. It was our first holiday in their new house -- and it's great for entertaining. My grandparents couldn't make it because my grandfather is receiving chemo for lymphoma. But, Uncle Ben and Aunt Allison were there. And my mom's sister and my cousin came by to visit. It was a quiet, calm, lovely Thanksgiving.

Pops has been teaching Fawn to play card games. Here he and Buck are playing Go Fish. Fawn's little hands can't hold all of his cards, hence the barricade.

Sweet turkey playing with dominoes.

Happy, happy, happy.

Brothers at play (the calm before the war over dominoes).

Happy Thanksgiving!