Rice Family

M and E were down for thier nap a couple days ago, and it was nearing the end of their nap when I hear E starting to make noise. Typically he says things like "DAAAAAAAAAAD!" "MOOOOOM!" or "AAAAAAAAAAaaaaaa!" and generally he says these very loudly, with little to no warning. He's awake = he yells. And he did not change his methods on this particular day. A few moments after a couple "DA..AD! Moo..oM!" and "AAA...aaa!" I hear M start to mumble (her typical way of waking up), and then this: M: Ethan. (said somewhat grouchily and pleadingly). If you wake me up...then I can't sleep. And if I can't sleep...well, I can't grow. And if I can't grow....then I'll DIE (very dramatically said). So, you shouldn't wake me up. Because if you wake me up, I can't grow, and I will be dead. You don't want me to be dead, do you?

We had a wonderful Christmas. I absolutely love getting together with my family, and I am really glad my family puts in the effort to come together. On Christmas Eve day we made some cookies for Santa, which was really cute and fun - the cookies turned out really yummy! We went first to my aunt Nancy's and uncle Don's on Christmas Eve - excellent dinner as usual, and fun games, as usual! We also opened our first presents (new jammies for each of us) and they opened theirs. Then we went to my aunt Martha and uncle Neil's home and hung out there and opened more presents from Grandpa Steve - getting home and to bed at about 1:30 after setting out all the presents from Santa. Christmas morning was fun as it is bound to be and the kids got really great presents this year, all things they like and age appropriate. I was happily surprised at how perfect the gifts ended up being. We spent Christmas day and night at my Grandmas with a whole bunch of wonderful family, and more games,...