From deep within the cave...

Happy girl :)

This is Savannah's designated spot...right next to her favorite person on earth while he takes
F-O-R-E-V-E-R to finish eating. She just stands there and watches him...too cute.

The title of this post is referring to the colder-than-necessary weather we are experiencing up here. Seriously, can we say, "Mongolia"? I'm having very real flashbacks. We've been little hermits in our 68 degree winter cave while the winds howl outside. Other than that, not much new to report around here...Savannah is movin' and groovin'. I think she's teething because she's been a bit high maintenance (in my opinion.) It was a lot easier when she just sat there but didn't crawl or pull up on things :) The big talk around the house these days is signing up Micah for preschool next year...ah! That one definitely hit me blind sighted. Had NO idea I need to enroll in January and February for the '09-'10 school year. Anyway...took him to a little preschool open house the other night and his exact words were, "Mom, I love this school." That's just because it had a big sand table complete with dump trucks and bulldozers. We'll see where the Lord leads. The little guy is growin' up on us :)

Savannah Smiles

Here's a cute video of Savannah laughing at Greg wearing a Santa hat :)

November and December 2008

Micah's Christmas loot.

The tenth reindeer ready for Santa's sleigh

After Christmas Eve service

Brrrr...two snow bunnies going on a sled ride outside our house the week before Christmas

Meemaw and Savannah at Children's Museum in GR

Great Meemaw with kids in Dallas

Mimi and Savannah saying goodbye at DFW

Micah on the lookout

Daddy and Savannah on my Dad's deck in Gig Harbor

In November and early December we were able to spend some wonderful quality time with our families. We flew out to WA to see Ha and Gamma, then to Dallas to see Mimi, Papa and Great Meemaw. Then, a few days after we got back to GR, Greg's Mom, brother Steve and niece Melanie came up for a chilly, but very fun visit. Christmas, then, was just the four of us...as quiet as "quiet" can be around here, and very relaxed and meaningful. We loved it. Here are some fun pics of the kids. I'll also post a bunch on snapfish.com for those of you who would like to peruse the whole bundle. As far a pics from my dad's in Washington...I will shamelessly direct you to the much superior blog of Jonathan and Chrissy at http://www.jonathanandchrissy.blogspot.com/. He's got a link to some really great photos of our trip on there you won't want to miss.

Finally, here are a couple Micahisms for you.

"Mom, you like making cookies with me? Yeah, me too. I like eating cookies."

"Dad, can I watch my 'ratoons'?" (ratoons = cartoons)

"Hey, Mom, I think this is a good idea, 'dontcha fink'?" (dontcha fink = don't you think)

"Hey honey" (in referring to Savannah)

"Dre" (we have no idea where this is from, but for months now, this is how he answers for "I don't know.")

Mommyism:
"Micah, let's not put wrapping paper in the garlic press."

And...a recent conversation:

Micah: "Poo poo!"
Mommy: "Micah, did you say 'poo poo'? You need to go sit in time out."
Micah: "But, Mom, 'poo poo' is how you say 'Ethan' in Spanish!" (Ethan is our neighbor)

Mommy (trying not to laugh): "No, Micah, 'poo poo' is not how we say 'Ethan' in Spanish.
Micah: "Yes it is."

Mommy: "No, honey, it's not."
Micah: "Then how do you say 'Ethan' in Spanish?"

Mommy: "I don't know...maybe 'Etano'???

Micah: "oh."

Lions and Tigers and Bears...Oh MY!!

Here's a shot from over a month ago...seems like a lot longer than that, though.

The leaves are long gone and inches of snow is covering the ground. The Christmas tree is up...It's good time of year.

We've been busy, busy, busy with two kiddos...we also had to get a new computer, thus delaying blog entries. I hope to get more regular at this, however.

In October the kids and I (Shawna) went with my Dad and Margo to Disney World in Florida. It was a great trip and Micah's eyes were wide open to the wonder of Magic Kingdom and beyond. I think his favorite, however, was meeting Mickey, Winnie the Pooh, Tigger and Eyore. November we headed on a whirlwind family tour. We visited my Dad's new house in Gig Harbor, WA then to Dallas to see my mom and extended family. My Grandma also came and stayed with us at my mom's, which was an added blessing. I also got to catch up with some dear friends.

Right now Greg's mom, brother, and our youngest niece, Melanie, are up for a visit and getting more than they bargained for in the form of snow :) We're having a great time with them, though.

That's all for now...more later when I download more pics.

Real Quick: I realize that in this season of life I find myself saying things and putting sentences together that are outright ridiculous...Here are a few, but I seriously need to keep a record going.

1) Micah, let's not use the duster to clean off the sweet potato on Mommy's sock.

2) Micah, please don't trap your sister under the laundry basket.

3) It's OK if the baby sucks on the drill (Micah's plastic one, of course :)

Recent Micahisms...

"Dad, are you going to fertilize?"

"Hey friends! Friends! I have a bike!"

"Hey, you have a cool potty." (when we were visiting someone's house)

"Aunt Chrissy has a cool house." (during our visit to the NY Walshes)

"Hey, Mom! It's just my size!!" (when we went to the Children's Museum here in town and they had a midget kid-sized potty.)

"Mom, I miss Daddy." (He says this like one hundred times a day. I think he says it when he can't think of anything else to say. It's like a filler between sentences. And since he talks non-stop, I hear it all the time.)

I told him if he stayed in bed he could have a waffle in the morning. He thinks about it and says, "Ummm, but it's hard to stay in bed!"

He likes to sing, "John Jacob Jingle Heimer Shrimp" :)

"No prob, Mom!" (He then follows that with a thumbs up sign)

A Teaser

Here are a couple teasers :)

I promise more is coming soon...

Micahisms cont...

Here are a couple more sayings I've heard around the house the past few days...



"Mom, I want my yuffy chimes cereal" (lucky charms cereal)

"Moddy"... (a delightful combo of Mommy and Daddy when we're both in the room and he doesn't know exactly who he wants.)

"Mom, you're my best friend"

"Whoa. That's serious." (When we were watching this bubble guy perform at a special presentation at the library.

"Hey, guys!"

Sometimes when he's calling for Greg to get his attention, "Hey, Honey!"

Now, I'm not sure I should admit this one, but it's too funny...The other day I got mad at him about something and apparently must have looked a bit angry. Micah then asked, "Mom, why are you mad at me like King Herod?" What!? He must be referring to his Beginner's Bible where King Herod has an angry face. I quickly entered into a much-too-long-for-a-toddler discourse as to why I most certainly was not at all like King Herod...(God, help me.)

On Saturday Greg was letting Micah help put up some blinds in our room. Greg told him they'd have to wait before they could screw it in the wall. Micah's response was, "OK, I'm good with that."

When he sees a fly in the house he says (no, yells), "MOM! DAD! I see a bee! You need to spank it!"