Work It

Just before the holidays Tom discovered a new way to efficiently combine spending time with his kids and working out. He's started off with "light" weights (26 lbs. of Hallie), but hopes to soon graduate to "medium" weights (44 lbs. of Will).

Mini-Sara

I didn't see the similarities at first (though all newborn babies kind of look the same: like sacks of potatoes with prunes for faces), but ever since Lily grew out of the newborn stage it has been impossible to deny that she is her mother's daughter.

I vaguely remember Sara as a baby, but my memories of Sara as a toddler and a preschooler are much clearer. I am struck, nearly every time I look at Lily, by how much she looks like Sara as a little girl. Their personalities are as different as night and day (Lily, to me, seems a pretty typical oldest child, while Sara was a much more easy-going second child), but beyond that they could be twins.  Here are a couple of fun comparisons between the two of them.  Please try your best to ignore Sara's terrible bowl haircut.

Lily, 2012

Sara, 1983/4

Lily, 2012

Sara, 1983/4

Sara, 1983/4
(you have to look past the fact that Sara's sitting
on the potty and focus on the face she's making)

I've never had a "mini-me" - both Will and Hallie have looked like Tom since the day they were born and are still today clearly his children (I've been asked more than once if I'm their nanny) - so it's kind of fun for me to see a child in our family look so much like the person from whom she came.

And don't worry, Jeff, I'm sure the next one will look just like you.

Part of Your World

Her accompaniment needs a little work, and she may not have all of the lyrics right, but Hallie nails the longing mood of the song just perfectly.

I could listen to her sing all day long. Oh wait, I do.

When I was 11 years old I used to put on my bikini, stand in front of the playroom mirror, and belt this song out at the top of my lungs.

"Live, From Madison, It's Will Ferris!"

Both Grandpa Paul and camping uncle Jody volunteer for WORT 89.9 FM, Madison's premiere* listener-sponsor community radio station. Grandpa Paul answers the telephone during fundraising phonathons, and while his responsibilities seem interesting and are no doubt important, they're not nearly as cool as spinning discs and talking to the people like Jody does as an on-air personality. (I have no idea if radio people use the phrase "spinning discs". I just liked how it sounded.)

While we were in Madison for Christmas, Grandpa Paul took Tom and Will down to the station to hang out with Jody while he was broadcasting live.  Turns out camping cousin Colin was down there as well - he took the first two photos below, which is why they're considerably better than the last three which were taken with Tom's dying phone's camera.

The grown-ups tried really hard to get Will to talk on the radio, but he was a little too freaked out by the whole set-up and worried he'd make a mistake to actually give it a try.  I was considerably bummed out by this, because I sat in front of the radio for an hour listening to Jody's program (an hour during which I really needed to be drying my hair, making lunch for Hallie, doing a load of laundry, and watching my new Twilight DVDs) waiting to hear Will's little voice broadcast throughout the Madison Metropolitan Area.  Maybe next year!

*I have no idea if WORT is a premiere radio station or not.  I just assumed that my dad and Jody would only volunteer for Madison's premiere radio station, and/or if WORT wasn't premiere to begin with, it would be once my dad and Jody joined its volunteer ranks.

The Bucky Badgers

Whenever we visit Grandma Brenda and Grandpa Paul during the winter months we do our best to watch The Bucky Badgers - as Hallie calls them - play basketball at the Kohl Center. This Christmas we were in Wisconsin for two full weeks, and during that time Will went to three games, Tom went to two games, and Hallie and I went to one game, all with Grandpa Paul.

Will loves going to the games. I THINK he enjoys the basketball, and I know he enjoys hanging out with Grandpa. (The opportunity to either skip rest time or stay up late and fill up on hotdogs, popcorn, and Skittles is just an added bonus.) Hallie loves going to the games, but has made it very clear that it's only because of the candy and Bucky Badger.

The Bucky Badgers are still #3 or #4 on Will's list of schools he'd like to attend (he talks about college more often than I think is normal for a six-year-old), but both he and his little sis look pretty good in red, don't they?

For Pete's Sake

Many (more than 20?) attempts to capture the perfect family photo were made, but in the end, not a single attempt resulted in exactly what I (as the photographer) was hoping for. The best six pictures are below, and I'm sure you'll notice that in every single one at least one person's eyes are closed or at least one of the children isn't looking at the camera. I could never be a professional photographer - I'm not nearly patient enough and the pressure to produce a perfect result is far too great.

At least our outfits are nicely coordinated.

The Festivities Continue

My parents hadn't thrown a large-scale Christmas party in six years, so they decided that 2012 - when all of their children, children's spouses, and grandchildren were in town - was the year to go for it again.

The funny thing about entertaining, for me at least, is that it causes me a great deal of stress and anxiety in the days prior. I like party planning, but as the day of the event approaches, I ALWAYS consider calling it off so that I don't actually have to follow through on everything I planned. But for some reason, as soon as the doorbell rings for the first time, I can turn "it" (whatever "it" is) on and I end up having a great time. (Tom is exactly the same way, interestingly enough.)

I thought my parents' plan to have a party was a great one, and I thoroughly enjoyed coming up with the menu and pulling together the guest list. But once we started shopping for the food, selecting the beer and wine options, putting together the playlist, and cleaning the house, I turned into a bear. (And it wasn't because I had to clean the house - I don't mind cleaning the house at all.) My mom had to give me a serious attitude adjustment, just like she often did when I was a teenager.

But once the house was ready and I was dressed in my party attire, I felt like a million bucks. Bring on the partying, I said to no one in particular, and our friends and family did.

It was a fantastic evening. I was able to catch up with aunts, uncles, and cousins; camping family aunts, uncles, cousins, and 3rd generation cousins; friends and their families; and neighbors and their families. Even Tom's parents were able to come, which was a lovely treat. (Tom and I are tremendously lucky that our families get along so well.)

Sneaking crackers before the party started.

Yes, we dress them in matching outfits most of the time.

Bartender Jeff - he rocked it, seriously.
(Tom took this picture on his phone, and then walked around the
party using the photo as a drink menu.  Very clever, those boys.)

The table, just moments before the party began.
(But after Hallie'd started in on the crackers.)

Sisters 

Colin, Dan, and Lauren

Connie, Jane, Marsha, Grandma Brenda, and Emily

Chuck, Jim, and John

The little girls: Sophia, Sydney, Taya, Lily, and Hallie

Hallie and Will, hiding in the basement.

Megan and Hallie

Cousin cuddles at the end of the night.

Sara, Chris, Jessica, Thomas, me, and Katy

Grandpa Mike and Grandma Susie spent the night after the party at Grandma Brenda and Grandpa Paul's house, so the next morning the kids were in 7th heaven with all four of their grandparents doting on them.

Playing games on Grandma's iPad.

Winner!

Perhaps we won't wait another six years before we throw the next Mueller/Ferris/Ekena Christmas bash - watch for us again in 2014!