We've spent our Christmas break here, there and everywhere. We've been to Philly twice to visit family, we spent a day in Manhattan, and we'll be out and about for the next week or so. We've accrued lots of miles on the minivan, and I'm so thankful that gas prices have finally dropped!

While in NYC, we visited the Natural History Museum. It was sandwiched between a trip to hell, I mean, a trip to B&H Photo and Video store, and a two and 1/2 hour commute home (a commute that on a normal day takes 40 minutes). Anyhow, we had the run of the museum, and enjoyed it immensely. The hit of the day? The hall of Dinosaurs!








We bring our own reading material. Because we're cool like that.



There was also a drive by shooting of the tree at Rockefellar Center.


It was just too cold to get out of the car at that point. I took some photos from warmth of the car, and mocked those poor folks who don't have the foresight to bring a three year old with them to avoid cold and unpleasant situations. At some point, I'm going to have to come up with another excuse.

Kimberly

When your backyard is as flat as ours:


Sometimes you just have to improvise:




Don't you love the raised hands? She lives life on the edge, just like her mother.



I could probably be given a stern lecture for letting my kids do this:



But hey, what's life without a little improvising?

Kimberly

I just need to brag on my boy a little bit. His artwork has been selected for an exhibition by our county's Environmental Education Center. His watercolor was submitted by his art teacher, and chosen for a month long show called "Nature through a child's eyes". We received an invitation from the center for an "Artist's reception" in January, and Ethan can not wait! I told him that I think this is the first of many such receptions.

I like to think that his talent is 1. Inherited from me :) and 2. a byproduct of all of the art museums he has been to in his short life. You really can't call yourself an artist until you have breastfed in Monet's garden in Giverny and spit up repeatedly on the floor of the Mauritshuis museum in The Hague.

Proud Mama,
Kimberly

It's been a little while since I've posted. I've spent the better part of the week shopping for Christmas gifts and basically running around like a nut. The bank account has taken quite a hit as it always does this month, and I'm looking forward to returning to "normal" in January.

To combat the craziness of my days, I've spent some of my evenings watching movies. I usually read in the evenings, you know, when I'm not out for a night on the town:), but cold winter evenings call for movies!

A few of my recent flicks include "Billy Elliot" (wonderful, but if you're easily offended by swearing, I'd skip it). I also watched "Miss Pettigrew lives for a day" and " Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont" which I love, love, loved. Do you see the theme here? I have a thing for British films. Must be the accent:) Another great British movie that I love to watch at Christmas time is "Love Actually". It's adorable and is special to me personally because some of the key scenes in the movie were filmed at Elliot School. Our church in London held Sunday services at the Elliot School, and I vividly remember all of the film crew trucks and gear taking up parking spaces on busy Sunday mornings. I also vividly remember debating with myself whether or not I should try to go visit on a weekday to catch a glimpse of Hugh Grant. (Yes, it's definitely the accent. It gets me every time). That would have required me bringing two kids with me, so that plan was scrapped pretty quickly. It's hard to be inconspicuous with a kid in a stroller.

And lastly, one of my favorite movies of all time "Amelie". I adore this movie. If you haven't seen it, get yourself to a Blockbuster stat! Be aware it has subtitles, so don't try to watch it while ironing. Either your man's shirts or the movie will suffer. And we can't have that.

Happy viewing!
Kimberly

when you look at the picture I've posted here. I have not suddenly developed a taste for internet porn, or even scantily clad males. I was just sitting in front of my laptop after dinner enjoying a chocolate chip muffin after a few slices of pizza, when this photo popped up in the sidebar of the facebook page.


Apparently this guy is some sort of marathoner/olympian/fitness nut. Apparently he does not eat pizza and chase it down with a chocolate chip muffin. Apparently I will never have the willpower to have abs like these. It was almost enough to make me put down my muffin. Almost. Then I considered how early I need to get up tomorrow to exercise it all off. That would be before making the Christmas cookies. Oh holiday season, you tempt me so.

Seriously though, what does it take to maintain a physique like this guy's? And who in the world has the time or inclination to do it? If anyone has any tips for staying motivated to stay fit during the holidays, please pass them along.

Kimberly

when I tell you that as I tried to post my photos yesterday, I had to:

1. Break up 2 fights
2. Clean up a potty accident
3. Threaten one child with soap in their mouth
4. Clean up dog vomit
5. And answer some homework questions

I tell you, the excitement around here never ends.

Kimberly

As promised, here are the photos of our Sunday evening. We spent some time listening to Christmas carols, sipping on hot chocolate and marshmallows, and trimming the tree. I wish I had more candid photos to share, but there was an "incident" involving one of the kids. The most we could manage were some posed shots for our Christmas card, and those were a challenge when one of the children had to be threatened, I mean, wipe tears away between each take. I just can't imagine where Kid X learned to be so dramatic:) (Truth be told, the poor kid never had a chance between Michael and I).



Those of you who live a distance away, will be seeing this photo in your mailbox any day now. Everyone else can see these peeps in person anytime they like.




Not sure what this one is all about, but it makes me smile.



Michael and I finally made it into a few shots together. That doesn't happen too often because one of us is always taking the photos. Michael would argue it's always him.



Happy Holidays!

Kimberly

It's a new week, and I'm back to my usual, "glass almost, or possibly close to, or kinda nearing" half full self. Did that sentence make any sense? What I mean is, I love blogging. It gives me a place to let go of what I'd normally hang on to, for fear of someone's reaction to it. Now, you can sigh, roll your eyes or shake your head at me in the privacy of your own home:) And I don't even have to know about it. Although, you're always welcome to leave a comment. I can always delete the ones I don't like!

Anyhow, I have lots of pictures to post of the kids decorating the tree yesterday, and of the lovely decorations we've put up. I'll try and get that done by tomorrow. I tried to get to it last night and got completely side tracked by looking at old photos of our overseas travels. Ahh, the "Happy Years". I'm kidding. No I'm not. Yes I am.

Now aren't you glad you're not having this conversation with me face to face?

Have a great week, and leave me a comment or two and tell me how you're doing:)
Kimberly

Generally, life clips along at an even pace around here. The ups and downs are the same, the routines the same, the quietly moving forward always the same. But this week, this week took me by the shoulders and shook me until I rattled.

This week, I found out that a couple I really wanted to see make it, is getting a divorce. I discovered facebook, and realized that I actually do care about the minutia of my friends' days. I visited with an old friend who brought back memories, both good and bad. I told some of my most closely held secrets to a friend who listened without judgement, and offered words of encouragement and wisdom instead of "advice". This week, I'm beginning to learn how the small things, the seemingly insignificant details, the little ways in which we enter and bump up against each other's lives, all add up to something of substance.

And I also made some exceedingly stupid choices, even for me. How is that for a week?

Kimberly

It's just that this one is so darn cute!






Unfortunately, she learned how to accessorize from her mother.

Kimberly

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Here are a few snapshots of a very long, but lovely day.

We had an American Indian:


An amused Papa Howell:



The holiday requisite "Miserable Child":



Lovely ladies:


The Little Sister and Hubby:


And this pic of me and Mom in which I finally realize, much to my chagrin, that I actually AM NOT photogenic:


Love you all!

Kimberly

I've just gone into the world of facebook. What, I ask you, was I waiting for? So much fun, and addictive, and probably incredibly annoying to the people who want me to leave them alone:) Not to worry though, the blog shall not suffer. I will be here with plenty of cute photos and lots of nonsense to share with you.

Kimberly