Care Packages for Lee

If you are planning to send a care package to Lee for Christmas (or any time) please check out his latest blog post. Many of you have been asking, so here is a good list of items to include.

http://oef2011.blogspot.com/

Don't forget about the flat rate priority boxes from the post office. Anything you can fit in the box (they have various sizes, and a special military one) for one flat rate. Also, you'll have to fill out a customs form. They look intimidating, but just follow the instructions and you'll get through it. They ask for weight of items, I leave that blank and usually the p.o. person will fill it in for me...or at least they'll fill in the total weight and you can "guesstimate" on the weight of each individual item. I pick up the boxes and custom forms ahead of time so I can pack and seal the box and have the form filled out before mailing. FYI: I don't think they really check what is inside, so do your best but don't be overly concerned about the form.

Weekend with the Vandewater Cousins

We were able to Skype with Lee while Abby and Maddy were here! They thought that was pretty cool.

I just got a picture of Brynna at the computer.
I don't know why she wasn't dressed...I had four kids here, that's my only defense :)

Brynna just HAD to color with markers like the big kids.

Making snow flakes to send to Lee.
Aunt Heather is the BEST at making snow flakes!!!

Watching a movie, Cars Toons!


Kailee WAS here too, not sure why she didn't make it into any pictures???

Christmas Parade

Winterset had their annual Christmas parade on Friday night. It's at night and all the floats (about 7 of them) have Christmas lights on them. It is so short, they actually go around the square twice! This year, before the parade, they had a live nativity (with a mini horse on the courthouse steps) and presented the Christmas story. I'm thankful we live in a place that we can tell the true story of Christmas without fear!

Abigale and Madison came home with us after Thanksgiving and stayed the weekend. Heather, Kailee and Eddie came down Friday night, but missed the parade. We had a fun weekend playing with the Vandewater cousins.

It's finished!

After a coat of primer and ANOTHER coat of paint, the dresser is finished! It's not perfect and that one drawers is STILL whiter, but it's, "good enough for rural work."
(A quote from Lee's favorite documentary about the man living in the Alaskan wilderness)
:)

Before

After

Brynna is actually really excited about her new dresser.
She points to it and makes cute little sounds (I'm sure SHE knows what she's saying) when she wakes up and sees it :)

18 month stats. one month late.

Grant at 18 months.

Weight: 25.12 lbs (85%)
Height: 34.5 inches (90%)

Brynna at 18 months.

Weight: 23 lbs (45%)
Height: 33.5 (80%)
*I'm not sure on this number b/c her cousin Owen was measured at the same height, and he has a good inch (at least) on her.

Either way, tall and thin...she does NOT get that from my side :)

She still sleeps pretty well, although her naps are getting MUCH shorter in recent days. She goes to be around 8-8:30am and gets up around 7:00am. She naps for about 2 (was at least 3) hrs in the afternoon.

Her appetite is decreasing too. Maybe she's not growing right now? But, she's still a pretty good eater. She loves all fruit and dairy the best.

If she's healthy, she's pretty happy and content but if you cross her, you'll know it :) She LOVES Grant and does (or tries to do) everything that he does.

The cutest thing of late is how she does what Grant tells her. He gets sent to our bedroom to sit, if he's been naughty. Well, he asks Brynna to get him his Frog and Froggy while he's sitting in there (b/c he's not allowed to come out) and she just runs to the living room and takes them to him. It's just too cute to stop them.

Project(s) - 4

This project I CHOSE to do...CrAzY??? Maybe!

I am redoing this old dresser for Brynna's room.

Before

Sanded and puttied (yes, I used wood putty!)

I don't know WHICH coat of paint this was...it took several!

After

Ok, so I'm NOT done. Look carefully at the third drawer. Yes, it's WHITER than the rest. I used primer on it, decided the primer was old and way too thick, and did NOT use it on the rest. DUH! I bought new primer today and will be putting primer on the entire dresser and giving it one more coat of white paint. Ugh...this is why I don't like projects, I don't have the patience!!! Oh well, thanks to Dad and Wade for help with installing the new handles.

Hair

Well, we finally have the "do-it-yourself" hair cut story. We had been talking for weeks that Grant needs a hair cut. He has ONE girl in Winterset, Ashley, that he'll let cut his hair (I know, he's FOUR and has a "Hair Lady", whatever!)...well, Ashley, is on maternity leave. So, we just keep letting his hair grow.

The other day, I noticed a little chunk cut out from his hair. I asked him if he cut his own hair, he lied, HE LIED!?!?! After a long discussion, a little Bible reading and some more discussion, he agreed that lying was wrong and yes, he cut his hair. Why??? Well, because it was getting long. (Can't argue with that). I tried to "fix" it myself...it turned out okay, IF you don't look very close.

After HIS attempt, before MY attempt.

After.

After and dry.
Looks good in the picture, just don't look close when you see him :)

Brynn's PONYTAIL!!!!

Too cute!!!
No hair cutting from her yet.
(I've trimmed her bangs, but nothing else...let's hope G doesn't get near her!!!)