Late Night Surprises

So, late last night I was awakened by the noise every parent dreads. Rush into the boys room and find Shane leaning over a puddle of yak in the middle of the bed. Fun fun.
But as I went through the needed stripping of people and beds, and cleaning up enough amid the crying kids, the main thought that perplexed me was... what did he eat that was pink?

Sharp Things

So, I finally found the site for both the knife that Austin sliced his finger with...

and the dog knives the boys got for Christmas....

www.kuhnrikon.com

Really cool and reasonably priced I thought.

Christmas 2009

Merry Christmas!
Santa stopped at our house a day early this year, because the Coast Guard has the tradition of Brett working on Christmas Day.

I'm sure most of y'all heard how we had to wake the boys up at 11 to get the fun started. Then milk and cuddles superceded stockings until everyone was fully awake.

The most exciting thing in those socks was kid-proof knives! They are vauguely dog shaped, with an eye printed in the right spot. The boys were VERY excited to help cut the necks of their Christmas bananas, and they love to get slices of cheese to mangle to pieces or to cut thier sandwiches into tiny bits. With absolutely NO chance to cut themselves (I've tried!)

Shane got a funky little speller board like the one he works with at Speech class.

And SOMEone (not us) got Shane a remote control Tundra (just like Daddy's) who of course had to demonstrate. :D

Then Shane finally got his turn.
The LAST present of the year was a big ol' train set!
That immediately had to be set up in one of the perscribed configurations- according to the "map" provided.
Some of you will remember me teasing Brett about how long it took for him to set it up that first day- I eat my words!
There are 4 track plans provided, all equally complex in design. But the one that was chosen for Christmas construction (and that Shane has decided is his favorite) is thoroughly designed WRONG. I found this out as the main track builder since Christmas, and have apologized to Brett. It was a design flaw, not a builder flaw.
Austin got another cool knife-related gift that he adores.
Naked Chef!

The peices of fruit are held together with velcro that you 'cut' apart with the little wooden knife.

And that was our Christmas...

Wishing all the very best of the Christmas season and a Happy New Year!

Christmas Nativity

We went to a friends' house for dinner and The Reading on Christmas Eve.

We attempted a little nativity, with the kids playing the main parts.

Shane refused to play 'Joseph', so Austin volunteered.

Turns out he was only in it to get to ride the 'donkey' which we needed 2 of.

One for 'Joseph' and one for 'Mary'- both donkeys named 'Daddy'.

'Mary' and 'Joseph' by the 'manger'.

Shane was persuaded to briefly be a very stubborn 'angel'.

Later we sang Christmas carols- the kids used my hairbands for Jingle Bells, and Austin got to be the 'Little Drummer Boy'.

Happy Christmas!

Stolen

No, I wasn't there, but Shan had these up on Facebook, so I stole them. They gave us all alot of enjoyment looking at them.

Grandma surveying her kingdom from her throne-

insane crowded chaos of a kingdome, but still.

Uncle Richard trying to figure out something that does NOT require a camera lens.

Doesn't he just LOOK like the struggling film-maker?

Still waiting to see the pictures of the shearing of this sheep.

Aunt Shannon. No, I don't know what's on her head, but Shane thought it was hilarious.

Uncle Spencer (we need to come up with a nickname for you man- there's a 'Spencer in Shane's Thomas the Tank Engine world, and he's not a nice train. BUT, he can pronounce your name now... :) )

Cousin Trevor and his wife Emi- it was lots of fun to see your silly side!

That's a pretty nice tie too by the way.

Uncle Ben with a sleepy Nicole and Christian.

We love you guys!

I hear rumors and whispers of this occurance, Super cool man!

Shane was fascinated with it, but couldn't say 'violin'.

So I told him it was a 'fiddle' and he thought that was even cooler-

and WAY funner to say.

Uncle Abe's facial contortions got LOADS of giggles too,

though at first they thought he was pretty scary..

Here he's checking out the gift the boys picked out for him.

The boys were HIGHLY impressed with this feat.

Both tried it, but with no luck thank heavens.

Thanks for the idea Abe. :P

Quiner tradition of playing games all day Christmas.
I need to find someone to play with me...

The Banks' tradition of doing a puzzle is fun too, but leads to loads of arguments.

Group pictures!!!
BR: Ben, Christian, Joseph, Nicole, Richard and nutty Abe

2nd: Bekah, Patricia, Lexie, Micheal, Mom/Grandma

FR: Spencer, Emi, Trevor, Shannon

Same group being silly- big surprise there, I know.

This one I took over Skype webcam.

Fuzzy and cramped, but thank you all for being good sports.

Merry Christmas!!!