The annual ripping of the paper

Love at first sight is real:

Ivy is preparing to apply to America's Test Kitchen:

And of course the kids demonstrated once again the age-old principle of Box-is-funner-than-toy:

Then one foggy Christmas Eve

Laura and Tim had us over for dinner. Tim made Beef Carbonnade(which is french for "so delicious it makes you cry unicorns") among other tasty dishes. He even made a lower-fat version just for me and my newly sans gallbladder state.

After dinner we presented each other with tokens of love and affection, followed by us linking hands and singing joyful carols well into the evening. I made the last part up, but it makes for a nice image.

And just look at these faces. On Christmas, Bryn laughed and said, "I can't believe Santa brought me stuff even though I wasn't good." Whatever that means. Punks.

And then there was no gallbladder

Short story: I had an emergency gallbladder removal last weekend.

Long story: I have struggled with a defective gallbladder for many years. I've tried to avoid attacks by making dietary adjustments (less fat, especially fried foods, trans fat, and hydrogenated fats), but lately, the attacks have been increasing in frequency, duration, and intensity even with the dietary adjustments.

The last straw came this past weekend. I had a 15 hour attack Friday, followed by another unprovoked attack Saturday not even 24 hours later. Saturday night I drove myself to the ER during the attack so they could do an ultrasound and catch the little bugger misbehaving. Sure enough, there were many stones and one was stuck in the little neck leading to the duct. Such a party.

Luckily, there were drugs at the party. Like dilaudid. Apparently I'm a lot of fun on dilaudid, because I started talking to spiders on the wall and waving at the stripes on the curtain, since they were waving at me. The nurses were all laughing at with me. Sadly, I had an allergic reaction to the second half-dose they gave me, so no more dilaudid party for me. Morphine is just not the same.

Eventually the surgeon stabbed my stomach four times, stuck metal tubes in, pumped my abdomen with air, and pulled my gall bladder out in pieces (and of course I was completely knocked out for all of this). I never knew air could hurt so much, because that's been the worst part so far post-op. That, and coughing. I feel so bad for people with c-sections. The best part is that I've lost 15+ pounds. I haven't been at this weight since way before children. I'm sure it will make it's way back to me eventually, but for now I'm enjoying it.

Big thanks Peter and Laura and Tim and to all the people that have surrounded us with love and support and offers of help. One of my nurses in the ER had lived in Layton, UT for a while, and while she wasn't Mormon herself, she said that one of the best things about living there was the instant support network whenever something went wrong. So true.

A Visit with Santa

Bryn asked for a unicorn pillow pet

Calvin asked for a remote control car

Ivy asked (rather impolitely) to just get the heck off his lap
*Thanks EP for the photos

Endearment

Last week, as Peter was tucking the children in to bed, he asked them if they wanted kisses. As usual, Bryn did and Calvin did not. Peter explained that it would be the last time they would get Daddy kisses for a while, since he was leaving, and Calvin allowed a kiss.

A few minutes later Peter noticed him quietly crying about said absence. Calvin decided that Peter needed to draw a picture of the two of them together so he (Calvin) could remember him (Peter). Knowing Peter's artistic "skills," that Peter was short on time due to preparations for the trip, I suggested that perhaps I could take a photo of the two of them. Calvin lit up and said, "Oh yah, that would be even better!"

So we had a photo shoot. I got one shot off before Ivy decided her star had risen and stealthily popped in the next photo with her blue steel on. Luckily, the first one was a keeper, and Calvin asked me to print it out with promises that he would "not scribble all over Daddy's face."


*I just noticed that even in the first picture I took, the top of Ivy's head is skimming the bottom of the photo. What a crafty little stage hog.

Ladies in Red

Ivy in 2010:

Bryn in 2004:

Peter's mom made this dress for Bryn when she was wee, and now we've passed it on to Ivy. I love to compare my kids wearing the same outfit (gets rid of confounding variables and whatnot).
Yes, Bryn is trying to plug in the carnation. Perhaps it will light up.

The Exciting Conclusion

And now for the exciting conclusion of our Thanksgiving trip. While staying with Darin and Kim, Ivy adopted a baby. I think she was missing Squiggles, so when she happened upon a lonely baby doll, she scooped it right up and set to mothering it and stealing it's pacifier.


Miriam (Peter's sister) and Nathan (one of my brother's best friends) came up to Darin's place Friday with their kids. We enjoyed:

-ninja fights, and assorted other loving assaults on friends and family
-wii tournaments
-making cookies in the company of Sarah, Megan, and Abe
-a trip to the local playground for some football, hoops, swinging good times, and a nice sunset to cap it all off
-Calvin completely muddying his only pair of shoes for the trip
-Settlers of Catan (Peter won)
-a frigid walk at Valley Forge
-a long-winded lesson in colonial surgery
-fantastic company!

We stopped in NJ just outside NYC and stayed with our good friends Dave and Alicia Saturday night. Building towers was the hit of the night for the kids, and this one was even taller than me.

Thankful for...

First snow of the season (and first snow ever for Ivy for all intents and purposes)...

Cousins (getting a little ambitious with the snow gear)...

FOOD!!!

Gobble Gobble Gobble

Kim made these fantastic gobbling concoctions tonight. Some of them have this look like they're terrified of being eaten. Let the nightmare begin!

Sisters rock

Because it just has to be posted somewhere on this blog, today is the day.

Gramp-o-lantern

This poor guy (that Calvin created before Halloween) met the inevitable force of decay, but he seems so cheerful about it that I just don't have the heart to compost him yet...

And here's an updated mugshot for Ivy. Her battle scars are healing nicely and she went back this last week with very little protest.

First Day of Nursery

You should see the other kid.

High Fashion

Bryn picked out this smashing outfit for school one day. A few weeks ago we were shopping with Laura, and Bryn told her, "I have a style. It's jazzy and complicated."

It's my party and I'll plan it if I want to

Communication

Ivy recently endured her 18-month checkup. The doctor asked me about her vocabulary, and I realized it was a bit scant, especially compared to her siblings' rates of language mastery at her age.

However, as she pranced around the exam room and made her opinions about certain mouse-shaped stickers, medical equipment, and strangers prodding her with cold instruments quite clear, the doctor said, well, she may not say much but she certainly communicates. I agree. Case in point (movies below): 

Go ahead...

...just try to get the location of the rebel base from her.

...just try to breathe fire on his village and steal his fair maiden

...just try to take her candy away.

I triple-dog dare you.

Gourds

Calvin and I picked up some decorative gourds at Drumlin farm last night. Bryn took one look at them, saw their true character waiting to come out, and got busy helping them transform.

Autumn Afternoon

Mary and I grew a (one) pumpkin this year. She kindly let us take it home, and at the pumpkin (singular) picking festival, the kids took advantage of the lovely afternoon by jumping on her trampoline and raiding the raspberry patch.

Another special talent

She stands in the corner blowing bubbles for minutes on end. This activity has its own soundtrack that goes something like, "Mwaahhh-p...mwaaahhh-p...mwaaahhh-p..."

Spider Cal

*This is a banned activity, and was only given a special permit for filming purposes

Fair Weather Fair

Topsfield Fair highlights:

• Ivy being able to transcend her 2-D books and make the appropriate noises for the animals she's only seen on paper (you can actually see her mooing in one of the photos below)
• Calvin finding his courage and riding the elephant
• Bryn harnessing the power of her inner Rodeo Queen
• Laura finding true love in the petting zoo
• Holding/feeding/petting livestock and not getting the avian flu
• Relocating my stomach to my neck on the pirate ship ride with Laura
• Witnessing the sheer delight Amelia showed on the carousel
• Basking in the sunny warm weather