The Problem with Naps...

is that they really mess up a little man when he REFUSES to take one.

Soren's heavy, sleepy head ricochet's off of Asher's head.

Jamie attempts to soften any future head collisions by the strategic placement of his hand.

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Soren dutifully gripped his puzzle piece while he wandered in and out of sleep.


Out?


Yeah, totally out and totally CUTE!

Snugs!

Hi brother!


Hi!


Snuggly snugs!



This scene was too sweet to ignore. Asher and Soren LOVE to 'get under the blanket' and get all cozy cozin. In fact, the other night after I layed Asher in his bed and tucked his blankets around him he exclaimed, "Asher cozy!" All right!

I love it when Asher and Soren get cozy cozin together--it makes me absolutely happy. Shortly after this sweet scene Asher left the couch but returned shortly and wanted to lay in Soren's spot. I suggested that he take up residence on the other end of the couch. NOT interested, Asher walked away in tears. I too walked away and suddenly heard, "here you go!" I turned around to see Soren on the OTHER side of the couch, having generously give up the sweet spot to Asher. Soren is a very thoughtful brother, always concerned about the happiness of Asher.

Christmas!

Christmas eve dinner by candlelight.


Red enchiladas (roasted red pepper, black bean, and fingerling potatoes) and green enchiladas (roasted corn, carmelized onion, green chile, cilantro, lime and honey) with Spanish rice and guac!


We didn't bother wrapping anything...maybe next year!


The train table! We spent most of the night trying to construct the most effective track system but lacking any degrees in engineering, we ended up with tracks in the 'water' and two dead ends. We hoped The Deuce wouldn't notice.


Fun!


One happy little man.


Three happy men.


The baby Jesus was the special feature of the final day of Advent. Asher was the lucky guy to put Jesus in his manger!


The miracle of Christmas...my paperwhite bloomed!


One of the many smells I happily associate with Christmas!

Christmas with Asher and Soren was happy and wonderful and extremely cute. On Christmas Eve I asked Soren, "What is Santa doing tonight?" Soren answered, "Santa eating cookies!" I laughed and then agreed and internally marveled at HOW much he is my mini me.

When I told Asher that Santa was coming that evening he said, "Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!" and held it for about five seconds! He was excited!

Jamie and I had fun setting up Christmas--the train table was easy to assemble but putting the track together without any instruction proved hugely challenging for us. We had a scrappy set up for Asher and Soren but we quickly learned that they loved it and had no complaints!

Asher and Soren LOVED their train table and it took them about an hour before they even noticed there were other gifts to be enjoyed. They rocked out on their banjo and drums and put a few blocks together but mostly they concentrated on their train table. Asher kept saying, "thank you grandpa!" All morning long. Apparently he gave props to grandpa (ma) for all of his gifts! I also heard Soren say, "Santa, thank you!" How cute!

We had a wonderful brunch with quiche and crepes with our friends and I made Coquito, my new favorite drink. Basically it is an excuse to drink sweetened condensed milk! Woo hoo! Thank you Puerto Rico!

As I reflected on the reason for our celebration, the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, I felt overwhelmed by the bravery of Mary and the love of Joseph. I can't imagine the agony she must have suffered traveling on the back of a donkey while nine months pregnant and not having the assurance of a clean, quiet, and familiar place to give birth to not just her son, but THE SON, the Savior of the world and the Prince of Peace. How courageous she was--can you imagine recovering from labor without a comfortable bed to rest? She must have been so elated though...she had her precious, beautiful, sacred and holy child and she had the love and support of a tireless companion. When I set aside my image of her hardship I am moved by the joy and celebration she must have felt not just in her heart but in her arms as she held and succored her amazing infant. What a scene!

Merry Christmas everyone! May the love of God fill you with peace and joy throughout the New Year!

For the LOVE of Lists

I love an end of the year list...the process of reflecting on the music and media that either resonated personally or bothered me is one that I enjoy and helps me keep track of the year that has just passed. I've been compiling my BEST MUSIC of 2009 list for weeks and it seems to change daily. Thinking of doing the same type of list for the past decade gives me a head ache--I just haven't kept a good enough record and yet, there are those songs and movies and moments that I'll never forget, no matter how much time passes between that first exposure and the current moment.

Jessica's FAVORITE Music of 2009--songs and records.
Let me clarify that some of this music was not released in 2009 but all of it had an impact on me THIS year. Also, this list is not in any particular order.

1. Matt and Kim: Daylight.
2. The Antlers: Hospice.
3. The Mountain Goats: The Life of the World to Come.
4. The Avett Brothers: Laundry Room.
5. Phoenix: Listzomania.
6. Iron and Wine: Love Vigilantes.
7. New Order: Love Vigilantes and Ceremony.
8. Ben Gibbard and Jay Fararr: These Roads Don't Move and California Zephyr.
9. K'naan: Take a Minute.
10. Andrew Bird: Oh No.
11. Yeah Yeah Yeahs: Maps.
12. Yo La Tengo: Gentle Hour.
13. Low: Murderer.
14. Kid Cudi: Day and Night and Pursuit of Happiness.
15. The XX: Basic Space.

What's on YOUR list?

How Awesome is this Cover?

K'naan

Enjoy some soulful songs from Mogadishu born K'naan.

I love NPR's tiny desk concerts.

Crib Talk

Jamie and I laughed heartily when we heard this on the monitor Saturday (12/26) night:

Asher, "Rum pum pum pum!" (Little Drummer Boy is their favorite Christmas song).

Soren, "No singing!"

Then both would laugh HYSTERICALLY. They repeated this little number for a good half hour.

It was babies gone WILD, seriously. They were laughing and teasing and jumping around for a good hour and a half.

Asher was having so much fun that he declared, "NO sleeping!"

Soren Shovel?

Snowy snowy cutes.


That's what I'm talking about!


Oh yeah!




Snow watchers.


See ya wagon!

This is what Alexanria looked like when the snow finally stopped. I got to shovel our walkway and I LOVED it. The snow was perfect--light, soft, and beautiful. What made the shoveling so satisfying was being outside, throwing occasional snow balls at my kids (they were on the other side of the window, of course) and the perfume of lavender filling the air as I shoveled around my lavender bushes.

Soren asked all weekend to shovel--'Soren shovel mommy?' How cute is he? How awesome was our snow?

Seduced by Snow

So much snow!


Trying to capture the splendor of snow light.




My bliss.




Our inaugural fire.




Jamie and I were supposed to go on a date Saturday night. Our plans were not extraordinary--see a movie and have dinner but considering we had been apart for FIVE weeks, we could have done NOTHING and it would have been extraordinary. Our date plans were halted by the abundance of snow we received that day. I was not complaining because to be at home, with my husband and surrounded by the greatest snow I had seen in a LONG time was perfection.

Is there anything more brilliant than the light and peace that accompany a snowfall? To me there is nothing more magical and romantic than the stillness of snowfall. After the boys went to bed Jamie built me a fire...for the first time, ever. We have lived in our place for almost four years and have never had a fire. It was the perfect occasion. We opened the back door and enjoyed the twin pleasures of a snowy chill and a crackling hot fire. We drank sparkling pear juice and toasted marshmallows. I declare it the best date ever during the best weekend ever. Folks, it's a wonderful life and I love it.

Alphabet Christmas Tree

Asher and Soren LOVE Christmas trees. Just tonight I spent a good half hour drawing 'happy christmas trees' and 'sad Christmas trees' and 'scary Christmas trees' and 'happy sad Christmas trees.' It was fun. In celebration of my children's love for Christmas trees, I made a Christmas tree out of smaller Christmas trees, each with a letter in the alphabet. Sometimes I worry that I am not doing enough to engage and stimulate the minds of my children--they seem plenty creative but I know I could do more to teach them. This was simply fun and easy.

It's the Day of the Snow Y'all!

You are looking at my bliss. We finally got the snowstorm that I had been praying for since we moved to Virginia.



We all experienced a sense of wonder about the storm and it's beautiful snow.


Vying for the best view!


Asher shares a drawing moment with daddy.


So cute!


Soren dances in his comfy slippers.



Oh man, we had the best weekend ever! Just ONE night after Jamie returned from five weeks in Ecuador we had the storm of our dreams. The snow started to fall around 10pm on Friday evening and did not stop until l a t e Saturday evening. The snow just kept coming and we just kept shouting praises and thanks for our good fortune!

We cozied up and enjoyed uninterrupted time with our children and marveled all day and all night at the splendor of snow. There is something ineffably stunning about the light and quiet of snowfall--it's actually quite romantic and tranquil all at once. I was absolutely pleased that Jamie and I could share the snow together.

Jamie braved the roads to take Chon to a friend's house (ugh) and while they were out I took Asher and Soren outside. Soren LOVED the snow and threw himself into it and would have stayed outside until he collapsed had we let him. Soren made several snow angels and climbed into snow piles. Asher? Not so much. He stayed in the same spot the entire time we were outside--let's just say he tolerated the experience and didn't love it.

8 am church was canceled. Work was canceled. BEST weekend of my LIFE. Seriously.

Asher's Ginger Bread Man

Check out that sweet smile!


Check out those curls!


Check out that fancy outfit!

Asher amazed me with his ginger bread man! I cut out a bunch of gingerbread men and Christmas trees and snowmen for Asher and Soren to decorate. All of Asher's drawings had happy faces and this ginger bread man was especially endearing. I marvel at Asher's confidence when he draws--his fingers move freely and without effort.

Asher still asks me to draw for him...and lately he has been asking me to draw fireplaces, lots of them. "Draw happy fireplace mommy" and "draw happy fireplace clock mommy." I have also been drawing a lot of happy Christmas trees and LOTS of candles. I like to draw a blank 'ginger bread' house and ask Asher and Soren what to put on it. Soren always answers, "Asher Soren in window," followed by, "put a candy cane mommy." They have very specific interests my two year old baby babes.

P.S. I have just concluded the BEST weekend of my life. Seriously. Hubs? Yes. Cutest twin two year olds EVER created? Yes. The MOST snow I have seen in decades? Yes. Best weekend ever.

Glogg

Every year I buy Glogg at Ikea and we never drink it...usually because I like the idea of it but I am kind of afraid of it. What if it tastes like liquid raisins? Yuck! Well, this year I decided we would try it. I warmed it up and gave Jamie the honor of taking the first sip. Well, we liked it! Sweet and yummy.

Hubs is HOME!

I'm happy the sign was still hanging when Jamie got home--let's just say it got a LOT of attention.




We made Christmas placecards while we waited for daddy to come home.


Soren playing with his new favorite toy--a model Air Force One complete with lights and sound effects. Thanks dad!


A sweet gift from a sweet dad.


Asher get personal with his new toy.


Daddy knows JUST how to thrill his boys!

Today was a L O N G day, never ending even. I was excited to get home and set the table and hang the welcome home sign and have the house in happy order for Jamie's arrival. His plane was a half hour late so we waited and waited. Finally I put the boys in the bath and of course Jamie showed up!

What a tender reunion. Asher and Soren were thrilled and naked with Joy. As soon as I realized Jamie was home I yanked the boys out of the tub and took them downstairs in their towels to greet him. What fun! Hugs, kisses, smiles, cheers, and shouts of "Yay!" pretty much sums it up.

He's home and he's ours and we are happy, happy, happy.