Overheard for Christmas in the WWOI

We just got home from Puerto Rico late Monday night, and have been in a constant state of SCRAMBLE ever since. We had to jump right back into the school and work routines. But we also have to get ready for Christmas! Ack!

We raced out Tuesday night in the pouring rain to buy our tree. We decorated it Wednesday night. Ed is volunteering at the homeless shelter at our church tonight (Thursday) so Isabelle and I are handling the rest of the decorations around the house. Tomorrow night is my night to volunteer so I'm leaving Ed and Iz a "to do" list a mile long.

Uncle Don & Aunt SuSu are visiting from Chicago Saturday through Monday. And we're cramming in a home Ravens game on Sunday. Busy! Last night, Ed was starting the lights on the tree. To get in the Christmasy mood, I need to have the holiday music on, the TV off, and cookies baking in the oven.

So, there I was in the kitchen, whipping up a batch of chocolate chip cookies while Isabelle was directing Ed on the light stringing activities in the living room. Some funny things overheard in the WWOI last night...

"Daddy...Mommy's bells are bigger than my bells...but you don't have any bells at all." (she was referring to the jingle bells on each of the stockings)

"Daddy, why does Elmo only have one ball? Oh no! Elmo's ball fell off! "


"Daddy, why is yours so short? Mine is so much bigger than yours." (what size is YOUR stocking?)

"What's this, Daddy?" (pointing to an ornament)
"It's a gazebo, where I got engaged to Mommy many years ago."
"Why did you get in a CAGE with Mommy?"

"Daddy, we really need to find Jesus." (I think we all do)

Happy Holidays everyone. May all of our Decembers be peaceful and bright.

Overheard in the WWOI

On the way to school today, a Jeep Wrangler passed us. Ed drives a Jeep Wrangler. I drive a Jeep Liberty. Both vehicles are in the Jeep family but Isabelle knows the difference in models and loves to point out other Wranglers and Liberties on the road "just like ours".

So this morning, the Wrangler passed, and she asked me, "Mommy, did you not wave at that other Jeep?"

I chuckled because she sees Ed do this all the time. Have you ever heard the phrase "it's a Jeep thing"? Yea, well, in case you aren't aware, people who drive Wranglers are in a weird little cult and they wave to each other on the road. Complete strangers, girls, guys, old peeps and young. If two Wranglers pass on the road, there's gonna be a double wave. (This really freaked me out the first time I drove Ed's Wrangler by myself because I didn't know it was a Jeep thing...but I digress.)

I tried to explain this Jeep thing to Iz by saying that only the people who drive Jeeps like Daddy's actually wave to each other. People who drive Mommy's type of Jeep don't wave.

She chewed on that for a minute and then asked, "does that mean Daddy is nice to people and you aren't?" (Ha ha, well most times I suppose that is true, yes.)

"Ummmmm..."

"Because waving to people is nice, right?"

"Yes, a wave is kind of like a smile from afar, so yes, waving to people is nice."

"Mommy, I'm going to wave to everybody for you, OK?"

"Thanks, kid, for gettin' my back."

In the Wonderful World of Iz, everyone smiles and waves to each other. And they live "happily efter after" too.

Megan Megan

Isabelle's cousin, Megan, was born at 8:31am on Friday 11/11/11. At 7 lbs. 14 oz. she is a beautiful healthy baby girl and we can't wait to meet her. Her full name is Megan Mae Egan, which, when written with just the middle initial spells out as Megan Megan.

Trick or Treat

Isabelle's favorite new cartoon is called Jake and the Neverland Pirates. There are 3 little pirates on the show, 2 boys and 1 girl. The girl's name is Izzi (but spelled differently). I figured Iz would probably be a Princess for Halloween this year but when we asked her, she was very determined to be a Pirate Princess. Since Jake is a new cartoon, they don't sell any of those costumes yet. But sure enough, a quick trip to K-Mart and we found a Pirate Princess costume that Iz just loved. We had good weather, got way too much candy, and have a cute picture.

Let it snow...huh?

Image taken January 27, 2011 with Nikon D3000

Today in Maryland, we have a forecast of snow. It's October. We should be wearing sweaters and trapsing through pumpkin patches. But alas, we have our shovels at the ready, movies lined up by the TV, and hot chocolate ready to brew.

Isabelle is so excited for snow! She's ready to go sledding now. Fortunately for us, she won't get a chance to sled in the bounties of this first "snow fall". It's gonna melt on contact, if it happens at all. Not so fortunate for her.

Ed & I were just assessing her winter clothes the other day to figure out what we need to find or buy. A snow suit is on the list but that's one of those things you just hate spending money on because you know, what if it doesn't snow? Well, considering we have snow in the forecast in OCTOBER, I think it's safe to go purchase a snowsuit. Maybe it will ward off the evil white stuff for the bulk of the next 4 months. We'll start at the consignment shops and emailing friends, and go from there.

Let it snow!

You'll poke your eye out

When I picked Isabelle up from school today, the teacher pulled me into the hallway and closed the door. Uh oh...

Turns out Isabelle was reading a book today and another kid was counting pumpkins on the page at the same time and Iz didn't like that so much, so she poked the kid in the eye. This led to a stint in the time-out chair so she could think about it, then she had to talk about it with the teacher, and obviously she had to apologize to the poor kid she poked.

At home, she gets no dessert for two nights, and we're just hoping this was a one-time thing.

So Grown Up

A lot of you family-member out-of-towners are going to see Isabelle very soon. Mom-Mom Su-Su and Pop-Pop Bill are coming to Maryland this weekend. Uncle Don is coming to visit in November (Aunt Susan will hopefully be able to visit in December). And then for Thanksgiving, we're going to see Grandpa Siler, Abuela Carmen, Aunt Jessie, Uncle Luis, Aunt Tashi, and Cousin Nafet for a very nice long 12-day vacation!

Y'all in Maryland get to see Iz a little more often, but Ed & I had to sit back, take notice, and sigh in disbelief tonight at how old? mature? grown-up? all-of-the-above? our little Isabelle is becoming! Maybe it's the new big girl school? Maybe it's just the fact that she's turning four? Maybe it's because we've been watching baby videos of her lately which make my heart melt into puddles?

But you really do have to see her. And talk to her. She ain't the same kid you last interacted with. Call her sometime. She answers the house phone now (yea, really). And she's just all of a sudden a big kid. I can't put it into words and it's driving us crazy.

Anyway, sorry, I'm just being nostalgic. My little brother and my sister-in-law are about to have a baby next month and they will be embarking on a great journey. A scary journey. But so worth the trip.