a life beyond running shoes.

this is really the first year that the boys really got into christmas. of course, i have been playing christmas music since before thanksgiving. they really loved the songs.....mostly jingle bells. thankfully, they did learn a few others: little bit really does not like to sing alone which of course drives the older one crazy because little bit mumbles the words and screams more than sings. the older one is actually more concerned with the words than the younger one.... go figure.

here come the sweet boys. xmas morning - the presents from us..... of course, they got them monday since we were in florida for xmas morning. they could not wait to get home to play, but they really do pale in comparison to the backyard playground at g'pa's house. these replace the two broken ones that they have been playing with for about 2 months now. it was a great debate what kind to get... real versus toy. we went with toy. the idea being that if they really do want to love music, we'll get real ones when the jump in money seems more appropriate. apparently they can be tuned.... we'll need to work on that!!!

well, one of my goals was to finish a book (by michael pollan) i have been working through all year. i didn't do it. i guess it will make a great goal for next year....i just hope it does not actually take me all of 2009. here is what i did get to read as i finished up finals for one of my classes.... they wrote - i read. now i have to grade...yipee!!! sidewalks in the kingdom . a good read about why it is a good thing that christians live in cities. i loved how he talked about how we have to bump shoulders with our neighbors because of the culture of the city. i could relate to many of his examples as i have often gotten help on and off the subway, buses, out of the grocery store, etc. i did appreciate his discussion of how the american love of their automobiles has replaced our love of community and that sub-urban sparwl has evoked individualism at the cost of corporate identity within the church. at some point, i thought he was long winded but still found it to be an enc...

nope... as of tomorrow he is a big 'ole 2 year old. we had two two-year old friends come for a plyadate/party today.... tomorrow is a bit crazy with holiday stuff..... and since i am not an artist.... i can paint by numbers; thus, this cake that comes with pan, frosting dye, and a picture with what order to decorate in. i was up late, but i must say i am impressed with myself. peanut had a thomas the tank engine cake (created my a dear friend of mine) for his 2nd b-day and since i don't want to deprive the soon-to-be "middle child" of anything... i actually did this one myself. it looks good, but i have to admit that it looks better in the picture!!! one fun fact about our life here.... it is snowing!

i need to catch up my reading list as i have a couple of books that i am trying to finish by the end of the year. here is what i read in november: annie john by jamaica kincaid. now granted i read this for the class i am teaching.... but i still read it - twice actually. this was my first kincaid novel. it seems simplicistic on the surface but is full of fun stuff to get my english students to think and talk about. especially when you start looking at her anger towards colonization and all the funky places that comes out. i will probably teach it again, but might look for something a little more challenging... but why change it up too soon! okay...i succumbed and finished up the series just before the movie came out. man, have you ever seen such bad reviews for a movie with such hype? anyway.... the book. it was entertaining. i guess i need to fess up to the fact that i finished it at 4 o'clock in the morning but that had more to do with baby insomnia than a gripping story...