Briam's Family Blog

They look so cute and innocent.... no not the kids... the snow men.  Paola loves them... and I think they are up to no good.  I have seen them whispering things to the kids... asking them to break things... and eat candy.... I am sure the kids would not be doing these things if someone was not putting them up to it....

Sophia is still safe from their influence... today she was saying "Mama... and Mami..." .... she no longer seems to have any interest in saying "Papa".  I must remember that... and deduct it from her allowance when she is older.

She is still not walking ... but that that is ok...that gives us more time.  So we can catch our breath.  My brother and Sister (should be) are in town!!  My dad and brother came by for a quick visit.  We hope to see them some more during these holidays.  Yeay!!

There are a lot of happy good stories during Christmas..... but no one speaks about the dark side.... about the evil Snowman Monster that terrorizes the countryside.

Like capturing a rare photo of the Lockness monster... or the abominable snowman (if you will).... so is this photo ultra rare....  I have a few calls into a couple of newspapers to see who will pay the most for this rare rare photo.... Sadly enough the other person in the photo was completely destroyed by this monster.... and I was powerless to help... but do you blame me.  Look how intimidating this monster is!!!

... and unlike the storey.... you could hear all the creatures (kids) stirring...  and with stirring comes of course, Christmas pictures....

You will notice that the tree has no presents under it..... thats for the safety of the boxes... they would surely be destroyed instantly... [Sooooo tired... more to come]

One game that all kids seem to love... and never get tired of... is "knock down daddy and beat him up...."

It does not seem to matter how old.... or young.  They seem to love this game..... basically they push on me... and I fall over... then they jump on me until I cry....  Matthew still loves this game.... and so do the girls..... 

I just hope they are not still playing this game when they turn 18!

Its not all parties and travel being a super rock star baby.  Deep down past all the glimmer and stars.... there is a normal baby.

Here is Sophia's assistant (Megan) helping during the morning wake up routine.

Short of bringing in the morning paper, Megan helps by yelling "WAKE UP SOPHIA"... and still our rock star baby is able to keep a smile for the camera crew.

Here we have Sophia brushing the four teeth that she currently has... I think a few more are starting to poke their way out.

...I guess that is just about it.  After that its all parties and travel.  We will have to work on her party habits... she is starting to show bags under her eyes from little sleep.... no wait... the bags are mine. 

Skill.... Thy name be PAOLA!  Getting better every time.  Its amazing how wonderful these cakes are becoming.... almost life like.

....I have seen some of the stuff that Paola aspires to create... and she is getting closer.  The best part about it is the smile that she gets when it is completed..... she almost does not want us to devour it... since it is destroying her work of art. 

Beware!!  There is a new street gang in town.... well ... not so much a "street" gang ....more like a kitchen gang.....

.....you better not be carrying change ... or candy.  They will take you down!!  You have been warned!

In our house there is a law of physics that can not be broken.  For every Girl in Pj's there is an equal and opposite Boy in Pj's...

Behold ... Matthew in his sleepiness...!!

....too late.  Time to get some sleep.  Too tired for words?  We just got home from a long long weekend.  But tons of fun!

....this was last week... "I can't sleep... I need some chocolate milk..." Isn't that always the case?

...and this is another picture of the kids in pajamas... and not wanting to go to bed....  I guess they feel that they might miss something.  Now sleepy time calls...

...What truly makes the world go round?  ....passion for our work... or loving someone.... or being loved.  Oh so close!  I think I have found the perfect formula.... unfortunately the formula is only good for one day.... and as it happens, it was Megan's day..... Not really on the day of her birthday ... but the day the family could get together and celebrate.... this was over a week ago... but I have been busy/lazy.

INGREDIENT ONE:  For the perfect day: CLOWNS!!  I know that some people fear clowns... and it freaks them out.... (Emi?)

Paola got a chance to show of some of her new found skill and put together these darling little (no fear causing) clowns.  The irony here is that they are supposed to make you laugh or smile, but they you are expected to pop their heads of and eat their bodies?  I don't think I will ever understand that part of it.

INGREDIENT TWO:  For the perfect day: A Monkey!!  Well, since we could not get a permit to keep a monkey in the house, we had to do the next best thing.

Some kids, when you ask them "What sound does a monkey make?" all they do is make the sound.  But not my little girl.  That question alone triggers a transformation that turns this sweet little girl into a crazed wild monkey!  But no one has gotten hurt, so we have not felt the need to lock her away.

 INGREDIENT THREE:  For the perfect day: Cake!!  Not just any store bought cake.  It must be lovingly hand crafted by the "Mom".  No other substetute allowed.  It would make the formula not work properly.

...down to the smallest piece of icing and flowers... made with love. 

....and what is the result of this?  THE PERFECT DAY!!!

A loving family.... and blessing we don't deserve... Thank God that the day did not pass without us appreciating it..... like many we do.

I have this cute picture of Megan .... playing with Play-dough... as if she were going to cook something.

Maybe she will grow up like Paola and love to cook... or maybe she just likes to squash things....  At least she has not asked me to try anything she has made.... but I am sure that will come in time.  As for Sophia... I think she is currently working on being an animal trainer.

Although that can be a dangerous profession, especially with Lions, I am sure that once you command their respect, it is not too bad.  Be careful Sophia!

I did promise a couple of times that I would get the pictures out there... and it took me awhile... but I finally did it!

It was a fun party, but the part I enjoyed (I don't know why....) was putting the number 2 candle on Paola's cake...   ...she did not seem to want to destroy the mater piece.

The pictures are all here in the Gallery.

The temperature is dropping.... and the mittens and hats are coming on.  It is getting cold... and might actually start feeling like winter soon.  Good thing too... because we are in December.

I am hoping that this picture will distract you from the fact that I don't yet have Megan's birthday photos out there already....   ...soon ... I promise.

Last weekend we had a blow out party for Megan's birthday party.  I have not yet gotten a chance to put all the pictures together... but I promise.  Soon.  But here is a picture of the Dora cake that Paola made.  She made the cake and decorated it... and all the little cup cakes... very delicious!!

Paola and I are the perfect match.  She has the skill for making these beautiful works of food... and I have the skill of eating these beautiful works of food...   I will get more pictures of the party together soon... I promise.