You know you've been stuck inside when I'm waiting for Mr. UPS man for...

1. Mario Badescu face wash and lotion. They sell it at Nordies, but I have a coupon code for online shopping. Plus it's an easier purchase sitting at my desk than it is standing at the Mario counter with Georgia and Millie with Murphy in stilettos in the shoe department saying, "Guys, do you like these?"

2. Roman shade for bathroom. Sorry neighbors for not having one sooner. ;0)
3. Rug for the guest room/kids' room because they like to go sleepies together...which is where they are right now and should remain for another hour!!

4. drugstore.com - GA's swimming shampoo and conditioner - her hair is a rats nest after swimming! Let's hope this helps.

5. Target gift for Jett...it still hasn't arrived. Pretty soon it'll be a birthday present, not a Christmas one!!
6. The Right Start bath seat for Millie so she can take big girl tubbies with the sibs

7. Trevor's Christmas present....ordered it too late!
8. And this just for Murph dog:

Built-in Entertainment

I always think of how boring life must have been for Georgia being the only child for a year and a half before Murphy was born. Looking at all of our pictures, the kids are in constant motion together. Georgia entertains Murphy and Millie, Murphy performs for Millie while bothering, er, playing with Georgia, and Millie is constantly making everyone smile. I can't remember the days of Georgia as a wee little tyke, as I think that part of my memory bank went down the drain with the handfuls of hair I'm losing post-Millie. I don't remember having to entertain her as toddler. That's the joy of having more kids, I suppose. Built-in-entertainment! I'll buy tickets for this show any day!

Georgiarella

When Georgia was no more than a year old, she earned the nickname Georgiarella. She would take wipes and clean everything and anything in sight. Well, too. We had some seriously clean tile floors in Coronado! Well, she's back to her old tricks (not like she ever took time off). The scary part? She's vacuuming while singing (Annie Get Your Gun's) "Anything you can do I can do better. I can do anything better than you."

Trevor's Christmas Wish

Millie is quite the picky little thing. People always ask to hold her, to which I reply, 'Yes, please! We'll see how long it lasts!" Only a few people pass the five minute mark with this child. Okay, only one other besides me, and that's Jane in the child care at the Spokane Club. She lets me work out for at least 45 minutes! Anyways, we went to Cheryl's house for Christmas dinner, and while the kids were busy opening gifts, just look what happened! Of course Trevor says, "now can you hold her, my arm is falling asleep!?" Um...nope!

Dogs

As much as I like to complain about dogs...the kids do love them. Millie's face lights up when they come in the room. Mason is so good with her. Poor dog gets clumps of hair pulled out left and right and just takes it like the half of a man he is. Poor guy has to go next week to get his anal glands removed. Maybe they can permanently sedate him while they're at it! Harley is a grumpy old nine year old, but we still love Winky too!

Oh (I Can't Wait to Take Down This) Christmas Tree!

It has been a really fun holiday. We have, for the first time in many years, a white Christmas! There is more snow on the ground than Spokane has seen in a long long time, and it has only been winter for a few weeks! Ask Georgia if she likes the snow and she says "yes, but not falling in it." Ask Murphy and he says "not really." We have powdery snow...not good snowman-making material just yet. Then opinions will change for sure.
Georgia has two weeks off of school and adjusting to a schedule of not having to be somewhere at a specific time is tough. No ballet. No theater. At least we have swimming! The snow has been so crazy that I haven't really wanted to go anywhere besides to work out at the club...
In the past week we have probably made 5 dozen cookies (thank you Costco big chocolate chip tub!) out of sheer boredom. I suppose out of sheer boredom I have eaten probably 2 dozen! Boy it sure passes at least 35 minutes, though, from scooping the cookies to baking them, and then the consumption!
I will be glad to get back in to our regular routine in a few weeks.
It has been fun to start our own traditions as the Kettrick Five this year. We now know what to do differently for next year (like don't go grocery shopping on Christmas Eve while driving Trevor's truck and expect to find wide-load parking easily with mounds of snow taking up half of Super One Foods' parking lot).
Now, on that note, on to play Santa before kids wake up from their long winters's nap. OK, their overnight nap, but they will sure be excited to see that Fat Man has been here (not you, Trevor, you're too skinny)!

Kid Funnies

1. Molly tells Georgia, when Murphy was being cranky: "Let's be nice to Murphy because he's really tired." Georgia: "Then put him to bed."

2. Georgia was going upstairs and Murphy didn't want her to - he wanted her to play downstairs with him...
Murphy: "No Georgie!!"
Georgia: "You've been saying that all day. Stop it."

3. Trevor: Do you want apple juice for dinner?
Murphy: No, I want apple juice to drink."

4. Murphy: "I'm sad because....I'm crying."

5. Murphy: "Okeedokee alligator"

6. The kids put themselves to bed now. It's only taken us 4.5 years with Georgia to read book then turn the lights out and leave. She falls right to sleep. With Murphy it is a little more tough. He gets out of bed and stands in our doorway a few times before falling to sleep. Last night we hear Georgia say, "I'm going to count to 100, then I'll tell you a story." Murphy: "OK."

7. Murphy comes over from playing with his animals (which continue to be the BEST entertainment) and says, with the whale in his hand, "Is this an orca?" I say, "Yes!!" Murphy says, "It swims very well." UM..,OK Marine biologist!

Celebrate

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Child Labor Laws?

Forgot to post this - my little elves addressing cards...

Super Star

The kid is a character!

Winter is here

Winter is officially here. As much as I like the snow, I haven't left the house for two days! Oh boy...this could be a long winter!

Seriously. The hair!?

Millie action

Early Cristmas...then again isn't every day Christmas around here?

See what happens when Murphy gets cool toys...

Oh Christmas Tree...

Murph(Funn)y

We were all sitting around the dining room table last night, chit-chatting. Murphy pipes up to Trevor, "What number are you?" It took a second, but we realized he was asking how hold Trevor was. Then I remembered Georgia at probably the same age asking a lady at the Chandler YMCA, "What number is your boy?" Too cute!!

We got on the subject of age and birthday and I quizzed him, "When is your birthday, Murph?" to which he replied, "July and a half."

And if you know Brynn, "Oh, Rick" comes out of her mouth quite often. In the tubbies last night Murphy poured water on his head and said, "Oh, Rick! That's what Beezie says."

And note the rollerskates. Georgia wanted to try her skates out (from when she was two) but she couldn't fit her big toe in them. So, Murphy popped on those Barbie bad boys and rocked them. Santa WILL be bringing Georgia some bigger ones. As Trevor says, now we have the perfect house to rollerskate in with all the hard wood floors! Helmets anyone?!?

Cousins

My mom, Molly, and the kids were in town for Thanksgiving, Millie's baptism, Mimi's birthday and just to play while Chris is making his way back from Iraq (next week!!). It has always been fun times when the kids get together. This time it was exceptional. Malia and Georgia were best buddies. They played and played, did projects, went to swimming, ballet, and loved every minute of it. They are too cute. They've outgrown the stage of having any rivalry and really turned in to good friends. Murphy and Jett are amazing. Jett, aka Map or Rat, has to be the cutest (big) little guy around. He and Murphy went non-stop. I remember back to our trip to Poland when Murphy literally cried every time Jett came around, probably afraid of his size (since Jettie is a good 1.5-2 inches taller...and 10 months younger)! This go-around they were good little playmates. A few instances of Murphy not wanting Jett to have a certain toy (for no other reason than him being a two year old), or a few "Mapping" incidents, but they were too fun to watch! It will only be more fun, too, as they get older (and get in to more trouble).
Seeing the kids together makes me really appreciate family. How neat that after a few months of not seeing each other, the kids pick up where they left off. They are always excited to see each other and are rarely bored together. This is the first Christmas we won't all be together in one place. Molly, Chris and the kids will be in Florida reuniting after five months apart. Trevor, the kids and I will be in Spokane, and my parents and Brynn will be in the islands celebrating Christmas in the condo. It feels a bit strange not all congregating in Manhattan Beach. However, I am really looking forward to the kids waking up Christmas morning, coming down the stairs (although GA says she's sleeping on the couch), and watching them enjoy the holiday. We are starting our own tradition. Plus, I don't think I'm all too bothered by having the first Kettrick Christmas because a few days later we are going to CA to play. I do wish Malia and Georgia could open presents together, and Murphy and Jett could fight over boxes on Christmas morning, but I am thankful they were able to do so on their recent trip to Spoklahoma!!

The kid can grind

Update: Millie is quite tall and lean...59th percentile for weight and 89th for length. She barely cried for her one oral vaccine and two leg pokes. Boy is she a crank now though!
Millie was acting ravenous, so I thought - hey - maybe she would like a little baby food. Well, the kid may be obese by 2. She really likes food! And she likes to make it hard for me to feed her, grabbing the spoon and blowing bubbles mid-bite. It has made her a totally happy baby...she sleeps a lot better and hasn't had to take her reflux medicine. Now I can leave her for longer than 45 minutes. Her 4 month appointment (for shots) is this morning. They'll probably refer me to Jenny Craiglet. Nah - the rolls on the thighs are cute!