Oscar Stew

Hey there, Master of Toast here. It’s been almost 2 weeks since our last post. We’ve enjoyed the time off from the regular grind, but now it’s time to get back at it. We’ve made a new years’ resolution to continue posting as often as we did before. Hopefully all you Stew-Stalkers out there will “spew” from time to time. Stewland Security is cracking down, and we’d really hate to see the threat level raised to orange peels. And now without further ado, the reason why you stopped by…

Today was a big day for a certain 3 year old. Brinley is a Nursery Ninnie no longer. She is now a Primary Princess. And yes her shoes are on correctly. It’s her legs that are on backwards. Really.

New year, same man. Drew looking mighty handsome in his new suit.

This afternoon Amy told me that even though we are (fabulous) renters, the kitchen was in need of some renovations. It seems a crack had developed near the stove.  At first all I saw was Brinley unwrapping butter to make some brownies…

I hadn’t found the crack yet, but I was lucky enough to catch Brinley licking butter off her fingers. Oh yes she did! 

Mmmm, so flavorful! I bet she’ll never try that again.

Ok, back to work. Brinley’s almost done mixing up her brownie recipe and I still haven’t found this crack that Amy told me about.

Whoops! Egg overboard, and the house began to rumble and shake!

And then, I found the crack.

Here’s a close up before I got to work on the patch job.

Hold on Drew! This was not his earthquake suit. He was about to have his head shaved so he could return to boot camp…er…I mean school tomorrow. You might be a redneck if…

The tremors subsided and I patched that crack right up. Then it was a waiting game for the gut plaster to dry…

Kitchen renovation complete! And oh the reward was sweet!

T’was the night before yadda yadda yadda. The kids are out. Santa’s already come and gone. And there were no missing pieces! High five! Wait don’t hit your computer!!!

We made a trip to the temple to ensure the kids remember the true meaning of the season.

Awkward picture with Santa time! Rowan thinks Santa’s sleeves are cool.

If you can’t quite write right (huh?!) pictures work just as well. 

I think Drew has made it quite clear to Santa that loud drums are all he wants. LAAA-OOOOOOD.

Doesn’t it seem odd that even though they just sat on his lap, they still have to mail Santa their wish lists? I didn’t know Santa was into bureaucracy…

Cookies for the fat guy, carrots for the reindeer…

…And a glass of milk to wash it down.

The dining experience at this stop will not disappoint!

D&B wanted to make sure the reindeer had something to munch on while waiting outside.

In the throes of construction. I hate twisty wire.

The kid to kid presents. Gift wrapping also performed by kids with little intervention.

Merry Christmas everybody!

December has been a whirl of busyness. So much to do, so little time.

Sometimes I feel like Rowan, falling into a heap on the floor while everyone runs around me.

Here we are on Christmas Eve Eve (you know you called it that when you were a kid!), making sure to reflect on the beauty of the season and not how stinkin’ cold it is outside! Brrrrrrr!!!

Like any other kid, Drew was concerned. He wanted to make sure that everybody will get what they want from Santa, so he took it upon himself to write everyone’s list for them.

Here’s mine: “Santa, mommy needs money to buy a new camera new camera a lot a money. So she can buy camera Santa thank you thank you.” Thanks Drew! What camera am I getting?

Ryan’s: “Daddy says Mommy lots of lenses you Santa thank.” That’s what Ryan wants for Christmas. Yup he sure does.

Drew’s part 1: “I want a car track. I want a candy canes.  I want a flower for Brinley (aww). I want my own sucker. I want my own santa toy. Thank you very much.”

Rowan’s: “Santa, Rowan needs a toy spider that is plastic.” (iiiinteresting)

Drew’s part 2: “Dear Santa. I want drums. I want to play music. Thank you Santa.” (Followed by a sweet drumset layout sketch. Whaddya think Aric?)

Brinley made her own list too. Hers was quite a bit easier to understand. She just laid down a piece of paper on her favorite book and traced it out…with a little help. It looks like it went through a war because it has. She drags this paper with her everywhere she goes. She looooooooves Fancy Nancy.

Drew & Brinley hacked away at our construction paper stockpile and made all kinds of Christmas-related things to hang on the line.

I’m not too sure about what ice cream and a pumpkin have to do with Christmas, but who am I to judge?

And we’re off! Gotta go see the Big Guy, the nativity at the temple and make sure we have enough batteries to last us until December 26th.