Sheila's Hawaiian Dream

For years Sheila has wanted to take all our family to Hawaii for Christmas.  I reminded her that we took the entire family shortly after Darcee and Brent were married.  She said that didn't count because we didn't go at Christmas and we didn't take our grandchildren.  So finally, it's a fait accompli.  We are here in Hawaii enjoying a really amazing Christmas holiday.  Earlier this year, she dreamed that Keith was running on the beach in Hawaii.  I was certain that Keith would recover and that we would all be together in Hawaii this Christmas.  Tragically, that didn't come to pass, but I'm going to be optimistic about her dream and interpret it to mean that we will have yet another Hawaiian Christmas vacation when Keithy can accompany us.  Our next Hawaiian Christmas will be even more joyful than this one because Bay and my dad will be here as well. Until then, we are determined to be happy and enjoy the wonderful times that we share, particularly when we are in a venue like this where it's never too hot, never too cold, where the sun shines everyday and the gentle breeze and waves from the ocean seem to wash and blow all our worries to some other, far away place.

We all owe a special "thank you" to She-she for having the vision to make this happen, and for managing our money so that we could afford to take such an amazing family holiday. 

Feliz Navidad

http://www.jibjab.com/view/TYEZ1qNKgzUDGpeYnRSQ

Turkey Bowl 2012

Although Snick had their own Thanksgiving dinner in Eugene, we still spent a couple days up in Yaktown this year.

We couldn't miss the Turkey Bowl!

This year, the non- Darrell/Sheila Smarts (Melissa, Syd, Jack) beat the Smarts (Chels, Shea, Darel). Nick played all-time offense since the teams were uneven due to a hernia injury to Big D. 

Albeit freezing, we still had a good time (at least I did since I won). Melissa's clutch play deep in the fourth clutched the win for the Non-Smarts. Afterwards, the winners basked in their good fortune and skill while binging on She-She's frittata. The losers also binged on She-She's frittata, but only because they needed to drown their sorrows and eat their feelings.

It was a good Black Friday. 

Even Taz showed up!

So kind of Taz to cook everyone dinner.

Sick.

Models.

Mr. Personality

Every once an awhile you meet someone who truly defies all your expectations.

Someone who makes you laugh at all the right moments.

Someone who blows your mind - literally, makes you wonder how such individuality exists. 

Someone so weird you like it.

Someone who can know everything and nothing at the same time.

Someone who inherited all the right genes.

Someone you can't live without.

That someone, is Mr. Personality.

Sweet, weird, talkative, odd, hilarious, imaginative Cole.

He truly is the comic relief, the class clown, the odd duck - and we love him for it.

I'd like to share a few conversations I had with Cole this past week.

Cole: Hey Syd, have you ever been to the secret underground battle?

Syd: No, I haven't Cole.

Cole: Do you think Mom would take me there someday?

Syd: I don't know, maybe.

Cole: You know, someday, like when I'm five.

Cole: (as I'm entering the playroom to put Evie down for a nap) Hey Evie can't come in here because I'm watching a really scary gorilla movie (King Kong) in here and it will scare Evie.

Syd: Well Evie is going to sleep in here right now.

Cole: Well the movie will scare Evie and I think it will scare you too Syd so you can't come in here.

Syd: I think you should wait until Dad gets home to watch that movie Cole.

Cole: (Pensively) Okay, I will wait five minutes for Dad to get home and then I will watch it.

Cole: I want to play Superhero Basketball (which is basically chase) with Sydney and Darel. Darel you can be Pink Pepper. And Sydney is Evil Rosie. And I'm Horn Dino.

Later while playing...

Cole: Hey! You're not cheering for me. I'm not Cole. I'm Horn Dino!

Even later...

Cole: I wanna be in a basketball game and Dinos don't wear shirts.

And even later...

Cole: I need my basketball helmet on.

Cole: My monster feet made my feet hot, so my boots are colder. (Explaining why he's changing into his rain boots)

Three minutes later

Cole: My boots are too hot so I need my spiderman shoes on.

At 9 AM

Cole: How many cookies have you had today?

Syd: Two.

Cole: That's going to make your muscles small. I'm going to eat a lot to make my muscles big. And eat grilled cheese too.

Syd: That's good Cole. That's got a lot of protein.

Cole: How much protein is in a grilled cheese?

Syd: I don't know, maybe 5 or 6 grams, depending on how much cheese.

Cole: No, I think there's thirty-nine hundred.

Syd: 3900?

Cole: Yeah.

Cole: Hey Sydney, look what I can do to bad guys. Keep your eyes at me for three minutes.

Two seconds later.

Cole: Actually, I have to put it together so keep your eyes at me for four minutes.

Five seconds later.

Cole: Now keep your eyes on me for five minutes. See? Thats how I get the bad guys.

Ten seconds later.

Cole: Here's my new weapon all made by me. I'm creating a new weapon.

Cole and I are writing a graphic novel (more and this to come).

As we were naming all the superheroes in our story, we had this conversation:

Syd: How about Twinkle Toes?

Cole: That's not a superhero name!

Syd: It's not? Well what should we name mom?

Cole: Firewood. Mom will be Firewood.

Syd: Are you sure? A superhero named Firewood?

Cole: Yeah. Mom will be Firewood.

I could go on and on, but I'll leave you with this:

Cole calls himself "Night Sky" when he's dressed like this. He insists that we call him "Night Sky" when he wears this get up. He even asked me to get him a "Night Sky" costume for his birthday.

I seriously love this kid.