Where do I even start?

I have been seriously slacking.

And many people have pointed that out. Which made this a chore. When it's not really a chore, it's something I enjoy doing. But as soon as it's pointed out to me that I'm suddenly not meeting someone else's expectations, I get stressed. And stress puts me off anything. 

So. I'm SO SORRY for the lack of updates. I guess it's touching, in a way, getting bitched at for my lack of blog posts. So thank you. And here goes... 

This boy. This boy of mine and his ding-dang ears. As of Thanksgiving I was already up to my ears [pun intended ;) ] with frustration over the [seemingly] constant ear infections plaguing this little boy- and we finally reached the breaking point and got him scheduled for ear tubes. On Christmas Eve. "Merry Christmas, Rory! Now you can't have breakfast, and we're going to knock you out and poke holes in your ears! Yayyyy!"

But seriously, it was a breeze. Once we got to the hospital [at 5:30 am] he was distracted by the exciting new environment and forgot all about his hunger.

Some fancy steppin' in the waiting room at the surgery center!

Waiting...

Waiting, waiting, waiting... (and watching the nurse like a hawk)

Waiting in a wagon.

All gowned-up because it's almost time! 

Still had some time to do more goofing around with dad, though...

Including this:

Oopsie.

The surgery itself took about 15 minutes. It was so quick, and we got to get back to him right away. He was upset and crying for about the first 30-45 minutes after the procedure as the anesthesia was wearing off, and then he was happy as a clam! He even charmed the nurse into making him toast. He hammed it up for everyone and started clapping when we stopped on our way home to pick up Emma (who had slept over at grandma and grandpa's house!)

Fast forward to later that day, baking cookies for Santa (Emma and Rory's Grandma Gayle's special chocolate chip cookies!) and that evening, opening presents from Grandpa Ffej and Grandma Laurie and Great Grandma Gayle and Great Grandpa David (and a couple from mom and dad)

Emma enjoying a special donut treat after her sleepover at grandma and grandpa's house

Emma chilling in her ball pit from Uncle Brady and Brittany!

:)

Beautiful boy.

Beautiful girl.

And this just cracks me up. I don't know why. 

Baking time!

We always have to snitch a few chocolate chips!

My happy helper

Busy, busy, busy!

More play time

He's got his eye on you...

Time to open presents after dinner! They each got an ornament from mom and dad for 2015- Rory's was a Pooh Bear baby ornament, and Emma's was Elsa from frozen- to commemorate the fact that 2015 was the year she became a big sister! :)

Such fun :)

They got an Elmo potty chair from mom and dad, which was a huge hit. And Emma got some big girl underpants, that- of course- had to be worn on the head. Because brand new underwear for Christmas is just about the only acceptable time to wear undies on your head!


There's that look again.


Dad got new undies too and had to join in on the fun

A pair on her head, a pair over her jeans, and one foot in the new potty chair. This one's a winner.

Now, time for bed and off to sleep so Santa can come! Although, when we asked her, Emma said Uncle Carson was coming to deliver presents, not Santa. Ha! :P

Christmas morning! What did Santa bring?

Sleepy mom. Snuggling and opening presents with my little lady- who was wearing my Christmas nightgown from when I was her age! :) 

New kicks for Emma and a book for Rory, which Emma swiped, which is why Rory's bottom lip is out :( New shoes, new books, new outfits, and new toys for both, Emma got her sparkly dress and her dump truck! :P

"Hey! What are you looking at?"

This is how we do Christmas morning in the O'Toole/Lawson clan.

Happy little elf :)

Static! 

Chilling with Great Uncle Joe and Danielle on the kitchen floor

She earned this.

Well THIS is incriminating...

She's drinking water, but as she was standing so close to the make-shift bar, Auntie Abbie thought it would be hilaaaarious to get a shot from her angle. And it is hilarious. At least I think so. 

The fabulous foursome. My Biobeefs. My Berrberfs.

Toys and books and people to play with all around, and these two want to play with a basket. 

And the sun sets on another wonderful Christmas. But it's not quite over yet! We still have one more family get-together tomorrow, the 26th. More to come.

Emma Speaks [Vol. 12]

*referring to pepperoni*

Emma: "Mom. There's bacon on my pizza."

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*I was getting a tiny bit frustrated trying to find Rory's shoe amidst a kitchen cluttered from us unpacking after our trip*

Me: "Okay, shoe elves, where did you hide Rory's shoe?" 

Emma: "Mumma, seriously, calm down."

Me: "Emma, I am calm. I'm just trying to find Rory's shoe."

Emma (gently patting my leg): "Shhhhhhh Mumma. It's okay. I'm here." 

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*Rory was sitting on the living room floor chewing on a block. Truly not making a peep*

Emma: "Rory! No singing!"

Me: "...he's not singing."

Emma (whispers): "I heard him." 

O_o

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*I was in the kitchen working on dinner and I heard a little scuffle going on in the living room*

Me: "Emma, are you being nice to your brother?"

Emma: "Probably not."

Honesty. I respect that.

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Emma: "How you doing, Abbie?"

Abbie (the English teacher): "I'm doing good, Emma, how are you?"

Emma: "I'm doing well."

Abbie (to me): "I just had my grammar corrected by a two year old." 

BOOM. 

Videos from our trip

Rory likes to hear grandpa singing his name! Even re-watching this video he gets all excited and starts dancing! 

http://youtu.be/096fjmGk340

Rory the little bell ringer

http://youtu.be/KHGmhYRL7fc

Rory's first pickle from Auntie Pickles :) we call her that because she gave Emma her first pickle and then always brought her pickles after that! 

http://youtu.be/VIbECY9EOks

Playing on the hay bales! 

http://youtu.be/7Bhs8WyvJuM

Grandpa's inner farm kid had to play on the hay bales too

http://youtu.be/xxn1dhzeEBw

Oh but I almost forgot this treasure! We had some lovely ladies come over when we got home to entertain the kids while we unpacked, and boy do they entertain! ;)

http://youtu.be/PREKmrJTv3k

Dakota Thanksgiving!

With the thumbs up (or pointer fingers up, if you're Emma) to ears [FINALLY] on the mend, we packed the kids in the van set the cruise control, and headed west for Thanksgiving! 

First stop, Alexandria MN. Just a room to stay for the night to break up the long haul to North Dakota. 

The last time we had the kids stay in a hotel, it was in July on the way to Jeff and Laurie's wedding, and we stayed at the water park of America. So Emma was all excited about the water park and didn't seem to really notice that she was expected to sleep somewhere besides her own bed. Plus, we had this freaking awesome hotel room where she got to sleep in a bunk bed with Abbie. 

Well. That was not the case this time. This was a DaysInn in Alexandria, MN. No Abbie. No bunk bed. And Emma wasn't having it. 

Emotional meltdowns started about an hour before we arrived at the hotel, which woke her sleeping brother, who was pissed about being in his car seat for 5 hours already, so they both screamed their heads off for the last leg of the first half of our journey. 

And then Emma did NOT want anything to do with staying in a hotel room. She wanted to be at her house, and in her bed. 

I know, mom, I got bitch-slapped by that payback. [Apparently I was a home-body at 2, and ruined a trip to England or something. Sheesh.]

So at 9:30 at night when you're in a dingy hotel room in an unfamiliar city, and you have a baby and a toddler both feeding off each other's tantrums and attitude problems, you try anything. Luckily, I thought of a bubble bath first, and it did the trick. 

Calmed down, jammies on, Landon and Emma fell asleep first at 10, Rory fought it until 11, I finally fell asleep despite Emma's knees in my ribcage sometime after midnight, and then Rory woke us all up at 3:45 -_- ugh. 

BUT! We made it. Despite lack of sleep, crabby kids, and having to pee with Rory sitting on my lap at gas stations [a new experience] we made it to Jeff and Laurie's house in ND! 

My little potty-buddy 

Abbie, your chalkboard drawings from July were still there :) 

We had such a lovely Thanksgiving with a big group of the family with absolutely sinfully delicious food. And just like at Christmas, Landon made the turkey. Only this time he brined it. It. Was. Awesome. 

The 22lb turkey in its big 'ol bucket-o-brine. 

Recipe here:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/good-eats-roast-turkey-recipe.html

Big Rory fell in love with big Hank. 

And little Emma fell in love with little Axyl. 

And everybody loves grandpa. He gives out cookies. Lots of cookies. 

Emma was her usual unusual self, and most people find her amusing. I do, anyway... 

Grandpa had Rory roaring with some toe-nibbling. 

Rory roaring. Rory Rory Rory. I just love this kid's name. 

Then after a sad goodbye to grandma and grandpa, we packed up the kids in the van once again to head south. 

We made a [much too quick] stop in Bismarck to see our beloved Urbanecs. Little miss Amelia is just the sweetest thing, and such a good little baby for her mom and dad. She is going to be an excellent friend, Emma and Rory agree. 

She's the sweetest. We don't have any snuggly babies anymore... Ours are both so busy all the time, so we take baby cuddles when we can get them! :) 

Emma just adores Reagan.

These babies just keep getting bigger! Amelia and Rory, together again :) come see us in WI sometime, Amelia! xoxo

Then it was time to say goodbye to our friends and head south for another couple of hours to Great Grandma Maxine's farm in South Dakota where my mom and dad were spending Thanksgiving!

This lady is a gentle soul and a classic beauty. We just love her. 

And she's so petite, big chunk Rory looks like a kindergartner in her arms! :P

Emma got to take a nap in the yellow room, which was always my room when we stayed at grandma's :) 

What Landon would look like as a serial killer. 

Emma needed some fresh air and exercise, and there's none better than playing on hay bales. 

She claimed she wanted to have a slumber party in this little hay fort. Haha. 

Grandpa couldn't resist playing on the hay bales either. 

Playing on grandma's kitchen floor just like Abbie and I must have done a hundred times! 

Taking a ride in the old doll buggy! I'm surprised he didn't turn it into kindling ;) 

Getting Emma to eat has been a struggle all week, but she decided on cheese and grandma's homemade cranberries. Whatever. At least she's eating. 

Time to go to bed so we can get up in the morning and make the long trek back to WI. 

All in all it was a wonderful trip, and although it's exhausting to spend so long in the car and live out of bags, it's so important for us to do. These kids are making lots of happy memories! 

Videos to come, no wi-fi out in the middle of the South Dakota prairie!