Lost Cow.

At our church, we have a children's pageant every Christmas Eve.  Last year, Ellie was an angel and she fell asleep on stage.

This year, Ellie was a cow.  She wandered a bit, did some gymnastics, and at one point the lead cow physically picked her up and moved her to the correct spot on stage.

After the pageant, during the homily, Ellie announced loudly several times, "I'm a COW!"

But that's my story.

Ellie's story isn't about what she didn't do.

I've been reading a lot lately about how parents tell the stories of their children with disabilities.  I can tell my story as a parent, smiling with pride as Ellie signs and sings some of the words, wincing a little and cracking up as she starts standing on one foot jumping up and down... but only Ellie can tell her story.

She's a pretty verbal kid, so I can try to share her story using her words.  I can hope I get it right, based on what she has to say.

So here's Ellie's take on Christmas Eve:

She was a cow at church and she met baby Jesus.  She sang.  She was proud.  The lead cow helped her.  "O come let us adore Him, Christ the King."  And some jerk made her return the cow costume when she IS cow #2.

photo credit Jessica Mellon

Hoping your season is merry and bright!

Very Merry!

{Advent} Christmas Traditions.

I love Christmas.  I love Christmas in a big-light-the-advent-wreath-hang-the-stockings-decorate-the-tree-go-to-church-watch-Charlie-Brown-and-the-Grinch-and-put-out-the-Nativity-set way.

In fact, my friend Amy Julia Becker summed it up in her book "Small Talk":

Shaking those sleigh bells and belting out ["Jingle Bell Rock"] lyrics are part of the celebration.  After all, without Jesus' birth, there would be no reason to throw a party.  It strikes me again that the whole point of Christmas, theologically speaking, is that the abstract became physical, the conceptual became concrete.  For my children, for myself, it's important to celebrate Christmas, not only through words and hymns and spiritual practices, but through the embodiment of celebration and delight, through cookie swaps and presents around the tree and wreaths on the door.  And, yes, through "Jingle Bell Rock."

And I like to throw a party.

In honor of a season that combines the hopeful waiting time of Advent and the celebratory chaos of the American "Christmas season" (which ends the day the church Christmas season begins), here are some of the things my little family is doing to celebrate.  Does that mean our Christmas is perfect?  Not at all.  But I want to embrace this season in which my kids (well, kid) are young and excited and thrilled about every single thing.  I was so scared at Christmas when I was pregnant with a Down syndrome diagnosis and not a baby yet five years ago.  Now, Ellie is a huge fan of Santa.  She loves baby Jesus.  She sings carols loudly and with strong opinions about favorites.

* Advent Wreath.  We started doing an Advent wreath at home several years ago; perhaps even for Ellie's first Christmas.  Each Sunday, it's a time to pause and be together.  And there's candles, which are always a win for Ellie.  The Advent candles are also a bit confusing for Ellie, as we celebrate Jesus' birth and there are candles... but no cake!

* Tree lighting.  I took the girls to the local tree lighting.  We rode a horse drawn carriage, said hi to Santa, and saw lots of friends.

A photo posted by Megan Landmeier (@meganlando) on Dec 7, 2015 at 3:01pm PST

* Stockings hung by the chimney with care!  We bought a house this year, and for the first time, we have a fireplace and a mantle.  I got new stockings for the girls and we hung them the day after (um, maybe before) Thanksgiving.  We got them from this shop.

A photo posted by Megan Landmeier (@meganlando) on Nov 26, 2015 at 9:16am PST

* Advent calendar.  My mom kept almost all of my Christmas stuff from when I was a kid.  This "Decembear" wanders through his house, looking in a new spot each day in a search for Christmas.  (He'll eventually find Christmas in the living room on December 24.)  Ellie loves to find the right number on the list at the bottom and look through the big picture to place the bear in the right spot.

A photo posted by Megan Landmeier (@meganlando) on Dec 2, 2015 at 2:08am PST

* Daily books.  In addition to the 1980s Advent, we also have a stack of 24 books, each labeled with a number.  Ellie takes a book a day to unwrap that we read with Caroline each morning.  Bonus?  She's practicing her numbers, rereading familiar books, and learning all kinds of Christmas stories - from Santa to Jesus.  Her favorite so far is about a reindeer.  Ellie is really into reindeer this year.

A photo posted by Megan Landmeier (@meganlando) on Dec 2, 2015 at 3:04am PST

* Easy access to Christmas fun.  I put a pair of reindeer antlers, a pair of reindeer glasses, and a couple Santa hats in the living room.  I also bought a Melissa and Doug Nativity set.*  Ellie likes when all the people in the Christmas story hang out on the roof of the "barn."

A photo posted by Megan Landmeier (@meganlando) on Nov 27, 2015 at 6:53am PST

"Now you're Santa and a deer - see, she likes it!" No babies were harmed.

A photo posted by Megan Landmeier (@meganlando) on Dec 3, 2015 at 3:22pm PST

* Nutcracker.  Each year, I take Ellie to go see the Nutcracker at our local production.  She always falls asleep for the snowflakes and she always loves, loves, loves Act 2.  Every year I get teary thinking about how I didn't expect to do fun stuff like this with her when I was pregnant.  Every year I feel foolish for getting teary as she sits in my lap and claps.

Props to my former colleague who was sitting in front of us and snapped this photo!

Nutcracker

A photo posted by Megan Landmeier (@meganlando) on Dec 5, 2015 at 10:11am PST

* Party!  And the reinbeer.  Just because.  This year I am also making reincheer, which are Cheerwine reinbeer, for the under 21 crowd.

A photo posted by Megan Landmeier (@meganlando) on Dec 7, 2015 at 9:01am PST

I hope you are all having an amazing holiday season!  What are your favorite traditions?


* Affiliate link.

Lately.

November has been busy.  I think this is the longest amount of time I've ever let pass between blog posts here.  As I sit on the couch typing, Ellie is demonstrating the signs for various letters as she "reads" The Very Sleepy Sloth to Caroline.  Caroline is trying to sleep (on the floor, at Ellie's insistence) while Ellie shoves a book in her face to show baby sister the sloth.

My weekends have been full of photography and editing, my weekdays surprisingly full as well.  The passage of over four years means I forgot how long everything takes with a newborn in tow!  And I feel like a first time mom all over again - a mom with less appointments for my baby, but also surprises - a baby who nurses all the time, who holds her head up, who outgrows clothes!

My two girls love each other so obviously already.  Jealously issues have been pretty minimal, and we've had a few conversations that include "Only GROWN-UPS pick up Caroline," and "You are NOT a grown-up!"

"I'm brushing Caroline!" "Does she like that?" "No"

A photo posted by Megan Landmeier (@meganlando) on Nov 16, 2015 at 1:07pm PST

We are coming up on one of my favorite times of year.  I love making the Christmas season magical for Ellie and I look forward to seeing Caroline's reactions... mostly to the lights, because she'll only be three months old at Christmas.  The girls' stockings arrive tomorrow and I've been editing Christmas card photos early in the mornings, all to the tune of Christmas music.

With weekends so full of photo shoots, I was also lucky to get away for a bit on Sunday with my sweet intern to head to Dumbarton Oaks.  Dumbarton Oaks doesn't allow professional or commercial photography, so the two of us went out with a goal of practicing with our zoom lenses and enjoying the last nice day of fall.

Shot at 55mm.

From same spot, 300 mm.

Some fun with the timer.  We didn't bring a tripod.

Reflection.

Also, lately?  Christina was in town and we made a gingerbread turkey instead of our normal gingerbread house.  Ellie has been working on her fine motor skills.  And my friend Stephanie, who (literally) wrote the book on Down syndrome pregnancy is in town.

Gingerbread turkey with @christinavink #merrythanksgiving

A photo posted by Megan Landmeier (@meganlando) on Nov 12, 2015 at 2:53pm PST

Early morning fine motor work.

A photo posted by Megan Landmeier (@meganlando) on Nov 15, 2015 at 3:11am PST

These two were not allowed to touch the turkey.

A photo posted by Megan Landmeier (@meganlando) on Nov 12, 2015 at 3:07pm PST

What are you excited about for the upcoming holidays?  I've been pinning and recipe testing.

{31 for 21} Thinking Ahead: Holiday Gift Guide.

Christmas is still a couple months off, but in the interest of not being stressed in December, I am starting to Christmas shop.  Plus, I have photo shoots almost every weekend until Thanksgiving, and I will most likely fill up through mid-December.

Therefore, I present to you....

Megan and Ellie's Super Awesome Gift Guide  (Caroline is too little to care.  And Matt hates shopping.)

Is it Down syndrome specific?  The toys almost all work on various developmental needs or benefit people with disabilities in some way. Or I just think they're awesome.  So kind of Down syndrome specific, or at least stuff my kid with Down syndrome liked/would like this year.

Baby Toys

#1 - A box with wrapping paper.  Because it's the best and easiest.  And cheap.  And no matter what I write, you all know that kids like the paper and boxes best anyway.

#2 - Slinky.  Seriously great for all ages!  Ellie's therapist gave her one when she was maybe six months old and it's still a winner.  Also, somehow it has survived for about four years, which I didn't think a Slinky could do.  I can't even remember all the skills Ms. Linda worked on with Ellie and the Slinky, but I know there were a lot.

#3 - Any kind of spill and fill toy.  This skill took Ellie forever!  She didn't like letting go to drop objects into containers, so we bought lots of spill and fill toys.  Fine motor skills, here we go!

Toddler

#1 - Ellie's favorite flashcards.  She is obsessed.  Early literacy, and they're tactile.  Win-win.

#2 - Art supplies.  Ellie still uses her easel.  She has this one in a more colorful version, and she has loved to use crayons, markers, and my favorite, a wet paintbrush on a chalkboard!  No mess!  Plus, a great way to work on gross motor (standing) and fine motor (prewriting.)

  

#3 - Pretend food.  Ellie still uses all of hers to "cook" and serve us meals!  We love the Melissa and Doug food and this little grill.  It's super cheap but it's been a favorite of Ellie's for almost two years now (if not more!)

Preschooler

#1 - We are planning to ask Santa for a playhouse for both girls.  I'll let you know if he grants that request and if it's a winner.  We're thinking about something like this:



#2 - Musical instruments.  (You may also want to get yourself earplugs and/or Tylenol.)  Ellie's recent favorite was a guitar, although I admit she destroyed it after six months.  This one looks a little tougher than the one we bought last year!

#3 - Art supplies.  Ellie has some of these puppets as part of another set, but she's getting a puppet only set for Christmas.  Remember Happy the Frog?

A photo posted by Megan Landmeier (@meganlando) on Sep 9, 2015 at 1:33pm PDT

Any age

#1 - Jude&Fi hair clips!  Ellie wears them almost every day and I borrow them from her.  My friend Shannon makes them, and she has a little girl with Down syndrome.  These clips are fantastic - made from wig clips so they stay in.

#2 - A super special stuffed friend.  The girls just got two of the PolkaDotPeanutParade toys from their Aunt Anna.  Ellie keeps changing her mind about who gets Elephant and who gets Giraffe.  Ellie also has an Oli-Bo-Bolly doll she loves.  Basically, any handmade friend is a winner around here.

A photo posted by Megan Landmeier (@meganlando) on Oct 12, 2015 at 4:29am PDT

#3 - A box and some markers or paint.  Fine motor and imagination and general fun.

#4 - A photo session with your favorite local photographer!

Merry Christmas Shopping Early!


*There are affiliate links in this post.  There are also just fun links.

Christmas {Some Photos by Ellie.}

Despite minimal time off to prepare, we had a fantastic Christmas.

Christmas Eve, Ellie was still a bit under the weather and I spent the morning in the kitchen doing the prep work for Christmas dinner - cutting veggies, slicing apples for pie, and making a lasagna for Christmas Eve.  Ellie was an angel in the church pageant.  In dress rehearsal, she was a lost angel.  In the real service, she was asleep.

But she was adorable and the rest of the angels got to proclaim "Glory to God in the highest!"

We came home to eat dinner and get ready for Santa's arrival.  Ellie left cookies for Santa.  I tried to convince her to leave carrots for the reindeer.  Nope.  What about just for Rudolph?  (She loves Rudolph, but maybe just didn't realize the other reindeer were coming?)  Nope.  Finally, she grabbed one of those plastic candy canes full of M&Ms and proclaimed "THIS is for Rudolph."  Apparently, Rudolph only eats chocolate.

Rudolph gets m and ms!!!!

A video posted by Megan Landmeier (@meganlando) on Dec 12, 2014 at 4:37pm PST

Cookies only for Santa. "Does Rudolph want a carrot?" "No!" "What does he want?" "This!" "M and ms?" "Yes! M and ms for Rudolph!"

A photo posted by Megan Landmeier (@meganlando) on Dec 12, 2014 at 4:32pm PST

Rudolph and Santa left a thank you note.  Christmas morning featured a whole lot of gifts for a certain little girl who is very loved by her entire extended family.  Santa brought a guitar and Mommy and Daddy bought her a camera.  Santa was pretty stoked with the $30 deal he found on zulily a couple months ago.  It's a bit too big for Ellie but she loves it and it looks like Daddy's guitar.  And it's quieter than a piano or drums.

Ellie and I went on our first photo walk together on an unseasonably warm day.  She learned some guitar basics with Daddy.  She wore her new boots and new hoodie.

Here are some highlights of her first photo walk.

My new Facebook profile pic!  Photo credit: Ellie.

Photo credit: Ellie.

Photo credit: Ellie.

Reindeer antler closeup.  Photo credit: Ellie.

I crouch down for a lot of shots, because my subject is often a very short three year old girl.  When that three year old girl got out her camera, she crouched too, making her perspective even lower.

For dinner, we hosted our friends Kelly and Kyle and their two kids.  We did a turkey breast, cranberries, mashed potatoes, pie, rolls, lots and lots of cookies.  I love an excuse to use my grandmother's silverware and our good china.

Putting this away and posting for my aunts.

A photo posted by Megan Landmeier (@meganlando) on Dec 12, 2014 at 5:34pm PST

A photo posted by Megan Landmeier (@meganlando) on Dec 12, 2014 at 4:35pm PST

The kids table was a little less breakable.

Setting the kids table.

A photo posted by Megan Landmeier (@meganlando) on Dec 12, 2014 at 10:19am PST

And perhaps the strangest Christmas miracle of all?  Ellie slept until 6:15 this morning.

Contrary to popular culture, the Christmas season has now begun.  We still have twelve days to celebrate now that Advent is over.  Enjoy this season, my friends.

Associate links above. 

Look Up!

Ellie is good at this.  May we all look up.

Thanks to my friend Holly for sharing this quote earlier in the Advent season.

'Tis the Season.

Last night, we somehow had 60-plus people in our home to celebrate the Christmas season.

I did not take a single picture.

I did not make a single cake pop.

Sometimes, life is busy.  We love having people from all different parts of our lives (old friends, work friends, neighbors, church friends) come together to eat cookies and make merry.  In past years, I've managed to get my act together to make dozens of cake pops and intricately frost cookies, but this year, the reinbeer were as good as it got.

But my pre-party work was limited to prepping the house and a few trips to the store.

Here's what I did to make my life easier:
* I bought a bunch of stuff from Great Harvest.  Apple scrapple, rolls, biscotti, cookies….. zero time in the kitchen for that.
* Instead of a kids' craft, I taped a roll of paper to the table in the basement, put out markers and toys, and set up a tent.  The kids ended up making their own entertainment with dress up, art, and jumping on the guest futon (which isn't very bouncy, but hey, it's not a good party until you catch 4 preschoolers/toddlers mid-jump!)
* I put on a pot of decaf coffee and put out a crockpot of apple cider (apple juice, cinnamon sticks, a bit of honey.)
* I bought a big box of applesauce squeezies and put them in a box in the living room.  Win.

Right now, Ellie and I are watching Christmas movies on Netflix.  The lights are on the tree.  We have church and gymnastics today and school again tomorrow.  (That's right.  We actually have school until December 23.)  But in this moment, I am relaxed and laughing at Ellie's commentary while Mickey, Minnie, and Goofy star in the Nutcracker on TV.

Just for Fun.

I did another little photo shoot on Sunday morning with this adorable family.

I'm going to take the plunge and start charging for photography in 2015…  hello, New Year's resolution!

In the meantime, around here, I should be preparing to host an event on Saturday, but all I've done so far is prep the reinbeer.

Reinbeer ready for the weekend and it's only Wednesday.

A photo posted by Megan Landmeier (@meganlando) on Dec 12, 2014 at 3:10pm PST

I'm hoping to get on the ball and actually cook tonight!

A Very DC Day.

Saturday morning started off with a trip to Arlington National Cemetery for the annual Wreaths Across America laying of Christmas wreaths.  I had the opportunity to photograph Team Bear laying wreaths and it was beautiful and heartbreaking.

Afterward, Matt and Ellie picked me up and we checked out a disappointingly small holiday market.  We did, however, meet a man in red.

Since we blew through the holiday market in about eight minutes, we headed to the train exhibit at the Botanic Garden, one of my favorite holiday traditions.

Ellie isn't trying to be Rudolph - her nose is recovering from a fight with some stairs.

Merry Christmas.  Live it up.

Penguins and Reindeer.

Just popping in for a little laugh for your day.

I wrote recently about our family tradition of allowing Ellie to pick an animal from the World Vision or Heifer International catalog for end of year giving.

As we looked through the photos, I asked Ellie what she wanted to give.

"I give a bird."
"Okay, these ducks or these chicks?"
"No, I give a PENGUIN!"

And that is how we celebrate Christmas around here.  Donating penguins.

She eventually settled on "eight chicks," but if anyone knows of an organization accepting donations to purchase penguins for families in need, we'd happily write another check or loan you a preschooler to volunteer.

P.S. I wore these glasses all day teaching Friday.  Ellie really wants them.  And the best comment I got?  "You know you're not a REAL reindeer, right?"

Reindeer junior.

A photo posted by Megan Landmeier (@meganlando) on Dec 12, 2014 at 2:11pm PST

Tradition.

This weekend is full.  Next weekend is full.  Although the Advent season calls for quiet and reflection, finding that time has been a challenge, just like every year.  Yesterday, Matt and I split events so he could attend a wedding and I could take Ellie, as promised, to the Nutcracker.  She was excited.

This hot mess is going to see the nutcracker today. Lots of spinning in anticipation.

A video posted by Megan Landmeier (@meganlando) on Dec 12, 2014 at 3:28am PST

I adore the Nutcracker.  Last year, I wrote about there was something about taking my little girl that made me weepy.  This year, she understood a bit more of the story.  Of course, this year, I read a book in which the little girl's name is Marie, and the company we saw used Clara.  I have no idea why I didn't just continue with Marie (it's not like they talk or like Ellie can read the program) but it took her a moment to get over the name change.  She loved Drosselmeyer and this morning when I shared that information with Matt, she said "He ANGRY!"  Ellie imitated all the dancers when she got home, spinning around our living room in her little tutu.

She loved the second act especially, with the Russian dancers and the bakers.  She did not enjoy the Waltz of the Flowers, and that number was accompanied by the sounds of quiet snores.

After the Nutcracker, Christina came over to build our annual gingerbread house.  Instead of one house this year, Ellie picked a small village.  It worked out well, since Ellie got one little house and the grown ups each got two.  When Christina came in, Ellie sprinted out of the kitchen where she was "helping" me toward the front door, yelling "Christina's here!  Christina's here!"  Christina was not allowed to sit more than two inches away from Ellie throughout the evening.

@christinavink and I make these every year. Bottom one is Ellie's.

A photo posted by Megan Landmeier (@meganlando) on Dec 12, 2014 at 3:53pm PST

As Ellie gets older and participates more, I find myself getting teary as we celebrate things that are a normal part of childhood to me - seeing a ballet, building a gingerbread house, singing about Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.  Although the fresh days of Ellie's diagnosis are long past now, I am in contact daily with new mamas, waiting to see if life will ever be "normal."  I remember wondering how normal my life would be.  I just found a Lego car in the middle of the Advent wreath.  A little girl just told me to stay on the couch, because she's going upstairs to get Daddy and request pancakes.

Last week, I got a big reminder that life is short.  In the midst of a busy Advent, I'm going to try to stop and soak in every moment.

Share a Card.

The year Ellie was born, we had a big Christmas card list.

Not only did we include our whole family, but we also sent cards to all of the medical professionals Ellie encountered in her first year, including those who treated a very scared pregnant woman and shared with her the life-altering news that her baby girl would have Down syndrome.

Those doctors had seen us in dark, terrifying days.  They'd also kept our baby safe and given her a shot at life by performing the two major surgeries of her first year.  We sent them Christmas cards because I wanted to say thank you, and because I wanted them to see that their support took us from parents of a tiny, medically fragile little girl to the parents of this:

Not from our first card.  I can't find a digital copy of the photo and don't feel like getting out my scanner.  But this one is even better.

Over the past couple years, I haven't thought to send a holiday card to our genetic counselor or OB anymore.  But I think this year I will.  They know we had a happy baby, but they should get a chance to see that life continues to be okay, that our little girl with Down syndrome continues to smile, and that we appreciate their work.

Thank you, thank you, to every therapist and doctor who helped our daughter arrive safely.  The DSDN is encouraging parents to share holiday cards with their medical professionals this year.  I know a lot of parents who were given grim news and are sending out their cards to show a different side.  Fortunately, all we're doing is continuing a story…. a story in which some kind doctors shared an unwelcome diagnosis that has since become just a part of normal life.  It's time they got an update.

Giving (aka Huge List of Toys, Non-Profits, Businesses, and Ways to Do Some Good and Shop).

Tuesday is considered "Giving Tuesday," which is a time to make donations to causes we love at the end of the year and on the heels of Black Friday.   This post includes some ways to give back with your shopping, as well as some great causes for Giving Tuesday.  If you're going to spend a lot this season,  make it count. 

***

For the ladies, I love Noonday.  I just found out about Noonday this year, and there's tons of cute jewelry and accessories that provide opportunities for workers in developing countries.  If you host a party, you can donate to adoption funds.  Yay!  Props to Kelle for sharing this company.

My Noonday Ambassador introduced me to Material Fix, which empowers girls.  Another winner for pretty accessories.

How fun is this indestructible soccer ball?  It's a buy one, give one model (like Toms - for every one you buy, the company donates one.)

***

Each year, we let Ellie pick an animal from Heifer International to donate.  World Vision has something similar, we just happened to get the Heifer catalogue the day we planned to donate last year.  When she gets older, we will let her pick an organization, but for now, we just let her select her favorite picture.

***
I love companies that employ people with disabilities.

Locals, I have heard amazing things about Cameron's Chocolates.  Check them out.  I promise I will just as soon as I get outside the beltway.  Cameron's Chocolates employs people with disabilities and all my friends who have tried them love them.

Slightly less local, Furnace Hills Coffee Company also employs people with Down syndrome.  You can order beans online.

My aunt loves this company that makes kazoos.  I can't fully support a kazoo company because of Ellie and the kazoo.  I think you should go support them, and then send your kazoo to someone that is not Ellie.* In fact, my mom and aunt went to the factory and my mom was really excited to give Ellie a kazoo until I reminded her of the kazoo incident.  She was kind enough to give the kazoo to another small child.

Crazy Aaron's Thinking Putty employs people with disabilities.  And ready to get super crazy?  You can get it on Amazon!

I've mentioned BlueQ before, but my friend Meriah just reminded me about them.

Also, Walgreen's and Trader Joe's both hire people with disabilities regularly.  Win.

***

And as a belated celebration of Small Business Saturday, which we spent driving from Lake Placid to DC and visiting highway rest areas, here are a few of my favorite small businesses.

You all know I love Jude and Fi hair clips!  Tell Shannon I sent you.  (I don't get anything for that, I just want her to feel love!)

Ellie's mane tamed by Jude and Fi over summer.

A friend got a gift from The Ruffled Bird at a baby shower recently and it was great.  Check them out.

Shannon of Jude and Fi told me about Alley and Rae.  She also told me that they are big on giving back, so shop away.

***

If nothing else, you can always set your Amazon to AmazonSmile.  Just enter a charity of your choosing and a tiny percentage of your purchases are donated.  It's not much, but it can add up.  I currently use mine to support Down Syndrome Education, USA.  You can donate to Young Life, to Casa Chirilagua, to the DSANV (our local DS organization) and many, many more.  You just search for your favorite charity - I just plugged in the names of non-profits I like as examples.  I started giving to DownsEd because I got an email that asked me to sign up.  And whether or not you use AmazonSmile, I'm sure any of those groups would love your donation!

A few favorites from Amazon?  These are all items we've owned that get Ellie's seal of approval.  They aren't exactly small business, but if you're buying "big box" anyway, give back while you do!

For the little ones, Ellie loved this house. It's super annoying though.  (I love you Sarah and Dan!)
This fake food is always a winner, too.
And for my little animal lover, these magnets were a hit.

Can't forget the Slinky. Ellie loved it as a baby and still loves it!

Happy Holiday shopping!

*I never blogged about Ellie and the kazoo.  Ellie and I were home alone one evening.  She found one her teacher gave her.  I showed her how to play it.  I got an awful headache from the kazoo in my ear.  I had a beer.  Then I got a worse headache because Ellie screamed at me, "NO!  That's DADDY'S DRINK!"  I could not have more than three sips because the scolding was driving me nuts.  So I don't like kazoos anymore.

P.S. I think I make a grand total of 8 cents from the Amazon links.  I don't really care if you use them.  I do care if you take a second to think about how to give back.