Happy New Year

We just had a fun dinner with most of our small group. It was nice. We sent the kids to one couple's home with sitters, and then everyone came to our house for dinner. Time flew by so fast. 2008 has been a pretty good year for the Dankels, and I hope 2009 brings more good things for us and all our friends. Happy New Year!

Glad the snow has ended...for now

We had two "snow days" this week with school. They messed up our entire finals schedule. Alas, oh well. School's OUT!!! Colin and I are hitting the road tomorrow to STL and then onto Memphis and back to STL for Christmas Eve to meet up with Scott. Hoping the weather cooperates, and that Colin cooperates on such a long trip, since I'll be without Scott to help.

Baby Food Recipes

We have started introducing rice cereal to Colin, and in about 4 weeks will begin vegetables. I'm hoping to make my own baby food, so if anyone has any recipes or tips they would like to share I would greatly appreciate it. Feel free to email them to me at gdankel@gmail.com

"Who Throws a Shoe?"

Austin Powers quipped, "Who Throws a Shoe?" Now we have an answer to that pressing question. An Iraqi reporter throws a shoe--two in fact at the President's head. If you haven't seen this footage, it's pretty crazy. Bush is laughing about it as he dodged the shoes.

Reason I love blogging #5

Reason I love blogging #5: Advice

If you are have a problem with something your friends give you advice. I have a problem, of course. Colin loves to bite me. We've made it five months with nursing, but it's getting horrible. When he wants to bite, it really hurts. I've been doing all the things I've read online. Removing him gently, and saying things like "Don't bite, mommy." It's not working! Anyone have other tips that have worked for them? If it doesn't get better or stop, I think it's weaning time.

Colin laughing

This is pretty cute. Sorry it's so long. He had been squealing, but as soon as we took out the camera, he started spacing out his laughs and getting more serious . So you have to be patient, but he has some pretty big giggles.

Meeting Ol' St. Nick

We took Colin for his Santa photo last night. I had him all dressed up in his little man Christmas finest. It felt wintery with the slush coming down and the wind nipping at us. Colin was not scared of Santa, but he refused to smile. He was oh-so serious. He even smiled for the helper before I put him on Santa's lap, but then he just refused. He was too interested in everything else. It's still pretty cute. Maybe we'll get a smile next year or maybe cries?

Thanksgiving

We had Thanksgiving at our house again this year. It was super hectic b/c the Garner side all had to leave quick to drive down to Advance for a wedding, and the Dankels headed home quick to prepare for Black Friday shopping. It was lots of fun. We about burned the house down crisping the turkey first thing in the morning. Colin really didn't like the smoke detectors.

Here are some photos of the family. My dad snapped the photos of the boys down at grandma's.

Did He Really Just Say That?

Deb is the best at these little overheard conversations, but here's one for all to enjoy.

Heard at a wedding this past Friday:

"Marriage is not for adulterers or whoremongers." That's right. The MINISTER said it in the middle of the ceremony. It was part of his opener after the bride came down the aisle.

I could comment on this all day long. The sad part, it was my cousin's wedding. Even sadder, it was his family minister who said it. Saddest, the minister has no clue he said anything out of order and never will.

Just the words that every bride wants to hear uttered on her wedding day.

Teething pains

Colin is advanced! Unfortunately he's advanced in a way we don't want. He's already got two, that's right, two, teeth. He's not even five months old and he's got his bottom two teeth. He's had both of them for over a week, and we think we might be able to see another one rising to the surface. He's very grumpy and spends much of his time groaning and moaning, basically complaining about everything. This is compounded by his desire to be held due to so many people holding him over Thanksgiving.

My dad says teeth this early means Colin will be a steak and potatoes man. Fine, but I wish he would stop thinking I'm steak. It's all I can do to keep him from biting me while nursing. Those things are sharp.

We got some cute film of him giggling last night, and once I figure out how to get it into a form I can post, I will.