Christmas Joy

5x7 Folded Card

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Here's wishing you a joyful holiday season full of wonder, magic, and love!

It's About Time

I finally managed to get something done with the family portraits Lindsey took for me. It's not the most interesting or artistic book ever made, but it was free (well... plus shipping) and it's done!  And in my book, that's saying something.  :)

Click here to view this photo book larger

Click here to create your own Shutterfly photo book.

I'm just glad I finally managed to make one of these silly shutterfly books. This is my third attempt. Yeah... I get free offers pretty regularly, but always procrastinate putting them together until the midnight deadlines when things invariably go awry. Of course, neither of my previous, more detailed and attractive efforts would save, so the fruits of those midnight exertions were lost to the ether.

Y'arrrrr!

Blimey! For the 8th year in a row, the Levi and Saddie Gubler Family will be found celebrating Sept. 19th at their

 Talk Like a Pirate Day Party! 

So swing by our house anytime 4-7ish for

grub * buried treasure

 projectile launching * scavenging

* a wee bit of swimming (just for the little 'uns) *

piractical discourse * and more!

It's sure to be epic!

 

Sixes

Rowy just turned seven months old this week, and I'm just getting to his six month stuff. So, while I'm at it... here's a look at all my cute little kiddos at six months of age:

Rowan was 20 lbs and 26.5 in tall.

Hazel was 18 lbs and 26.25 in tall.

Tomas was 16 lbs and 26 in tall.

It's funny that they're all pretty much of a height, but their weights are VERY different.

In other six news... Tomy turned six this month! He had a Pokemon birthday and everything! And he's been growing up in so many ways. Not only is he looking more and more like a kindergartener, but he's becoming so brave. He's done so well at swim lessons (the thought of which had him in tears a few months ago) and he even climbed this log ladder on the Kanarraville Falls Hike (which also had him in hysterics, but he REALLY wanted to do it). He's also moving beyond kid songs and usually asks for "rock and roll" when we're in the car. He is frequently heard singing "Sweet Dreams are Made of 'Gree'", "We Are Young", and the themes from Pokemon and Red Dwarf. It makes me smile. Love this boy!!!

In other growing up news... Rowy just learned to pull himself up from sitting to standing. You should see how proud he is of this new feat of wonder. Pretty amazing.

A Healthy Snack

He loves oranges - especially ones the size of his head.

She loves apples - though she prefers hers the size of her hand.

But what does the baby like? Bugs of course! Yum yum!

Tragicomedy

Rowy was kind enough to regale us with a serious tale of woe while we waited for the St. Patty's Parade to begin. Funny thing is, his audience failed to catch his intended mood. :)

Spotted!

I took Tomy on a momma date lasterday to the Rosenbruch Wildlife Museum.

We spotted lots of interesting animals and insects. But I was most intrigued by the sighting of this rare and noble mammal. I've seen this specific specimen before, but never in such close proximity nor in such an unexpected locale. Needless to say, the encounter set my heart to racing with excitement - causing me to completely forget the camera around my neck - but I did manage enough courage to make a hasty approach. The moment of contact was fleeting, but unforgettable!

 

What We Found

Today, as the kids and I prepared and planted this little patch of garden, we found buried treasure!

transplanted chives and creeping rosemary - the bees are in love!

We found a decent sized and surprisingly firm carrot that had hidden itself over the winter. We also found some potatoes that we neglected to dig up last year. I knew they were there, but the desire to harvest them was superseded by my pregnant self's ability to avoid anything resembling work. Tomy ate the carrot, but we're replanting the potatoes.

stripes and plaid? stylin'!

Tomy also found this little fellow. We've seen at least four of these guys around our property since we moved in two years ago and Tomy has been the spotter every time.

It seems sufficiently lucky, in anticipation of tomorrow's St. Patty's Day celebration, to find a snake (though we shan't drive him out), potatoes (no famine here), and a carrot (sportin' the orange and green), all in the golden sunshine (that's more than enough treasure for me). May the season bring the luck of the Irish to you too!

Three Months

Our little Rowy Powy is 1/4 a year old today and a sweeter, more contented baby you will never meet. He loves to coo, but getting him to laugh takes some serious work. His cheeks are just right for smooching and if you get him just under his chin, his eyes dance with mirth.

His best friend is still the ceiling fan. Rowan doesn't seem to mind that his conversations with this friend are decidedly one sided and is frequently delighted to find that his friend can be found in any number of locations.

Tomy and Hazel are glad that Rowan is getting bigger and more capable of handling their rather rambunctious displays of affection. The three are getting to be the sweet little group. It isn't unusual for the older siblings to stop in the middle of their play to wonder about the whereabouts of their younger brother.

We sure love our little guy!

Pest Control

You know your spouse is in pest control when...  
              
...your children's idea of a good game is running around the house pretending to be "pockroaches" traipsing through poison (known to the more mundane set as the laundry pile) and dying on the floor.

FUN FUN! :)

Photogenic?

Our Gubler Family isn't the greatest at taking pictures (okay, maybe Hazel is), but with the new addition it was time to brave up and get some taken. The wind was a-blowing and poor Rowy was chilled, but we managed to smile. You can take a peek on Lindsey Hurst's blog. And while I might be a tad biased, I think you'll find that Levi is looking oh-so-handsome, Hazel divine, Tomy mischievous, Rowy uncomfortable, and me... well let's just say I prefer the pictures that don't include my thighs. :) Thanks for everything Lindsey and Happy Valentine's to you all!

A Name and A Blessing

Chri'mas

The Christmas season was certainly different this year what with having a new baby and all. We avoided traveling and such the first half of the month due to the discomfort of late pregnancy and the unpredictability of natural childbirth and then avoided the cold and crowds the second half of the month due to the newness of our baby and the difficulty of getting a recent family of five dressed and out the door. Needless to say, we put off a few traditions and cancelled a couple plans, but the season was undeniably magic!

Avoiding the hustle and bustle left us ample time together as a family. Tomy and Hazel spent endless hours (while mom tried to catch some z's) coloring their Christmas coloring books (received a few weeks earlier than planned) and taking thousands (literally) of pictures on our now deceased camera. Levi and I spent much of our time sitting together by the fireside, reading and cross-stitching keepsake stockings.

There is just one tradition that I'm bummed to have missed - I didn't ever get a picture of Rowan sitting on Santa's lap for his first Christmas. I'm still determined to remedy that, even if I have to get the big man to make an emergency visit to our house this month.

Christmas morning itself was thrilling! Rowan took a sneak peek at Santa's generosity at 3 AM, so he managed to be unimpressed by the wonder that met his siblings' eyes at 6.

Hazel woke up crying that someone had stolen all our "Chri'mas" presents, so we went into the livingroom to reassure her that all was well with Christmas. This poor girl has a history of Christmas dream trauma. Luckily all that changed Christmas night when she dreamed that Santa brought her a whole pile of fruit snacks. Happy dream indeed!

Her early morning Christmas magic was dimmed a bit because Santa's elves forgot the bolt that tightens her new bike's seat in place. A trip to Grandpa's scored her a replacement part, resparked the magic and found her zooming sparkly-eyed in all her big girl pink bike splendor.

Tomy's reaction was priceless. He beat us on our way to the livingroom and immediately started running back and forth like he didn't know which way to go - torn between getting us and going to his gift - shouting excitedly "Santa brought me what I wanted the WHOLE YEAR!"


I got my camera(!) and Levi got some super sweet new cufflinks - a pair of Aes Sedai symbols and a pair of functional thermometers. Rowan also got a thermometer - of the swipe across the forehead variety. Our family must have been better this year than I thought. ;)