White elephants that just get a little carried away

My sister drew our name this year for a white elephant gift. We are now the new owners of this thing:

From Christmas 2010

It's entirely custom made --- thoughtfully including Boise State colors. It was painstakingly put together and mailed it in TWO packages surrounded by 12,000 styrofoam peanuts.

Trevor thought it made a good swimming pool. And I said, "Do NOT dump them out."

From Christmas 2010

And right after I said that, they WERE dumped out.

From Christmas 2010

More shenanigans ensued later. I walked by the boys' room where they should have been sleeping and instead were cheerfully sitting on the dresser throwing tissue by ripped tissue onto the floor. (Secretly, this really made me laugh. They can make a disaster so non-chalantly!) Apparently it was all Joel's fault. Joel could not confirm or deny this because he doesn't talk that much.

From Christmas 2010

A Merry Christmas

We had a wonderful Christmas in Albuquerque! Our hosts were Scott's Aunt and Uncle. But for us they also became the most amazing cooks, cleaners, maids, babysitters, tour guides, baristas, personal shoppers, driver, conversationalists, and sources of encouragement. While our boys broke things and crawled under the table and I coughed all over their house, they were so sweet to us. I even enjoyed five kitchen free days! Now that's a Merry Christmas!

A group picture to gaze on later and say, "Wow. Look how young we look."

From Christmas 2010

A group picture to gaze on later and say, "Wow. Look how goofy we are."

From Christmas 2010

We spent a day at EXPLORA! It was an impressive center for science and play. I wish we could have something that big in Boise.

From Christmas 2010

Joel wants a horse, I think. Trevor had no interest in feeding these big animals or getting anywhere near their teeth, but Joel was unphased.

From Christmas 2010

Cousins... : )

From Christmas 2010

The Kellers took us shooting, too. It was so much fun!
Here I am shooting the 9mm. You can even see the puff of smoke in this picture.

From Christmas 2010

Scott and Josh shooting clay pigeons with the 12 gauge.

From Christmas 2010

Chris and Melissa shooting the clay pigeons.

From Christmas 2010

I'm okay

Trevor threw up a couple of times today. I watched him sort of gag and puke the second time today-- feeling sorry for him and remembering how awful cramp in your tongue can be. He promptly turned from the toilet, said, "I'm okay!" and asked me, "How many is 2 plus 2 pukes? How many is 4 plus 4 pukes?"

Who is this kid?!