Okay, so I really am back now!  At least for one post.  Ha, ha, Erin -- you're so funny.  You know me well!  I've been hanging out on facebook, for those of you who don't know or haven't guessed!  Or sometimes I don't even turn my computer on for days and days.  Like this week I was greeted with 566 e-mails.  It took my dial-up connection and old computer forEVER to complete everything!

I found out today that Derek didn't know what a pedicure or a manicure is.  Shows how much of a girly-girl I am!  Like, zilch.   Now Kirstyn, on the other hand, is a different kind of woman.  "Woman" being the key word.  Her favorite thing to do right now is change outfits all day long.  It's like she can't stand to be wearing the same thing for more than 10 minutes!  (At least I feel justified for spending money I didn't really need to on "just one more" skirt or T-shirt at The Children's Place.)  I tell you, Kirstyn would love to live the red carpet life.

I think the last picture on my xanga site displayed me with a huge baby belly.  My baby, Cameron James, is now 7 months old.  Today his first tooth finally appeared!  And I ran to write it on the calendar!!!  I'm determined to not let my 3rd born child have less photos or "firsts" recorded.  Cameron is already showing his true boy colors.  One of his favorite things to do is spin the wheels on Kirstyn's doll stroller, or stare memorized at trucks driving down the street.

Cory is also pure boy!  Every time it rains, we have to go splash in the mud puddles by our mailbox.  We have a deep culvert running under the road, either end filled with rainwater, slime, dead worms, rocks, leaves and moldy grass clippings.  He jumps right in and exclaims, "This is soo cozy!"  Right.  My idea of "cozy" coincides with Kirstyn's.  "Mommy, lets wrap up in a blanket and watch a movie!"

We have snow!  Derek says we never get snow before Christmas.  Maybe the presence of a Massachusetts born and bred girl is finally being felt!  I love it!  I feel like a kid again, tromping through the white, fluffy snow with Kirstyn and Cory.  We eat it, throw it, slide in it, roll in it, and melt it in the microwave.  I definitely feel my 27 years when it comes to getting cold, though.  I'm no longer immune!

We have no tree, lights, or decorations up yet.  I don't have all my shopping done, either.  Yikes!  Saturday is the day we pick out and chop down a tree.  I purposed to let Kirstyn and Cory pick out the tree they want, so hopefully it's at least semi-full and not too crooked!  But I know it will be beautiful.  I love that my kids are getting old enough to delight in Christmas, remember things from last year, and start family traditions.

Last night we all piled into the minivan and drove around town looking at Christmas lights.  The kids squeal and point at something as simple as one outdoor, glowing reindeer.  So much fun!  Downtown Greencastle has a gigantic Christmas tree in the center of town.  If we're out at night, we always make a point of driving around the tree, even if it means going out of our way to see it.  I need a coffee can that says "gas money!"

Derek was home all day yesterday!  Bradco is cutting their employee hours down to 40 hours per week, so Derek worked four ten-hour days.  It was so nice to have him home!  It felt like Saturday all day long.  We ate donuts and peach pie for breakfast, then spent maybe 5 hours running errands around town.  All five of us took naps in the (late) afternoon!  After we got home once again from our Christmas light tour, Derek and I tucked the kids in bed and stayed up late playing Xbox.

...Since I last posted!  My last two entries were posted by Erin, who got way more comments on her pictures than I ever did on my writing.  Nope.  Not jealous.

Okay, is it just adults who cook their food?  My kids will eat anything raw.  Today they were munching on uncooked pasta like it was potato chips.  Raw zucchini too!  They'll eat fresh tomatoes, peas, spinach, potatos, carrots, avacado, asparagus, rhubarb ("barbie" ), green beans, lima beans (Kirstyn's favorite!), you name it... and of course any kind of fruit.  But the moment I cook anything, it turns "yucky."  So why do adults prefer their food soft and squishy vs. crisp and crunchy?  Kirstyn also likes to eat raw flour and oats, beans straight out out of the can, un-ground coffee beans, and spices.  She'll dip her finger in salt, pepper, garlic, onion, basil --whatever I'm cooking with -- and lick it up!

Both kids got haircuts this week, so Erin needs to post more pictures.  Kirstyn stepped on her first bee.  Cory fell down the stairs for the first time.  He also fell asleep next to Kirstyn on the couch, watching a Barbie movie.  So cute!  Derek says we should put Barbie on every bedtime.  I just found out I talk ("babble" was the word D used) in my sleep at least once a week.  Don't know why I wasn't told earlier.  Maybe D was waiting to see if I'd reveal the hidden diamonds?