The Final Post of 2009

Hello Friends!

Santa didn't bring me a new laptop this year. I guess that I forgot to ask for one.

I did, however, ask that my children take nice, long, simultaneous naps every afternoon. Santa laughed.

So, it has been a while since I've been able to post a new blog, and not for lack of events. We decorated a Christmas tree, took a road trip, enjoyed The Nutcracker Ballet... I have plenty to write about! But my time is limited by my kids (lets see how long a basket of magazines will keep Max entertained!), and my time is abused by my slooooowwwww computer.

But I am determined to write one final blog of the year!

THE BEST OF 2009

Best Getaway of '09

My best getaway of the year was the 20 minute drive to Swedish Hospital in Seattle. The accommodations were lovely, the food was great and delivered directly to my bed, and ice chips were the best I've ever had! My two-night stay will be remembered forever, and our souvenir from Swedish is the most delightful little boy who holds my heart in his chunky hand!

Best CD of '09

My sister bought me the Taylor Swift Fearless CD for my birthday this year, and I can hardly believe that there was music before there was "YOU BE THE PRINCE AND I'LL BE THE PRINCESS, ITS A LOVE STORY, BABY JUST SAY YES!!" Lucy sings "Love Story" at the top of her lungs. Lucy wants to be Taylor Swift. I want to be Taylor Swift. The rest of the CD is great, but "Love Story" is certainly a song that will define 2009 for our family. With any luck, I will someday get some video footage of Lucy singing this song. It is priceless!

Best Movie of '09

I went to see The Blind Side without any expectations. All I knew was that it was about football and that Sandra Bullock was blond. I am pleased to report that I walked away from the theatre with a full heart and a new perspective of what it means to be a mother to a motherless child. I was completely inspired. This story is full of life-lessons, but what I personally took from it is that love conquers all.

Best TV Show of '09

So many to choose from! Devon and I admittedly enjoy many, many tv series, and our DVR is always full. I had to think long and hard about which one tops the list for me... the one full of drama (Grey's Anatomy), the one that keeps me on the edge of my seat (The Amazing Race), the one that I keep coming back to even though I constantly ask myself, "WHY DO I WASTE MY TIME WITH THIS SHOW?" (The Bachelor)... and the winner is The New Adventures of Old Christine because it makes me laugh out loud every week. I watch this show with a smile on my face :)

Best Motivation of '09

I know, I know... Best Motivation isn't really a category. I couldn't think of a better title, but I certainly couldn't make a Best of '09 list and not include Stroller Strides! My first day back to class after Max was born, I nearly passed out and was seeing black... oops! It took all summer for me to work my way from the back of the class (and I really do mean the very back of the class. I would get so far behind that Lucy would ask, "Mom, where did Stroller Strides go?"). I love these workouts. I love my mommy-friends that I've met at Stroller Strides. I love that I have visible muscles. I love my double stroller. I love that I can fit into my sister's clothes!

Best Host of '09

I have a big crush on Conan O'Brien, and I can't express how happy it makes me that he took over The Tonight Show. Devon might have a crush on him too (you know, a man-crush).

Best Book of '09

There are 4 books in this series- take your pick, they are all fantastic. If you haven't read the Twilight Saga yet, what are you waiting for??? Did you know that the author is a stay-at-home mother of three who had a vivid dream one night and felt inspired to sit at her laptop and relive the dream, thinking that it might make a good story? Three months later, Stephenie finished her first novel Twilight, and the rest is history.

Best Rantz Family Photo of '09

This would have been our Christmas card photo this year, but I didn't get around to ordering Christmas cards. If you were wondering why you didn't get a Christmas card from us, it isn't because you were cut from the list! Rather, there just wasn't a list!

From our home to yours, we hope that your Christmas was merry and that 2010 will be a joyful year for you and your family!

Much love, Mama Rantz

Say What?!?

Max is now making a noise that sounds a lot like DA-DA.

DA-DA.

"Da-da, dadadadada, dada, daaaaaaaaaaaada."

Seriously? Da-da?

I love his daddy too, so I'm not completely offended, but, Lover Boy, don't forget where the milk

comes from!

December Already?

It has been 2 weeks since my last blog post, and I'm sure that you are all just dying to know what Mama Rantz and her crew have been doing!

Well, let me show you :)

We've been chasing this guy around! He has a way of getting himself stuck in places like between the legs of a chair or behind the sofa... and he is a fast little crocodile (still crawling on his belly)!

I got a new pair of shoes! I realized that it has been a full year since I bought a new pair of shoes, and those were purchased off of EBay for $10! I guess I'm not much of a shoe shopper, but I love my new kicks!

Along with his stealthy crawling, Max is also climbing up a stair (just one stair so far), over baskets, onto Lucy... she yells out "Get him!" but I think that she gets in his way on purpose so that he has to go over her to continue on his path. It is a little game they play.

Devon took some time off of work for the holiday, and he spent some time "crafting" with Lucy. They were painting with water colors, and Devon's art was so nice that I hung it up in the kitchen.

Devon joined me and the kiddies for some Stroller Striding one morning, and though he was the only man in the group of mamas, he did a great job and said that he enjoyed the work-out :)

And then my parents and Molly arrived!

Happiness is watching your parents play with your children.

Out and about. We had lunch at Five Guys Burger and Fries (or something like that). I didn't eat a burger, but those who did raved, "Best burger ever!! Better than In-and-Out!!"

Can you guess what this is?

Frosting!

My mom has a new skill- cake decorating- and were pleased that she was willing to show us her skills!

The cake became "Lucy's Garden," and, naturally, Lucy asked if we could all sing Happy Birthday to her. We obliged and even lit a candle.

Bald is Beautiful!

Thanksgiving Day!

Max, Lucy and I bundled up to go watch a little bit of the Turkey Bowl!

Doesn't this look like a scene out of a movie (perhaps a certain vampire movie?)??

Dev, Joe and my dad were happy to have some fans :)

Back at the house, we snacked, watched football, played cards, Max chewed on the jokers....

And Lucy insisted that Molly multi-task by playing cards and princesses.

We also played Catchphrase while waiting to load up the cars and head out for our Thanksgiving Dinner at Claimjumper!

A nice hearth picture at the restaurant :)

The "kids" table-- haha, just kidding Molly!

Dinner was yummy- even my dad was pleased and he is the pickiest eater in the world- and I didn't have to wash any dishes!!

Max had bananas and rice cereal, and he was pleased too :)

My parents went home, Devon went back to work, Joe went back to school, and Max and Lucy went back to teaming up to outnumber me and wear me out!