The Nativity, Norman Rockwell, and Merce Cunningham

...just to name a few things we've done lately. I've been a little slow on updates from the Towers' home. Here they are:

December
Aaron's (seemingly slow) recovery from the broken leg was the main event. Poor guy - he was very patient with me during my rants about "doing everything myself!" and "prohibiting him from ever getting hurt again!". I'm not going to lie folks - it was a pretty rough time for us. All at the same time: I went back to work parttime, Aaron was hurting and unable to help with his typical chores/errands, I lost my car to him (he couldn't drive his stick shift anymore and I couldn't drive it either), and we were transitioning Kai over to my parents' care during the days. However, we made it. I'm sure we will laugh at the situation when we look back.

Aaron's gingerbread creations

On a lighter note, Aaron turned 30 on Christmas Eve! I gave him 30 days worth of little presents - one for each year - culminating in a gift of Men's Depends undies. Hopefully, this eased his transition into old age. :) :) :) We had a fun gingerbread-house-making/birthday party for fun too.

The Towers as Joseph, Mary, and Baby Jesus

Christmas was overall pretty awesome. We dressed Kai up in green and red PJs and took videos of him looking at his plethora of presents. We caroled at a local nursing home (loved that!) and doorbell ditched presents. We cooked some new recipes for the huge feast at Mom and Dad's house. Aaron, Kai, and myself also acted as Joseph, Jesus, and Mary in our ward's Christmas program (!!!). Most important, we remembered the birth of our Savior - the reason for the season - with Nativity story reading, church activities, service, and the lDS Xmas broadcast. Next year, we hope to have an even more Christ-centered Christmas. We are thinking about switching our gifts to charity donations (thanks fo the idea, Metta!) and just giving Kai a stocking's-worth of little gifts.

Little Elf with Uncle Rob

January
New's Years Eve was spent with Mom and Dad P at the Norman Rockwell exhibit at the NC Museum of Art. It was a great time - we don't typically spend time admiring famous artwork... In other big news, Mom and Dad T and Aaron's sister Angela and family came to visit us in Durham! We had lots of fun with them, our house was filled with good food, kiddos, and laughter. It was the Haddocks' first time seeing Kai and grandparents' 2nd time; he was subsequently held and loved on for two weeks! We went to Exploris, a kid's museum in nearby Raleigh, made cinnamon rolls, told stories, played Mafia - it was pretty sweet. On a "heavier" note, Kai got sick and has had colds off and on ever since!

K with Nana, Papa, Grandmary, and Granddaddy

February
February was a winning month. Aaron was feeling much better and healing nicely. He started driving his car again at the end of the month and started walking without any supports or crutches! He cheered on Duke and BYU to lots of wins, while I chose to ignore State's record. Valentine's was fun this year with Aaron's surprise date to a Merce Cunningham modern dance show (fourth row seats - sweet!), a gym pass, and flowers. I gave him his annual Vday care package and went on a date with both boys to play mini-golf in Raleigh. Kai received some fun heart-shaped balloons for hours of loud noises and batting around. Last big event of the month was the Fancy Dance, our annual youth fundraiser at our church. We had a really fun time setting up and dancing the night away.

Barley cereal via airplane delivery


Phew! Now I wonder what March will hold...

Motherhood vs. World Travel

Love this post by Jaime at Prudent Baby. This might be particularly poignant for some of you world-travelers-turned-mothers out there! An excerpt:

"One day as a mother presents an astonishing multitude of possible paths — points of diversion more wild than any plane ticket, rail pass, or map could ever offer. The choices and their consequences are more exciting because they are simply more important. And they are more important because THEY ARE NOT ABOUT YOU. My life as a mother is anticipation, mystery, and imminent change. And most exciting of all is my certainty that whatever tonight holds, I will wake up tomorrow morning and not be the center of my own attention. My kid taught me to be enchanted and fulfilled by the unpredictability of our life at home."

Best Recipes of 2010

Acai na tigela (Brazilian deliciousness)

As in keeping with our {one-time} tradition, here's a collection of our favorite recipes from 2010. They are broken down into meats, veggies, soups, breakfast, and desserts. Is it terrible that, by far, our largest “best of” compilation is desserts? Don’t answer that.

If you are wondering where they come from, I will assure you - not me. I follow a few foodie blogs, pick out the best-sounding recipes, save them on word docs, and log them away categorically on my computer. It's my e-cookbook, you could say.

FYI - Cooking went a bit downhill right after Kai was born, with both Aaron and I scrounging for instant calories instead of healthy food. We have slowly been making our way back to wholesome, homemade, and delicious recipes. It's a work in progress! I have learned that I most love to make soup and muffins. Reasons: Soup is filling, easy, and goes a long way. You are almost guaranteed thickened-up leftovers for the next day. Muffins are just the perfect-size-carb-cuteness. I love to eat them, I just dread cleaning the pan. Ugh!

I hope that you try and enjoy some of these. Bon appetit!

6 months!

Our newbie is growing up...6 months as of last Wednesday! It's been so fun to watch him grow and learn. No matter what else is going on in our lives, Kai's angelic face always melts our hearts and brings a smile.

At six months, Kai is sitting up and standing like a CHAMP! He is lunging into a crawling position from sitting, but has not gotten mechanics down yet. He is eating cereal as of Sunday (we delayed a little on purpose). Kai loves being on dad's shoulders, playing airplane, sitting on your belly as you lay down (so he can look down at you), smiling, giggling, getting tickled, playing with toys, riding in his stroller, and getting carted around in the Ergo. Kai does NOT like not being able to see you at all times, being left to play along too long, being sick, tummy time, or sitting still too long. He is currently on his 3rd cold and it's a nasty one - poor little man!

Here is a preview of his beautiful 6 month photos, courtesy of Sarah at Elaine Bella Photography.

Love is spelled T-I-M-E

...An oft heard quote among our circles. I found this post from The Mother Huddle blog (which I love):

Displayed on a shelf in the entry way of my mother’s home is a book entitled To A Child Love Is Spelled T-I-M-E. I have often thought about that statement and how much truth it holds. It’s easy for us to say “I love you” but those three words, devoid of action and the gift of our quality time, are simply that—just words. As we celebrate this season of sentiment and affection, let us show our littlest valentines just how special they really are.

40 simple ways to show your child love

1. Take them to a movie they want to see.
2. Go on a treasure hunt (collect all the loose change around the house/car) together and then make a trip to the arcade with your findings.
3. Take a long nature walk together, at their pace. Let them lead the conversation.
4. Find qualities about them that you genuinely love, and compliment them in front of others.
5. Frame a photo of the two of you, and display it in their room.
6. Put a few Hershey’s Hugs in one of their coat pockets, and Kisses in the other.
7. Play a game with them.
8. Let them win.
9. Make bath time special. Add lots of bubbles, colored soaps, maybe you could purchase a new tub toy or let them play with things found around the house. I let my kids play with things like colanders and funnels from the kitchen—they love it. Don’t forget to warm the towel!
10. Send them a handmade card in the mail with a coupon to go get ice cream with you.
11. Gather all the home movies that feature them as the “star” and have a movie night complete with popcorn and treats.
12. Using blankets and chairs, or a card table, build a clubhouse together and have a picnic inside.
13. Read “I love you” books together.
14. Let them stay up past their bedtime with you and watch cartoon classics together.
15. Do a chore that is normally reserved for them.
16. Tuck an encouraging note inside their lunchbox.
17. Give them your full attention.
18. Tell them some of the ways they make you happy.
19. Make them laugh.
20. Laugh with them.
21. Make their favorite treat to welcome them home from school with.
22. Show them your joy when they arrive.
23. Ask for hugs and kisses.
24. Listen, and let them make their own decisions whenever possible.
25. Make them a coupon book filled with things they’d enjoy doing, or things they’d like to get out of doing.
26. Take a day off from everything: work, household duties, technology, etc. and focus entirely on them.
27. Cook together.
28. Write them a poem using the initials of their name.
29. Decorate their room for no reason.
30. Create a sign that lavishes them with praise.
31. Kidnap them from school and take them out for lunch.
32. Make home a fun place to be.
33. Make a treasure box from an old shoe box, fill it with “gold” (chocolate coins) and make an official looking treasure map with clues for them to locate the hidden treasure with.
34. Go to the store and let them pick out all the ingredients to make banana splits. Make and eat them together.
35. Wrap up in a warm blanket together and take turns making up stories to tell each other.
36. Make a list of things you love about them and put it on their pillow before bedtime.
37. Talk about what they did in their day at dinnertime.
38. Sit down together and write a list of fun activities to do in a day. Write each idea on small slips of paper, roll up the papers and stick them inside balloons. Blow up all the balloons and then pop one balloon at a time until you’ve completed all the activities.
39. Play back rub/tickle games—ie; Spider crawling up your back…
40. Make a CD with all their favorite tunes and have a dance party.