Because he turned 31 today...

I thought I'd list 31 reasons why I love him
(warning: this list is not exhaustive nor is it in any particular order)

1) Loves God and wants to honor him with his life
2) Enjoys reading the rule books to all of our games
3) Enjoys explaining all the rules to me =)
4) Enjoys being my personal barista..."one mocha coming up!"
5) Is patient with my many shortcomings
6) Likes watching movies like Anne of Green Gables and Pride and Prejudice (the A & E version of course!)
7) Knows the Bible very well
8) Gets excited about gardening
9) Is a good teacher
10) Loves to learn
11) Likes simple meals
12) Helps with the dishes
13) Builds train tracks, Lincoln Logs, and Legos with the boys and has fun doing so!
14) Puts the boys to bed every night (brushes teeth, reads, prays, snuggles)
15) Is financially responsible
16) Bakes yummy treats (cookies, bread, cinnamon rolls, etc.)
17) Mops the floors
18) Cleans the shower and toilet
19) Works hard
20) Studies with diligence
21) Is content
22) Loves his parents
23) Encourages me to try new things
24) Is happy with PBJ's in his sack lunch
25) Is a genius (as far as I'm concerned) with computers and all things technical
26) Let me get a "firm" mattress even though he would have preferred a "plush" one
27) Has fun doing yard work
28) Is a leader
29) Takes parenting seriously
30) Is very handsome
31) Has a servant's heart

Happy Birthday Sweetheart! I love you!

Merry Christmas

A snapshot of the tree and stockings

The table was set for our yummy Prime Rib Christmas Eve dinner. Notice the newly recovered chairs!

We've been married nine years and this was only the second time we've used our fine china!

We're carrying on my family's tradition of the kids getting new Christmas pajamas on Christmas Eve and perhaps starting a new tradition of getting to open a new book as well.

Each night in December Daniel went through the Christmas story with the boys. By the time Christmas Eve was here Aden knew it really well! It is so precious to hear his little voice fill in the blanks with key words like, "Mary", "Wise Men", "worship", "Jesus", etc. And of course, it's equally precious to hear Jonathan say, "baybee", "baybee", "baybee" over and over again as he points to Jesus. What a blessing to have a husband who lovingly invests this time each night into our boys' lives. Because of this I am confident that they will have a firm grasp of the true meaning of Christmas at a very early age.

Aden was thrilled when he opened the "BIG present" (it came in a big box) and found that it was his very own lawn mower! Here's a picture of Jonathan giving it a whirl. Thanks Mom and Jesse for such a fun gift for our Aden boy!

Here's Jon Jon loading up his shopping cart. He loves it! Thank you Grammy and Grandpoo!

The boys have been busy "shopping" and "mowing the lawn" since Christmas morning!

But of course, there's nothing like the excitement and entertainment that comes from a big empty box converted into a tunnel and an empty wrapping paper roll to make you wonder if the $ spent on expensive toys was worth it.

Wanting What You Can't Have

Perhaps you remember my post from a few months back where Aden put on his snow hat, gloves, and jacket on a day that was close to 100 degrees and asked if he could play in the snow! Well, last week he came out of his room naked with his fins and goggles on telling me that he wanted to go swimming. I repeatedly told him that it was too cold (50 degrees and rainy) but he insisted. So to humor him I told him that he could go swimming if he really wanted to as long as put on his swim trunks first. Poor guy...I think he lasted for about 2 minutes outside (shivering the whole time) before running inside saying, "It's coooooold Mommy!" He was bummed but his disappointment quickly turned to excitement when I suggested that he bring his goggles and fins into the bath tub that night so he could "swim" with Jonathan then.

A Seat With History

This darling little rocking chair has been in Daniel's family since the mid-late 1800's. Daniel's dad's cousin Jill and her husband Mark were kind enough to ship it to us so our boys could enjoy it. And enjoy it they do! It is a favorite reading spot for both of them. Thank you Mark and Jill for your thoughtfulness!

This rocking chair isn't quite as old but I still think it's quite special since it is the very chair that my dad was rocked in when he was a baby back in 1945 and it has been in our family's home for as long as I can remember. The wicker has been painted and the cushions recovered several times. Growing up it was painted white with yellow upholstery. When my parents passed it on to us I painted it brown and recovered the cushions with a red fabric. Our boys spend more time in this chair than we do. I think they like that they can sit in it together. Here's a cute shot of them reading together in it.

Disneyland with The Drollingers

A few weeks ago (when John & the family were in Southern California for a business trip) Rachel and the kids were able to sneak off and meet me and the boys at Disneyland! It was great to see them and we had a fun day together!

Every time we come to Disneyland we make a point to get a picture of the kids in the car in front of Mr. Toad's Wild Ride.

This is a picture of the boys in the same spot in March of 2007. They were 13 months old. They've grown so much!


Looks like Aden is enjoying the ride!

This was the first Drollinger-Moore visit to Disneyland where Jonathan was able to join in on the fun. The boys had a great time in Goofy's playhouse and Jon Jon had no problem keeping up with the big boys. This leaky hose kept them all entertained for quite a while.




Yes, they were both drinking the nasty water...and I don't even want to know how many kids mouths have touched that hose!

With the help of his sister's soft, pink blanket Andrew managed to catch some z's while we waited for the parade to start.

Meanwhile Sierra was socializing with the crowds. She's such a cutie!

This is the boys at the end of the day giving each other a farewell hug. It was sweet! The boys probably hugged each other 100 times that day! Aden really misses Andrew and talks about him all the time. It was such a treat to be able to spend the day with Rachel, Andrew, Sierra, and Rachel's mom (a.ka. "Maga") and we look forward to the next chance we'll have to be together.

Baby Care 101

This morning the boys were happily playing with puzzles and cars in their room so I decided to sneak away for a quick shower. Ten minutes later I returned to find them in the process of changing their dolly's diaper. One of them had climbed up onto the changing table and brought down the powder, the A & D, and some cotton balls in order to successfully complete the task at hand.

Now, I know they learn and model behaviors that they've seen Mommy and Daddy do but I swear I have NEVER put A & D ointment on my babies' heads!

Here's Aden using cotton balls to try to wipe the powder out of the doll's eyes. Eventually (after realizing that powder had made its way into every nook and cranny of the doll) he said, "Mommy, please help me 'keen' the baby."

And here is Mr. Jonathan pitching a fit because I closed the lid on the baby powder. Apparently he wasn't done "powdering" the baby.

Things of a "Big Boy"

Last week Jonathan Asher got his first haircut. He wasn't thrilled with the idea of having to sit still while pieces of hair landed on his face and neck, but with the help of a chocolate tootsie pop Daniel managed to get the job done. This first picture is not the best shot in the world but you've got to have a "before" shot, right? Plus, it gives you an idea of how shaggy his hair had gotten.

Before

"Ugh...either get me another tootsie pop or get me out of this chair!"

"Please, can we just be done already?"

After


Last week we finally got around to converting Aden's crib to a toddler bed. He has always been so happy to be in his crib that we've never felt terribly compelled to change it. However, since he is almost three we figured it was about time he learned to sleep in a "big boy" bed. He was very excited about it and has mentioned several times since then that he is a big boy because he sleeps in a big boy bed.

Here he is right before bedtime the first night. He was pretty excited!

For the most part he has done well.

Of course, we have found him on the floor a few times too!

So, with Jonathan's first haircut, Jonathan cutting four molars simultaneously, Jonathan climbing out of his crib for the first time (at 15 months!), getting rid of Aden's pacifier once and for all, and changing Aden's crib to a toddler bed ALL in the span of a few days I definitely feel like we are in the thick of baby to big boy transitions.

Cutting and Trimming

...the tree, that is!

A few days before Thanksgiving we piled into the van and headed up to Apple Hill for some fresh apple donuts, fresh apple cider, and a fresh-cut Christmas tree.

How 'bout this one Grandma?

No Jonathan! How 'bout this one Grandma?

Why must he always eat dirt?

Aden had fun helping Grandma trim the tree. He did a pretty good job! Of course, his ornaments were all clustered onto two branches but at least he understands the concept now that these cute little things are for decoration and not for playing.

My sweet little Santa boys!

Glasses, hats, & gloves...

...the "must have" accessories.

Mandarin Festival

Last week we were in Roseville for Thanksgiving and had the chance to spend a day at the Madarin Festival in Auburn with my Dad and Carla (a.k.a Grandpoo and Grammy.) It was great to spend time with them and the boys, especially Aden, enjoyed the activities. Mister Jonathan slept for most of it!

Grandpoo and Grammy with the snoozer. Poor little guy...he was cutting four molars while we were in Roseville and he was a little out of sorts.

Aden got to experience the fairground's version of Alice's teacups.

He thought the alpacas were pretty cool animals and we thought the alpaca wool items in the booth next to them were pretty cool. They had some nice winter hats but it's hard to justify spending $50 on something that you only wear two or three times a year!

Aden got to make a button at one of the booths. Of course, it's orange!

There was a big grassy slope at the fairgrounds that Aden and Jonathan (and Daddy and Grandpoo!) had fun climbing and sliding down. I think Aden could have played here all day...there's nothing like good old fashioned fun to keep a kid entertained.

Jonathan finally woke up and had fun playing in the leaves. He's such a sweetie!