This Christmas Blows

This Christmas blows ... I mean blew. For starters, Kansas City got it's first Christmas snowstorm in 50 years and not only did it drop about a foot of snow, but the wind blew and blew some more. Blizzard warnings were posted and there was no traveling on Christmas Eve. No traditional looking at Christmas lights and our friends had to cancel dinner with us. But what a cozy night at home instead. On another note, we made a shift in Christmas gift giving this year - all gifts had to be homemade. Fortunately for Tyson, he has a birthday in a couple of weeks that he was able to rely on for the good gifts ... or at least that was his mind set to begin with. Then the other day he was quoted as saying, "I thought that this homemade gift giving thing was going to be really lame ... you know, cutting out paper stuff and then wrapping it. Then I learned you could buy the stuff you needed to make things and I'm excited to give my gifts!" That's the Christmas spirit! When all was said and done, one of his favorite presents was his marshmallow guns made from PVC pipe. A day later and a bag of miniature marshmallows have been blown from one end of the house to the other. Kallie (the dog) has cleaned most of them up. Yes, Christmas blew this year, but in a great way. It was the best Christmas that any of us could recall.

No Mouse in the House

His tenure in our home was short, but Mousey died this morning from toxic fumes. It's presumed that those fumes were from his cedar chips and not Tyson's room where Mousey spent his two weeks with us. Mousey was delivered to Tyson by the neighbors cat, an early Christmas present if you will. He was quickly welcomed into the home, especially by his new siblings (the cats and the dog). Kallie took a special liking to Mousey and would follow him around wherever the pink ball would go. Should Mousey stop rolling, Kallie would provide an encouraging nudge to propel him on his way. Kallie would scratch at our door at night and we would get up to let her out - but it wasn't to go outside and do business - no, it was a bee-line for Tyson's door. Mousey did escape once ... but was found a day later behind the printer. But this time there's no coming back. But perhaps the neighbor's cat will bring forth another present in the days to come.

Swimming in Leavenworth

Thank goodness for indoor pools! Our temperatures may have plummeted like the rest of the country, but Tyson is still taking to the pool every week up in Leavenworth (and no, not at the prison). At his mother's insistence, he will continue to do so until he's able to pass off his Boy Scout swimming requirements as well. Take for instance the time that Tyson was convinced that he would drown in the deep end when asked to swim a full lap. He argued with Nate, his instructor, but to no avail. That's when Paige threatened, "Tyson! I will come in there if I have to!" Do you think he believed her? After all, she didn't have her swimming suit with her. Didn't matter. She jumped in, fully clothed and Tyson DID swim the lap he was asked to. We're now "that much closer" to him passing off his swimming requirements. As a precautionary note, Paige brings her swimming suit with her each week.