Earache and country music

No, the ear ache and the country music aren't related, at least not really. I like country music, but lets start with the first thing, the earache. I don't remember Nathan ever having a bad earache although it is a common childhood malady. And I don't think that Josh had ever had one either, until last night. He woke up in the early morning, asking us to take his ear off. I guess that was how he thought that he could get rid of the pain. His ear still hurts and he has a little bit of a fever. I'm trying to decide if I need to stay home with him tomorrow.
The country music refers to Nathan. He likes to listen to music while doing his homework and today he picked country. I guess that I am raising another country fan. Sorry Richard.

Climbing Kitty

Nathan's cat, Max, likes to sleep with him at night. Not that unusual except that Nathan sleeps on the top bunk. I've been trying to figure out how the cat gets up there. Nathan always tells me that Max climbs up but I couldn't see how. Tonight I did. Max starts out by getting onto the lower bed and comes at the bunk bed ladder from behind. He jumps up to the highest rung that doesn't interfere with the top bunk. He then turns around while balancing carefully. Next he stretches up and claws up onto the mattress. It's that simple and I'm amazed at how easily he does it.

Christmas 2008

I am ridiculously late with getting our Christmas pictures up on the blog. Of course I'm even later getting our Christmas cards out. I think that they won't get out until next year. Here is a quick selection. First is my mother in law with four of her grandsons on Christmas Eve.

And here is Nathan and Joshua in their Santa present. We decided to do one big one that they would share. It was supposed to be cheaper but I don't think that it was. Although Nathan's face when he first saw it was priceless.

Joshua opening up a present from Nathan.

Nathan playing with some old and new gifts.

And the boys trying out their Santa gift at the local school yard. They had a great time even though Josh almost ran down a neighbor kid trying out his new bike.