NASCAR - - - The Logue Way

In my opinion, you can tell a lot about a person based on the Hot Wheels car they choose to race.

Tonight at The Logue Manor, the line up included a teal 1967 Pontiac GTO complete with white flames, a yellow 1968 Chevy Camaro with black racing strips, and a 1988 Hot Wheels school bus.

Can you guess who is racing which car?

In first place was Martin's school bus, Andrea's Camaro finished second, and bringing up the rear was Brian's GTO.


I love nights spent together as a family.

I Love Technology......

She has my nose and Brian's mouth. What a combo.
That's right. We're having a daughter!

A Jedi Morning

• Martin has not put down his light saber since his dad gave it to him yesterday.

• He slept with it last night in case any Siths came into our house.

• He had it clipped to his long underwear this morning.

• Martin discovered he & Yoda are the same size.
  

• We had to explain to him a light saber is not necessary in Church.
  

• Who needs a security system when you have a Jedi apprentice living with you??

A Christmas to Remember

We celebrated quite a Christmas! Actually, we are still celebrating because, as you know, the season starts on Christmas Day and continues through the Epiphany - twelve days later (remember singing The Twelve Days of Christmas? That song actually has a meaning...)

The Logues left to visit my family on Christmas Eve. We had the shortest drive out of all the siblings; only 4 hours to Valparaiso, Indiana. We spent some time there and in Merrillville, Indiana and Bristol, Indiana visiting friends and family. I'm not sure if Martin will remember everyone he met!

Brian and I decided on a tradition for our family - a tradition we borrowed from another family. We only buy three Christmas presents for our kids; one for each of the gifts brought to baby Jesus by the Three Wise Men. This is great because it keeps us in check and we can focus on the true meaning of Christmas rather than what the Retail Industry would like us to focus on. $$

We also don't do Santa (gasp! What kind of parents are those Logues??) While this may seem like we are "taking the magic away from Christmas", it's actually quite the contrary. You can't get more "magical" than God becoming flesh and giving himself to us as the greatest gift. Santa not stopping by on Christmas Eve is a lot more common than you would think; many of our friends choose this route. However, I will say, we also have plenty of friends in which Santa does stop by, and they do an excellent job of balancing what is important. It's all in the parenting.

Martin's extended family did not miss out on helping him celebrate his first Christmas in America! Grandmas, Grandpas, Aunts, & Uncles were very generous in the gift giving! It only took him a few presents to realize what was going on... He was very excited and thankful for everything he received. One of the gifts he received from us was a play Mass Kit, which he loved!

He also loves his remote control cars, Legos, blocks, clothes, and especially the semi-automatic Nerf gun his dad couldn't wait to open.

This was an absolutely wonderful Christmas! I couldn't be more thankful.

Snow!

Snow is a new discovery for Martin. Although it's "barry, barry cold" he can't get enough of it. This past weekend it snowed enough for a few inches to stay on the ground. He says it looks like sheep and is made of milk.

During the week, he stays with our good friends and plays with their kids while Brian & I are at work. Yesterday morning, when I was dropping him off, he told me he made a baby snowman and hid it in the bush so it wouldn't melt. He dug the snowman out of his "home" to show me.

I bought Martin his first set of snow pants and boots. Once we were home, he wore them in the house as long as he possibly could. He was up first thing this morning wearing only his snow pants and nothing else.

It's amazing watching him discover things I take for granted. He is such a blessing to our family.

Dreams Really Do Come True...

I asked. They won't let me wear this to work.

Maybe it's better that way.

I love you, Snuggie.

Some of These Things Are Not Like the Others....

I discovered this interesting scene today.

I planned on making some funny joke about the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man and a Giant Yarn Angel announcing Jesus' birth; only to find great minds do think alike.

Jenny, I think our sons are cut from the same cloth.

Christmas Decorating - - The Logue Way

"We're kicking off our fun old fashion family Christmas by heading out into the country in the old front-wheel drive sleigh to embrace the frosty majesty of the winter landscape and select that most important of Christmas symbols." - - - Clark W. Griswald

Nothing says "Christmas" like my house smelling of fresh pine... (well, maybe that and celebrating our Savior's birth).

We drove to a local apple orchard who also sells Christmas trees in the winter. We told Martin he can choose any tree he wants - as long as it can fit into our living room.

I'm sure Martin's grandparents are dying to see pictures (am I right, Susan?). So without further ado....

This is Martin's first Christmas in America, and having a tree in our house just blows his mind. We let him decorate it himself. All the ornaments were at his eye-level in one spot. Brian went around and rearranged a little.

Life is good.

Mommy Needs to do Laundry!

I can't help but love these insanely hideous red corduroy overalls.
Martin looks so silly wearing them, but I think he looks absolutely adorable.

He's going to hate this picture when he gets older.

A Proud Moment in Motherhood

My son really does not have the attention span to watch a full movie.

....or at least I thought so.






Now in our house, there is a new found obsession with good versus evil, light sabers, Jedi's, and their quasi-telekinetic power.

I have never been more proud of Martin than watching him reenact every fight scene in The Phantom Menace. I can't wait to see his reaction when he actually watches one of the good Star Wars episodes.

Feast of the Immaculate Conception

Today Catholics celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception; when Mary was conceived without original sin. Also, the Gospel included the angel Gabriel telling Mary she has found favor with God and will have a son named Jesus.

This morning over breakfast, I was doing my best to teach Martin the importance of today and how we would be going to Mass later tonight to celebrate this feast day. He informed me this was indeed a special day for girls, but not boys.

Where babies come from has been a recent hot topic in our house. Martin has never asked how babies get inside mommies' tummies, but instead, he is obsessed with how babies get out of mommies' tummies. On his own, he has come up with a very logical explanation that isn't too far from the truth (sorry... I can't bring myself to share details, but I'm sure you can imagine...). I'm not ready to explain it to him just yet; mostly because I'm not sure myself.

So tonight while we were sitting in Mass, Martin leans in close and says, "Mommy, Jesus will come out of Mother Mary in five minutes?"

To which I replied, "No, that's on Christmas."

Yep. That's one for Daddy to handle.

Sophisticated Gentleman

This outfit was bought to wear to Christmas Eve Mass, however, Martin was insistent on wearing it today.

Back off, Ladies, we're hoping he's going to be a priest.

Just Another Day....

Yes, this is my three year old son getting out of the shower with a towel wrapped around his waist putting on deodorant.

Apparently, it's just another normal night at The Logues.