New Pictures - okay not so new

With all the chaos we live in, I don't keep caught up with my picture downloading and taking. I have added a couple new Christmas time pictures. Some are Carter with the gingerbread house he built with Gigi.

Gigi believes the house is worth keeping, so I have it wrapped up in the attic. I am just worried what else climbs in and inhabits the house between now and next Christmas!!

The Vacuum

Carter is quite fascinated with the vacuum and has been since he was quite small. This picture is from back in December. I had the vacuum out and Carter wanted to help. I went down the hall to hang some clothes and unplugged the vacuum for him. I told Carter he could roll up the cord for me. I thought it would keep him busy and be a never ending task.... after two minutes he was done and rolled it up just as good as I could. He was quite pleased with himself as was I.

Tomato Soup Ramble

It seems that people either love it or hate it. I LOVE it. It is my go to food. In case you don't know me well, I'm a little quirky (obsessive/bossy) about certain things...tomato soup preparation and consumption is one.

Preparation: I do not like the little lumps that you get in tomato soup, will not eat it if it is there. Also, do not like it if it has started to cook to much on the sides and it gets a film....must be smooth. Ryan has perfected the preparation of tomato soup over the years as well. He falls into the don't like it category, but he volunteers to fix it for me. My Nana and I have shared many cans of tomato soup (Campbells only, I don't care if the WalMart brand is the same..will not try). After Ryan and I got married, Nana gave me a tiny sauce pot that is the perfect size along with a tiny wisk that is also the perfect size. Ryan always uses them and I always think of my nana when they are in use.

Consumption: I'm guessing that Carter falls into the don't like it category. When I was pregnant with Carter, I was very lucky and never sick. EXCEPT, the two times I attempted to eat tomato soup. Carter will not try it but he is so fascinated by my consumption that he tries to participate. I share food with Carter all the time and try to be quite patient in letting him feed me and himself very messily....I have put my foot down with tomato soup. Reason being, one of my other quirks is my saltines in the soup. I take one cracker, split it in half and half again. I let the little fourths swim very briefly b/c I do not want soggy crackers. Four bites in the soup at a time is perfect timing for me. Carter, his wonderfuly helpful self, would try to put as many crackers that could fit in my bowl (which has to be a large Blue Willow vegetable serving bowl, b/c the soup does not wait well on the stove if I use a normal person bowl). I cannot handle soggy crackers in the bowl it freaks me out.

I am thinking my daughter will be a fan. She has allowed me to enjoy my bowls of soup even when everything else made me sick. She and I will just have to consume it while her big brother is not around!!