Merry Christmas!

This was the sweetest early Christmas morning picture, but the Blogger layout cut it off. Sammy is just to the right of the tree. I'll be uploading most of our pictures to Flickr soon anyway, so please check there if you want to see the entire picture before page 2 of this blog.

Sledding with the Lindseys!

Cody and Ashley - first time sledding!, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

Cody and Ashley came for a visit last Friday, and we woke up to a beautiful snow day on Saturday - perfect for sledding! We took them on their first true sledding adventure. Yay! An overall fun weekend, despite crazy driving conditions and me being a total bummer. ;p

More pics up at Flickr! (click link under this pic) :D

Pretty Hannah!

Lisa just emailed this picture of (Sammy's friend) Hannah in a sari

Isn't she the prettiest thing?!

Hannah and family are moving to India for a couple of years and we will miss them, but know they are in for a great adventure!

More nasty info on vaccinations.

Ick.

This is just a list of ingredients in the Varicella (Chickenpox) and MMR vaccinations. For a complete list visit this website:
http://www.antibiotic-alternatives.com/vaccines_containing_animal_products.htm

roQuad
Purpose: measles, mumps, rubella and varicella
Manufacturer: Merck & Co., Inc. 800.672.6372
Ingredients: live measles (Enders' attenuated Edmonston), mumps (Jeryl LynnTM), rubella (Wistar RA 27/3), and varicella (oka/Merck) strains of viruses, neomycin, monosodium L-glutamate (MSG), potassium chloride, potassium phosphate monobasic, potassium phosphate dibasic, sodium bicarbonate, sodium phosphate dibasic, sorbitol, and sucrose human albumin, human diploid cells, residual components of MRC-5 cells including DNA and proteins, bovine serum, hydrolyzed gelatin, and chicken embryo

MMR
Purpose: measles, mumps, rubella
Manufacturer: Merck & Co., Inc. 800.672.6372
Ingredients: measles, mumps, rubella live virus, neomycin, sorbitol, hydrolyzed gelatin, chick embryonic fluid, and human diploid cells from aborted fetal tissue

Kristen, you were right. That is so disgusting.

We willl probably still do some vaccinations for the kids, but after my research over the past couple of weeks I know there has to be a better way!

And for those folks who think I'm just on some crazy extremist's website, here's a list of ingredients from the CDC:
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/downloads/appendices/B/excipient-table-2.pdf

More couch fun.

singing

jumping

Miller boys

Watching Little Einsteins. Check out Cal's gnarly black eye!


Sammy squeezed onto the pile.

Couch jumping

As the temperature plummets I am thankful for indoor winter activities. :)

Romo

Grandma bought this jersey for Sammy but it fits Freddie very well. And he looks really cute in it!

Gingerbread House

Gingerbread House, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

Sledding

Let's go!, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

Jacob took the boys sledding this morning. They were all very excited. More pictures up on Flickr!

Sammy, my silly little love.

Yeah, check out Freddie on the table in the background.

Our blanket of snow.

Mostly for our Texas friends and family to see.

Checking out a Sammy-made ornament.

Tree, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

I knit those pants and Freddie spent a good time "cleaning" the floor in them while we were home yesterday.

I'm sick.

I'm sick., originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

But improving rapidly. If your little one gets Chickenpox I recommend the Amber Teething Necklaces - they've really made a difference in the inflammation! Really!

Get an Amber Teething Necklace here: Inspired By Finn They have some for adults, too.

Scene from a sick day.

Go away. I feel itchy., originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

More pics on Flickr. Click above.

Day 2.5, Homebound due to Chickenpox

But all in all I am *very* thankful that my children got Chickenpox the old-fashioned way. I've been reading up on the virus and the vaccination after being throughly disappointed by it's failure to work in Sammy (and Mo's boy Will), not to mention the boys getting sick two weeks apart.

From what I'm read, it seems like the vax merely delays the inevitable. Chickenpox/Shingles is a strong virus that keeps coming back, in many forms, and unless your body has naturally created it's immunity (ie getting the Chickenpox) you will need to keep getting vaccinated and vaccinated for Varicella (Chickenpox/Shingles). Isn't that convenient for the drug manufacturers? Seems people who have received the Varicella vaccination are *more* likely to *get* Shingles, and get them younger. Boo.

If you are interested in reading more, check out this website: Inside Vaccines: Varicella (chickenpox) Very interesting!

Chickenpox, Round Two

Nearly two weeks after Freddie was diagnosed with the Pox, Sammy comes down with them. AND the most annoying part - Sammy received the vaccination at his one-year well-check. And his spots are WORSE. SO annoying. SO frustrating. SO unfair.

A day and a half into it and I will say that having the Chickenpox at 4 is a little more challenging than at 18-months. Go get yours early, folks! (stupid dumb vax, what good is pumping chicken bits into their bodies if the dang shot doesn't even work?!)

Toddler

We've had this boy child since late April of 2007. ... haha Just thought someone might want to see the toddler on top of aforementioned Rug. He looks pretty cute in the Cowboys hat and Longhorns t-shirt Sammy's outgrown. (Sheesh. What hasn't Sammy outgrown?!)

Rug

We've had this rug since we first moved to Minneapolis in October 2001. It's moved state-to-state with us, and been a lovely accent to every home along the way. Sadly, the rug is showing it's age and wear, and has been impossible to keep clean lately. But I cannot find anything like it, and honestly don't want to part with it. If you have any ideas or suggestions how to make an old rug new please let me know. I'd really appreciate it. I love this thing.

All done!

These are the longies (knit pants) I made for Isaac. They were meant to be for his birthday, but I just got the yarn in last Monday. (It's 3-ply Purewool in the "Paulina" colorway.) The colors are *perfect* for Christmas. I hope you love them, Leah! :)

"Felizmommymom"

No, Sammy, it's "Feliz Navidad."

It the great Rodriguez male tradition he is making up words that don't make sense in English or in Spanish. :)