Ready to head out to church on Christmas Eve
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Zoo lights
We went to the zoo last Saturday night to look at the lights. Here are Joe and the kids ready to head in.
Saying hi to the camel.
Getting ready to watch the light/music show at the big fountain.
Joe informed me I needed a new hat for Christmas - I think this one is lovely.....
The kids got to "ride" the polar bear that was pulling the sleigh.
All snuggled in under blankets for the ride home. We were hoping they would just drift off to sleep and we'd get to just carry them in to bed when we got home. No such luck.
Saying hi to the camel.
Getting ready to watch the light/music show at the big fountain.
Joe informed me I needed a new hat for Christmas - I think this one is lovely.....
The kids got to "ride" the polar bear that was pulling the sleigh.
All snuggled in under blankets for the ride home. We were hoping they would just drift off to sleep and we'd get to just carry them in to bed when we got home. No such luck.
Cookies...and frosting!
We decorated cookies last week with the neighbors.
The kids were a bit excited about the prospect of having a plate full of frosting at their disposal.
They even managed to get some of it on the cookies.
The kids were a bit excited about the prospect of having a plate full of frosting at their disposal.
They even managed to get some of it on the cookies.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Sign him up to be a SAHM
Joe and I had to be at the hospital at 6:30 a.m. for his latest round of kidney stone blasting, so my dad was kind enough to come so he could stay with the kids while we were gone.
I thought he'd have an easy day - I was planning on having Sam skip preschool so all they would have to do is play at home all day. But then Sam's preschool Christmas party (where they are supposed to have a parent or other special adult come along) got rescheduled to today and he was a bit disappointed that some of us couldn't come (telling me "But I told Miss Caryn to write Mom and Dad and Grandma and Papa on the invitation - you won't all be there?") so I informed my dad he'd have to psych himself up for a trip out with the two of them.
I was a bit concerned they would even make it to preschool - most days we slide in there with about 30 seconds to spare after having left the kitchen a big mess of dirty breakfast dishes and piles of pajamas that were shed on the floor because I didn't have enough time to run them upstairs to the hamper. The days that there aren't dirty dishes is because we didn't have enough time to eat at home and my kids are stuck with some Ritz crackers and juice boxes I grab on my way out the door to eat on the way.
But my dad showed me up impressively. Not only did they have a nice breakfast of scrambled eggs, yogurt, and cereal, he also managed to get the dishwasher unloaded of the clean dishes and reloaded with the dirty ones. The kids' pajamas were not in piles on the floor, but rather up in their bedrooms. When I called him at 8:42 - a full 18 minutes before preschool starts - they were sitting in the parking lot just waiting to go inside. And there was no screaming in the background (which is usually a given when I am talking on my cell phone in the car - especially if we are not even moving!)
He got Sadie dropped off upstairs, remembered to take in a baby gift for a friend (that I had forgotten to bring in on Sunday), and had a great time with Sam at the party. They made a craft, had a snack, and he watched the kids sing their songs. He even managed to take some pictures for us (though he doesn't know how to get them off his phone...if my brother can figure out how to email them to me I'll add them to this post later).
And then he had enough energy left to take them to McDonalds playland for lunch.
I seriously underestimated him.
I think he should quit his day job and come be my nanny.
I thought he'd have an easy day - I was planning on having Sam skip preschool so all they would have to do is play at home all day. But then Sam's preschool Christmas party (where they are supposed to have a parent or other special adult come along) got rescheduled to today and he was a bit disappointed that some of us couldn't come (telling me "But I told Miss Caryn to write Mom and Dad and Grandma and Papa on the invitation - you won't all be there?") so I informed my dad he'd have to psych himself up for a trip out with the two of them.
I was a bit concerned they would even make it to preschool - most days we slide in there with about 30 seconds to spare after having left the kitchen a big mess of dirty breakfast dishes and piles of pajamas that were shed on the floor because I didn't have enough time to run them upstairs to the hamper. The days that there aren't dirty dishes is because we didn't have enough time to eat at home and my kids are stuck with some Ritz crackers and juice boxes I grab on my way out the door to eat on the way.
But my dad showed me up impressively. Not only did they have a nice breakfast of scrambled eggs, yogurt, and cereal, he also managed to get the dishwasher unloaded of the clean dishes and reloaded with the dirty ones. The kids' pajamas were not in piles on the floor, but rather up in their bedrooms. When I called him at 8:42 - a full 18 minutes before preschool starts - they were sitting in the parking lot just waiting to go inside. And there was no screaming in the background (which is usually a given when I am talking on my cell phone in the car - especially if we are not even moving!)
He got Sadie dropped off upstairs, remembered to take in a baby gift for a friend (that I had forgotten to bring in on Sunday), and had a great time with Sam at the party. They made a craft, had a snack, and he watched the kids sing their songs. He even managed to take some pictures for us (though he doesn't know how to get them off his phone...if my brother can figure out how to email them to me I'll add them to this post later).
And then he had enough energy left to take them to McDonalds playland for lunch.
I seriously underestimated him.
I think he should quit his day job and come be my nanny.
Friday, December 11, 2009
His own version of the Christmas story
One of Sam's favorite things to play with lately is our nativity. It's not really intended to be a set of action figures, but I hate to discourage his interest the Bible.
His account of the events surrounding the birth of Jesus, however, doesn't really seem to match up with that of Matthew or Luke.
For example, one night I overheard him saying, "And the wise man knocks Mary off a cliff, but here comes Joseph to the rescue!"
Another day I found him using the little drummer boys sticks and the horn of the ox as weapons. I informed him that he could only play with them if everybody was good guys - no bad guys and no fighting allowed. After an initial response of "But Mommy, the wise man's present just turned into a cannonball," he did come to see it my way. He lined everybody up and told me, " Mom - there's a really big crowd waiting to see Jesus."
Every figure was upright and didn't appear to be using any of their accessories (or body parts) to knock off the person lined up next to them.
I think I'll enjoy the peace for the moment and wait until next year to tell him about King Herod.
His account of the events surrounding the birth of Jesus, however, doesn't really seem to match up with that of Matthew or Luke.For example, one night I overheard him saying, "And the wise man knocks Mary off a cliff, but here comes Joseph to the rescue!"
Another day I found him using the little drummer boys sticks and the horn of the ox as weapons. I informed him that he could only play with them if everybody was good guys - no bad guys and no fighting allowed. After an initial response of "But Mommy, the wise man's present just turned into a cannonball," he did come to see it my way. He lined everybody up and told me, " Mom - there's a really big crowd waiting to see Jesus."
Every figure was upright and didn't appear to be using any of their accessories (or body parts) to knock off the person lined up next to them.
I think I'll enjoy the peace for the moment and wait until next year to tell him about King Herod.
Monday, December 7, 2009
O happy day!
This morning Sam came to a halt at the top of the steps and started screaming.
Thankfully, screaming for joy.
"There's enough snow to play in!"
Repeat that exclamation about 20 times, combine it with lots of jumping up and down, and throw in a little sister doing the same, and you have a good picture of 7:48 a.m. at our house today.
And no more than 3 minutes after having left their beds, this is what my two little kiddos were dressed in.
Think they'll like to shovel this much when they're teenagers?
I suspect he may have accidentally sent a little snow in his sister's direction.
Sadie was busy shoveling the grass (very useful) as Sam was clearing off the picnic table (also, very useful). Perhaps they thought I was going to be up for a game of soccer and breakfast outside?
Hi Mom - aren't you going to get your boots on too?
And so I did.
However, I neglected to take any pictures of myself with coat, hat, gloves, boots, and hot pink flannel pajamas on.
I need to buy myself some snowpants, so I can cover up those pjs like my kids did.
But - the news I am officially allowed to share today is that we will be spending most of January through April in the southern hemisphere.
Tasmania, to be exact.
(That's in Australia.)
So maybe I'll just wait to get those snowpants until next year.
'Cause it's summer down there!
Thankfully, screaming for joy.
"There's enough snow to play in!"
Repeat that exclamation about 20 times, combine it with lots of jumping up and down, and throw in a little sister doing the same, and you have a good picture of 7:48 a.m. at our house today.
And no more than 3 minutes after having left their beds, this is what my two little kiddos were dressed in.
Think they'll like to shovel this much when they're teenagers?
I suspect he may have accidentally sent a little snow in his sister's direction.
Sadie was busy shoveling the grass (very useful) as Sam was clearing off the picnic table (also, very useful). Perhaps they thought I was going to be up for a game of soccer and breakfast outside?
Hi Mom - aren't you going to get your boots on too?
And so I did.However, I neglected to take any pictures of myself with coat, hat, gloves, boots, and hot pink flannel pajamas on.
I need to buy myself some snowpants, so I can cover up those pjs like my kids did.
But - the news I am officially allowed to share today is that we will be spending most of January through April in the southern hemisphere.
Tasmania, to be exact.
(That's in Australia.)
So maybe I'll just wait to get those snowpants until next year.
'Cause it's summer down there!
Modeling (for Grandmommy)
This picture is for Joe's mom, who bought Sadie this outfit with a little "bling" after Sadie was enamored with some rhinestones on one of her outfits. (Not that you can really tell, but there is a nice rhinestone heart in the middle of the shirt that Sadie is quite taken with.)
Friday, December 4, 2009
O Christmas Tree
My little elves helped me decorate this year, which was alright until Sadie thought she should un-decorate as well. Here are some pictures before things went slightly awry.
Thankfully they were distracted with bubble wrap while I finished things up.
The three decorators in front of the finished product.
Thankfully they were distracted with bubble wrap while I finished things up.
The three decorators in front of the finished product.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Family Picture Fun?
So I thought it would be a great idea to have our friend Drew take a nice family picture to put on a Christmas card while we were in Atlanta....
My kids thought otherwise.
All I wanted was ONE little picture of the four of us all looking at the camera and smiling. I even would have settled for three of the four of us smiling and the other one just looking in the right direction.
Sam was very, very silly and had his tongue sticking out for at least 50% of the photos taken. And Sadie rarely looked at the camera.
Of course, when she did look at the camera, Sam was being goofy. And when Sam was actually smiling, she looked away again.
So maybe I'll send out a collage of 4 family photos, each one with a different person looking good and people can photo-shop it together in their minds.
So here we go - Sadie looking, Sam sticking out his tongue.
Sam smiling nicely, Sadie investigating the pine needles beneath her feet.
And then - they both are actually looking in the same direction - and I close my eyes!
We did get some nice pictures of various subsets of the family....so maybe I'll just make a collage of these.
Thank you to Drew for putting up with us!
My kids thought otherwise.
All I wanted was ONE little picture of the four of us all looking at the camera and smiling. I even would have settled for three of the four of us smiling and the other one just looking in the right direction.
Sam was very, very silly and had his tongue sticking out for at least 50% of the photos taken. And Sadie rarely looked at the camera.
Of course, when she did look at the camera, Sam was being goofy. And when Sam was actually smiling, she looked away again.
So maybe I'll send out a collage of 4 family photos, each one with a different person looking good and people can photo-shop it together in their minds.
So here we go - Sadie looking, Sam sticking out his tongue.
Sam smiling nicely, Sadie investigating the pine needles beneath her feet.
And then - they both are actually looking in the same direction - and I close my eyes!
We did get some nice pictures of various subsets of the family....so maybe I'll just make a collage of these.
Thank you to Drew for putting up with us!
Yummy!
The apples had been peeled for the pie, and Sadie thought she was going to slurp up the really, really, really long string of apple peel.
Nighty-night
Some pictures of the kids with Jay, Tracy, Mason, and Josh before bed on our last night in Atlanta. (Jared - where were you?)
I love teenagers (and pre-teens)!
We spent Thanksgiving with some friends of ours in Atlanta (as well as some more friends of theirs from Texas). Joe and I used to babysit both sets of their kids when we all lived in Pella, Iowa, many moons ago.
It was a nice treat to have the kids around (now ages 12-17) since they all had a great time entertaining our kids. We hardly saw Sam, as he seemed to be attached to Mason's hip most of the time, and Sadie and Anne Drew hit it off as well. The big boys (Josh, Jared, and Rhett) took good care of them too, letting them get some computer time, teaching Sam to play the drums, and taking care of them at meals.
It was a nice treat to have the kids around (now ages 12-17) since they all had a great time entertaining our kids. We hardly saw Sam, as he seemed to be attached to Mason's hip most of the time, and Sadie and Anne Drew hit it off as well. The big boys (Josh, Jared, and Rhett) took good care of them too, letting them get some computer time, teaching Sam to play the drums, and taking care of them at meals.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)