{12 Days}

 Our 12 Days of Christmas  

 

{Day 1} Begin our Advent Devotionals 

This year we read "A Jesus Advent Celebration" by Ann VosKamp, a wonderful family devotional that illustrates how all of Scripture leads up to the birth of Jesus.

Each day also includes an ornament for Claire to color and hang on her mini tree.

 

{Day 2} Buy a Christmas Tree

 

 

 

And the final touch - Claire's homemade star atop the tree.

 

{Day 3} Deck the Halls

While setting up the nativity scene, Claire accidently broke the head off the sheep.  I found her trying to fix it with a glue stick...

 

And amazingly, it worked.

 

{Day 4} Take a Walk to see some Neighborhood Lights

 

{Day 5} Go to the annual Shop Hop

 

{Day 6} Deliver Holiday Treats to our Neighbors

 

{Day 7} Enjoy Gingerbread Lane @ the Library

 

The kids with Miss Kris, our favorite friend at the library.

 

{Day 8} Celebrate Great Grandma's 92nd Birthday

 

Everyone working together to blow out the candles.

 

{Day 9} See the Toy Story Christmas Musical

Claire posing with Woody and Buzz.

 

Claire and cousin Avery would rather visit

 than take a picture with Ken and Barbie.

 

{Day 10} Drive Through the Nite Lites

A fun evening activity with Grandpa and Grandma Nash

 

{Day 11} Visit Live Reindeer

 

{Day 12} Take Christmas Pictures

Every year I like to take pictures of the kids to include in Christmas cards.  Seems like it should be easy enough.  Claire picked out a cute winter outfit, which is half the battle.  Now if I can just get them to sit still and smile...

 

Wrong way, Claire!

 

At least try and look happy, Claire!

 

Where'd she go?

 

Now what are they doing?

 

Ok...that's a wrap. 

We'll try again next year!

 

November in a Nutshell

Claire learned all about outer space in her preschool astronomy unit.

 

We visited with "Uncle Pauly".

We went to Wisconsin for Thanksgiving to visit...

Cousin Ruby...

and of course Uncle Shawn, Aunt Katie, and cousin Aaliyah

We played endless games of Hide 'n Seek.

Henry entertained us with his dancing.

Roomies

We're shuffling things around over here!  Claire has been asking for awhile that Henry share her upstairs bedroom with her.  After a few months of stalling, we finally thought we'd give it a chance.  The first night he just slept in the pack 'n play.  We didn't want to move his crib upstairs unless we knew it would be permanent. 

We tried to capture Claire's excitement about her new roommate, but not even these pictures do it justice.  She was absolutely thrilled!

 

 

Henry's been upstairs for a couple weeks now, and the adjustment has gone very well.  At times we like to turn on the baby monitor and listen to them talking and laughing.  It's like music to a mother's ears!

Fun at Gymboree

This past month we spent a lot of time at Gymboree.  We wanted to take advantage of the great deal we got on a one month membership.  Henry's physical therapist had strongly recommended Gymboree, and after going there five days a week for the past month, I can see vast improvement in his gross motor skills.  He is running faster, climbing higher, and all around more adventurous.  She assures me this is a good thing, though there are now times I just want him to slow down!

 

Going for the layup

No fear here!

Claire loved the parachute.

Pretending to sleep.

Claire also liked the arts and crafts time.

So proud!

Halloween 2012

 

 

I enjoy Halloween, and not just because our kids are too young to realize that we snoop most of their candy after they go to bed. It's the one day when a child's rich imagination can truly come to life as he or she transforms into anything their heart desires. For several months, Claire has had her heart set on being a purple butterfly for Halloween. And Henry, though he's too young to understand, was all set to be an itsy bitsy spider.

The only problem with Halloween, as it is with holidays in general, is that I have a beautiful vision in my head of how I think it ought to go. But that vision is more fantasy than reality. After months of telling me that she wanted to be a purple butterfly, Claire decided within 10 minutes of wearing her wings that she didn't like them. And while she did end up wearing them, I spent much of my time gluing and regluing the spots that kept falling off. And then there's Henry. I thought he'd love his costume, but no, he did not. After a while, he too came to accept it, but spent a good amount of time trying to figure out how to get it off.

As I get older, these are the things I hope to remember and laugh about. There's just no perfect plan when you have kids. They will always add their delightful detours. Anyways, here's some quick pics of the kids "enjoying" their costumes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our Revolving Door

As summer has surely slipped away and fall is slowing fading into winter, I look back on all the fun we have had with friends over the past few months.  There are days it seems our revolving door just keeps spinning, but we enjoy it. Here's a glimpse at some of our favorite guests: 

 

Cousins Sylvia, Gracie and Andrew,

along with their cousins Julia and Lydia

fighting an uphill battle

 

Doing yoga!

Lunch Time 

 

Henry and new friend, Wes Koopmans, in matching outfits.

It's amazing to think their daddies became friends

when they weren't too much older than they are.

Second cousins Austin and Gavin

The two glamour girls - Claire and Avery

And of course the cool kids - Henry and Nolan

 

Ruby comes to our house two afternoons a week, and we just adore her.

Here Claire and Ruby show off their mismatched shoes.

Henry gets SO excited to see Ruby walk through the door. 

Road Trip to Russ`

3 kids meals, please! 

Claire holding Wes, who seems so much older than the last time he came to "play".  

Our little mama.