From Christmases Long Ago...

 A: Mom, how do you turn this thing on?

Me: it's a snow globe. 

A: so does it have a switch?

Me: shake it. *face palm*

Christmas Programs 2016

 

Lewis' class had a lovely party complete with two songs, a slideshow of photos of the preschoolers preparing for Christmas together, a homemade gift for moms & dads, and - of course - a cookie at 1045am.  

Augustine's school had a Christmas Singalong and it was actually a lot of fun! When else do we all just sit down and sing some songs together?! Each class leads a song. KA lead Jingle Bells. Lewis sat very still and quiet and LOVED every minute of it. Elias clapped for a lot of the songs.  

Keeping Busy

 

Logan worked all weekend last weekend and it was terrible weather too. We didn't leave the house for a looooong time. Pumpkin chocolate chip pancakes and bacon for a lazy Saturday morning breakfast. We had some plans on Saturday that were all cancelled so by mid afternoon we were all going a little stir crazy.  

The big boys played really well all day while Elias was super fussy.  

When Elias finally took a decent nap that wasn't on my lap, I played Duplos with the big boys. We had a town Christmas tree lighting,

a town football game, 

and a town Christmas dinner.   

Lewis worked on his color grading, which he loves.  

Elias worked on chewing on anything wooden, including my dining room table so I used that as a solid excuse to finally buy a Christmas table cloth. He can't make teeth marks on the table now.  

When Logan finally got home we went on a mall walk to get the heck out of the house. We also stayed a night at the G&G B&B, which was very fun as always!

Baby Sam

 

Lewis got this baby last year as we prepared for Elias to join our family. Baby Sam was well loved by Lewis, but once the real baby arrived Sam was forgotten.  

Elias has recently discovered baby Sam and loves to play with him.  

The magnetic binki, pointing to all the parts of the face, pulling the hair on his head...it's all so fun!

Blankie/Binki

 

He loves his blankie. He loved being swaddled in them when he was new, he loves nursing with it close by, he loves sleeping with it now that he's too big to be swaddled (thanks for the smaller lovey size Grandma Susan!), he loves finding them randomly throughout the house and has to stop and burry his face in them, he loves to hold onto them when he rides in the car, he loves to smell them when he is sad, he loves to have them in his lap when he eats at the table, and he even  bites them when he's feeling wild. We just never go anywhere without the blankie.  

It's a magic combo...the binki/blankie. 

What Augustine Has Been Up To

 

READING. The other night he sat down next to me and started reading the first page of this book. What?!

It was really fun listening to my biggest boy read for the first time, and he couldn't have been more pleased with himself. At the end of the book we both agreed we wanted to do that again, so he read it all the way through again.   

So happy! So grown up!

What Lewis Has Been Up To

 Getting in a fight with his 13 year old cousin. Telling said cousin "You so mean! I not evuh play wis you adin!" I reminded the cousin that ever again to a four year old is a solid 3 minutes. They ate lunch side by side shortly after. (And Lewis' feet...❤️) 

He was very excited to put the heart sprinkles on our Grinch cookies. 

Me: these cookies aren't as good as they were yesterday. 

Lewis: these are way too yummy. I need another one. 

 

Me: so, here are all the planets. [I name them all.]

Lewis: Yis one is...

Me: Mars. 

Lewis: it have donuts?

Me: no. You mean Lamars? 

Lewis: yeah!

What Elias Has Been Up To

 

Sleeping. In. The. Crib. My first baby to take real naps in this thing on the cute sheet my mom made. Matching pillow and duvet to follow when he's old enough.  

Playing in my old playpen. It comes in handy downstairs.  

Crawling all the way to the bathroom door because he loves taking a bath. 

He climbed up on top of the box! I didn't know he could do that.   

Reading with his brother.  

Looking oh-so-cute in his new towel.  

Having fun with our babysitter while I ran to get Logan at work. 

Thanksgiving #3

 We enjoyed dinner and playing with Grandpa Burda, and we are thankful for him!

Thanksgiving #2

 

Augustine had a lot of fun helpingGrandma Susan prep for Thanksgiving! They made all sorts of things...cookies and cranberry sauce to name a few.   

Both boys helped me make homemade biscuits with my great grandmother's biscuit cutter.  

One day I found out that Lewis had been hoarding toilet paper tubes in the bathroom stool. There were over 20 rolls in there. I would've never guessed that many would fit in that stool! I decided we should make something out of them so we made name plates for Thanksgiving dinner. 

We enjoyed lots of time to play...   

and dinner was delicious! (The little kids are on the other side of the adult table at a smaller table.)

 We kept up the tradition of finding my parents tree the next day. It was so warm outside! 

Then we listened to Christmas music and decorated the tree.   

We are thankful for our Grandma & Grandpa, aunts & uncle, and cousins!

Thanksgiving #1

 

Grandma Kathleen hosted a lovely thanksgiving feast! We enjoyed dinner, work around the house, playing, the Macy's Thanksgving Day Parade, and each other. Augustine really enjoyed the parade. We couldn't believe he watched the whole thing!   

We are thankful for such a loving Grandma!

Fournado

 

It's better than the Threenager. Fournado is less destructive, but it's much much louder. It's less fits, but more questioning. It's less lacking in logic, but still makes very little sense. It's less surprising, but still very interesting. 

And the intense ideas come at rapid speed. Before I can figure out what he's talking about he's half way through living out his plan.  

He has elaborate play with long linking ideas. Many don't make sense to me, and when I ask he often says, "Dat just how I doing it." Ok. Sounds good. Whatever melts your butter, kid.  

The simple joys still matter to him, and I'm grateful.  

And when I can't help him with everything he's ok with that. He can handle making his own fun.