12/5/2011 - It's not just any supper, it's Snowman Supper.
Snowman sandwiches, grapes and carrots dipped in ranch flavored snow and not to mention we're drinking melted snowmen too. We all know that melted snowmen = gourmet white hot chocolate!
Countdown to Christmas
12/5/11-Each year, it is our tradition to celebrate Christ with our Advent calendar and a number of deeds, activities and tasks during the month of December. The boys really look forward to rotating turns between placing the stickers on the wall calendar and digging in the pockets of the advent tree.
Tonight's surprise was a snicker a piece! They love to hang out underneath the tree and read books, snack, chat and chill.
I use these times to talk about traditions and where they come from. I want to teach them the commercial and religious aspects of holidays and the things around them, so they are always informed. This week we've put up the tree, decorated the house and gathered outgrown clothing to donate.
Welcome December
12/3/2011 - It is now the last month of the year! The signs are loud and clear.
Snow falling...
Shoveling the driveway...
...and the ADVENTures of CHRISTMas begin!
Our College Girl!
11/27/2011 - Today we bid farewell to Auntie as she begins the collegiate path to becoming an Orthodontist! I'm elated! The usual path in becoming an orthodontist is a four-year undergraduate degree, four years of dental school and two to three years in an orthodontics program. So I'll be getting my free pair of invisaligns from Dr. A, in say... 2022? :-)
We wanted to surprise Auntie with a celebration lunch and surround her with lots of positivity, love and encouragement before she left. Nicholas colored posters for her! I ordered food. We got cupcakes and a couple friends joined in.
We sang "Happy College to YOU!", but the boys ears started to bleed...
We just wanted to wish our college girl well, and let her make some wishes of her own too!
We got our squeezes in before she left. Nicholas held on the tightest. But I had the hardest time letting go.
...and so there she goes. Off to school, in her fancy new "all HER own" vehicle, packed to the brim, full of Independence and future success. Our College Girl!
The N's take on the V's...
11/25/11- Dog-sitting: Their first job! Our neighbor has two pups Vulcan and Vesta. Nick and Nathan are in charge of feeding, petting, playing and potty breaks.
Nathan was very chatty and engaged. He did most of the work, while Nicholas was cool at a fair distance. But, all is well when your wages are paid in fruit snacks!
BIG Turkey by: little turkeys [Thanksgiving 2011]
11/23/11 - Tonight the boys and I are making a Thanksgiving craft. We're just using a cardboard sheet and some cardstock we had laying around the house to make a Turkey.
We've been talking and praying about things we're thankful for, and also how we show/feel appreciation. Nick's job was coloring the turkey's body and Nathan's job was to trace, cut and color our handprints.
I helped with writing out on each finger, things we all are thankful for and everyone got to stick the feathers on the bird. It's always interesting to see what the boys come up with. I was especially touched to see that "family" was embedded in their thoughts, and then the simplest of things like cars and cartoons made the cut as well. We each also wrote down our favorite thanksgiving foods! Turned out to be a super cute and sturdy piece of table decor we'll have and use for years to come.
Thanksgiving morning, the little turkeys were joined by their father bird for breakfast. I tried to make eggs, oatmeal, pancakes and bananas into birds. We'll say an "A "for effort! LOL
I let the kids drink out of "fancy" glasses and they were tickled.
After that, I shipped them out to Dad's for the day with extra servings of pie and ice cream! Check out today's food indulgence :-) Roasted butter and herb turkey breast, jasmine rice and gravy, mixed greens, sweet potato cornbread stuffing, mac&cheese and pumpkin pie with vanilla bean ice cream.
Auntie Drea and I went to the movies and ate wayyy to much pie. It was a HAPPY Thanksgiving, after all! Breaking Dawn was good!
The Play Room
THIS particular space within our walls is very special. Creating this room was definitely a form of vicarious living. I always dreamed of having a play room full of "just for me" things as a child. I can really see the value and purpose come to life here for the boys. It's a space that provides ownership, relaxation, creativity, comfort and is even essential in our day to day doings. The kids can be themselves, make a mess, play, paint, imagine, sleep, draw, lounge, snack, etc. etc. A LOT of memories are made in this space. A LOT of imagination. It's the perfect platform to capture the true essence of childhood.
Funny Faces
11/11/11: Funny faces in disguise, hand drawn and given!
These two are a riot! Nathan came home with a disguise mustache and glasses in a birthday treat bag.
Too funny.
...and while he was making faces in the mirror at himself, Nick was busy with a pen and paper drawing a face.
He did a great job. I made a big deal and told him he was a SUPER ARTIST. Then he picked up his pen and made this face and pose.
I just about fell out laughing! Too funny!
One Word: VEGAS
11/3/11: Nicky and I celebrated our birthdays in Vegas this year. I have the BEST BBF (Battle Buddies Forever) on the planet! There's too much to even discuss. In summary, we had a blast AND made a huge jump in our lives. Literally.
What a high flying adventure. I had to pause on the ground and celebrate life right then and there. I'm so glad I did this. Fearful, frightful, yet Empowering and invigorating. [Change is to come]
Halloween 2011
Twas the night before Halloween and once again Mummy is on duty prepping my little pumpkins for a festive day. Here they are filling the cauldron with treats!
...and I admit I veered to the darkside this year and bought snickers, m&ms, etc. etc. I really wanted to get organic such and such, but eh! It's a chocolate having kinda year!
The boys didn't even ask for anything which was shocking. I think they were too excited about wearing their costumes to school, field-trips and trick or treating. Speaking of, the next morning was a work out. Lunch prep, permission slips, turkey meat, costumes, backpacks and two dressed kids.
All in addition to brushing teeth, and getting everyone up and at it. It was a 20 step program getting ready for and to our destinations. Nathan arrived to school in full costume. ( "we"didn't get the memo to bring the costume separately... okay, sure we did. LOL)
After school, the kids were eager to come home and get going. They already had huge bags of treats from school. Of all things, they wanted carrots and dip as their after school snack. Gotta love that! Especially on a sugar high holiday.
After getting into costumes, they passed out candy at the door. I supervised and they did a great job on their own.
Dad stopped by and took them house to house for a bit.
...candy is good motivation to get all that dinner eaten up quick, fast and in a hurry. I'll take a mental note of that next Halloween and make sure I serve all vegetables that night. Bwahaha.
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