Happy Christmas

We pulled out most of the decorations before we left town for Thanksgiving, but we saved the trees for the day after we got home (last Monday). The boys love filling the Christmas boxes up with toys, shoes, gloves, whatever they find and then giving them to us and one another and shouting "Happy Christmas!" It's such a fun game. The big tree by the fireplace is real and smells wonderful. The smaller tree below by the piano is our artificial tree. We're loving the Christmas season!

Two Years

Dad: How old are you today?
Matthias: Three and half.

Matthias turns two today. At 6:07 pm Texas time. So 5:07 here. Due to our church Christmas party tonight we had cake and ice cream last night. Along with birthday dinner of cheesy chicken, acorn squash (my kids LOVE this), and sparkling strawberry juice.

Matthias was also able to sleep with his 2-year old quilt (although it still needs a crocodile hand stitched in the top right corner...maybe in January). He was so excited and probably actually warm since he's been using only a sheet. Perfect timing for our one degree weather.

This morning we had birthday breakfast of banana waffles and eggnog. Then opened gifts before Taylor left for work and we left for Music Makers. After that we took a trip to the doctor and I brought the boys along to hear Hannah's heart beat. They were quite well behaved and only pushed the elevator help button once...and the alarm once.

(James picked out this boat with car for Matthias. Matthias has been carrying it around all day)



(When James helped me wrap this gift he said, "Does it have two cars?" Fortunately it does.)


I am so grateful for my little boy and I love him so much. He has been such a joy for our family and so much fun. He has the best smiles and kisses. He is such a routine freak (wonder where that comes from) and is great at helping pick up and unload the dishwasher. He's always been a wonderful sleeper (up until 5 am at least) and a great eater. He idolizes James and will imitate everything he does and follow most of his orders. He is great about sharing and letting James have his way which is cute. But he can be tough and hold his own when he really wants to make a stand. He is an amazing talker and has been going non stop since about 15 months. My favorite is when he always tells me he is little and not big. And Matthias LOVES to climb. He has always had excellent gross motor skills (beginning with walking at 9 months) and frequently gets compliments on his abilities. He loves the tumbling class he is in currently and is an avid jumper.

We love our little Matthias and don't know what we would do without him.

8 or 1?

One thermometer says 1 (yes, that is just one) degree and another 8 degrees. I'm afraid to go outside, but I'm choosing not to believe either. It's got to be at least 10 right? Double digits makes me feel better. Just a little.

Tomorrow it's supposed to hit 26 degrees by 10 am. We may be able to go to my doctor appointment. If we wear five coats.

See you in March

The boys and I have left the house for the last time until probably about March (although I may have to go to the hospital in mid February...). The temperature has actually dropped to 16 degrees.

I don't like cold. I don't like snow. I don't like driving. The combination of these three is enough to send me into a nervous breakdown. We did, however, arrive at tumbling safely. To the very back edge of the parking lot where we had a five minute walk to the building. I'm not kidding. And home safely. Where we will now stay drinking hot chocolate, sitting in front of our non lit fire place, and smelling our Christmas tree. Curled up in a blanket reading books.

If you'd like to see us you know where to find us.

Snowing

And currently 17 degrees...which probably means it should be icing right??

Need I say more?

Nap Time Activities

Off to watch this while I finish Matthias' 2-year old quilt. His days at age one are numbered and I still have to hand stitch the binding along the back... (picture forthcoming)

Snowman Family

Colorado got a decent snow while we were away for Thanksgiving. Fortunately it was still here Monday morning so the boys and I made a snow family. Most of the snow is melted now and our snowpeople were gone by about noon yesterday. (Notice the baby has a binkie...Matthias was highly amused and obsessed with this.)

We also got to make snow angels and have a snow ball fight. All things Matthias has never done and James only did as a brand new one year old. Next big snow they both need to enjoy some sledding. Something neither have tried yet.



We had a ton of fun!