Christmas 2012

I decided to make one big Christmas post.  I declare ahead of time I didn't do a terrific job taking pictures.  I didn't drag my camera to every family gathering, so I only have pics from our xmas.

David and Sara came in town the Thursday before xmas.  We had a wonderful few days with them.  No ice skating this time and there wasn't enough snow for sledding, but Uncle David introduced the kids to the world of Wrestle Mania.  This is wear David likes to try out his high school wrestling moves on anyone who will tangle with him.  I think Sara was relieved that it wasn't her for once!!  The kids loved it and it was a nice change from Hide & Go Seek!

We had the Briggs Christmas on Dec. 22.  This year all of the cousins had a pie contest (baking not eating!).  There were 7 pies (4 of which were apple) and the uncles and grandpa were the judges.  Side-note: Grandpa does not like apple pie!  I was very impressed with all of the pies.  Everyone did an excellent job!  Sara took 2nd with her lemon pie and my (Ann Woods) crunchy caramel apple pie took the gold.  It was a fun competition and I think we all hope to do something similar next year - perhaps a different category!

 Santa made a special visit during the afternoon and brought the kids a special gift.  (Thanks cousin Ansley for posting this pic of FB!) Grant calls the big guy "Anta!" (no "s" sounds at the beginning of words)

We all used to Sunday to wrap up our last minute shopping.  And yes we had last minute shopping, but as Brandon promised we got it all done!

We started Christmas Eve with breakfast at my parent's.  We spent all day opening presents, eating, playing and some napping!  Later that night we went out to look at xmas lights and show David and Sara the "musical house" (our neighborhood house that has their lights set to music - very entertaining and apparently David has been inspired).  It was a cold night and there was light (very light) snow falling.  It was really a perfect day.  Grant's favorite gift was a balance bike.  He rode it around the house all day!  Elizabeth got a Lite Bright.  We were all amazed at how much smaller they are today with the LED light instead of a big box with a light bulb!!  We did the best we could to wear the kids out before we headed home...but not so much that they fell asleep because daddy still needed to read "Twas the Night Before Christmas" and put out milk and cookies.

Daddy reading "Twas the Night Before Christmas"

Great Grandma Briggs made the kids robes for xmas...Grant is sporting his Illini one here!

The kids were asleep by 10:00 pm.  Mommy and Daddy got to bed a little after midnight.  I thought if they sleep until 6:30 we would be lucky.  Elizabeth came into our bed at 7:45 and we had to wait another 45 minutes for Grant to wake up!  YAY!  Santa brought a pink unicorn for Elizabeth and Grant got a remote controlled dog riding a skate board.  I was a little nervous about Elizabeth's gift.  We weren't sure if Santa was going to get this pink pony thing right.  We decided it would be a good test of her manners.  Honestly, I could see it going either way  "This is what I wanted!" or "It's perfect!"  We were so proud, she took one look at it and said "This is just what I wanted and it's a unicorn!"  Grant being a boy of few words tells everyone he got a dog for xmas and everyone looks at us like we are crazy...don't you already have a dog?!  Yes, our beloved Jack was not forgotten.  Ima got him new bones and the kids picked out special treats from My Dog's Bakery.

The pink pony and "Buddy" the dog.

Getting ready to open stockings

Although the facial expressions don't capture it, they have really enjoyed the marble racer!

This was Brandon's black Friday bargain.  $2 for a huge box of blocks...we believe Menards failed to open the box and sell the 18 bags of blocks inside for $2 each!  

Jack's special  treat!

Brandon & I remembered having on of these tracks when we were kids.  We kind of  forget how gently you have to pull the trigger to keep the cars on the track!  Maybe in a few years we will get it out again!

So looking at these pictures the kids, especially Grant look miserable!  We were not!  The kids had a great morning!  My p's took the kids to the mall to do Secret Santa shopping.  This year Grant even got to participate.  Elizabeth shopped for Grant, Daddy and Me.  Grant shopped for Ima, Pops and Elizabeth.  Elizabeth got me a ceramic bear that says "I Love You Beary Much" and a pair of earrings. She got Daddy a Cardinals cup ("because I know you like them daddy!") and a flashlight/screwdriver key chain that says "Dad."  Elizabeth got Grant a ball and a truck.  Ima and Pops are the proud recipients of new mugs that say "Grandma" and "Grandpa" and he got Elizabeth a bubble racer/water thing that she loves!  It is kind of a tacky tradition, but it is fun to see what the kids pick out on their own and they get a huge kick out of it and the money goes to a good cause, so it's a win win!

Elizabeth's gift from Grant

My new earrings!

This picture just captures it all...Grant is not having a photogenic morning.  He held most of his presents right in front of his face and there is Elizabeth in the background jumping in and smiling for the picture!!

Instead of putting candy in the advent house this year I made felt ornaments for a felt tree.  Each day when they opened a door they got a new ornament to put on their tree.  On Christmas morning they got a star for the top of their trees.  I don't know that I will do it the same way next year, because we had trouble with the ornaments sticking, but it was a nice change for this year.  (and I didn't even steal this idea off of pinterest...a true Alison original!)

We went to Brandon's Aunt Ruthie's house for the Schoch family Christmas that afternoon.  Crazy good fun!  I don't know exactly how many GREAT grandkids there are, but let's just put it this way, there are so many that when they were all getting their picture taken with Grandma and Grandpa no one (NO ONE) even noticed that our precious Grant was not there!  I was in the bathroom with him and I can hear everyone yelling "look at the camera, smile, come one just one more!"  I am trying my best to hurry him along, but he wants to thoroughly wash and dry his hands! I walk in carrying him, just as someone says, "ok we have tortured them enough" and I plunk Grant on Elizabeth's lap...maybe just a few more pictures!  Elizabeth and Grant were finally reunited with Stella & Briggs.  It was the biggest sweetest hug you can imagine!  I swear they wouldn't like each other so much if they lived next door!! We were trying to FaceTime with Stella last week for her birthday and we couldn't get through so we FaceTimed with Uncle David and we were telling him what a big deal Stella is in our house.  I asked EB who is a big deal this time of year and she replied "Jesus" (melt my heart!).

The day after Christmas was Mimi & Pop's.  We opened presents, we ate, the kids napped, we opened more presents, we ate some more!  Aunt Sandy and family joined us for the later part of the evening and the main event...THE PICKLE.  The pep talks we give our kids are priceless.  We told Elizabeth and Grant to work together as a team and surely one of them would find the pickle and beat Stella, she's not very competitive ;)  Elizabeth ran right in and found it!  We were so proud :)  When it was our turn however, it took a lot longer.  Remember I was the reigning champion, but poor Brian had never found it and I felt bad for him so I casually say, "it's probably hiding on a tree limb, not by an ornament" and two seconds later he spotted it!  Doesn't it feel good to finally win Brian!  The big hit of the Pauli Christmas were Nerf guns.  I sustained a direct hit to the left eyeball (thank you dear husband) and have lived to tell about it...only a little crying.  We also got an air hockey table that we haven't brought home yet, but once it is set up I think the kids will have a lot of fun with it.  I don't think they really understood when they saw the box.  Another fun day!

We wrapped up the Christmas season with the Pauli family Xmas.  Grant napped for five minutes in the car on the way to Aunt Becky's.  You can imagine his attitude all day!  We had a wonderful day...both the Bears and the Vikings won, really what more can you ask for?! The kids played well together.  Grandma did a great job shopping for all of us and the gift exchange is always fun.

It was a wonderful Christmas season and now our house is full of new things that we must find homes for - a good problem to have :)  Elizabeth and Grant are at a very fun age to enjoy the Christmas season with.  They love looking at all of the lights and take great pride in pointing out Baby Jesus if they see him in a nativity scene.  We are hoping for a little snow today so they can wear their new snow bibs and boots.  As I look out the window now it is just starting to flurry.  I am 32 and I still get excited about a little snow!  We need to go get ready.  We are headed to Julie K's Noon Year Eve's party!

Letters to Santa

The week that our town had the candle light stroll on the square was a very busy week for us and Brandon actually had a work dinner that night.  As I was cuddled up with the kids in my bed watching a Christmas movie I remembered that that was the night of the horse drawn carriage rides!  It was also when we mailed our letters to Santa last year.  So the other night I had the kids write letters to Santa, or rather dictate and I wrote.  Let me tell you, it is not easy to make a sentence from my 2.5 year old's one word phrases, but we gave it our best!  Here were the results...

Sunday School Christmas Program

Today was the Sunday School Christmas Program.  Elizabeth's group of kids sang four songs: This Little Light of Mine, Jesus Loves Me, Away in a Manager, Twinkle Twinkle.  All of the songs had second "christmasy" verses.  The kids did a great job! 

Elizabeth is standing to the right of the boy in the blue striped sweater

Love those smiles!

Breakfast with Santa

Last weekend was Breakfast with Santa at Mimi's school.  We arrived a few minutes early and Elizabeth really wanted  to wait to see Santa come in on his sleigh, but we needed to bur our tickets so we went ahead and went in :)  Santa stopped and talked to her before taking his seat.  

 I think Grant was really glad to have a big sister to go with to sit on Santa's lap.

Elizabeth asked Santa for a pink pony, a stable pony, with a purple saddle that a Barbie could ride.  Good luck Santa!!  Grant didn't say a word, but Elizabeth tells us that he wants a dog.  Since we already have a dog, I think we have him talked down to a pretend dog to play with.  Then again, sometimes you ask him and he says "hot dog." So perhaps we don't really know what Grant wants, but hope Santa gets him something he likes!

When I grow up...

Elizabeth: When I grow up I want to be a cook
Me: What will you cook?
Elizabeth: Pizza, cheese soup, salad, bread, bologna
Me: Where do you know about bologna from?
Elizabeth: (shoulder shrug) And dogs are going to be allowed to come .  And I'm going to bake a cake, with cherries and pineapple on it...upside...upside down cake


Earlier conversation...as I am trying to load the kids into the car. "Hurry up I just saw a mouse!"
Elizabeth: A mouse? Don't worry mommy.  Don't be scared.  When they see you they will just run away.  They are afraid of big people.  They only like little people.
Me: Little people, like you?
Grant: Gus! Gus!
Elizabeth: What is he saying?
Me: Gus, the mouse from Cinderella!

Pre-School Christmas Program

I think the best words to describe Elizabeth's program are: short & sweet! Her class did two numbers.  The first one was "Here is the chimney, here is the top, open the lid and out Santa will pop!" with motions.  The second song was Twinkle Twinkle Special Star - not sure of the lyrics but it lasted slightly longer than the first!

Elizabeth seemed fairly comfortable up there in front of a lot of people.  She held her hands close to her face.  The milk and cookies part after was a big hit!  Brandon actually had a business dinner way on the other side of town the same night.  They both started at the same time and he knew he would be late, but he of course came to the program first.  When he got home, I asked if he missed dinner.  "Are you kidding? That program was so quick, I didn't even miss appetizers!"

Pioneer Woman & Shopping

Elizabeth loves the Pioneer Woman.  Grant loves Charlie, the basset hound, or "Charlie Dog" as he is referred to as in our house.  New episodes come on Saturday mornings and it not uncommon for the entire family to cuddle up on the couch to watch.  This morning Elizabeth slipped into bed with me at about 6:30.  "Mommy can we watch Pioneer Woman? I love that show.  I also love vanilla.  It smells sooooo good!"  Soon Grant woke up and joined us.   We had milk and juice in bed and watched a double feature.  What a perfect morning.

Last year the kids loved to play a game called "Tree Farm."  I told Elizabeth the story of when my brother and I were little and my mom took us to a tree farm and they had a little gift shop and we each got to pick an ornament.  I chose an angel.  I am actually surprised it is still in one piece!  Last year we had a few broken ornaments due to the "Tree Farm" game, when we pretend shop for ornaments off of our tree.  This year we put our "Barbie Tree" upstairs in the hallway.  I had a dozen or so odd ball ornaments that we also hung with the Barbie keepsakes.  Today Elizabeth asked to play Tree Farm and we used the upstairs tree.  (I think the Barbie ornaments are pretty durable!)  Our conversation went like this:

Me: Oh is anyone working here today I was hoping to purchase an ornament for my daughter?
E: Hello! What can I help you with?
Me: I am looking for a shiny, sparkly ornament for my daughter.  Do you have anything like that?
E: Oh yes! We have this one, or this one, or this one
Me: Perfect, I will take this one
(She has a colored pencil and notepad in hand)
E: I will just use my pencil to take the ornament off the tree for you
(She struggles to remove the ornament using only her pencil)
E: Can you help me?
Me: Sure
E: That will be $1
(she jots something in her notepad)
Me: Here you go
E: Thank you here is your change
Me: Do you happen to have a box?
E: Sorry, I don't
Me: That's OK
E: Thank you for shopping.  Have a great day.  I hope your daughter likes it.  Come back soon!

I am just grinning ear to ear over this entire exchange.  Then I think to myself...wow we must shop a lot, because she kind of nailed this shopping scenario!

Thanksgiving and more...

Since my brother was in town the week before thanksgiving we celebrated with him and my grandparents on Sunday.  I love thanksgiving food and I loved my mom's new stuffing recipe!  We had thanksgiving dinner with Brandon's family at his grandparent's house on Thanksgiving day.  Another wonderful meal!

Elizabeth has been begging for me to put her in swim lessons again and I keep delaying it.  She already has dance class on a school day and swim lessons will have to be on a school day and she has a hard time making it through these days happy.  I think I have her convinced that we will start at the beginning of the year.

She has her pre-school Xmas program next week and the Sunday School program is in two weeks.  So stay tuned for those updates!

Grant's speech is still progressing.  He is using a lot of words.  Last week I could understand almost everything he said.  This week I am struggling to understand a lot of what he is saying and I am hoping that is because he is using so many new words!  We are very pleased that he is talking now and using more words, I just wish that they were more accurate and understandable, but the therapist reminds me to be happy with where we are.  We still continue to focus on his connective speech (putting words together).

I did get brave this week and let Grant wear big boy underwear to Wal-Mart.  We were ready to check out and I forgot something and I was standing in the card aisle he says, "pee" - as in he already did.  I do have to say that I am loving the boys track pants that have a sweat pant type inner lining - it absorbed the pee, but didn't soak through to the outside.  He will still try to hide in another room to do his #2 business but if we recognize that he has sneaked off and take him to the bathroom he usually poops for us.  If we can just get him to recognize the "i have to pee" sensation in place of "i just peed!" we will be all set!  All in time ;)

We also went to the Festival of Lights Parade.  The kids loved it.  I wish I would have taken a picture of Grant waving to Santa.  The look on his face was priceless...like oh that is Santa! His eyes were fixated on him!

Brandon also took an extra day off work and told him that it would make the kids day to take them to McDonalds for breakfast.  Elizabeth was kind enough to help Grant to the top of the play structure.  Guess who didn't want her to help him down? Guess who had to go and get him? Guess who took lots of pictures...laughing all the way?!

Ice Skating

I thought it would be great fun for Uncle David and Elizabeth to have some special bonding time and go ice skating.  Luckily, my brother thought it might be a good idea if I went along too.  Thank goodness I did!  Wow! For whatever reason I thought this would be fairly easy for her...not so much.  David spent most of the time hunched over with her in between his legs.  Her legs were like wet noodles, she just couldn't get her footing.  At one point she was able to just stand and glide when we were both holding her hand.  As we were taking the skates off my brother says, "How long we were here for?"  The answer: 45 minutes and that included getting checked in, and getting the skates on and off!  Ok, so maybe 4 years old is early to ice skate, but we tried!  We will give it a few more years!

EB relaxing and letting Uncle David do the back breaking work!

Caterpillar Visitors Center

Uncle David (my brother) was in town for Thanksgiving and we went together to check out the new Caterpillar Visitor Center.  Grant didn't make it through the movie, which is held in the bed of a 797, but he had plenty of fun climbing on all of the equipment!

Pops checking out the Cat race car

The kids always looked for the seat belts first!

Sitting in the tire of the 797 - the tires are 13' tall

Grant's Music Class

I decided this summer when Elizabeth started preschool in the fall that Grant and mommy needed an activity to do together.  I had taken Elizabeth to Music Together classes when she was little and she always seemed to enjoy them.  I guess that was my first mistake...assuming that because one liked it, surely the other one would!  It is a ten week class, 45 minutes long, once a week.  The first class went great.  He sat on my lap and hardly moved, a real angel.  Second class he was much more comfortable and began moving around a bit, but I was still able to manage it.  There is a no running policy during class.  Third class...he knocked a kid over (by accident, but he was running) as I go to collect Grant, I in turn, knock a kid over.  The Paulis took out two kids in 30 seconds, my cheeks were on fire.  I dreaded class 4 and 5.  He was sick for #6.  Number 7 I bribed him with food and the promise to look at the river for boats after class.  This class went pretty well.  Class 8, he was wonderful.  It became time to sign up for the next session....tempted, yes, I think he was maybe starting to enjoy it....but looking back at the beginning classes...no not signing up for the next session.  Class 9....he was wonderful...clapping rhythms, attempting to sing.  Class 10...so good!  We were sorry to say good-bye, but we will be looking for a different activity that is a bit more physical.

Horrible double chin shot, but you can see he is using the rhythm sticks

Grant and the egg shakers

Mary Poppins

We had a girls afternoon with Mimi at the matinee of Mary Poppins.  It was a fantastic show, although pretty different from the movie.  Elizabeth immediately heard the orchestra but didn't understand where it was coming from.  Mimi said she would take her up front to see the pit.  Elizabeth refused, thinking she was going to take her onto the stage!  We finally convinced her it was OK.  She had lots of questions during the performance.  I finally handed her a snack to keep her mouth busy.  She promptly took one bite and handed it back to me saying that she was not hungry.  The line of questioning continued!  At intermission I told her now was the time to ask any questions because it was important to stay quiet during the performance.  I also told her if her question was "what happens next?" to not ask, because I didn't know!  All in all she did really well.  There was a six and a half foot tall gentlemen in front of us, so there was a little seat hopping going on so that she could see better.  Fun day!

Halloween 2012

The first Halloween event this year was earlier in October at the zoo, Howl-zoo-ween.  It was a cold, rainy night, but it was a member only night so we wanted to go to avoid all of the lines.   We waltzed through in about 45 minutes...it was perfect!

Elizabeth had a Halloween party at school.  She wanted to go as Minnie Mouse, which was last year's costume, but since it still fit, I figured why not!

She also got to dress up for dance class.

I decided to carve a pumpkin with the kids.  Wow, that is hard work.  I will spare you the picture of the finished product (a typical jack-o-lattern face).  The kids just had fun cleaning the guts out.

Of course Halloween was on the chilly side.  We took our little cowboy and cowgirl trick or treating with the neighbors.  Grant was so much fun to watch.  He was running from door to door.  It is hard to believe that it was just a year ago that he was just taking his first steps.  The kids lasted about an hour and they were done.
(pics from the camera to come soon!)

This & That

Oh and he's still cute even when he is so mad.  Tonight he got upset that Elizabeth wanted to eat the rest of his crescent roll, which he had just said he was done with.  She took one bite and changed his mind!  Brandon said to Elizabeth, "maybe you take a bite of his meatballs too!"  They never want something until they think someone else wants it!

Grant mad

 Elizabeth's meltdown this evening was over Dot Art.  Mimi got her this great "dot" paint for her birthday (seriously, both kids love it!).  Apparently when she wasn't looking Grant added dots to her artwork and "ruined it!" (image that said through lots of tears and the dramatic voice of a four year old)

On the way home from dance tonight I dropped some clothes off at the cleaners and they say "that will be ready after 5 tomorrow." Elizabeth says, "They always say that mommy!"  Then as we are driving home she says, "Mommy they did a really good job with this new sidewalk.  I am so glad they got it done before all of this rain."  What?? Are you still 4 years old?!

Grant has been slowing adding lots of new words to his vocabulary.  Elizabeth's name being one of them.  Grant's favorite color to say is PURPLE and he says it perfectly!  I also haven't changed a dirty diaper in over a week.  Grant consistently poops on the potty.  We are still trying to perfect the peeing.  Considering he isn't even two and half yet, I will take whatever we can get!

Elizabeth has decided that diapering Grant is a lot of fun.  Tonight she managed to do it all on her own. Upon completing the job she exclaimed "Mommy look what a good job I did!  Turn around Grant and show them! Oh, well his bottom is kind of hanging out.  I can fix it!"  Is there any irony that now that he almost out of diapers she takes an interest?

My mom and I took the kids to Howl-zoo-ween at the zoo last week.  It was a wonderful cold, crisp, rainy fall night!  The cowboy and cowgirl had a good time anyway and made out like bandits!  We even tricked their horses out with battery operated xmas lights.  

 Elizabeth's bud-bud Lauren had her birthday this week.  Friday we celebrated with her and I took some pictures of the kids together.  Their attention span was limited and getting three cooperative children is no easy task.

 Lauren took her training wheels off her bike so of course Elizabeth wanted to give it a try too!  I tired my dad's trick of having her wear a big t-shirt for me to hold on while she attempted to keep balance.  I am not sure she will master the bike without training wheels before the snow flies, but she gave it a good try and has a few good bruises to show for it.

Pre-school picture