Merry Christmas

Crap-tacular!

Linde says I loose all sense of taste and reason when it comes to Christmas decorations.  It may or may not be true....

I think Avery may join me, see how he hung all his ornaments on one branch?

When Avery first started school he would tell us all about his "crap" he made at school.  Luckily he was waving his craft in front of my face while telling me this, so I wasn't too worried...I must say I am a little sad that now he says it right and tells me about his crafts each day after school. 
The other night I continued with my fabulous taste, or lack thereof, and we made a Christmas crap craft.  I am not crafty, sorry.  I love decorations of all kinds, but it is best if they are not made by me.  But, Avery loves to do projects so he helped me draw and decorate some ornaments for his and Hank's tree. 

Aren't you jealous.  Who says I am not crafty???

December is Delightful

We are having so much fun this month I can barely keep up!

On the Tuesday after Thanksgiving (which was technically November...) we went to North Park to see Santa.  I am telling you he is an AMAZING Santa.  We love that he really talks to the boys.  Sarah got a great picture of this I will share soon.  Santa even helped us figure out that the reason Avery was so pumped to see him was that he thought if he asked for a bicycle he would get to take it home that day.  We didn't even put it together but Santa asked us if he was 2, then clarified that this is often confusing to the 2 year old set and not to worry.  Then he cleared it up with Ave that he would go back to the North Pole and he and the elves would make him a bicycle to bring on Christmas.  (see he's AMAZING)

Then we went and saw the trains which Avery thought was the greatest.  He had a great time running around looking at all the trains, and especially liked the state fair section with "Big Text." 

It was extra fun that we got to do this with the Siburts this year.  We decided to spend time with our friends for Christmas instead of trading gifts, and a fun night them was definitely better than a cheesy present.  You should try this with your friends, too!

Then it was on to Holly Jolly, our annual church Christmas party.  It was fun to decorate our table and share it with friends.  This year we even somewhat broke our table curse.  Every year we decorate get ready and then the people at our table no show, show up hours late or some other disaster. 

This year Tobin and Krister were right on time and sat at our table.  Matt and Brooke were a few minutes behind and very good company as well, but I forgot to take their picture.  The other 3 members of our table no-showed, so I can't say the curse was totally broken, but it did mean that Michael got to sit with us after all, so I think I am okay with it!

Avery loved that he and Hank got to go to Jolly Junior this year and I have to say they were by FAR the cutest boys in the place.

Pretend it is still November, okay?

Here's the Thanksgiving post I meant to do last month....

Top 10 Thanksgiving moments....(in no particular order)

 The brown-eyed second borns chilling together-1



Avery's Thanksgiving prayer complete with the peek at everyone as he says their name to make sure he didn't miss anyone -2

Everyone being a good sport and playing my alphabet thankful game as we ate dinner-3

The AMAZING amount of help mom and Linde were in providing 3 delicious meals-4

The delicious food we had...cinammon bun panckakes, baked oatmeal, sausage balls, baked potato dip, cheese and crackers, steak, pork tenderloin, fresh green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, olive cheese bread, pumpkin bread pudding and MORE (we are blessed)-5

getting to spend the day with our friend Sarah, I am selfishly glad her family is too far away and she had to come hang out with us instead-6

Watching Avery and Hank play with Papa and have SO much fun.-7 

Watching LouLou play with Avery and Hank.  Dominars (aka dominoes) are very fun.-8

Playing games with our family, spending time NOT on our i phones!!!-9

Having a whole day with my whole side of the family, and getting a bad family picture at the end of the day, but at least I remembered.-10

We also had a really fun Thanksgiving time with Michael's family Saturday, but of course I remembered to pack my camera, and then left it in the bag....  We love BOTH our families I promise!!!

9 moths old....

 Ta-da!

How can it be that this little person is already 3/4 of a year old???  I can't believe it.  We love him to pieces.  It amazes me how you can ALWAYS get this big smile.  All you have to do is look at him and say his name.  Hank is army crawling like a champ.  We laugh so hard at his "man cleave" he gets from sliding on his belly pulling his shirt down as he goes.  Hankapotamus LOVES his baby food.  We are working on our baby sign language for "more, please."  So far all I get is that he does usually quit hollering and smile.  This is because he knows I am about to start shoveling again if I give him the "more" sign.  I don't think he will ever learn "finished" because he would eat forever if we let him.  Hanky loves his big brother sooo much and thinks it is great fun to crawl down the hall after him wherever he goes.  I love watch him take off down the hall after Michael and Avery, or hearing Avery say "come here little fella" getting him to crawl somewhere when they are playing.  Dr. Y said he looked "perfect" at his check up last week.  I am still a little baffled at how those chubby cheeks are on a boy who is in the 10th % for weight.  The Christmas tree may be the death of both of us, I am afraid that Hank is not any more scared of me than his brother.  I gave him his first stern no as he reached up for an ornament and he just looked at me and smiled as he reached up higher.  (Now we have blockades.)  The Hankster has 2 teeth and will have a 3rd any day now!  I love hearing ma ma ma ma even if it is only on his terms.  We are so thankful for our happy, healthy Hank!

Guess What?????

This is little fella big kid had a HUGE accomplishment yesterday!  After only 3 long months of school he decided to stay on his nap mat AND be QUIET for his whole nap time!!!!  I don't have to wonder anymore, his teachers said he was "an angel."

WOW!!!! 

We celebrated with a Sonic slush and he snacked on his candy cane from school (it was part of their lesson) on the way to Sonic.  So he was a happy boy and a self professed "sticky mess."

I have to say I had honestly given up on the whole nap thing, we do talk about it, but just in passing.  I can't wait to see if it is a fluke or if he does it again on Thursday.  I am thinking he was just really tired, we had a crazy weekend...

Speaking of I will post soon I promise.  We had two really fun Thanksgiving celebrations, a bout of food poisoning (Michael only thank goodness,) Holly Jolly, and Christmas book club to keep us crazy busy last week.