Our Nativities

Here are all of the Nativities that we have out around the house. Rose was excited to see the baby Jesus appear on the wall on Christmas morning. And the first thing she saw when she came downstairs was the three kings starting their trek as she came into the dining room. I really like the deal I got from Oriental Trading Co on the wall one...Rose seems to understand it a little better this year too.

Hopefully I will have another nativity set ready for Epiphany as I finally collected all the pieces - I will post about it later though - besides Christmas isn't over yet, so why not a gift for Epiphany?

Take a Chance Challenge 3

So you all know that I am an avid reader (when the kids let me) so I found this through a blog I follow and thought it would be fun to try. Hey I have a year to do it, so why not? Besides, my usual method of picking books involves a stroller drive-by with a hand grab and an extra from Rose! So at least this way I will have some sort of method to my madness. If you want to link up, click here.

Merry Christmas!!

Winter Recital

Sorry it is so blurry and bright. I will be sure to get a better shot next time! Maybe someone else's video came out better and I can repost...

Our New Parking Garage

Since James' birthday, we seem to have a parking garage in our living room from all the trucks he got. He loves playing with his 'ucks' and will run to get them when I ask where his uck is. There are two that are big enough to sit on so sometimes we have a racetrack in the living room. It is good that he has something non-princessy to play with.

First Snow!!!

We had our first 'playable' snow today. Rose was so excited she practically flew into her snowsuit when I told her it was time to go out to shovel (I use the term shovel lightly - I basically just pushed the snow off the stairs). James didn't last long since he didn't want to put his gloves on, nor did he have real snowpants or boots (I think they might be coming for Christmas so I have been holding out).

Isn't this bird in our tree pretty? Her mate (a bright red Cardinal) has been camera elusive, but really stands out against the white snow. I will post it if I capture him.

Tree Topper

Such a big girl!

Too smart

So now James not only climbs on things, but he climbs on things to get to other things. Ugh. Nothing is safe anymore. The upside is my house looks a lot less cluttered because everything must be put away or be considered fair game. And THAT would be how I ended up with a page ripped out of my daytimer. We are still working on the less destructive version....

Tiny Tots concert

We took some friends with us to the Tiny Tots concert today. They had so much fun with all the costumed characters afterward. Princess Tiana and the ballerina were the biggest hits with the girls of course. James just had fun as usual.

Christmas Countdown Craft

So I saw this countdown garland in the Plow and Hearth catalog and thought that I could make it and have it cost less than the one they were selling. I haven't totaled the numbers, but I think I came in under budget (just barely). Regardless of the numbers, I think ours is nicer plus we had a fun time putting it together. Now every day during December, Rose will get to pull something out of the stocking (tomorrow is a piece of candy and a good deed request). We'll see how it goes. I also have a book with daily activities we can use if we need an activity! By the way, when she is done with the stocking, it comes off, flips over and says Merry Christmas on the backside. Too cute right?

Thanksgiving Weekend

We were visiting my sister-in-laws family for the holiday weekend and had a great time. We built a gingerbread house and the cousins had a blast together!

James' 1st Birthday

Hmm...

Ok, so I grabbed the camera before I lectured James (yes I know he is 1) about why he shouldn't be climbing on the table. Needless to say, when I am cooking the chairs now spend some time laying on their sides. I remember this phase with Rose; one day I found her sitting in her high chair, but I hadn't put her there. So I took her out and told her to do it again...she climbed up a chair, onto the table, and over the high chair tray into the seat. The high chair moved away from the table then! Hmm...now that I think about it there is a certain aunt out there who managed to get to the cookie jar on top of the fridge when she was this age. Is it genetic or just a stage?

Ah...quiet

Trying to win an online giveaway...

I just entered to win a BABY VIDEO MONITOR from Summer Infant through a giveaway on I Can Teach My Child!--a website for parents of children ages birth through 5 years. You can enter too! Just go to http://www.icanteachmychild.com/


IF I DON'T win, it would be great to have a new one of these as mine keeps losing the charge.

Near and Far

(Ok, so this was back in October when we were still having 80 degree days!)

Fun at the park (Again)

We have been spending a lot of time at the parks in the afternoons, this was from a couple weeks ago (hence the halloween shirts) when it was a little warmer.

James can now climb up the equipment himself and go down the slide, too cute.

L.E.N.S. Photo Challenge

I am back to this photo challenge at Home is where you start from (blog). This week's theme is 'comfort' and so I choose the picture of James and Rose sound asleep. I really felt bad moving Rose to her own bed, until I thought about how tight it would be later! They love falling asleep next to each other.

Happy Halloween!

My little witch and her black cat!

Pictures by Rose

Rose got a real digital camera from her aunts for her birthday - I think they were tired of her stealing theirs all the time (just kidding B & C). She does a pretty good job of taking the pics, see how the one was crooked, so she adjusted and made it right? I think we have a budding artist on our hands!