Visit with Santa

After church today we headed to one of our favorite outlet malls, The Mills. Of course, the first thing we did after arriving was get in line to see Santa. Julia wasn't so sure about Mr. Claus, so we all hopped in for a family photo.

"I have been a very good boy, and all I want is a GeoTrax Train and a Spiderman bike," Ry tells Santa. Julia wants nothing to do with talking to Santa..she is hanging with a death grip to my leg during this photo!

When I asked him afterward what he thought of his visit with Santa, he told me "I told him I wanted a Geo and Spiderman bike and he said 'No' to me." And I said, "Really!? Santa told you he wouldn't bring those to you?" And Ry said, "Yeah, he just gave me a magazine instead." Awwww..our little guy is a bit confused..he thought his wish was going to be granted right there on the spot!

When we returned home the kids played together with this toy. They seem to be including each other in playtime more as each day passes, and it is so sweet to me to see them playing together and having their little sibling conversations. Ryan told Julia "Oh, that is nice, baby. Pretty picture." Maybe he already has the gift of encouragement! Sweet moments!

Ry-isms

Ry: "Daddy, come here. We seem to be having problems with our train tracks."

Ry: "Oh, look at the trees! Pretty!"
Jeff: "Bah Humbag!"
Ry: "Daddy! We don't say those words. I'm calling the policeman."

Me to Jeff: "Hey, babe, did you hear about that Walmart employee that got trampled to death this morning?"
Jeff: "No, what?!"
Me: "Yeah, can you believe that? At 5am they busted in the doors and he died at 6!"
Ry: "No, Mommy. You go in time out!"

Me to Ry: "Come on, buddy, it's time to go upstairs and read books."
Ry: "But I can't want to nap!"
Me: "Sorry, you are a tired boy today, and we are going to lay down."
Ry: "But, babe, it isn't dark outside!"

Jeff: "Ry, what number is this?"
Ry: "Z-ereal"
Jeff: "No, ZERO."
Ry: "Yeah, Z-ereal!" (as in cereal).

Thanksgiving with the Conway Family

After celebrating with Jeff's family we headed to Amy and Jeff's house for the Conway family Thanksgiving. They decided to move back the eating time this year so that we could make it for the dinner. (Previously we've arrived just as they are finishing dinner). While this was really nice, we went home SUPER STUFFED from having two huge dinners in one day!!

Grandma Conway and Grandma Schuette chatting before dinner about Grandma's new house...she bought it this summer and hopes to be all moved by 4th of July! She's finally starting to believe we might need to have an auction in the "old" house, as she collects EVERYTHING. =)

Ryan takes a break from the trains to ponder something?!

Ryan and Ali LOVE the tree swing! Ry had a great time playing with Ali Busch this year!

Of course, Julia looks out the window and sees Ry swinging and says "I sing. I sing too!" She is thankful when Uncle Jeff hears her pleas and brings her out back!

Thanks, Uncle Jeff!!! I love this pic because you can actually see her excitement in her face! "I am a big kid!! I get to swing!"While we are engrossed in the Black Friday ads, Maddie, Ryan and Julia are engrossed in a Christmas show Uncle Jeff turns on for them.Aren't they precious?

I can't believe I didn't take more pictures...might have to get some from someone who got a group shot?!

Thanksgiving with the Harriss Family

We take a zillion photos in an attempt to get one for Grandma's Christmas Card. Here is one of the bunch. Do you know how hard it is to get two kids under 4 (and 7 adults!) to look at the camera?

Jeff, Papa, Grandma, Grumpy, Aunt Kathy, Ry, Aunt Stacy, Aunt Crystal, Uncle Patrick gather around the table. Ry had some incentive to eat his dinner this year: a HUGE chocolate Mrs. Sees turkey waiting when he was finished!

Julia went in the pantry and found the container of peanut butter filled pretzels and preferred those to dinner. Here she talks Aunt Stacy into giving her some of those instead of turkey.

Ry gets a ride on Grumpys walker thanks to Grandma.

Here is who I am thankful for!

Day Before Thanksgiving

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It was a busy "day before Thanksgiving" for us! Of course, we celebrated Lucas' 1/2 birthday in the morning (see previous post), then I brought Ryan over to Grandma and Grandpa's house to visit with Grumpy and Kathy for the afternoon. (Julia and I came home for naptime..can't miss that!) Wednesday evening, we spent at Uncle Jeff and Aunt Amy's house eating and prepping food for the big day! Fun family time!

Lucas' 1/2 Birthday!

Today we celebrated Lucas' 6 month birthday. We had cupcakes to mark the occasion, which all the kids (minus the birthday boy who is still turning his nose up at cereal) were very excited about. Ryan and Julia made cards for Lucas. Ryan made a card for Tyler as well, who is clearly his favorite cousin right now. He put many colors and all of his favorite shark stickers on the card for Tyler, and when I told him he needed to make one for Lucas he put some gray scribbles on the card and then pulled the "xs 4/5" sticker off his shirt and put it on the card for Lucas. Nice. Guess you really get marks off in the 3 yr old popularity circle when you are too small to sit up or eat cupcakes. =)

Christmas Tree Time!

Tonight we ran out to get Julia's hair cut. Ryan gets SO excited about all the lights and trees we are beginning to see while driving. He has been asking for about a week now if we can put up our tree. Usually, we wait until AFTER Thanksgiving for this tradition. However, his persistant little pleas were very hard to say "no" to for much longer! So tonight we...ok, who am I kidding - Jeff - put up the tree...which appeased the kids, and we'll do the ornaments after we celebrate Thanksgiving and I can manage the pile of boxes that fun entails bringing up from the basement! =)

Thanksgiving Parties at Preschool

Today the kids celebrated Thanksgiving at Kid's First. I stuck around for the fun. =)

Ryan's class practices their song for the Christmas show. Ry's friend Gavin is to the right of him. When I ask him about the letter "G" he tells me, "That is Gavin."..but he won't tell me what letter it is.

Ryan and Cole wait their turn in line to suck up water in a turkey baster, carry it across the room and dump it into another bowl. Who would have EVER thought this was such fun?! The kids sure thought so!!!

The class does the "hokey pokey" with Turkey lyrics. Ryan thinks this is hilarious!

Ry and Charlie are prepared for number turkey Bingo.
Julia enjoys her drinkable yogurt. Her teacher put a feather in her hair, as they made vests earlier from grocery bags and dressed up like Indians to walk in a parade through the hallways.
Later, when they returned to the classroom and Ms. Gwen asked who they need to be thankful to for their food, Julia shouted out "n-d-ands!!" (Indians).
"Come on, silly goose! It's time to go home!" Ry tells Julia.

1st Makeup Application

Usually while I am trying to get ready in the morning, Julia will stand on a stool next to me and "brush her teeth" (play in the water, really!) or play with clean makeup brushes. Today, she grabbed an eyeliner pencil...and, uh, made herself beautiful!? Right after I discovered her "creativity" I learned I am apparently not the girlie-girl I think I am: we had NO makeup remover in the house. YIKES!!

Why Julia is a tough girl...

Earthquake in the playhouse!!

Sleeping Babes

Last night I went in the kids room to take photos and Jeff was asking "What are you doing!?". I always think they look so sweet when they are sleeping, yet I hardly have any sleeping pics of them as "bigger" kids.

Ry wants to wear these footed pjs now "just like baby."

And the little sleeping princess, who has recently demanded to sleep with every stuffed animal she sees on the way up to bed!

Dancing to Catch That Train

Daddy was out of town for work ALL week and is FINALLY home. We do a little happy dance in celebration to one of our favorite songs: "Catch That Train" by Dan Zanes.

Welcome Home Daddy!

He comes bearing gifts...

Daddy is EXCITED to see the kids again...and they both want to sit on his lap to finish up their dinner instead of in their chairs!

Julia is excited!

Cookie Baking

Tonight after dinner we baked some cookies. I had a magazine that had cookies on the cover, and Ry saw it yesterday and has been asking if we could make some ever since he saw it.
Ask, and you shall receive! =)

Ry proudly displays his star.

Julia doesn't like to waste time. She heads in two fisted. She is our efficient child...even when I ask them to clean up toys, Julia gets moving immediately and gets the job done, and Ryan could take 10 minutes to put his cars back in a bin!

I wish our story ended here. But about 2 hours after this photo was taken, as I am getting ready to put Julia in bed, I experienced very possibly my most massively gross mom moment EVER. (Before I tell this story, and your mind goes here, know that she didn't even eat one entire cookie.) This sweet girl vomited... flying chunks...and she was facing me..and at eye level, so she vomited. in my face (ok, and I am telling you, it came up with some SPEED, because it actually hit me pretty hard!!), splashed all in my hair and down my new shirt and pants. I was so shocked I think I just stood there for a moment in total AWE. (Not the good kind of awe!! Where did this come from!? She had been fine all day long!!?) And then SHE started crying...something I felt like doing, particularly after I glanced down at her carpeting and my sense of smell was beginning to kick in. Grrrr! She escaped this pretty unscathed. We did do a jammie change and brushed teeth again, but other than that, she came out of the ordeal much better than I did, or the carpeting. So she's crying, and I am very calmly saying "It's okay. Not a big deal, baby. We'll get this all cleaned up and you'll feel much better soon. It's going to be okay!"
And the Oscar nomination goes to.... =)

Moses

I was gone this weekend, so I didn't go to church, but this is what Ry brought home. I thought it was such a cute idea to learn about Moses. They had a sugar cookie they painted with blue icing, a Frito chip for the basket, and some type of fruit rollup around a sour gummy kid for baby Moses.
Now, of course, when I asked Ry what he learned this weekend, he said "What?" and when I showed him the cookie and said "Who is this?" He told me, "Baby Jesus." Still...cute idea. =)

Life Size Ryan!

Yesterday morning Ry "found" my gift closet stash. (GASP!..as "Santa" has already been stocking up!). He pulled this roll of craft paper out and in an extreme attempt to divert his little eyes from the gifts he was about to dig in, we did a little impromptu craft. He loved being traced and then getting to "decorate" himself. He decided he'd rather be wearing blue pants and an orange shirt, so he colored those in that way. (Aren't their little thoughts so random..and sweet?!) I never did take a pic of the finished result, but he ended up with orange ribbon hair and silver shoelaces. Of course, Julia was happy because she was able to continue her love affair with the glue bottle.