Sleeping Like a Baby

Apparently horses aren't the only creatures able to sleep while standing up. Lesson 1 in life, my dear boy, is "sleep while lying down." Luckily I found him before his legs collapsed!

Winter Warmup

Note to self: Nolan really needs a haircut!

We had two days where the temperatures soared in excess of 50 degrees F. The combination of the high temps and constant rain have caused our snowy landscape to turn into a grassy haven for two energetic boys. The mercury has dipped to 30 degrees again, but the sun and grass were too inviting to keep us indoors!

Unfortunately, a warm up also means MUD. Lots of it! And the laws of boyhood decree that where mud and boy exist in the same location, they will meld and become one.

While I hope the snow returns in time for our ski trip in January, I hope it doesn't come back too soon. The boys are simply having too much fun!

Christmas!

The cookies were on the buffet in the living room, the carrots placed outside for the reindeer, and two little boys were tucked snuggly into their beds. When dawn broke, it was evident that Santa had made a visit! Matthew was most excited to discover the thank you note left by Jolly St. Nick in appreciation of the cookies.

Stockings were opened first, where candy canes, sunglasses, and new toothbrushes were found. Santa must have thought new toothbrushes would help erase all of that sugar!

A dash upstairs revealed the multitude of presents left by Santa.

Matthew was excited to find a firefly lantern from Aunt Mary Ellen and Uncle David.

The gifts were opened with abandon, though Nolan was most fascinated with the bows and wrapping paper. Matthew was more than willing to play with all the toys!

What could it be?

Nolan's favorite toy of the morning

Matthew studying his gift.

Nolan's second favorite gift.

Soon the Christmas presents were all opened and breakfast was eaten. Now we are hoping the rain will end so we can get out and try those new sleds!

Nolan wistfully eyes the snow outside- inaccessable due to rain!

Matthew 3.0

Three years.. it has been three years since this amazing little person has entered our lives!

When people hear that Matthew's birthday is so close to Christmas, they usually respond with, "oh, poor kid!" Assuming, perhaps, that he gets a little left out amongst all the Christmas celebration. Not so, I assure you, not so. He is one of only two grandchildren on both sides of the family, after all!

I secretly LOVE having my Christmas baby. He was due on Christmas Day, but came a few days early to let us know that he wasn't going to do ANYTHING by the books. On the day we were released from the hospital, a wonderful nurse brought him to me dressed in a dark green velvet "My First Christmas" outfit and wrapped in a bright red blanket. Coming home on Christmas Eve with a brand new baby was the best gift I could ever have received.

And so, Matthew, Happy Birthday To You. All you really wanted for your birthday was a "race car cake."

Of course, your third birthday wouldn't be complete without presents! And there is no glee on earth like that of a three year old boy who is about to open birthday gifts.

If ever at a loss for what to give Matthew, remember that Boys Love Trucks. It is a rule of boyhood.

Little brothers also love trucks, and are dismayed to find out this truck isn't for sharing (at least, not yet)! This is also a day for Little Brother to discover Big Brother's generous spirit. Matthew gave him the race car from his cake. "MINE!" is giving way to compassion, at least some of the time.

Opening of Presents took some time, since every toy had to be opened and explored.

The presents received were all well loved, and included:

• A Smart Cycle from Grandma and Grandpa H.
• A wooden train set from Grandma and Grandpa L.
• Hullaballoo game from Aunt Mary Ellen and Uncle Dave.
• "Llama Llama Red Pajama" and "Llama Llama Mad at Mama" from Aunt Kristy.
• A wristwatch from Mom and Dad.
• A John Deere truck/tractor set from Mom and Dad.
• Chutes and Ladders from Mom and Dad.
• A jigsaw puzzle set from Mom and Dad.

You can see, the child doesn't lack in the birthday department, despite being so close to Christmas!

Happy Birthday, Mattman. Here's to a wonderful, fun, and crazy fourth year!

Little Boy Treasures

1. "My tape measure. I need it!"
2. "Trucks. Have no wheels!"
3. "Wheels. Trucks need them."
4. "My heh-copper."
5. "My glasses!"
   

Now THIS is a Problem I Can Solve

Who: Three year old boy.

Where: His bed.

When: Waaaayyyy past bedtime.

What: An anxious call of "Mommy! Mommy! I can't SEE!"

Why: Sunglasses. At night.

Brigiotta's Christmas Fest

We had a Jr. Deaf Club meeting set at Brigiotta's Greenhouses, which sets up a "North Pole" event for kids. Our boys had a lot of fun running around the festive set-up, but were terrified of the Jolly Old Elf himself. There were lots of lights and cookies (good) and rain (bad, especially for a group of kids with expensive equipment on their ears). Luckily almost all activities were indoors, and we had a good time overall.

This was as close to Santa as my boys were willing to get, even with a friendly TOD (teacher of the deaf) willing to help encourage a visit! Sigh...

I tried to use this as an opportunity to finally get a shot of both boys together. We may NEVER get a good shot of both boys in the same frame!

Camera Shy

Oh, Tannenbaum

My favorite night of the Christmas season is the night we decorate the Christmas tree. It doesn't really feel like Christmas until we have the tree in the house! This is the first year that Matthew has been able to help, though he was more interested in playing with the ornaments as toys.

Any ornaments put on the tree at a height of less than three feet were subject to immediate removal.



Luckily Matt was a good sport about the whole thing and would place the ornaments back on the tree as quickly as Nolan could take them off.

Matthew knew that some ornaments were "his" and was deeply in love with a brass train ornament. He was quite upset that it was set high on the tree where he couldn't reach it.

This is when having a 6'2" daddy comes in handy!

Now it feels like Christmas is truly just around the corner!

Bathing Beauties

I love bathtime. Everyone is happy, everyone gets clean, and everyone gets a mohawk!

Of course, two small boys become complete goofballs once they enter the water.

Fish Face

Bubbles are for eating

All clean!

Forgot something...

You know, it really helps to remember to take your clothes off BEFORE you get into the bath!

15 Degrees

We headed out this past Saturday evening to see the Jamestown Christmas Parade. We've never managed to make it to the parade, and we thought it would be a fun experience for the kids. The only problem? It was FIFTEEN degrees. So on went the snowsuits and snowboots, mittens and hats, scarves and blankets.

We thought we'd be getting to the parade in the nick of time, but there was some sort of delay and it started later than the official time stated in the paper. I had on regular tennis shoes (silly me) and my toes were frozen before the parade began.

Nolan had to be held at all times, and we kept a close eye on him and Matthew due to the frigid temperatures. Matt seemed to revel in the cold (that child has freon flowing in his veins).

The parade finally started and we saw a variety of firetrucks and horse-drawn floats. Unfortunately, the parade kept STOPPING for extended periods of time. At 15 degrees, nothing should stop moving. We were worried about the kids being outside, so we left long before Santa appeared. Nolan was just happy to get home into his nice, warm high chair.

Oh, well. Maybe we'll get to see the entire parade next year!

Snowman

We dub thee "Frosty."

It finally got warm enough to go outside and build a snowman. Yes, in early December it has been too cold to get the snow to stick well enough to form snowballs! Nolan still hates cold weather, even when the temperatures approach the low 40's. Matthew, as always, is my winter child and loves the snow and ice.

Mr. Snowman, meet your nemesis!

Having defeated the snowman, Matt kindly replaces his nose.

Nolan was really only happy eating snowman eyes (i.e. raisins) and playing on the driveway.

Once inside, Nolan was finally happy again. This boy is going to grow up and return to his Southern Californian roots!

Then again, perhaps it is the hat-hair, not the cold, he detests!