Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Early December

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Hockey, hockey, hockey.  We have had our ups and downs with it.  I think the three practices a week and all the gear are a little much for Joseph, but there is no question he has gotten to be quite a skater and sometimes he really enjoys it!

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Corralled the boys!

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Waiting for Santa

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These pictures are all from a very busy Saturday—the first Saturday of December Santa always arrives in Middlebury on a firetruck and then all sorts of activities are planned.  We started the day with hockey at 7:30, then went to a free breakfast at Agway.  While we were at breakfast Bob got us a number to see Santa (its free but you have to get a number).  Every other year I have just joined up with someone else, but this year we did things right and Bob got us #2.  Thanks!!

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Then we always visit the gingerbread house competition at the Folklife center and vote on our favorites.

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And of course there is the train exhibit at the Sheldon Museum.

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And then gingerbread house making at the library.

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Posing

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(Out of order)  Visiting Santa!!

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Joseph told Santa he wanted a Spy kit, a prank kit, and an I pod.  Then he told Santa Nora wanted a new paci.

I was very, very nervous about doing all this, with a very small baby, but it all went amazingly well.

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When we got home I nursed and cuddled with Nora (since she was such a trooper) and Joseph decorated himself…

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Then he really wanted to make our gingerbread house…

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Joseph LOVES projects like this. 

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The next day (after a hockey game) we ventured into the woods behind my childhood home to find a Christmas tree. 

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A family picture!!

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Cutting the tree

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This was actually a bit of on ordeal.  We were tired from the day before and from Brad working 7 days a week during that time.  And this was around the time that Nora just suddenly stopped sleeping. Then unexpectedly Brad got done work a little early that Sunday.  So we made it to Lincoln, but then Nora had a huge blowout.  Then Joseph was mad about not having a “normal” Christmas tree.  Then I lost my keys….  In this picture Joseph was whining about the tree.  But we still actually had a good trip!  The pictures of course highlights the good times.

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After getting the tree we visited with Bob and Nora feel asleep in his arms.

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Lots of reading for Joseph.  This was his first chapter book for school.

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The Elf on the Shelf came to visit this year.  It was a lot of work, but very cute.  Here he is reading some of Joseph’s homework.

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Nora loving her bouncer.

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With her excema cheeks all lubed up.

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Decorating the tree.

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Posing.

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Moving!  One of the first times that I put her down in one place and found her in another.

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Putting up a wall with dad at work.

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Before Christmas every year I organize a program called book angels, where we take ages and interests of children from local social service agencies and match them with books.  It was is a big project, but lots of fun!

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More reading.

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First day working! Nora accompanied me to the library one Saturday morning in December.  It went surprisingly well.

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Then santa came to visit.

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Our Charlie Brown tree.

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Testing out her Santa outfit.

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Holiday concert at school!

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All covered in goo.  I do this to her every morning and night.  And it doesn’t really help.  Poor girl.

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This day Nora totally surprised me.  She had just barely started rolling and moving at this point.  It was a shock to put her down in one place and then find her in another place.  Then this time I was doing something, not watching her, when I heard her giggling to herself.  I looked over and she was laughing at herself in a mirror she had picked up!  What a genius!

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Sledding

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Playing in the snow afterschool

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A note from Joseph

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His xmas list.

2 comments:

JG said...

Ok I wasn't sure I would like a Christmas post because I am so OVER winter stuff BUT... what a great post!! :) I love the pics of Joseph reading... I still cannot get over his reading fluency. Remember when he and Sophia were little and Sophia knew all her letters and he didn't yet? Anyway, I think about that sometimes and, although Sophia has always enjoyed learning and I haven't pushed her, I do appreciate your more laid-back approach to learning (which I think you learned partly from your mother? Is that right?). Obviously the laid-back approach works! I love the pics with Santa and Joseph's "gift requests" for both himself and his sister. :) And love your sharing about the tree ordeal! Made me smile. We all have those moments, and they make for good reading. ;) LOVE the "best baby ever" note (and what great hand writing!). Clearly both of your kids are geniuses! :)
I wonder if someday soon we might get a video of Nora's giggles?? I know I need to take one of Kaia too. That high pitched baby laugh only lasts for so long. :(

Anonymous said...

"I was very, very nervous about doing all this, with a very small baby, but it all went amazingly well."

Maybe except when Nora puked on Bob--amazingly fast she was too and with good velocity and aim. Or, was that good, too?

RB

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