Seth is in School

Gasp.  I didn't send Isaac to kindergarten, but I am already sending Seth to preschool.  He is doing awesome.  His teacher asked if he could stay all day, like every other kid in his class, but I pick him up at lunch.  Maybe after Easter. Maybe. 

1st Day of School.  January 24, 2013.

 When Seth coaches me on how to run fast he instructs me to bend and lean over 

and put my hands back, sorta like he is demonstrating here. It works because if you dont move your feet, you'll fall on your face.

Seth isn't a fan of the cold.  But sledding got him outside. Work it baby.

 I let my kids eat snow, and have been made to feel like a looser mom.  

You know, all the pollution in the atmosphere-a valid point.

In my defense, I do teach them to eat only white snow.

Families That Play Together, Stay Together

Benjamin's version of Qwirkle.  His towers rock....literally.

If you are lucky enough to have your best friend be born into your very same family...

you gotta count yourself blessed.  Especially if your mom says "yes" to the wii.  

I think this is Seth heaven.

I like this picture because it is Isaac at the bottom of the picture rather than me. 

This couch is the best boy couch on the planet.  Yesterday I had a folding table up and it was near the green couch, so Isaac, Seth, and friend Lucian were taking turns jumping off the table onto the couch.  When Lucian's mom came to pick him up, she said a little incredulously, "Uh, are you supposed to being jumping off of there?" I had to nudge her, and quietly nod my head.

To Kiss or Strangle

Kiss.

 

Isaac's coach mentioned him during the awards ceremony.  He thought Isaac was the youngest on the team (he was 2nd youngest), and said "He [was] the youngest but he was a real asset to the team." 

Kiss. Same little dude has game off court. 

Kiss. Kiss. Kiss.

Strangle.

How do we get ready for Christmas?

PYRAMID-My pyramid works...it's taken about a decade, seriously.  But it works. 

These two are really good at blowing out the candles.  Too good at blowing out the candles. 

 DANCE-I love it that E knows how to rock it with our little gentlemen.  Seth giggled giggled.  Benjamin would request, "'pin me, 'pin me."  Best dance moves EVER happen in my very own living room.

 SANTA-Ho Ho Ho!  MERRY CHRISTMAS!  We went to the tree lighting celebration at USAG.  

MRS. CLAUS-I dont know who this lady thinks she is kidding.  She is soooo not Mrs. Claus, but she was nice.

 CRAFTS-The little were able to craft and color a little picture.  I know know when Isaac is really focusing, he sticks that little tongue out just like his papa.

Christmas crafters.

 Benjamin, wanted to sit AND work at the big table.  Eric laughed because he was so insistant, but sometimes you can't have your cake and eat it too. E finally talked him in to sitting at the little table.

 CHRISTMAS PARTY- We made it for the first 40 minutes.  NOT pictured is Seth, who told us his belly hurt.  Eric took him to the bathroom and he made it to the lobby in front of the chapel before he tossed his cookies.  So long party.

COOKIES-Naturally we decorated Christmas cookies.   Grandma Hunt's famous words, "Dont glom it up," certainly echoed in our kitchen.

Christmas Markets

Eric took me on a date to the Belgian Christmas Market.  He LOVES the food, namely: ham and agratin potatoes, sausage, and the doughnut balls from heaven.  He had a wonderful time. 

E has been my alpha moose for nearly 11 1/2 years.  This funny moose head talks to passersby and sings songs in lots-o-languages.

 We had such a good time together we decided to bring the little gentlemen a different time.  I think they liked the metro best of all...and McDonalds.  We went on the ferris-wheel thing seen in the background of the first picture.

 In a different part of the market they had this oober stupid tree.  In years past they always had a real tree. Thumbs down.  But they did have a nice creche scene with a couple of real sheep. Thumbs up.

 This picture was NOT taken at the market.  I clicked on it to post later, but I might forget, so viola! Seth cracks us up.  Even Eric was chuckling over this one.

 Eric thinks this ice cream shop has hit the nail on the head.  Alas, it was cold, so we waited for doughnut balls from heaven instead of icecream. Doh.

Joyeux Noël!

(NOTE:  I dont blog often because I worry about writing style, fluidity, charm and interest to my reader.  I worry about intros, and conclusions.  Blah.  No more.  I am just going to get it out there from now on.  Just be warned.)

We had a pleasant C(hristmas.  We did the usual, except we didn't have snappy dinner. Doh.  Next year for sure. Eric read the nativity.  We hung stockings.  Left Santa a note and treats.  And Isaac was thrilled to go to bed.  He heard at school Santa doesn't come if your awake. 

Acting out the nativity.  Seth piped up first, "I wanna be the baby Jesus."  

What a perfect choice Seth.

 Posing by the stockings and our awesome fireplace...which still hasn't seen a fire.

 Santa called Seth and requested chocolate milk.  Seriously? 

 My young padawans are wanna be Jedi Masters.

Beyblades are the rage right now in our house.  

Even Eric and I enjoy getting in on the action. 

I have a mad crush on this little guy.  

Mmmm, I just want to kiss him, kiss him, kiss him.

Benjamin has become pretty proficient at present unwrapping. 

Yes!

Welkom 2013!

Sometimes we sing lies.  

Like this Christmas song line, ♫"And mom and dad can hardly wait for school to start again."♪ 

What a bunch of malarkey.  

Despite my apprehension about sending Isaac back to school, Eric took him to school anyway.  This morning Isaac said to me, "I have school today," to which I promptly gave him a thumbs down sign.  (dont judge me).  Isaac turned my frown upside down by giving me two thumbs up.  "So I can learn!"  He got me there.  I gave him a sincere smile and two thumbs up, "I miss you but I am glad you can learn."   He makes my world better.   His imagination is out of this world.  He and Seth have been playing spy and Isaac gets full marks for their wonderland.  

So the holidays past too quick for me BUT we had a wonderful time.  A review of our New Years party:

The little gentlemen were excited about these balloons.  Some had money and all of them had a joke. This might be a permanent tradition.  

Benjamin loved running into the balloons. 

I have a list of things that make me high.
Dancing with a mirror ball is  right up there, it quadruples the fun. 

Also on the list are fireworks.  I LOVE THEM.  And our neighbors invited out for a show.  They were not your regular cultisac fountain variety.  They were legit. And I giggled right out loud and the perfectness of having them for new years.

Isaac is a loving and affectionate brother.  He always wraps his arm around Seth and sorta nuzzles their heads together.   During the holidays I took the little gentlemen to Technopolis (a kid's science museum).  Isaac wrapped his arm around and started nuzzling a little stranger boy who happened to be standing in front of me.  I couldn't stop laughing.  His good humor allowed him a little chuckle as well.  Glad they are friends and brothers.

Here is our annual New Years family picture with homemade hats.
My little men know how to strike a pose.
 Years ago we started making our own hats because we couldn't find any in the store, and hats were a requirement as per Isaac for "real parties."  This year I found some AWESOME store hats but E gave me the thumbs down.  "We make our own."  'Cept we couldn't find hat making supplies.  Sorta ironic.  Anyway, we had a new years party kit with masks and those little birthday cone hats.  To make them part of the tradition, everyone colored their favorite 2012 memory and we taped it on

Seth liked going to the beach.  He drew our family. 

Isaac also like going to the beach in Oregon.  By the way, they told me their favorite memory separately so as not to be influenced by one another. 

My favorite memory was rafting down the river with my boys in Jackson Hole.
One of my ALL TIME FAVORITE MEMORIES EVER!

E's favorite memory was going to Disney Paris.