Eve opened an early Christmas present and it was a huge hit. They have gotten very creative with it in the past few days. Thanks Jim, Julie, and Molly!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AI4Gm_2urSc&feature=player_embedded
New toy
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Author Archives: Tessa
Daycare
I’ve been thinking about work lately and whether or not I should continue with my two days a week. The job is fine and covers the costs of daycare, but not much more. Working makes it more difficult to schedule appointments, lessons, and playdates, but the kids seem to finally like daycare and I hate to mess up the routine. Today I felt very reassured in my decision. I dropped Lex at school and then brought Eve to daycare. We missed one day last week and I guess her teacher missed the other because when we came in the whole room was excited to see Eve. I was worried about her fussing because she woke up late (really late!) and ate breakfast in the car, but when she saw the Christmas tree (much nicer than ours!) and a room full of smiling faces, she lit right up. When I dropped Lex off after school he saw some kids sledding and decided (rightfully) that it was his group because he saw some of his friends there! He has daycare friends! Wheee!! He made school friends quickly but seems to be slower at making daycare friends (for reasons I fully understand). It made me really happy to see him happy to see them. He gave me hugs and grabbed a sled and as I drove away I saw him sledding on his belly down a little hill and laughing!! These are experiences they don’t get at home and I’m really happy that we’ve found a daycare that everyone likes. It’s been a long, hard road, as you regular readers know, but I think it was worth it and now we can enjoy the benefits. Whew! Just in time for Christmas break ;)
Date night!
All dolled up for date night. Eve put on her pretty Christmas dress from Grammy Lynn and Lex... well, Lex stayed in the PJs he wore all day (even to school!) I reminded myself its the company that counts, not the clothes :)
We had a very special, parent-child date night tonight. Lex and I went for haircuts, dinner, and Christmas shopping while Alan took Eve out to dinner. Alan was excited to take her out for Indian food (I hate Indian food!) but I think they may have ended up at Chilis. Eve’s most exciting moment, according to her, was when the cake came while they were in the bathroom. (I presume it came to the table, not the bathroom). She was very excited about and told me the story several times.
Lex and I had a great night. Haircuts for both of us and he was awesome! He sat in the chair for a new lady and even let her use the clippers. Then he explored the place, quietly and calmly, while I got my hair cut. He was even saying hello to random people and chatting it up with the stylist. :) So cute!! Then we went to the toystore where I was able to sneak a few little things for him into my purchase. He was absorbed with the cool train table. Then to dinner and the bookstore, where we discovered TONS of TOYS!! He was thrilled! But tired, and ended up sitting quietly reading books while I browsed. It was such a sweet night and he was sooo happy to be on a date with mommy that he was on his best behavior. I loved it!!
Holiday cards
The kids were tasked with making Christmas cards for their school and daycare teachers. They did an excellent job!
Dear Santa
Several days ago Lex decided to write a letter to Santa while waiting for his dinner. It was cute and I was excited. I made the mistake of having his dinner ready before the letter was done though and he hasn’t had any interest in finishing it. I held off posting this because I was hoping he’d finish the letter, but no luck. Oh well. He doesn’t seem that interested in mailing it either, so I’ll keep it and post it here for all the “Santas” out there reading the blog :)
Dear Santa...
| Dear Santa I want |
|
| • Trains | • Trains T(racks) |
| • Sled | |
| • Ball | |
| • Cars | |
| • Roads | |
Tire eyes!
Tire eyes
Fun with Picasa
Sepia kids
Sunday morning in photos
Baking cookies first thing in the morning. The kids unwrapped the Hershey kisses while I mixed up the dough. We all enjoyed the results!
Eve and baby
Silly kids!
Eating cookies with baby
Coloring under the table, with baby. What? Doesn't everyone color under the table with a babydoll in their PJs?
Letting go
We’ve worked so hard at helping Lex grow out of his shy, quiet (in public) shell and into a strong, confident little boy. I’m very proud of us, though also a bit saddened at times. School and daycare drop-offs now involve little more than a fleeting “good bye mom” before he’s off playing with his friends. Some days I even have to ask for a hug! Gone are the tears, the long, drawn out goodbyes, the powerful bear hugs, all replaced with a quick kiss and a sweet smile before he’s off on his own. I’m very proud of him and proud of the boy he’s become. I’m also proud that Alan and I have handled him so well, through the tears and tantrums, to help him discover his confident self and help him begin his formal education with ease. That said, some days I miss my tiny baby boy :) Lucky for me he is still full of hugs and cuddles at home. I dread the day he becomes too cool to hug mom!
Snow day!
Yesterday afternoon Lex announced that he wanted to go outside. He doesn’t make this announcement often, so Eve and I jumped at it. It was almost 4pm and closing in on darkness, so we all scrambled to get dressed and head out. As we got ready he told me the process and order for putting on winter clothes. First you put on your snowpants, and then your boots, and then your coat (“if you have a coat, but I don’t have a coat because I have a snowsuit!). It’s fun to hear him repeat back what he learns at school. I can just imagine 11 little people all trying to dress for the outdoors and the helpful teachers reviewing the proper order.
A happy boy in the snow!
XI = jumping jacks
Mary, Mary quite contrary, what does your garden grow?
Eggplants and green beans, by chance?
What's in your winter garden? Every time Eve watches this video she laughs at the end, points to herself in the video and says 'she's a radish!'
Silly kids
Outside we played in the snow, sat in the garden (they were thrilled because I don’t normally let them sit in the garden), played on the swingset, and went for a walk to look at the holiday lights. By this time it was after 5:00 and after dark and I was COLD! So in we went for warm chocolate milk.
The snow started falling yesterday and today we have our first snow day of the year, and Lex’s first snow day of his school career. What do you think he said? I told him there was no school today because the roads aren’t safe for people and buses. He said, “but we can still go to school, right?” (we drive the car). He was sad when I said no, but happy again when I told him it was a daycare day. I LOVE that he likes daycare now. The whole family bundled and got in the car and as we headed to daycare I decided that working today was kind of silly, so we grabbed my work laptop from the office and headed home! Spent some time playing in the heavy snowfall, took the sled up the road and back, and then headed in for warm chocolate milk and sugar cookie making.
Sledding
This is a silly way to sled (and tough for the mommy doing the pulling!)
Eve drowns her cookies in sprinkles
Lex is a little more careful with the sprinkles.
So far everyone is enjoying winter (day two of snow… we’ll see come day 20!)