Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Christmas Cheer

Dinosaur potties from Santa!

Christmas breakfast at Grandshe's house

Feeding the reindeer the night before Santa arrived!

The boys loved getting into the holiday spirit this year. Here are a few highlights:
  • Holden the Elf on the Shelf came back right after Thanksgiving. The boys had a blast trying to find him each day. It worked out great since everyone got a turn finding him first. While the Elf magic (aka me saying, "don't make me tell Holden!" didn't work as well on them as it did Josie) they loved reading the book and going on the hunt for Holden.
  • Ornaments were very much a temptation for the boys, but they did a fantastic job resisting yanking them off the tree. Will's favorite ornament was a rocking horse with Santa on it. Ben's favorite was the "nut bitters" also known as nut crackers.
  • This year the kids helped me make cookies for Santa. It was fun that they were all old enough to partake in this activity. Ben was patient and didn't eat anything unless it was given to him. Will stuck about 4 Rollos in his mouth while we unwrapped them. The last one he genuinely forgot and tried to give it back...don't worry to those who got our cookies, I let him keep it.
  • They both enjoyed our annual tour of Holly Jolly Lights as well as setting out Reindeer food the night before Santa came.
  • This year the boys got their first taste of Milk Nog and finished a few gallons the past month.
  • They loved listening to the pre-recorded book of Frosty the Snowman from Grandshe. Every kid took a turn sleeping with it at night....we learned not to be alarmed if my mom's voice came thru intercoms at night.
It was definitely a Christmas to remember!


Friday, December 16, 2011

What we've been up to...

Story time with Grandshe....

Puzzles puzzles puzzles! We have a love for puzzles. This is Ben at Josie's basketball game.

Our first art class at Des Moines Art Center


Ben playing dress up at the library.


Monkey see...monkey do! Will strutting his worker man outfit.


Acting out the baby in the manger. (Boots and zebra gloves on since they are donkeys)



Brotherly love...and we still wrestle a lot. Will on the left.


Cheering on our sister at basketball. First Ben then Will