Holiday Triangle

We have returned from our holiday triangle safely. We were very lucky to miss the bad weather. The boys sure like hanging out at Gma Jill's house! The squirrels and birds are always entertaining! Too bad we missed the 21 turkeys! Wini likes the window also. She appreciated the extra room Gpa Don's sholder provided.Gpa Don blazed a trail "gpa bear style" for some sledding routes with the four wheeler. I think the area is a little too wooded but we managed to get one good one. Jamison has no fear and tried all the paths with Pat. This one was not so successful. Peter and I had to run to the rescue, every one was ok. I got pretty nervous when Pat said "Jamison this one I am going to have to toss you from the sled at the end, ok?" What??!!Jamison also learned what goes down has to come up..(a little backwards but you get the point) Climbing the hill was not his favorite part but he did each and every time.Lily and Lucy gave the boys these really great helmuts...you would think they are abnoxious...they were very entertaining watching the boys play. Peter was the race car driver and Jamison was the police officer that would pull him over and issue a speeding ticket. The boys do like their cuddle friends..."Lucky"came with us and was always by Jamison's side.Gma told us to bring the suits...the boys were so confused about going swimming when there is snow outside but they stayed warm and toasty. I am not sure about their ability to reproduce when they are adults but they enjoyed it!Look what I got for christmas....a Peter, just what I always wanted!Then off to Green Bay for some more presents, more family and more fun! The coolest aunt was going to be there (KT) and the "no longer baby Grayson...toddler Grayson" (and his parents of course). Gma and Gpa were again too generous and we all received some really nice gifts. They boys got outside and made a snow duck that lead to a snowball fight, sadly I did not get pictures. Pat got tackled by uncle Matt...you dont want to get tackled by uncle Matt...he played football, and was good.
We also had the opportunity to be present for the making of history...(very) fortunate that the Packers beat the Lions making them the only team to go 0-16. At least the Packers could beat them! Maybe next year we will have a winning season. Back home we are playing with all the awesome stuff. Here is Jamison as an animal rescuer...capturing all of the critters and placing them in his jar.Peter on the other hand would prob be as happy with a stack of gift bags. He enjoys putting things in the bags and then placing them around the house. Some day he will likely loose his favorite toy of the minute.Thanks Ale and Vale for the cool cars and the special sweets! And thank you Keiko for the special treatsWe love Keiko treats! (except for those fishy ones...all the other ones were very good :)
Hope everyone had a safe and Merry Christmas. Looking forward to 2009!

Santa came early!

Since we will be on the road we asked that Santa come to our house a little early. (i figured this may be the last year that I can get away with that) and boy did he ever!

"I was really worried that Santa would bring me coal" says Jamison. The boys have been a little challenging lately. I think the stress of the holidays even gets to the 4yo.The aftermath...it was like a tornado! I didnt think tornados hit when it is this cold out! The boys were pretty happy with the loot. Although they were pretty quick to tell me that they did not get the bright yellow poison dart frog and the red M&M puppy. Listen, Santa cant bring everything.These puppies are the latest additions to the family. The boys do love their cuddle friends.

And Jamison really likes his new camera. He has gone through 2 sets of batteries and has taken 429 pictures...i kid you not! Pat is trying to figure out how you make Optimus Prine...a 5yo was suppose to be able to do it.

And the boys would like to thank MA for the wonderful sock monkeys who have found a home in the tree with their long lost momma! Thanks MA!

My christmas was made but the new addition to the family! I can clean and clean and clean! I am very excited!

Let it snow, let it stop already!

I dont know if I can take another year like last year...and sadly we are starting the year off with a bang! BUT this year we are good budds with the neighbors and they love sledding...Peter refuses to go down the hill...i think we have to pull out "Peter Penguin" That was the only way he went down last year.Jamison has no fear...and the neighbor kids humor him.

Meet the "meanest mom in Mount Horeb"

Yup, that's me. I wont let them stack all the cushions from the couch in a pile on the floor, and tell them that they better take a nap or Santa might not come AND I tell them that they cant hit their brother, dog or cat.

Can you believe it! I am terrible!

And all I have to say is that Peter is going to be an artist some day. Take a look what he created!

Candy Cane Horse

I am breaking internet silence per a Taller request.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wwoYXqJ1Sk

Holiday activities

When it is cold outside and cant go very far our creativitiy gets tested. Here Peter made a "bed" for Jamison. Do you see him in there? his hand is by the bear.

Last week was the boys preschool holiday party. The boys were brave and stood where they should and listened well...didnt sing or do the actions but I wont get greedy. I had the nose picker (Jamison). I was just happy that his hands did not go down his pants. Peter clapped when the audience did...he was proud of his classmates.

We also hit Liberty park....the most awesome sledding hill in Mount Horeb. Got in a few runs before we got too cold.

And we decorated some sugar cookies with some friends. There is really a cookie under all that red sugar. and plenty on Peter's face also! The finished product. There was a lot of candy and sugar on these....so I will not likely serve these at the party..but they are perfect for a kid sugar rush.

And yes, we think we finally know enough people to have our holiday party. The last party I was given such a hard time about not making the penguins I had to do them again....Jim, these are for you!

St Nick came! and we saw Santa

I guess St Nick thought the boys were being good...and he left some presents in their stocking. We are hoping the report to the big man will be a good one.Speaking of the big man...he came to Mount Horeb this past saturday. and i think every kid in the area was there to see him. There was cookie decorating, story time and other activities there to keep us occupied while Pat stood in line.I was surprised to see the boys raise their hand to do the song in front of everyone!. They did a great job.

And...when we finally got to see "the man" they were not too shy to sit on his lap. I think it was the first. Jamison was so nervous that he forgot to ask for what he wanted and instead asked for what he got last year. I cant believe...Jamison was....speechless. I thought that would never happen.

We also put the final touches on the tree. The star on top. The boys insisted that Pat be there for it.
And...Peter was the Busy Bee at school and for the holidays we made craft for him to give to the kids in his class. Now, when I was a kid we had candy cane horses. I could not remember how they were made so I tasked Pat with designing them. He did a great job! I cant wait to tell all the other preschool moms that it was his design. !Even cats love christmas. Here is Indy in his favorite spot during the holidays.

its beginning to look a lot like christmas

This year we cut down our tree in green bay, a spruce, normally we get balsams, and I think it is the perfect tree (except for the fact that I think I am allergic to spruce trees....long story...i thought I was, then I thought I wasnt...this year...hands are on fire! I guess I will be wearing gloves to take it down!). Any way. The boys were awesome helpers with only 3 casulties in the ornament department.

I thought I would try to get a holiday photo of the boys infront of it...but they were not all that interested in doing so. Here they are doing a jig....
Thought maybe if I put them on the stairs they would settle down...and they did but refused to remove the hood.

The stairs also gave us an opportunity to put ornaments higher than 4ft off the ground.And the final product (except for the star on top, the boys wanted Pat to help with that). Now, every year we partake in the German tradition of hiding a pickle in the tree. Can you find it? But what we learned by our German aupair and her parents...they have no idea about the "tradition" and they think it is an American thing. Well. German or American...it is fun. I hid the pickle and Peter was determined to find the thing and did so that very evening. On another note...there has been a lot of talk here about St. Nick and his brother Santa. I am going to milk this as long as possible...the boys still fear the big man in red! They really dont want coal for Christmas. Well, after piling all of their cuddle friends on the couch for a "long winter's nap" they fished out all the Brown Spots (calico cats) and made a special spot for them on the chair (with a packer flag under them) and asked them to keep a look our for St. Nick or Santa. We dont have a chimney...so they are pointed at the front door. I told the cats if they rat me out...no more cat nip for them.ALSO...Peter loves the legos. This creation is a bridge. I am not sure if he was sure of the architecture or just felt that it needed additional supports...but yes, this is scotch tape holding it up. Maybe he should talk to Aunt KT, the real architect.