Snow Days

Winter has officially arrived.  No little skiffs of snow that barely cover the grass.  We are talking major snow storms, plows on the road and constant use of snow boots, hats and gloves.  It is beautiful.  Especially since I don’t have many places to go. We’ve shoveled the drive way more than Paul enjoys, pulled out the snow shoes for a walk around the house, and built a small snowman.  Let it snow!

A Very Merry Christmas!

We had a great Christmas this year!  Theodore performed in his first Nativity production, opened lots of presents and played with all of his new toys (between each present).  Our sweet neighbors invited us over on Sunday night for dinner and the Nativity.  Their nine year old daughter had all of our parts figured out.  I was an angel, Paul was a wise man, and Theo was a shepherd.  We tried to get him to be the babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, but he wiggles too much.  

Christmas Eve Theo left cookies for Santa.  He also helped himself to one.  Early Christmas morning (7:15) we started opening presents.  Theo was not very interested until he saw a mini box of Apple Jacks in his stocking.  It took thirty minutes to make it through his stocking and an hour and a half to open and play with all the presents.  Theo got a wagon, story books, airplane, steering wheel, cars, and safari animals and a bunch of other toys.  This kid will be set for entertainment for the next year!  We spent the day playing games with the neighbors and having fun.

This picture has something to do with wanting the camera that was finally at Theo’s level and him being held back.  But it’s the only family one we got so, Merry Christmas!

When the world is supposed to end, what do you do?

I was sitting at the dining room table writing Christmas cards (I have writer’s arm, it’s been a long time since I’ve written more that a list by hand) on Friday afternoon when I received a phone call from Paul. 

Paul: What are you doing?

Emily: Writing Christmas cards.  My arm and neck are starting to hurt.

Paul: Oh, do you want to go to a wedding?

Emily: Um, today or like in six months?

Paul: Today.  This afternoon sometime?

Emily: Um…who is getting married this afternoon?

Paul: Mike.  He’s going to call when they know what time.

(Mike works with Paul.  He and his girlfriend/fiancé have been together for five years, engaged for three, have two children together and he has custody of the other two children.  Today was a good day to get married.  I guess.)

Emily: I don’t really know them.  I met them like twice?  I could watch their kids.

Paul: So do you want to go?

We went to a wedding at the court house on the Friday afternoon when the world was supposed to end.  Kind of interesting, kind of funny, very random.  Yet somewhat romantic. Congratulations!

Just a disclaimer: they did not get married because the world was supposed to end.  It was a Christmas present and the court house is closed on Monday or the judge wasn’t going to be there or something.

Visit with Santa

Theodore saw Santa Claus at Broulims.  He did not like him. At. All.  He did like the candy cane.

Paul and I found it all to be kind of funny. 

Theo did sit on Santa’s lap, but they took that picture with the store camera and he was not going to sit on Santa’s lap again for the sake of a picture.  Maybe next year….

We Like Christmas

Our house has been decked out for the holidays since the end of November.  I love having all the lights up and decorations out.  It makes Christmas feel magical.  I just have to say that we have excellent outdoor lights this year.  It is classy and not overwhelming, in my humble opinion of course.  Enjoy our decorations!

We put this gingerbread train together on Sunday.  It is only missing a few pieces of candy.  Theodore has helped himself to the Hershey Kiss that was the smoke stack and a cute mini M&M tree I made.  He can’t pull the rest of the candies off, the frosting is too hard.

A groovy pinterest find.  It looks neat from far away.  I will not be removing the lights to use the tomato cage next summer.

I should have taken a video so you could hear our display!  This year we have the lights on steady, but you can make them dance to the music.

I almost forgot about this beauty!  Seriously 3 pounds of peppermints.  But still so festive.

Merry Christmas!

Catch-Up

I want to start 2013 with a renewed dedication to blog and since I am always a month or two behind I am playing catch-up today so I can start with January in January.  What an idea?!  Oh, and you probably don’t want to see Christmas in March  or Thanksgiving in December for that matter, too late, so here it is….

Theodore knows how to get his own snack.  Very convenient for him and messy for me.

We spent Thanksgiving in Twin Falls with my family.  Theo had so much fun with his cousins.  Especially riding the four-wheeler which was a highlight every afternoon.  It was great to spend time with Adam and Willie’s families.  I especially enjoyed our crafting time.  My sister-in-law, Leigh-Ann, makes beautiful paper flowers and she showed us how to make them too.  They are really difficult for me to make, so I’ll let her stick to it.  She is also a wonderful photographer and took a billion pictures of Theodore for me.  Which reminds me I need to get them from her!

Theodore is so big.  I don’t know when it happened.  He thought he was pretty grand when he climbed (he is a climber) from the hearth to the chair.  It was a little nerve racking but he never fell.

Bowling with the family.

Eating pumpkin pie for the first time.  Thanks Uncle Elden!  Thanksgiving dinner was during Theodore’s nap so he got the good stuff when he woke up.

Another ride.

It is a favorite tradition of mine to go see the lights in the South Hills.  It gets bigger every year and I love the camel.  Theo was a bit concerned and couldn’t look away from it.

Just like dad.

My cute little boy is so sweet.  He still likes to sit on the keyboard.  He has even started walking on it.

Theo is also a little monster.  Look at his face!  I call that “attack mode.”

Anything Theo can climb on/in he is there.

Kind of like this box.  I was doing something at my desk and turned around to see this.  I don’t know how he got in it-the box is up to Theo’s chest.  It is a great babysitter though.  He has spent three days playing in it.

My Helper

Theodore is the best little helper.  He especially loves the vacuum.  He has liked it since he was born and I would carry him in the pack while I vacuumed.  Now he can do it himself!

I am looking forward to the day when he can use the big vacuum.  Oh yeah, did you notice Theo's scoot.  That's how he gets around.  No crawling for this kid.  I think he started crawling like that so he could hold toys in his hand.  Also, since this video he has taken a few steps.  Wahoo!

A trip to Chicago

Theodore had his first plane ride.  My oldest sister, Shannon, recently moved to Chicago.  Her husband got a job over there and while I am thankful for his job, I miss my sister!  So my mom, Sara, Theo and I packed our bags and went to see them.

We mainly went to meet this beautiful girl!  Maegan is absolutely adorable.

Sara and I did some sight seeing in Downtown Chicago.  We went to The Art Institute of Chicago.

And saw famous paintings.  Monet, Georgia O'Keeffe, van Gogh, Picasso.  We felt extremely cultured, almost too cultured.

So we went to Al’s and had Chicago style hot dogs and Italian Beef.

On Halloween we went Trick-or-Treating around my sister’s neighborhood.  My nephews were the Mad Hatter and a Hot Dog.  The Hot Dog thought his costume was hilarious and wanted everyone to say so.  When someone finally did, he was embarrassed.  Little kids.

We went to the Robert McCormick Cantigny Park where they give you tours of the mansion.

We also went shopping, watched Downton Abbey, ate deep dish pizza, went to Maegan’s blessing and celebrated my birthday.  It was wonderful to spend a week with my mom and sisters.