Our family Christmas 2011

Here are a few pics from our little Christmas. We woke up to sweet little boys in our bed. Mark went downstairs first to get their tunnel ready and found that our cat left us a Christmas gift on the floor, half a rodent ( if you own a cat you can appreciate the magnitude of this gift:)).
After the cleanup the morning went really well. It was a relaxed, happy, free of mood-swing (or blood sugar drops) Christmas. So happy! Our boys took their time and played with things as they went

Cute christmas jammies

Love language

Oliver's primary "love language" is physical touch, aka, snuggles.
I don't know exactly what Keira's primary love language is but I don't think it's the same, but she lovingly indulged in her cousins request for "more snuggles".

Cirque de Melby

Kristen actually got all of the guys to pose for this photo. Kudos!

Oliver with his cousin Reagan. She turned sweet sixteen on the 23rd.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Famous last words

"...and whatever you do don't eat it!"

Oliver-ism

"The Grinch can't get out! He's locked up in hang-cups and foot-cups (handcuffs and... footcuffs?)"

Oliver-ism

Tonight during dinner....

Daddy: "Oliver get off the table"
Oliver: "I can't. I'm a mustache" (standing perfectly still)
Daddy: "Oliver get down"
Oliver complied
Daddy: "What is a mustache?"
Oliver: "Like this..." (demonstrating the same stone-like pose with arm extended)
After much confusion Mommy finally stepped in saying: " You mean a statue?"
Oliver: "Yea!!!"

Mystery solved

A tale if two flours

Here are the boys making cookies. Finn was making his "special" gf version. Oliver frequently helps in the kitchen but this was Finn's first time making something of his own.
I was really excited how well they both listened and it was an all around pleasant experience.

Oliver-ism

This is due to our recent discovery of dog videos on youtube.

Mom: "Oliver don't scream. You can sing but you're not allowed to scream."
Oliver: "Mom! I'm not screaming, I'm howling to make Finn stop crying. That's what dogs do."

The inspiring video found here

Oliver-ism

Oliver made me an "apple pie" this morning. I offered him a taste but he said "No, I'm the jeff. I can't eat any."
He later explained that " a jeff is a maker-sir."
So, now that we're clear on that..... :)

"it's pajama time! Oh yes! It's pajama time"

I declared today pajama day!

The grocery icebox

This was taken earlier this summer. Our weekly ritual of going to woodman's is usually a frigid one. In the summer we would enter the store in shorts and t-shirt and my kids would cry most of the way through the store with chattering teeth because of the temperatures. I quickly developed a system if bringing blankets with and the boys knew to bundle up as soon as we entered.

Turn the moose loose

A little foolery

Catching the first flakes of the year

Upside-down-with-a-harmonica

A book we love!

This was one of those things that I totally didn't get until having little boys and watching them fall in love with it.
I picked up the book at Goodwill and Oliver thought it was so great that we quickly ordered the movie from the library.
Oliver had asked Daddy about Max's crown, and Daddy suggested that it be his weekend craft.
However, when daddy does something he doesn't just do it halfhearted. There was measuring and pasting and cutting and sequins....

Finley was watching Oliver get fitted for his crown and just quietly touched his head, reminding Daddy not to forget about making one for him.

They turned out great and have been worn several times since then.
Good idea Daddy!

Worst book ever!

We've been utilizing our library a lot recently, and when you're getting as many books as we are you're bound to get a rotten egg. This is it. The Backward Day.
It's so painfully boring to read. However, Oliver absolutely loves it. I do just about anything, just short of giving him candy, to talk him out of it.
Because of this Mark that it was great fun to read it as slowly as possible in the most monotone voice he could muster. Grrr.
In conclusion: There are numerous things that you and your child could do that would be a much better use of time.