Happy New Year!

We decided to have a small family party for the New Year. We bought balloons, made headbands and ate cookies.

Now Ken and I are going to spend the beginning of the night doing something we hardly ever do together....clean!!!!

A clean house and well rested kids...what more could you ask for on the first day of 2009?!?!?!

Up Close and Personal

Only one picture to share from Christmas!!! My parents took pictures of Christmas and I didn't even think to grab any of the pictures from their camera....until I sat down to write a blog! The boys had a great time and of course received more presents then necessary. Here is the one and only picture I have.

We ended our visit with a trip to the zoo. It was a very cloudy day but warm. The animals were more active then I have seen them in the past at this zoo.

Chris really liked this snake. The entire time Chris was watching him he was crawling up the glass. Chris asked if we could get one just like it as a pet.

He also watched this turtle for a while. It kept swimming by him. I didn't alter this picture at all! If it wasn't for the reflection of the flash I think it would be the perfect picture!

This gorilla came right up to the glass and Ryan ran over to look at him. The little girl next to Ryan wanted to see the gorilla too and Ryan pushed her and stated "mine."

As the boys were feeding the ducks some pigeons showed up. One ate a piece of duck kibble right out of Tracey's hand.

Finally, the lions were relaxing and cuddling. I had to take a picture.

Flyers Game

We went to the Flyers game on the 23rd.

What a great game.

The Flyers won 5-4!

It is always great to go to a game and watch your team win.

20 Questions

Chris was getting hyper in the car today, as he usually does. Sometimes we play an alphabet game where we have to find something that begins with each letter. Today I decided to be different and teach him how to play 20 questions. I went first and picked a tree. He got it after a few questions. I tell him it is his turn.

Me: Is the object alive.
Chris: No
Me: Can I see the object?
Chris: No
Me: Is the object in the air?
Chris: No
Me: Is the object on the ground?
Chris: No, it's dead people.

It's my turn and I pick a car. Chris gets it.

Chris's turn...
Me: Is the object alive?
Chris: Yes
Me: Is it an animal?
Chris: No
Me: Can I see it?
Chris: No, it is invisible
Me: Is it God?
Chris: No
Me: Is it heaven? (Sometimes you have to forget previous questions with Chris)
Chris: No, it is God visiting the earth and you can't see him.

Lesson learned...don't play 20 questions with a 5 year old.

The Magic of Santa

I have been trying to get the boys to clean the better half of the day. They are dragging their feet and Chris keeps telling me cleaning is boring. Finally, I left them to clean (I knew that was never going to happen) to make dinner. Chris came upstairs and started playing in the family room.

I said "Chris, I didn't want to tell you this but Santa won't come to our house if it is dirty. That is why I have been trying so hard to get it clean. He will see how dirty our house is and he won't visit us at MomMom and PopPop's house because of it."

I didn't say another word and Chris got up, went downstairs and started cleaning his toys!

Too bad Santa only comes once a year.

Christmas Photo

We finally got to the mall and let the boys take a picture with Santa. Since I had already sent out my Christmas cards I just got the cheapest package with was two 5 X 7" pictures. If someone wants the second one let me know. First come, first serve basis! haha

The picture did not scan well because Chris looks long and skinny in this picture. I don't know why it came out so goofy but he looks like himself (besides the fake smile) in the picture.

Anyhow, when it was our turn to see Santa Ryan ran up to him with his arms wide open. So opposite of Chris at the same age. However, this was not the first time we saw Santa. Ryan got to meet him at the mall just after Thanksgiving, then he met him at the Tree Lighting Ceremony and again after Chris's holiday program. No wonder he ran to Santa because every other time he got a candy cane! This time Santa had a coloring book.

This picture still remains my favorite and therefore will remain in our Christmas frame for another year.

Christmas Party

Ken had his work Christmas party today. We missed the social hour (meaning we did not get to sit with Ken's friends.) We actually wound up sitting with Ken's boss. Ken was not thrilled.

Well, they had daycare set up for the kids in the room next door. We walked in and it was crazy. Ken and I looked for an adult, but didn't find one. Finally a YOUNG teenage girl came up to us and asked our kids names. We asked her if there was a sign in sheet or anything and the reply was "no, just drop your kids off." She then informed us that the kids could color if they wanted. There was not a single activity set up for the kids. The adult who set this up had to have been one of the girls parents and wanted the child to experience complete chaos. They succeeded because that is what daycare turned into.

So about an hour and a half after we got there Ken went to check on the boys. Chris was crying because he wanted to go home. He said that kids were running around choking other kids. Great. Well, the wonderful parents we are, we bribed him to go back to the room with a piece of cake. Ryan cried when he had to return to the room. I guess it was pretty bad because my boy who causes trouble the minute I look away had a couple hours to cause havoc and he did not want to!

We had cake and were ready to leave. After picking up the boys we were walking out and Chris said "Mom, there were no teachers in that daycare and it was a disaster."

On the way home Chris kept talking about all the older kids (the 13 year old babysitters) who had babies. I guess each one of the babysitters had a baby on her hip the entire time! I had to explain to them that those kids did not have babies they were watching other people's babies. It was pretty funny. He then informed us that he was never returning to that day care again.

Next year we will have to find a babysitter instead of bringing them to the party. I am surprised that it turned out the way it did. Most of the other Christmas parties had a kids party next door with tons of different activities.

Artwork

A few weeks ago I threw all the markers in the house away after the boy who even has Santa fooled (according to this site) colored on our carpet.

Well, with Chris out of school he has suddenly been excited about art projects I went out and bought more markers. They love using markers. This morning we colored and here they are proudly displaying there artwork.

I wanted a picture of Ryan to explain why he was dressed at 7:30 in the morning but he wanted to display his artwork. (He was completely naked when I walked into his room to get him out of his crib!)

Little does he know that I know how to put diapers on backwards!!!!

School Picture

While the computer was on vacation we received Chris's school pictures. The scanner is hooked up to the computer so I never scanned the picture. Here it is. I really think it came out good.

Holiday Program

Chris had his holiday program today. The kids did well.

 

This was the best song his age group sang. Unfortunately, they turned the lights out so the kids could hold the candles.

This though was what most of the program was like. Chris is the 5th kid from the left. I think we chose a good sweater this year since he is easy to pick out!

The kindergarden kids sang It's beinging to Look A Lot Like Christmas. Chris informed me that he sang along with them from his seat! He is so funny.

It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas

I should try and get Chris singing the song for this blog. This is one of the songs he sang for the City of Dover Tree Lighting ceremony. His principal took pictures of him that came out and said she would give them to me but hasn't yet.

For now this will have to do. I was not able to get any pictures of the boys by the tree that were not blurry. This was the best.

I then bribed Chris with TV time to take another set of pictures. This time I set the timer and got in with them. They still came out blurry unfortunately.

Ken came home tonight. An unexpected surprise after a change of plans twice. Hopefully, he will be able to borrow a ladder and put the wreath back up in the center window. Also add a light. Even with the window missing a wreath and light I love the way our house looks.

Here is a picture of what the wreath on our front door basically looks like. After having the picture taken I added a couple more balls to the bare spots.

Who is Your Favorite Hockey Player?

As you all know we train the boys early in our house. The training continues!

100

For the last couple weeks Chris has been asking us to count to 100, 200, 1000. I have counted with him up to 200 but that is my limit. So yesterday we were off to the tree lighting ceremony. (I didn't get any good pictures because the lights were so bright and then when the kids were singing I couldn't even see Chris.) Anyhow he asked me how high he would need to count before we got to City Hall. I told him 400. He started getting a little mixed up with his numbers around 230 but I helped him out. Finally he got to 300 and said "Mom, does 300 repeat itself just like 200." When I told him yes he was very disappointed. However, I don't think I am going to have to disappoint him anymore when he asks me to count to 1000! What a smart boy.