Christmas 2009

So far, Christmas 2009 has been according to plan. It looks like we'll get on our way out of town before the big Christmas snowstorm hits the cities. Whew.

I read an Irving Berlin short story this fall that really stuck with me. It was about how Christmas, unlike holidays like Easter or the Fourth of July or Labor Day, is in the darkest season of the year and that is what helps make the time of year so special. The season draws people inside, insular, into the family and friends. It requires us to be near the fireplace and to shut out the outside world to an extent and focus on the core. The home unit. I guess if there is a snowstorm over Christmas week that will enhance that feeling. I feel so blessed to have family and loved ones to share it with. Sam

Here's some recent photos.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=141375&id=674857370&l=3c8e77014a

P.S. Aunt Val, we got your box of Christmas gifts for the family. Thanks. Can't wait to see what is inside. Merry Christmas to you and John.

Snoopy!

Christmas is the Only One (AKA: All other holidays are fun, but Christmas is the only one) by Levi

Our First Gingerbread House

Today we made our very first gingerbread house. I have never attempted this project even as a kid. I'll admit it took awhile to get the right consistency of icing. And, it made a rather large mess with a very curious Ezra grabbing at the candy and a very anxious Levi wanting to do it all. I assured the troops that next year it would go much smoother having had practice now. (We have now formulated a plan to scour Michael's shelves for Christmas clearance to get one for next year.) In the end, we managed to produce a very fine looking house. And thanks to Levi's plan of turning down the lights and turning on the Christmas tree lights, we got a pretty sweet picture.

Peace on Earth

Advent

I just posted some photos on Facebook. Twenty of them. Check it out HERE.

We got the Christmas tree up this weekend. It was good. We also had a good time at church this weekend. On Saturday we helped organize and run a little event for families with preschoolers where we made sugar cookies that they handed out next to the donuts at Church on Sunday. It was a great turnout and now will be hard to follow in January when we don't really have and excuse to get together (I suggested that we try to put on a puppet show, but that seems like a lot of work. Maybe we'll just have a game time fun and play things like the Cat in the Hat game one Saturday morning in January). Then today (second Sunday in Advent) I got to sing with the choir. It was really fun and after we were done singing in the second service Levi said that was his favorite song ever that I've sung with the choir. It was a loud happy anthem called Wait! Watch!

Advent is a fun time for us right now because Levi really doesn't remember much about last year. He's been so excited about everything so far, it's quite fun watching him enjoy it all so much like its fresh and he's never been through it or something. Today, he was so excited to turn on the lights for the Christmas tree. Oh and he took a nap on his floor in a sleeping bag that he got last year from grandma and grandpa black. He was so excited to be in there and hang out with his stuffed animal friends.

We've had a problem with some squirrel eating through our Christmas lights - I don't know what to do. Wyatt told me I should just make sure that they're always plugged in and turned on and then like the cat in Christmas Vacation it would learn its lesson.

That's all for now.
Hope you are preparing your heart for the big day in late December. Open your door wide and let him in.

Sam out.

Hope

Today was a great message at church. Pastor Paul spoke to me directly when he used a running metaphor to remind me to take time to notice the wonderful things God has made and given us. He said he was on a long run recently and he started to stress out about how he may have gone too far and how he was getting tired and sore, and then he noticed he was just looking at his shoelaces and the trail below him, and then a little inner voice reminded him to look up, which he did and he saw a beautiful late autumn sun set, and made it back on his run without any extra effort. We have to take time to lift up our chins and absorb the world around us. I concur. We need to spend less time facebooking and more time interacting - face to face with people, our families, the people in our neighborhood and even strangers.

Regarding church - today at OK Lutheran (that's actually the URL: oklutheran.org) I got to sing a song with a six-person ensemble. It was a South African spiritual called Freedom is Coming. Fortunately, I was moved from tenor to bass, so I didn't sound like a wounded calf, which is what I would have sounded like at 8 this morning on the tenor part.

For another song Levi got to sing and do some actions in church this morning too with a couple dozen other Sunday School kids.

We put up our advent decorations today - and it was fun. Levi is very excited to begin the advent calendars. He also enjoyed playing with some of the little stuffed animals we've accumulated over the years - such as the saxophone version of Santa Claus is Coming to Town.

Levi ate almost an entire Roma cheese pizza tonight. He ate all but 2 small slices that I had given to Ezra. It was the first, but not the last time I'm sure, that he'll be able to almost out-eat his father.

Good news on the Ezra talking update. Today he tried to say several words - cheese, cheerios, shoes, dog, socks, hat, hot.... as his father, I'm starting to understand those words he says and he's going to start saying a TON of words in the next 30 days I think. Be prepared for an update soon.

Go vikings. 10-1; amazing... but I have a lot of a very strong opinion that they're going to choke.

Monday night is piano night - Levi and Daddy will probably practice and try to remember how to play Jolly Old St. Nicholas. We're only less than 1 hour away from finalizing a deal. Sleepy. Going to bed. Not making any sense. Zzzzzzzzzz

Sam out. I'll try to post a photo later.

Play Dough and Hair Cut

Well, I finally did it. It's been on my list of things to do and in my recipe book for several years now. I made home made play dough. I was amazed at how easy it was and how it actually worked. I made yellow and red as starters today. Now we'll have to see how long it lasts before getting hard.



Tonight we walked over to the kindergarten meeting. The boys played in the childcare area while we heard about our options and met the teachers and visited the rooms. Levi also got to visit the room to see what it was all about. Still not sure when he'll start, but I think we're leaning towards waiting a year. Ah what a dilemma. If he would have been born two weeks late instead of two weeks early, this wouldn't even be a question.

We went to Medicine Lake park this week. Beautiful day with all blue sky, but a little crisp.





Levi had the sharing bag again this week at preschool. He took his airplane watch and his Bubby Airplane that we made and painted. Next week they will be having a Thanksgiving Feast at preschool and one guest gets to join him. I think dad will have the honors this time.

Ezra still won't say a word. He kind of was saying Da tonight, but not too much. He's getting his ears checked tomorrow just in case. I'm sure they'll be fine, but we'll see.

Ezra had his first hair cut - by dad. Very small, way earlier than Levi had his. We really just trimmed his bangs so they are out of his eyes and his "rat tail" in the back. You probably have to look pretty hard to even see the difference.

Before


During


After

A Morning With Ezra

In an effort to remember five years, or even one year, from now what it is we did when Levi was in preschool, here is a glimpse.

Today we dropped Levi off and then headed to the Hopkins library where we played and found some books. We also attended story time where we read and sang songs. We even got to play with the parachute today which was a new adventure. After the library, we headed back to church and played at the park until it was time to get Levi.

Granted this is not a typical day. Some days we run errands which Ezra isn't too fond of. Usually though we head back home and play inside, go for a walk, play outside, etc. Last Monday we experimented with paints which was pretty brave. It created quite a mess, but I got a living room piece to match Levi's out of the deal.

Fun times:)

Leaf Frollicking

Suffice it to say, we have absolutely no shortage of leaves at this house.






And here's a pic of Christina and Levi playing....

Hear no evil. See no evil ....

Halloween Flock

So Tall

Well, we just had Ezra's 15 month check up today. He is doing great. The big surprise is how tall he is. He shot way up to the 95th percentile for height. Crazy, we've never experienced that. Poor guy had to have 3 shots today though. Now we just monitor his temp (which is already 100.5). Ugh, vaccines.

Levi is currently at his preschool Halloween party - dressed as a shepherd. I'm anxious to hear how it goes.

Oh, here is a pretty sweet picture of Ezra sleeping.


And, here's Levi with a beard.


And a few from carving pumpkins.

Pictures From The Week

Seriously, another picture? Yes, here's Ezra with Beary.


Ezra on a big tree stump at Coon Rapids Dam last Saturday.


Levi was not in the picture taking mood, but we finally got him to pose with mom at the dam.


Ezra trying to lift the pumpkin at Fall Harvest Orchard last Friday. Again, Levi was not in the picture taking mood for this field trip. He did enjoy the very muddy tractor ride and picking corn and gourds.


Levi showing off his very beloved and newly formed quiet time area in his room.

Beary

So tonight, Sam stayed at home with the boys while Mom went to CPR certification class. Ezra had a temp tonight, he hasn't even had the flu shot yet. Got the breaks fixed on the minivan - grinding noise never good. Ezra is saying "Da-Da" on a regular basis. he says Hot too, but without sounding out the T. His "ch" sound is for cheerios and his "sh" sound is for shoes or socks. He's quite funny though when it comes to following complex instructions - tonight I asked him to go get one of his stuff animal friends from his room and he went directly back to mom and dad's bookshelf and found Beary - my stuffed animal from when I was a tyke. Has several animals that are his own, but he's latching onto Beary. He also loves racing Levi down the hall- whether its at church or in our own livingroom. Speaking of Levi and church; last Sunday (the 11th) Levi went up for children's sermon all by himself. It was a big step because every other week, he would not go unless one of us went with him. Naturally we let him know how proud we are of him. Tonight Levi said he's rooting for the Yankees to win the World Series. What is going on!?!
Sam out.

Growing Up and First Field Trip

So, yesterday while Levi was at preschool, Ezra and I spent some time rearranging the toys in both of their rooms and downstairs. The biggest change was that we moved the changing table out of Ezra's room. With the big void, I thought it may be a good idea to move the kitchen from Levi's room to Ezra's room. With this plan in mind, we headed to pick up Levi at preschool. On the way there, thinking about it, a huge rush of sadness came over me and the tears started to well. I guess I just remembered Levi getting the kitchen and always playing with it when he was Ezra's age (the tears swell again as I type. Oie!).

Anyway, we soldiered on, got Levi and then came home. Levi was anxious to see all of the changes. Then, when I popped the question, Levi said, "oh yah, let's do that. Can we try that now?" So, we moved the kitchen out and into Ezra's room. Levi is thrilled with his new found floor space that allowed him to move his monkey and guitar to the corner and have a nice big play area. He now has some place to play where Ezra won't have to walk through what he's doing.
After nap, we broke in the new place with three games of Guess Who? It was a lot of fun.
Oh, and Levi also had a grand time giving advice as to how we can rearrange our living room.

Last night the four of us attended the U of M Homecoming Parade.





We even walked with the large mass over to the new stadium to check it out. It was too late for us to stay for the pep fest - too bad because that would have been fun with the band and fireworks. Perhaps when they get older.



Finally, earlier this week, Levi went on his first field trip with preschool. Parents were invited so naturally I went with. We took a yellow school bus which he was quite excited to be on. He was quick to notice there were no seat belts. Nonetheless, he really liked the big curves that made him move from one side to another.



The field trip was to the local nature center. It was pouring rain so most of our adventure was inside. We saw a puppet show about apple trees. Then, we took a walk to the apple cider making building where the kids got to each put in an apple, see it being made and then taste the apple cider. He liked it!

Bird in a Treehouse

Here is one of Levi's latest creations. We made the clay bird and nest at a local event with lots of crafts last Saturday. Then, he had the idea to draw a tree and tape the bird nest into the tree. So, here it is on our refrigerator.

Dentist!

Levi had his third visit to the dentist this morning. He did great. Today was the first time he had x-rays. Everything looks good and no cavities. Ezra was pretty interested in everything that was going on. They were nice enough to give him a new toothbrush when Levi got his. We signed him up for next time. In case you're wondering, those are tiger shades he has on to keep out the bright light. Pretty cool.



A few more highlights...

Last Sunday was Levi's first day of Sunday school. He went all by himself this year which was good. Now if he would only go up for the children sermon on his own:)



Ezra at the front of the church.


Speaking of Ezra...Right after lunch one day last week, I asked Erza if he wanted his milk before nap. He proceeded to take it from my hand, but then turned around and walked the other way. I knew exactly what he was going to do. He walked into his room and put his toy measuring tape away in the toy bin and then came to get the milk. No prompting, not telling, just did it on his own. Yea, already learning to pick up.

Cousins! We had a lunch time visitor.


New t-ball set in Grand Forks.


Cousins!


Kings.


Matching Leaf Shirts. This is the second year we've made the leaf shirts. Levi did his pretty much all by himself this year. Ezra also got his fingers in the paint. If you look closely, you'll see that Levi's cowboy boots from Arizona have been passed down. Too small for Levi - sniff, sniff. He used to love those, dance in them and wear them everywhere. They're still a little big for Ezra, but we'll see if he follows in his brother's footsteps.


September 18 - Levi's Baptism Anniversary

A Week's Worth of Memories

Here are some of the happenings over the past week.

Last Friday evening we went to the annual Harley Hopkins House Vehicle Fair. This is our third year of attending. They have city vehicles - fire trucks, plows, garbage trucks, postal trucks, etc. - that the kids can climb in. This year they also had some outdoor drums that Levi was able to take a turn on.



After the vehicles, we headed on inside to the classrooms to play with all of the toys. Ezra was in his element. He did a very cool art picture and loved playing at the water table and with all of the toys.






Last Sunday was festival Sunday at our church. Levi got to meet his Sunday school teacher and see his room. We also marched around the church with ribbons and then had a picnic and games on the lawn.

Ezra at the Bean Bag Toss.


Good Throw.


Levi Fishing.


Balloons!


Ezra had some quality reading time with Daddy one afternoon this week.



On Monday night Levi said that his high of the day was going to preschool. I was excited and glad to hear that he had such a good time. (There was a small pull on my heart though thinking that his high of the day was not at home.) Anyway, I could tell Levi was pretty anxious to go. He got to have the sharing bag today for the first time. So, he had it packed up and was ready to go. What did he share you ask - the Flashes of course.

As part of bringing the sharing bag, he also got to be the helper today which entailed feeding the fish, sitting on the special star and turning the lights off.

The same night he also said that tomorrow we could go to the new Twins Stadium because his work officers were called in there to help with the construction of it. So, we can go and see them. Nifty. He's got connections and he's only 4!

And finally, here's a fun picture from the middle of the week...

Matching Socks!


You may recall the original.