Penguin Prep

Sophia and James will be having a joint birthday party again this year, in mid-February.  They are both quite excited about it and the theme will be Penguins and Polar Bears.  While Sophia is always quick to remind anyone that penguins and polar bears actually live on two different arctic poles, Jimmy immediately follows that up with, "Sophia likes penguins and I like polar bears."

It's a great theme for winter -- so many decorating ideas and crafts for this time of year.  And frankly, we have done more than I planned due to the fact that the kids have had a record number of snow days home from school already this year.

One such craft was using a potato as a stamp and making homemade penguin wrapping paper for Sophia's gifts.  I already had everything on hand -- plain brown paper, potatoes and acrylic paint.

I set Sophia up on one counter and Jack on another ... we began with the black body; let it dry and then followed up with a white belly and eyes and then orange beaks and feet. 

I explained ahead of time that the penguins would end up looking "rustic;" that is, they wouldn't be PERFECT.  Some will be larger than others, some will not have as much black or white, etc.

Overall, the kids did great with it.

I ended up finishing it up by myself (the snow outside was piling up and they were anxious to play), but I am already thinking of the endless ideas that we can do with this concept for future wrapping paper ideas -- not just for family, but also for friends!

Jimmy's First Haircut

That's right.  3 weeks before his THIRD birthday, we took Jimmy for his first haircut.  We had been talking about it for a while now, but the timing just didn't seem to work out.  I wanted to make sure that his first haircut was at a "real" barbershop (Steve does Jack's hair these days at home), and Steve wanted to be sure to take him to Greg, the barber that he went to for years when he lived in Lansing.

The stars finally aligned and we made the trip into Lansing on a day when Steve was off work and the other kids were at school.  Jimmy fell asleep on the way there, but woke up in decent spirits, excited for the day that we had been talking about for what seemed like forever.

And just like his older brother, he sat there, still as a stone.  He was the perfect little model.

It always amazes me how much hair gets cut off and falls on the floor.

Finishing up some light trimming before getting out the clippers.

Jimmy didn't flinch at all.  In fact, he is so used to seeing Steve use them at home on Jack that he was already anticipating it.

Almost done.

All finished.  And looking like he was six now.

It will be interesting to see now how soon Jimmy's hair will begin to darker (Steve, Sophia and Jack all had light hair as toddlers and then it got darker as they aged).  I'm sure that the texture will change too from baby fine to coarse, like Jack's.  It's those blue eyes that get me every time!

Winter Fun

We've had an unseasonably mild winter so far; in fact, the ice on our lake just now froze to the point where there is no open water.  It was the first weekend where we allowed the kids out on the lake and they spent many hours shoveling snow, clearing a skating rink and just plain running around.  It was cold out, but that didn't stop them.

In the meantime, I found these pictures from our first big snowstorm of the season, way back at the end of November (my mom's birthday, to be exact).  I remember that it was windy and the snow was so wet, but I ran outside to capture a few shots of the kids as they sledded down the hill in the back yard.

I'm not sure if Jimmy remembers snow from last year, but he squealed when he saw it that day.

The trees were so gorgeous in the background, that is almost seems like a "fake" winter scene.  BUt it certainly wasn't.

Everyone was dressed warmly and prepared for the snow that continued to fall all around them.

Sophia's favorite hat -- I hope that it fits her for a long time.

Samantha is looking so tall and grown-up these days.  I need time to slow down a bit.

I think that this little boy will learn to love the outdoors just as much as his older brother.

Speaking of which, those two can fight like no other, but they can also play together well when they want.  Jack begged to let Jimmy ride on the sled with him.  I obliged.

Making it to the bottom of the hill and taking a small rest.

The more, the merrier!

Christmas 2018

We started out the week before Christmas this year with a couple of sick kids, and I was determined to make sure that they were better and back to their "old selves" before the fun and celebrating began.  Jimmy had a double ear infection and Samantha had an upset stomach, so they laid low and rested as much as possible.  Within a couple of days, there were ready and rearing to go.  

Grandpa and Miss Diane came over on Christmas Eve to celebrate with us and we shared a ham dinner together before gathering in the living room to exchange gifts.

Jimmy received his first remote-controlled car and it was a definite hit!

As our guests were leaving, we headed outside with them and the kids set to work sprinkling their homemade "reindeer food" all over the lawn.  There was a bit of disappointment that there wasn't any snow on the ground for a "white Christmas," but we woke up to snow the very next morning -- just in time for the holiday.

Before we tucked the kids in bed that night, they opened their traditional Christmas Eve gift from us -- a new set of pajamas and posed in front of the tree.

They look forward to these every year and I love seeing them in fresh new pajamas the next morning.

It was hard to capture a nice group photo because they were both excited and tired.

In fact, when I told Jimmy that it was time for bed, this is how he felt ...

I quickly snuggled him in bed and then the older kids set out milk and cookies for the Big Man in the Red Suit.

The girls wanted to use one of their new "S" mugs for Santa.  It was a great idea!

And Jack deliberated for so long choosing just the right cookie for Santa.

While the kids were all nestled in their beds, Santa set to work filling stockings and placing presents under the tree.

We don't do a set area for everyone's gifts.  They are scattered randomly under the tree and it makes it fun to just pull them out and read the tag aloud.

We had the idea this year to give the kids an empty box before we started and then explained that they needed to put their opened gifts in the box.  It would help to keep things organized for them (and for me!).

Stockings were first and I loved seeing how excited the kids got over each and every little item that Santa had specially picked for them.  (It might have been my favorite part).

Jimmy got more bath drops for the tub -- something that he specifically asked Santa for this year.  The "blue drops" are his favorite.

Samantha gifted her dad with two new decks of playing cards.  It was her own idea and it was perfect because they are constantly playing card games together.  (On the back of the couch is the beautiful quilt that Miss Diane had made for us).

Unicorn headphones -- who knew that they made these?  Sophia loves them dearly.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Socks for Jack.  A definite favorite.

One of our neighbors gifted us with this train table for Jimmy (we have some of the best neighbors ever!) and we had it set up in the basement.  The boys were so excited about it.

Then, it was time for the gift from us to each of the kids.  Sophia received a karaoke machine, complete with a disco light.

Jack opened a nice remote-controlled truck that is all-terrain and incredibly fast.

Jimmy got a kindle from us (so he can match his older siblings).  The look on his face here is priceless.

And then, Sam.  She had been asking for a while now for a hamster and I questioned whether she was truly responsible enough for one.  In fact, it is well-known in our family that her younger sister is the more disciplined and organized one.

Steve and I discussed this forever and decided to surprise her with one for Christmas.  She opened a book from us on how to care for your hamster, but never imagined that we had one for her already.

Yes, Nibbles had been in my (locked) office for over a week, just waiting to meet Sam.  And so far, so good.  Samantha loves her to pieces and Nibbles is getting less shy around us.  She currently resides in the bathroom upstairs where she doesn't disturb anyone at night.

Later that day, we enjoyed a lasagna/spaghetti late lunch with my family and the kids enjoyed playing with their gifts.

Jack excavated dinosaurs from fossil eggs.  Such a cool thing to watch!

Sophia received her own apron and recipe book, which we are going to begin adding her favorite recipes to as we cook together.

Jimmy opened a new construction book ...

And a camo coat to match his older brother's (well-worn) one.

And he spent a lot of time with his dad putting together a construction zone.

Here's to a great year in 2019!