The tree is up

I just hope it stays that way. Ben is all over the place and I am just certain that if we don’t watch him 24/7 he will pull that tree down right on top of himself. In year’s past, when we had a small child, we would wait until the last minute to put up the tree, but that just didn’t seem fair to the older boys to wait. So, we are braving it and hoping for the best. He may look cute, but he is nothing but trouble!

After waiting not so patiently for Mike to get the tree up (I was mostly occupying Ben) the boys finally went to work putting their ornaments up. Zander was quite sad because Nick had a bunch of “special” ornaments from school and he only had his first Christmas one. Hopefully he will add to his collection this year!

It’s quite amazing how high Nick can reach on the tree now. It no longer looks like elves decorated. Zander takes the low branches, Nick takes the middle and we put a couple up high. It works out great!.

Nick was so sweet, he offered to let Zander put the star on the top of the tree since he got to do it last year. Zander was so excited and kept talking about how Nick could do it next year since he got to do it this year. If only they always got along this well.


Our star looked a little precarious so Mike had to help out a little.

How would this look on a Christmas card? I have one with a psycho grin and yesterday’s clothes, one in a pj shirt and diaper and the other with no shirt and a painful smile. Merry Christmas!

Mmm mmm good

The time has finally come for Ben to get something besides formula and rice cereal in his diet. We were given the OK at his 6 month check-up but between his cold and the holiday we opted to wait just a little before trying to establish a new routine.

We started his foray into foods with a taste with sweet potatoes. He seemed pretty excited at first, but after just a couple of bites he decided he’d had enough. It wasn’t the reaction I was expecting, but I guess we will keep trying.

Big surprise, Zander had to be right in the mix. That kid is never far from anyone with a camera.

Can you see his little hand? I think he was trying to touch Ben’s face while he was eating. One minute he is trying to hurt him, the next he wants to be his best friend. I’m hoping the latter wins out eventually, but for now I’m constantly on the lookout for Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde.

Better late than never

We finally celebrated Thanksgiving with my family on Sunday afternoon. We changed the location to try and stay away from my dad’s germs (which proved unnecessary as what he had wasn’t contagious) but the day was pretty much the same as always. We ate. We lounged. We went home. The only difference was there was no Black Friday shopping plans made.

It’s crazy looking around the house on holidays now because it seems like there are so many little kids. I can’t even imagine what it will be like when my sister’s start having babies! Ben had fun playing with Brooklyn (who is just a couple weeks older than him) and Zander and Nick (mostly Zander) had fun playing with Quintin.

Love seeing this! My Mema is so good with her great-grandbabies.

Quintin (my step-cousin’s little boy) put on quite the show.

Jayson and his girlfriend Allison even had their turn with the little guy. I think holidays are the best form of birth control ever for my family.

Nick made everyone play UNO all day long.

Thanksgiving (part 2)

We headed out to Mike’s parents’ house Saturday morning for his big family Thanksgiving. This is the only time of year we see his extended family and it’s always a lot of fun. Even the boys enjoy it now because they have other little guys (and one older boy) to play with all day. We spent a good chunk of the day following the boys around to make sure they weren’t getting into too much trouble. Mike also spent quite a bit of time entertaining them with card games, including one very serious hand of Old Maid.

Nick was cheating so Mike had to cover his cards.

 

He also tried to “help” Mike by directing him toward certain cards.

Looks like Mike grabbed the wrong one.

And the little guys win!

Linda’s living room is a great wrestling ring for the boys.

Zander found it easier to eat his pie with his hands than a fork.

And Ben found a new friend.

Once he had a little more energy he charmed everyone with his smiling and giggling.

Not your traditional Thanksgiving

Well, Thanksgiving didn’t exactly go off as planned this year. For the first time I can remember we did not get together with my family because my dad was violently ill. At the time we believed him to be contagious (though we learned later he was not) and decided to postpone the family get-together until Sunday. So, we stayed home. Alone. And built a house of cards. Or 55.

And then the older boys helped Mike put up Santa. In their sweatshirts. On Thanksgiving.

We had chicken noodle soup for dinner and basically lounged around all day. It was actually kind of nice. Different. But nice.

One busy day

We started the day in the water (big surprise). Checkout was at noon and we pushed it up until the very last minute. The boys used their time wisely going down the slide and playing ball with Mike and a new friend in the big pool.

Even Ben got in on the action. The water was pretty chilly though so he didn’t last too long.

After checkout we went to Merle Hay Mall for lunch and to burn the last little bit of energy so the boys would sleep on the way home. We were pleasantly surprised to find the Red Rock Wildlife Education Center inside the mall. We were even more surprised to find out that admission for the family was only $5 and the animal show was starting in 5 minutes (I made Mike run back out to the van for my camera). The boys, well Nick at least, had fun petting three of the animals. Zander liked the animals, but he was getting very tired and didn’t want to do it after the first one. They got to pet a bobcat, baby cougar (?) and arctic wolf. So freaking adorable (though the adult ones were a bit intimidating).

When the show was over we decided to let the boys see Santa. Unfortunately the mall Santa’s camera was broken, the elves were trying to fix it and an entire (adult) family was waiting to get their picture taken on Santa’s bench – without Santa. Yeah, I was a bit peeved. So we headed over to the little train and let the boys ride that while they waited.

The camera was just barely fixed, the family still hadn’t finished their photo shoot and the line had grown even longer so decided to forgo Santa and head on home. Good idea --- Zander was asleep before we left the parking lot. All in all it was a pretty good weekend.

A day in the water

Our only full day at the hotel started like this. Zander of course was up before the sun. Nick finally rolled out of bed about 8:15. The water didn’t get turned on until 9 and since we had a poolside room the boys were keeping a close eye on it.

They tried to keep busy. Nick found an ideal place to play the iPad. I was a little grossed out, but he didn’t mind.

Unfortunately, Zander woke up with a lovely case of pink eye. So, April was kind enough to keep Nick for me (it was paybacks for last year when I watched Mya while she got their blown tire fixed) so I could take Zander (and Ben) to the nearest walk-in clinic. We waited about an hour to see the doctor, who told me what I already knew. Oh, and that Zander had an ear infection, too. Two for the price of one. Score.

Back at the hotel Ben upgraded to the bigger blanket and we added some pillows. Hotel floors have absolutely no give.

Since Mya and Nick had already spent the morning in the water we went to the arcade after I got back to pass the time until the guys got back from their race and we could get some lunch.

Nick was stoked that he won all these tickets playing one game.

He wasn’t so happy when I said we had to turn them in to get a prize. He whined and cried and refused so I let him keep them.

Zander was happy to redeem his tickets for the little trinkets behind the counter.

After lunch I went shopping with April and Ben while the boys and Mya napped and played in the pool. We all chilled poolside until dinner and again after dinner until bedtime. Mike’s high school friend and his wife stopped by for just a few minutes and we got to meet their little girl for the first time, too.

I love that Nick was trying to help Zander (even though that kid had no fear in the water).

After the pool we played a few games of Uno before calling it a night.