Preschool Christmas program

Nick had his first preschool Christmas program Friday (and I do love that he can have a Christmas program since he is in a Catholic preschool). The kids all gathered on the carpet and the teachers set up a few rows of chairs for all the parents. It was cramped quarters, but for the 10 minute concert it didn't much matter.

I don't think Nick did much singing, but he definitely put on a show. I just don't think all parts of it were appropriate for a preschool classroom. Truly, I worry about this kid sometimes! I just hope that if professionals do, too, they at least tell me! :)

He spent the first two songs trying to hide from me and my camera. He did a pretty good job, too, since the girl in front of him was the same size. I finally got up and moved so I could get some pictures. Mom stayed where she was with the video camera and got all his fun antics on tape.





This is where it gets a bit dicey. I don't know if he gets bored, or what, but he is off in his own little world sometimes. There is plenty of belly baring and Monk-like behavior to go around. Oh, and don't miss the part in the middle where he lifts up his shirt, pulls the "cell phone" out and talks for a few minutes. I asked him later what he was talking about. He said someone had the wrong cell phone and needed him to look the right one up on the computer. The story lasted until we got home, where he ran straight for the computer to finish his work.



And a lovely version of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" sung by everyone but my son!

Fast asleep

My kids have always been champion sleepers (for the most part). They may not have always slept through the night, but I've never had a real issue getting them down. And not once did either of them try to crawl out of their crib (well except that time when Zander was itty, bitty and he somehow launched himself out) until today.

Zander has been being a stinker for the last week or so, throwing major temper tantrums that include him flailing his body around and flinging whatever is near him at whoever is near him. So, he's been having some timeouts in his bed, which I hate because I don't want my kids to fear their bed, but it's the only place where I can keep him contained. Again, until today. He was in there for a few minutes when I heard his bedroom door close. Since Nick was right by me I knew that Zander had to have finally figured out how to escape. CRAP. Now what do I do? Nick was never an escape artist. With Mike traveling I need Zander to stay in his bed long enough for me to shower in the morning. It's not safe to have him wandering the bathroom while I'm in the shower. But, it's not safe for him to be climbing out of his bed and wandering the house either!!! I can only hope that in the mornings he is too tired and groggy to remember that he knows how to get out.

Besides, this cute little guy is still way to little for a big boy bed!!







And this child -- he's totally mine. For years my mother dreaded closing my door at night because I slept with my eyes half open. Freaked her out. And now I know why. Nick does the same thing!!



I love that he still sleeps with the cow that my dad brought to the hospital when he was born. That thing is so ragamuffin looking, but Nick absolutely adores it. There are days when we are out running errands and he tells me we have to go home quick because Moo is crying. He misses Nick while Nick is at school! So cute.

Basket racing

So what do you do when there is a foot of snow outside? Find something to entertain yourself inside. Nick and Zander thought it would be fun to play with a laundry basket and outside beverage holder turned toy box. First Nick gave Zander a ride in the laundry basket.





When they tired of that, they turned the baskets into race cars and zoomed around the dining room table.

Snow Day!

About a foot of snow has fallen in the last 36 hours. Yeah, we weren't going anywhere today. But I did try. Then I got stuck. In the driveway. It wasn't much fun, but I would rather it was in the driveway then halfway between here and daycare. So we stayed home. And Nick bugged me all day to go outside. Did I mention it was brutally cold too? But, I finally relented -- mostly because I wanted to try and shovel a tunnel for my van to escape through tomorrow. They've already declared another snow day for the schools. It's not looking so good for me leaving tomorrow either. Our street (a dead end) has yet to be plowed. Yeah, we kind of get forgotten.

Here's my hand-shoveled tunnel. Nick helped. Kind of.



Doesn't he look so proud? And cold. Just seconds before this was taken he was in the garage "warming up." Then he ran out, posed for this picture and ran back in. The garage isn't heated, but I guess he was at least out of the wind.



This is where our stairs used to be. I'm sure they are still under there somewhere.



Thanks Dad! You saved my back ...



... and Santa Claus.



Once the jolly old elf was standing again Dad punched him in the nose. And laughed. I'm pretty sure he's not getting anything but coal in his stocking this year.

Christmas concert

A near blizzard caused Nick's first school holiday concert to be canceled. So, I made him give me my own little concert at home. Truthfully, I can't believe he did it, but I made sure to get it on tape!

"The lights on the Tree"


"The 12 Days of Christmas"

Aunt Jamie

Sometime my youngest sister Jamie really loves her little nephews. Sometimes I think they get on her nerves. They are close enough in age that sometimes they seem more like annoying little brothers than fun little nephews. Funny enough, this was one of those times when they were really getting along.

Mom and Jamie came over to pick up our old iPod. Mike's got a Touch and I use his old shuffle so we weren't using his original iPod. Jamie is jonesing for a Touch (crazy that all her 12-year-old friends have them), but mom said no. So, she could either have a knock-off mp3 or Mike's old iPod. She chose the latter. They stopped over to get it and Jamie got a little workout in while she was waiting for Mike to sync up the music.













And then they were done. Completely wiped.

Oh Christmas tree

For the last three years I have hemmed and hawed about when to put up our Christmas tree. It's not that I don't like it. I just don't want the extra stress of it coming down on top of my kids. Last year we didn't put it up until about a week before Christmas and if just felt like a lot of work for not much enjoyment. This year I vowed to get it up sooner. And I did, though not as soon as I would have liked (last weekend would have been ideal).

We only lost one ornament in the decorating process. Mike gave Zander two bulbs and he thought he could treat them the same way he treats any other bulb --- so he banged them together. Scared the crap out of him. Mike learned his lesson and I decided it was time to invest in some new bulbs. This time, I'm getting ones that don't break!















This is what a tree looks like when it is decorated by a 1- and 4-year-old. See where all the ornaments are? I'm debating on whether I should leave it like that.