'Tis the Season

A trip to "StoryBook Land" capped off with a (no-line) visit with Santa

 

 

 And a trip to get the Christmas Tree!

Can you spare a square?

A few vidoes of the boys from a while back (August/ September) that I forgot about...

 

First - the boys were playing nicely in Ben's room.  There was quite a bit of giggling, so I checked in on them with my camera...  Eli was reading Ben "once upon a time" stories...  It's pretty dark and hard to hear, but very cute.

 

 

Eli blowing out his candles at his birthday party.

 

Eli's old version of Ennie Minnie Mo - it has now changed to something about '...and you are my bery best friend'.

A few other things I want to remember:

Yesterday, I was using the bathroom while the boys appeared to be playing nicely in Ben's room.  I was (ahem) taking a minute or two, and, or course Murphy's Law interceded and there was some fighting and screaming coming from the room.  Ben was upset and crying about a scratch on his face or something.  I was still in the bathroom and realized that I was in desparate need of a new roll of toilet paper.  Since Ben was indisposed with his crying, I called Eli over to see if he could help me out.  He comes to the door and I ask him "Eli, can you go to the other bathroom and get mommy a new roll of toilet paper?".  He seems pretty excited to help.  He disappears for a bit, while I wait.  He then shows up at the door with the biggest, proudest smile on his face and ........ exactly ONE SQUARE of toilet paper!  It was the cutest little face - I wish I could have snapped a picture. 

P.S.  I did try to send him back, but he ended up in the kitchen looking for paper towels, I think...  What a trooper.

Halloween, Bonfire and Grant's Birthday

Halloween - Wednesday, we had a perfect break in the rain for trick-or-treat times in Lake O...  We had quite the entourage - Ben, Eli and Grant in costume and Aaron, Rhonda, Adam, Papa Doug, Grandma Jeanne, Andy and I watching them gather their loot!

On Saturday, we had a great time at Bonfire Night with Andy's family - But no pictures from that one...  Again a perfect break in the rain showers so we didn't have to bundle up to see the bonfire!

Then, Sunday, we got to help nephew Grant celebrate his 2nd birthday! We had a lot of fun with balloons, and helping Grant open and break in his new toys!

 

A few things I want to remember:

Eli:
Waking up the morning after getting a helium filled Red Robin balloon, and seeing it sitting down low on the floor: "Wake up!" (with a swift kick)

Ben: Is in serious activity book mode.  At any given time, he can sit and complete multiple dot-to-dot, color-by-number, match the pictures, mazes and coloring pages.  It tough to pull him away sometimes.

Pumpkin Patch 2012

We found a nice break in the weather today for a few hours at the Pumpkin Patch with Grandma Jeanne and Papa Doug.  The boys had fun splashing in the puddles, and running around in the mazes.

 

 

 

 

Fall hike with my boys

Tryon Creek State Park.  Two little boys.  Crisp fall air.  Sticks.  Leaves.  Snacks.  Need I say more?

Continuing Traditions!

Looks like we have begun some fun traditions - Enchanted Forest trip with Andy's family (4 years in a row) and fall hiking trip with Riad and his boys (second time at Wachlella Falls).

Enchanted Forest:
Rabbit hole - in...

and out.

Close up of the (blurry) expressions from the above picture that cracked me up.

 The whole gang - even Uncle Adam this year!

 

Wachlella Falls hike:

 Inch worm carried (for nearly the entire hike) by Dylan meets Ben's wooly bear.