Absolutely Loving their bikes

I am happy to share that our lives have changed dramatically for the better - now that Mattias is riding a balance bike!! It started about two weeks ago (shortly after seeing photos of cousin Abram on his new balance bike) when he asked to get it out, and suddenly was able to sit and control the handlebars. Previously we had gotten the bike out and he would take a few steps with it, and then get frustrated or disinterested. But this time, within a day or two he had got the hang of it, and now he is totally in love with his bike. He has gotten very fast and agile, too. He loves going over bumps and racing with Timo up and down the driveway.

Every day he asks to ride it, and together he and Timo race and 'encourage' each other. The only challenge is getting them to come inside for supper when it is starting to get dark! I foresee a wonderful spring and summer ahead of us!!

this was on the 2nd day that he tried it

going in a loop around the house

Less than a week after he had learned, I took the boys to campus (and we even ran into Jim!). It's the perfect place to ride and practice because of all the safe, open areas and sidewalks. Plus, a bonus: students often smile and say, "So cute!" when they see them (and I get a tea from Starbucks in the dining hall, the only location around for 20 miles).

boys on their bikes, with Jim watching, in front of the student union

Yes - more pics! Here are scenes from their 'race track'. It starts at the door in the garage and goes down the driveway, downhill; all the while they scream and make faces and try to crash in the leaves at the end for extra fun.

Timo is off! (See Mattias waiting his turn?)

Mattias is off! With a happy yell.

When the sun is shining, the hill/driveway is a lovely place to play.

Our independent explorer

Nothing stops them - even when there was snow earlier in the day and the boys are in snow pants, and I am stomping up and down the driveway to keep warm!

Beautiful snowy weekend - and pizza

Last weekend we had our first snow of the season! It snowed throughout Friday evening and we woke up Saturday morning to a beautiful, cold six inches of snow outside. Timo hardly wanted to eat breakfast before going outside, so we geared up and got outside to enjoy it right away. Both boys loved it and didn't complain at all (except for when we had to walk back up the driveway and come inside). And it was COLD.

Last morning with the Christmas tree before we took it down. Do you spot the cardinal outside?

Do you want to throw snow at me, brother?

View from our front sidewalk, down the hill and driveway

Even though we don't yet have a sled, the boys didn't miss it and had a great time playing in the snow, shoveling and brushing and hitting tree branches and stomping around. Mattias's comment while shoveling was, "Work, pow!"

Heading down the driveway

 

View from edge of our driveway and down to town. Can you see the courthouse/library through the trees?

What better way to continue to enjoy the Christmas break and being home than making pizza together? We hadn't done it in a long time (probably because we don't eat cheese much anymore; but this time I splurged and bought the dairy-free cheese) and Timo was bugging me all week to have pizza. And in fact it is easy to make and they had so much fun pressing out the dough and decorating. We need to do this more often! And man, these boys can eat a lot of pizza already!!

Timo chose a classic cheese & tomato pizza, while Mattias added all the veggie toppings

After the boys' little pizzas were made, Mattias helped me make another big one. He was hilarious at adding toppings - and meanwhile ate as many veggies as he added on top.

Yes, baby belly is showing quite obviously now!

Another fun activity last week was working together with Timo and his new classic Legos that he got for Christmas. It was a set that included directions for 6-7 objects you could make with the pieces; a cow, airplane, race car, pencil, lighthouse, boat, and store front. Now to supplement with more classic Lego bricks so we can keep creating!

Just like Timo did at this age, Mattias wants to wear the fireman helmet all the time.

Just one more...

...Christmas celebration, that is. We had fun celebrating Christmas for nearly-12 days this year!! We needed one more day together to finish our Advent candles, eat pancakes, and open the presents sent from the extended Gieser family. Thank you to Granddad and Nonna for making it such a special time! Nonna did an incredible job sending beautiful, wrapped presents, and thoughtfully thinking through what each of us would enjoy.

Pancake helpers!

We carry on Nonna's touch by having an ornament or small present at one's breakfast plate.

 I really enjoyed having the Advent wreath this year (often in the past we have had only the candles with no wreath). After we lit the center Christ candle we sang - and clapped - 'Joy to the World'.

Mattias was in love with this singing reindeer from Nonna, and kept it playing on repeat for two days.

Here Timo was opening some new Thomas the Train engines from G/N, and Mattias was exclaiming about... something... in any case, you get the idea about how expressive he is getting!

And, Timo's new basketball jersey!

Back in Sylva - and a short visit with Hawkins cousins

When we got back to Sylva after our week in Durham, we were excited that Matt & Hannah and the cousins were in town (visiting Hannah's parents for a few days), so we got to spend some time with them over the weekend. Timo went right to playing with the cousins, and Mattias was well taken care of by the older boys, especially Samuel.

On Saturday afternoon we all trooped over to Western for the men's basketball game (I went with the others while Jim stayed back with our boys for much-needed naps). Phil has been the scoreboard keeper for years, so two of the adults were able to get in the game using his passes, and Phillip and Samuel were able to participate in the game - Phillip was ball boy, and Samuel got to do a trivia game during one of the timeouts. It was very fun, even though the stadium was nearly empty because it was Christmas break.

Back at the Woody house - plenty of toys to keep these cousins happy, along with the basketball hoop outside, the golf cart and the kids' John Deere Gator! It was wonderful to see them happily playing together. At one point I wandered upstairs to join these three, and they all looked at me like, "Yes? What are you doing here?" Okay, I get the hint; I'll take a photo and go downstairs.

Quick, before we say good-bye, gotta get some group photos!

Oh well. Timo was not interested in photo-taking anymore.

More Christmas week!

Christmas Eve service at Duke Chapel was beautiful - and my first time going there for that service. Jaja stayed home with Mattias, but Timo came along with Jim and me, Grandpa, Pete and two of Rita's family members. (Jim left with Timo and went outside partway through the service.) The best part, of course, was hearing the carillon playing Christmas carols as we entered!! No digital recording or computerized bells here. Did you know the bells are rung by hand?

Another morning celebration! This time on the 25th, with our stockings and more gifts. Pete and Rita gave the boys this road rug and set of cars (which kept them happy the rest of the week).

The rest of Christmas Day was pretty low-key (as you can tell, because we didn't take many photos), as was the rest of the week. It was chilly but we still got outside to the park or elsewhere every day. One morning Jim and I took the boys to a little park downtown, next to where the Freys' old house is. It had some slides and rocks to climb on, and a skate park (Timo really wanted to bring his bike and go back again). It's amazing to see the transformation that has taken place in downtown Durham in the last 5-10 years.

Date night! Thanks to Pete and Rita for the "dine and recline" movie tickets, we went out to see the newest Star Wars and ordered our dinner right to our seats. Fun! Our first time at the cinema in... eight years, maybe.

Morning outing to the children's science museum, where we met up with Lisa, Mila and Lithemba. There is a new outdoor music exhibit that had just opened - so cool - with multiple stations and percussion instruments.

Off to the treehouses!! I mean, seriously, how is this not a kid's dream come true play area?! Lots of opportunity to take risks, explore 'secret' spots and challenge oneself (in a very safe environment).

Timo, Mila and Lithemba had a game of hide and seek going in the treehouses

On the 29th, Dad scheduled a Chapel Tower visit for an international student and her brother (who was visiting for the break), and we got to go along, as well as John & Karen Friesen, who were in town briefly in between their move from Cyprus to Egypt. How appropriate to go up the tower on the very same day as 12 years ago when we got engaged! This time, however, the elevator was out of service and we walked the 309 narrow, winding steps of the staircase to the top (pretty slowly so we didn't get too dizzy!). It was an overcast, drizzly day but still amazing to go up and look around. Mom stayed at the bottom with the boys, and from the top we waved and shouted to them down on the grass.

Can you spot Timo and Mattias?

Such a beautiful campus

One photo from a fun morning walk along the river in historic Hillsborough, with time at the park at the end of the trail. This amazing branch sculpture was situated partway along the trail.

One more time to say Merry Christmas and eat cookies with Lisa

John and Karen hung out with us a lot on our last day in Durham, and Timo even got a back rub and a bedtime story from Karen.

And Mattias asked for one more story with "Papa"

Merry Christmas, ya'll. (Plus the two babes in utero)