Snow Days

The early part of this week we had some lovely, soft snowfall, and we've really enjoyed it since there hasn't been too much snow yet this winter. Jim has still gone for a jog and done his early morning workouts, even though he still has to go to work. When does a snow day happen for the working person??

Meanwhile the boys and I have been at home, and trying to sneak in opportunities to stomp around outside - mostly me and Timo, while Mattias is napping. Timo likes to use his little shovel to help throw snow around, and then we wander around looking for good snow caves under the bushes and inspecting all the cat paw prints in the snow. For some reason all the neighbor cats like to play in our yard.

[Of course, this IS Colorado after all: today is sunny and warmer, and the snow is melting away. So sad for the Midwestern boy, but so happy for the Southern girl.]

To get things started off, here's an ironic pic for ya. I pulled this onesie out of the drawer and discovered too late that Mattias had outgrown it already! At two months old, he is the size that Timo was at 4 months.

Now for the snow pictures!

What to do inside on a snow day? Why, play soccer!

The open door of the tee-pee was the goal.

What, me, chubby?

 

Tummies and towers

Tummy time for Mattias: he is two months old now and getting pretty strong. He does well to push up on his arms while on the floor, and he has even rolled over a few times! The first time he did so, he got scared and started to cry, but then we rolled him back over and he did it again...and again...and then he started to look quite pleased. He loves laying on his back and kicking and punching and stretching. And he has finally taken to the bouncy seat and will happily sit in it, concentrating hard while looking at the toys and trying to get his fists to hit them.

Meanwhile, Tower time for Timo! He received some Legos for Christmas (the first installment, as we have more waiting in the wings to dole out as special occasions come, thanks to hand-me-downs from 3rd cousins) and now spends many happy moments every day building towers and parking garages for his cars.

Yep, this is the scene at our house most days

Well, hello there, are you on your tummy again?

And is that some drool I see? 

Maybe it's just a mother's viewpoint, but I think Mattias is quite expressive with his eyebrows and mouth. Perhaps a bit of Hawkins genes coming through (although, then, Grandma Hawkins would say, "No, that's the Woodward side!")

He had his 2 month check-up today (at 10 weeks old) and the stats prove what we were suspecting: he is TALL and big! He measured 24.5 inches and 13 pounds 13 ounces, which puts him at approx 90% for height and 70% for weight!
 

More family time, part 2

On to Christmas Day!! For breakfast, Jim and I were in charge of cinnamon rolls (I think this was our 6th or 7th time to do it for the family), and Noah was in charge of eggs (his 3rd year, making a favorite baked egg-ham-cheese rouladin), and we even splurged and made J&J homemade applesauce this year, too. For the cinnamon rolls, we decided to make the rolls on Christmas Eve; we put them in their pans and then straight into the freezer. On Christmas morning they took 2 hours in a slightly warm oven to defrost and rise. And then they baked up perfectly.  A win. Unfortunately Jim and I failed miserably to get any photos from the whole week of the two of us together, so you'll just have to imagine Jim coming from behind the camera to be in this scene.

hmm, do we have a little helper?

David and Timo are 2 months apart so we tried to get a photo of them together (like we did when they were babies in Christmas 2012) but it didn't quite work out...

Opening present time! It was chaotic but wonderful!

Timo's new car carrier truck (which was enjoyed by all)

It didn't take very long for Timo to get overwhelmed by the presents and he headed back to his favorite spot...the basket of cars and trucks. In fact, this morning at breakfast we were talking (again) about Christmas and all the things we did, and suddenly Timo said, "Trucks. Nonna's house. Davey ("D-bee"). Fun!" Most impressive for a boy who only started using sentences yesterday. His first sentence yesterday was when we were discussing going to the gym with all the cousins, and Timo said, "Throw ball, hoop!"

Millie, 6 months old and SO smiley and content

This next photo is called, "Study in blue and orange". 

Timo's new football, which he hasn't let go of much since opening it

The day after Christmas we continued a family tradition by going over to the Wheaton College gym to run around.The kids and Dads (and me with baby Mattias in the carrier) loved it!
 

A photo session with the two youngest. Mattias turned 2 months old on Dec 28, and Millie is 6 months old.
 

We arrived a day later than the other sibling families, and decided to stay one day after. Timo was able to have some special one-on-one time with Granddad.
 

Lining up the cars - but of course!

Family Christmastime 2014

A week together for a full household full of 8 adults and 7 children under age 5 - and that meant: lots of playtime with toys scattered around and furniture moved around; cousins getting to know each other in new ways, growing older each time they see each other; beds and cribs in the basement and closets, and wherever a quiet spot could be found; busy mealtimes but sharing the load - adults took turns making dinners; lots of presents and wrapping paper and boxes; Nonna in heaven entertaining her grandbabies and setting up Christmas decorations around the house for them to enjoy; adult talking time in the evening once the kids were in bed; and of course lots of sugar & salt in the form of chocolate bark and cookies and gingerbread houses and chex mix and popcorn. And cinnamon rolls, of course!

It didn't take long for everyone to get reacquainted. Here was the scene shortly after we arrived... three different books and three different readers. (This was Timo's introduction to The Berenstein Bears.)
 

Avery and Bella and Timo working on hammering the balls.

Aunt Tiff with our cutie pie. Seriously, isn't he handsome? I think it's the expressive eyebrows.

There were many, many moments when we missed Gemma, and couldn't help but imagine what a 4 year old girl would have been up to with her three similarly-aged girl cousins. We were blessed and encouraged to be able to talk through some of those emotions with our siblings and parents, and in particular we were amazed to hear that the 3 girl cousins still talk about Gemma and ask about her and want to hear stories. We hope that over the years Gemma-stories will continue to be a part of our family.

the 5 oldest: Avery, David, Elsie, Timo, and Bella (who got a black eye & nose the first day while playing in the basement)

three generations of Gieser men

Mattias got to try out a play-mat for the first time, and liked it! Now that he is old enough to start finding interest in toys.

Despite all our earnest hopes, we didn't get ANY snow all week. In fact we had light rain on several days! And it was mild enough that we were able to go for walks or play outside a bit. Thank you, Noah and Tiff, for getting the kids out of the house to run around on this occasion!

Elsie and Katie made sugar cookies. Elsie wouldn't ever miss a scene that involves cookies!

Decorating graham cracker gingerbread houses. Timo didn't really "get it" this year; he just ate some cheez-its and then got down to play with the basket of cars.

A favorite play location - teddy bears, trucks and legos. What more can a child want?

Her Three Christmases

Been reminiscing and looking at photos from Christmastime 2010, 2011 and 2012... 

...and I've been agonizing and crying and missing, oh missing, our sweet, crazy Gemma. With all the festivities and decorations and music and present-buying, we sometimes get swept along - and we want to as well for the sake of Timo, who is old enough now to enjoy and understand the celebrations - and yet, in a pause, we ache. Every day.

I feel like a thick rope is being wrapped around my chest and is crushing me, taking my breath away and suffocating me. And I'm hoarse with screaming, No, No, come back! Her presence and the memory of her voice - the sound of her talking - and her body are so close to us still.

We look at our two little boys. Timo is the age that she was 2 years ago, the last time we had Christmas with extended family. And Mattias is the age that she was 4 years ago. We are filled with thanksgiving and joy for them, and yet we are filled with sorrow that they don't get to have their big sister here with them, teaching them and leading the dancing and running around.

So we are taking time to talk about her - of course, we do all the time anyway! - and to look back through some old photos from her 3 Christmases. Amazingly, each of those years we were able to spend time in Wheaton with our Gieser family, and one year in Durham with our Hawkins family as well. 

2010, Gemma was 3 months old

Heading off for our road trip from Indiana up to Wheaton

Aunt Katie!

 

All the Gieser family! Only three granddaughters born so far (and one on the way)

Now in Durham, with Grandpa and the rest of the family

Meeting Gram and great-Grandpa Jack, who sung to Gemma in his deep, deep crackling voice

 2011, Gemma was 15 months old

At Granddad and Nonna's house again!

Gemma got to try on this pink wool dress that Nonna had also worn at this same age

At Cosley Zoo, even though it was cold. This was the 1st time of what may be a Gieser Christmastime tradition...

A special moment to look at the Christmas tree with Nonna

 2012, Gemma was just over 2 years old

 

Now she was old enough to help put the ornaments on!

"Nonna, Nonna, look at the tree together?" was her daily refrain

Decorating a gingerbread house

Trying on her new underwear over her new swimsuit

Cosley Zoo again, of course! And it was even colder this year!