Mattias was very precise about the placement of his candy, and loaded it up on every surface.
Friday, January 5, 2018
Christmas tradition for kids
Great fun for the kids (and adults, too) is to decorate small houses with candy and icing. Even the littlest guy was happy (but don't worry, he didn't eat any candy). Jim grew up doing this as a kid, and I believe it was one of our date activities in college one year.
Mattias was very precise about the placement of his candy, and loaded it up on every surface.
Mattias was very precise about the placement of his candy, and loaded it up on every surface.
Thursday, January 4, 2018
Christmastime!
Christmas in Wheaton with Granddad and Nonna - what a wonderful time we had! It was our first Christmas there since Mattias was a baby (yes, that makes 4 Christmas visits where each of our 4 babies had their first Christmas there, so I think we know what to expect now with babies and Christmas celebrations...). One of the highlights was the beautiful snowfall we had on Christmas Eve, which was on Sunday. We were the only siblings/cousins in the house for Christmas this time (until the Brink cousins came for two nights at the end of our stay).
Of course Mom decorated the house so lovely - every room of the house and even the bathrooms had cute Christmas decor and lights. The only exception was that she saved the tree until we arrived so we could decorate it with the boys. They loved going through the boxes and hanging up the ornaments. You could certainly spy which sections of the tree (at about knee level for the adults) had been thoroughly decorated by Timo and Mattias.
Most of the 9 days that we were in town were VERY cold (single digits temps) but thankfully Nonna pulled out lots of toys from the attic, so the boys stayed happy and busy indoors with the toy kitchen, micro machines, cars, old GI Joes and tanks, army figurines, muscle men, and lots of books. The first day, Timo kept repeating, "I'm so happy, I'm so happy" as he pulled out army guys and cars.
On Christmas Eve we went to the morning service at church, and then played outside in the snow. (Well, more accurately, the men played/worked outside; I went out for 5 minutes and then hurried back in for another cup of coffee.) Thankfully some friends loaned the boys snowpants and boots! What a peaceful, beautiful morning.
Timo shoveled snow with SUCH enjoyment! He worked for quite a while and pretty thoroughly cleared the sidewalk in the front and along the street. Later he told me, "See, I can do that now. You know why I'm so strong? Because I eat all the food you give me."
Of course Mom decorated the house so lovely - every room of the house and even the bathrooms had cute Christmas decor and lights. The only exception was that she saved the tree until we arrived so we could decorate it with the boys. They loved going through the boxes and hanging up the ornaments. You could certainly spy which sections of the tree (at about knee level for the adults) had been thoroughly decorated by Timo and Mattias.
Most of the 9 days that we were in town were VERY cold (single digits temps) but thankfully Nonna pulled out lots of toys from the attic, so the boys stayed happy and busy indoors with the toy kitchen, micro machines, cars, old GI Joes and tanks, army figurines, muscle men, and lots of books. The first day, Timo kept repeating, "I'm so happy, I'm so happy" as he pulled out army guys and cars.
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| Mattias loved the kitchen and insisted on wearing the chef hat and serving us food on little plates and cups |
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| Look who is sitting so well and pulling toys out of the box! |
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| the GI Joes from Jim and Steve's childhood were a HIT (thank you, Mom, for saving these for 30 years!) |
Timo shoveled snow with SUCH enjoyment! He worked for quite a while and pretty thoroughly cleared the sidewalk in the front and along the street. Later he told me, "See, I can do that now. You know why I'm so strong? Because I eat all the food you give me."
Monday, December 18, 2017
Church children's Christmas program
Sunday afternoon was the children's program of songs and verses at First Pres. The kids from age 5+ have been practicing on Sunday mornings with [children's director] Miss Courtney for about 6 weeks. This was Timo's first time to participate in a Christmas program in front of the church. And Mattias's first time to dress up as a shepherd! And baby Hawk, who hopefully as a shepherd will not scare away any of the sheep despite his nomenclature.
Jim and I were both smiling throughout the program because this church has unexpectedly become such a comfortable, welcoming, unassuming place for us since we started attending in the last few months. The boys are being cared for and are learning new things, particularly Timo - who had to practise some new confidence skills and get up in the front with the other kids. They performed one song on handbells and one song on 'tubes' (for lack of a proper musical term) and sung three Christmas hymns. After the handbells, Timo looked right at Jim and smiled and gave a thumbs-up. And the younger children all got to dress up as shepherds (boys) or angels (girls), thanks to a woman in the church who measured and sewed them all outfits.
Afterwards was a church potluck, with kids running around holding candy canes and adults chatting and all elbowing their way in to get one of the Baxley's chocolates from the dessert table (well, not really, but the Baxley's do have a chocolate shop in town and attend church here - and the chocolate is legitimately good).
Happy Christmas!
Jim and I were both smiling throughout the program because this church has unexpectedly become such a comfortable, welcoming, unassuming place for us since we started attending in the last few months. The boys are being cared for and are learning new things, particularly Timo - who had to practise some new confidence skills and get up in the front with the other kids. They performed one song on handbells and one song on 'tubes' (for lack of a proper musical term) and sung three Christmas hymns. After the handbells, Timo looked right at Jim and smiled and gave a thumbs-up. And the younger children all got to dress up as shepherds (boys) or angels (girls), thanks to a woman in the church who measured and sewed them all outfits.
Afterwards was a church potluck, with kids running around holding candy canes and adults chatting and all elbowing their way in to get one of the Baxley's chocolates from the dessert table (well, not really, but the Baxley's do have a chocolate shop in town and attend church here - and the chocolate is legitimately good).
Happy Christmas!
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| goofy boy who smiles at everyone! |
Sunday, December 17, 2017
Few more snow pics - and thankful for neighbors
We are SO thankful for neighbors who help us make it through a cold, snowy day when our power went out! Last Saturday we lost electricty for about 18 hours (less than some in our county who were out for 2-3 days), so Jim and the older boys went over to the Woodys for lunch and playtime and naps and stomping around the woods in the snow. Meanwhile I hung out at home next to the fireplace with Hawk, and then had coffee and playtime with our neighbor Lynn. Just before dinner our electricity was restored, and the Daniel family brought pizza over to eat supper together.
The snow was still falling in the morning, and it was thick and soft, so the trees were beautiful.
Mid-morning the skies cleared and the sun came out, which melted the snow on the roads in town. Most of the mountain roads though were icy and snowy through the next week, so schools were still cancelled for several days.
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| view from the front door |
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| such a happy guy! Since this photo he has learned how to sit independently!!!!!! |
Mid-morning the skies cleared and the sun came out, which melted the snow on the roads in town. Most of the mountain roads though were icy and snowy through the next week, so schools were still cancelled for several days.
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| view from the block next to the library, one block from our driveway |
Friday, December 15, 2017
Surprise snow day
Last Friday we woke up to a surprise snowfall! It was absolutely beautiful and peaceful! The boys woke me (Jul) up in the morning, running into the bedroom to say, "It snowed!" Ah, magical childhood moments. The forecast the day before had been for '50% chance of flurries' so we were excited to get 6 inches on Friday, and another 3-4 on Saturday.
Of course, Timo led the way immediately after breakfast and got out all the gear to go outside and play right away! Jim had to go into work but was able to leave early and got home after lunch. The roads were rough that day so no classes or public school.
After a morning playtime, Timo requested hot chocolate in front of the fire. Shortly after this picture, Mattias requested some, too, as well as bananas and a couple of reheated biscuits. Unfortunately our central heat died at the same time - !! - so we had the gas fireplace running almost all weekend, and borrowed some space heaters from the Woodys. The repair wasn't completed until six days later. Meanwhile on Saturday we lost power for about 16 hours, but just when we were packing up to go spend the night at the Woodys, it came back on. Boy are we grateful for the utility company and all the knowledgeable people who keep our electricity and machines running.
Of course, Timo led the way immediately after breakfast and got out all the gear to go outside and play right away! Jim had to go into work but was able to leave early and got home after lunch. The roads were rough that day so no classes or public school.
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| view from our front door |
After a morning playtime, Timo requested hot chocolate in front of the fire. Shortly after this picture, Mattias requested some, too, as well as bananas and a couple of reheated biscuits. Unfortunately our central heat died at the same time - !! - so we had the gas fireplace running almost all weekend, and borrowed some space heaters from the Woodys. The repair wasn't completed until six days later. Meanwhile on Saturday we lost power for about 16 hours, but just when we were packing up to go spend the night at the Woodys, it came back on. Boy are we grateful for the utility company and all the knowledgeable people who keep our electricity and machines running.
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| baby Hawk was all snuggled up and didn't complain at all |
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