Time to decorate the tree!

And boy oh boy was this exciting. "What's this?" Well actually this time around there wasn't a lot of "what's this" but more "I have a little Santa". You're getting pretty adept with your language skills. 

I was rather impressed at your decorating abilities as well. You got those ornaments up there good.

We had some elves. I think there's now a book out about the elf on a shelf, but I got these 10 years ago or so at a store who's name I can't remember on Grand Ave. I have this memory of these at my house when I was really little. So when I saw them at Restoration Hardware (there it is!), I bought a couple. 

You just have to have some nostalgic pieces.

Like these skates. I probably made them. We used to make ornaments (and maybe you will too!)

And this snowman. 1981. That's 3o years ago (oh my!)

And the new. Princess Zoe.

And Conductor Roman.

Gotta have George. I think I got this before I even met your dad.

And there's just something about two toddlers decorating a tree. 

Those ornaments just tend to bunch themselves at the bottom third or so. 

Awesome.

the schemer

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you Mrs. Snidely Whiplash.

Me: "I think you should wash that off before you dad gets home". Her: "No."

See that green streak under the nose? This time it really IS just from the marker.

Concentrate....

Tickling the ivories

No, you're no Vince Guaraldi yet, but hey, you've got time.

And it is time to listen to our favorite Christmas album, A Charlie Brown Christmas. It was on the other night and Roman stopped, looked at me and said "it's Charlie Brown Thanksgiving!". Close enough. We're barely getting over Halloween talk, so having to explain that we've already moved on from Thanksgiving..although I think Christmas is exciting enough that it'll grab your attention pretty easily. 

Why this is a good time of the year

Because you can spread the black friday ads all over the living room floor? Not sure what the purpose of this was. New potty training technique (we may get there soon)? Do it yourself disposable carpet?  No. Because it was an opportunity for Grandma Candy to tell you that you better pick it up because Santa and his elves are watching.

Score. Those papers were picked up and folded (thanks Grandma) in record time.

Jumping for joy

Why?

Family. Including little Miss Lucy - a creature you can wear out with your play! Aunt Laura and Uncle Andy brought their dog along for our Thanksgiving festivities at the grandparent's house.

And thankful were we for the nice weather (I think it hit 59 - that snow is long gone...for now). So Mr. Roman got to ride his beloved scooter. And Zoe pointed out Christmas decorations along the way.

And I love this picture of you and Grandma. 

There is a version of the "cheese" face, Roman. But let's go with this one. ;)

Happy belated thanksgiving, y'all. 

Listen to your father

Don't eat the yellow snow!

When you looked out the window this morning and told me we had a lot of snow I thought "you got some surprises coming". I didn't intend to go out and play in the snow, but we needed to run some errands and when we went outside to get in the car, you two were so impressed by the white stuff that it warranted a little change of plans (and a change of mittens for Zo shortly after the picture above). You even helped me shovel the driveway (and the neighbors - we might as well keep going). 

Shhhhh!

Belle's sleeping.

(With a deflating truck balloon as a pillow, a kitchen towel and a washcloth as her blankie).

Thanks Zoe.

I eated it....

...all gone!

 Pop corn (or puffed Pirate's Booty to be exact).

 Fun with verb tenses (again).

The photos above were taken while watching Netflix steaming of Pink Panther. Although when Zoe says it, it sounds like Pink Pamper.  

I asked her repeat something this morning 3 times just so I could figure out why it didn't sound right. I can't recall the word, but I realized she can't make the "ch" sound either. And I find it all quite charming. 

Observations from the daughter

"You have a big booty butt"

Well, thanks. Can I say that it's because I have no time in my life to go to the gym? I DID buy a "spinning" bike to try to help remedy that situation.  It came out of the box yesterday. Never you mind that I bought it in September. Gonna use it.... 

"I look like a bean bag chair"*

The snows a'fallin' and it was time to get out the new winter coat.

*Zoe

It's that time of year again

Roman in particular likes to peruse the ads. And there are lots of ads.

Day After Halloween

Zoe finally agreed to wear these new glow in the dark skeleton pjs the day after Halloween. She refused before, they scared her for some reason. But the day after Halloween she ASKED to wear them. No, I have no clue why.  It's not totally out of character though. Miss Zo is freaked out by stuff. We went to the mall the other day and had 2 instances of near terror. The first time we were in Sears and saw a big inflatible merry go round with Santa, Rudolf, Mickey and Minnie Mouse (yeah, I'm not sure either). That was fine, but we turned the corner and Zoe spotted the Abominable Snowman. No. No. No. She dragged me the other way, screaming. So now she's kind of afraid to go to any store displays of Christmas decorations. We have a 2ft or so Abominable Snowman from Grandma Candy from last year and she didn't like it then. I think she likes it even less now. At Halloween I thought they'd get a kick out of a singing cat we have. Nope. Fleeing in terror.

She was also freaked out by the EMPTY Santa set. I don't think she'll be sitting on Santa's lap.

I don't think we've got a handle on bedtime. But as long as you stay in your room and settle down in a reasonable time, then I guess it's fine (midnight? No, not reasonable). It's rare we put you down for bedtime and we hear nothing. Usually there's chattering going on. Worse than that is the crashing down of toys. I hate that sound. More than once it's looked like Hurricane Roman (or Zo) had hit the bedroom. Hate it.

The other night I checked in on you before I went to bed and I saw this. It's not typical, but it's not unusual either. Kind of funny to me. 

Um....hello?

So I'm in the kitchen intently reading some oh so important label, all the while a little boy is at my side chattering away. Suddenly I realize he just said "say something to me Mommy" and he's looking up at me for a response. That registered and warranted a smile, a pat on the head, a hug and a smackeroo.

In the car today I was talking to Grandma Jane on the phone. It only took about a minute into the conversation before I heard from the back seat "Who are you talking to?". I answered Grandma Jane and that seemed to satisfy Zoe's curiosity. Gotta know what's going on. And it's kind of funny. I've been thinking lately about how every action on your part in the first year (or 3) was cause for celebration. And the need to blog about it.  And somehow we're now at the point where you're taking part in on our conversations and our actions. [Putting a quarter in the cart at Aldi is a looked-forward-to task for you 2!] It's rather mind blowing how fast this happens. Not that I'm going to say it seems like just yesterday that you were a baby. Not really. But still. And it's not that you are less interesting, it's just that we're more exhausted! It's just a bad time of year for free time. But we'll do what we can.

I'm not exactly sure how we got from September to November though. Zoom.

Show and Tell

Well it was brief, but we did get to go see Sister Helenette. You two were pretty excited about it. I had mentioned the possibility on a Saturday, but it didn't work out. I got the whining "I want to see Sister Helenette". So we made it up there on Wednesday.

I'd been working on Zoe's fleece blanket that morning and you were very interested in the fabric scraps, which we brought with us. One in the shape of a heart. First we started with a square. Then a triangle. Then a circle, an "o"..then some letters. I started getting requests from the peanut gallery:  "Make Mickey Mouse". Yeah, no. That's beyond my range of shapes. "Ask your dad".

Roman brought a couple of cars (SURPRISE!) and showed them to Sister Helenette. He'd hand one to her and explain what it was. Then another. It kind of reminded me of the first time I visited your Dad's apartment. He kept handing me guitars he had displayed on his living room wall and telling me what they were.  Showing off his collectibles. I, like Sister Helenette, was left holding an item and not entirely sure what to do with it.  Like Father, like son.

At any rate, we had a nice visit.

Pictures taken by Zoe. No Kidding.

At home.

Visiting Sister Helenette. 

Even the flowers caught her eye.

No cropping. See - point and shoot. :)

Extend-a-Holiday

We started this year in Maple Grove on Saturday... A little trick or treating down "main street"

Which took about an hour and allowed for a picture with this bear who I think permanently resides outside the Rocky Mountain chocolate factory.

Then on actual Halloween, I took off work early so we could get goin'. 

A stop to see Grandma Candy on her break time at work.

And we had to make a stop at Jannie and Gordon's house. 

Lots of fun stuff to look at!

And a dog that beckons. 

The first year we took you here it was Roman who got the kiss. This year Zoe had Matisse's attention.

And Zoe liked it.

And so did Matisse I think.

I tried to recreate the shot from 2009, but you wouldn't have it.

Then off to Grandma and Grandpa's. We brought pumpkins.

I like Mike!

Carved courtesy of your dad ;)

I can't wait for the new Muppet Movie, it goes without saying that I love George (the Curious one) and I think a Monsters, Inc prequel is in the works.