Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Christmas (Part One)

After our Christmas at the Zoo traffic nightmare, one would think twice about trekking to the Children's Museum the day before Christmas Eve.  However, I apparently hadn't learned my lesson yet - at least we had Auntie Kate in the car to make things fun. 


I pumped on the ride down so Maverick could have a bottle while we waited in line for the Arctic Slide.  I'm not sure if more teeth are going to pop soon, but he chews on EVERYTHING.


I braved the slide with Phoebe while Auntie waited with Maverick.

We ran into one of Phoebe's friends from school and they had great fun playing together in the winter exhibit baking cookies, ice skating AND ice fishing.


This one got to hang out with Auntie and the penguins.

We are SO lucky Auntie loves our kids so much - she got to spend a LOT of time with them!

 





Phoebe even helped groom the reindeer.

 
Ryan got to go to the Colts game Thursday night (so these are really out of order, I apologize) so we took Auntie on yet another opportunity to sit in traffic with us - Reynolds Farm. 





Christmas Eve morning, Maverick woke up and had leaked a bit - in an effort not to wake Ryan, I let him run around in his diaper for just a bit.


Christmas Eve we went to church with YiaYia and Papou, Uncle Steve and Auntie Kate.  However, Auntie Kate came down with a stomach bug during the service and since we already had the bug once this year, we headed home afterwards instead of to their house for our traditional Christmas Eve dinner of Greek food.

Christmas morning pictures were taken on our "good" camera so those will be saved for another post.  Here are the kiddos in their Christmas outfits before we headed up to Anderson to be with extended family (Auntie had been sick throughout the night so we didn't go over for our traditional breakfast either).  And Maverick had another little leakage issue on the way north so this is the only picture in his Christmas outfit.

 

Phoebe loves her Innotab and was showing Hailey how it worked.

 

These two had lots of fun together!

 

Maverick hanging out in his back-up outfit!


More girl fun!

 
David made sure Maverick was entertained as well!

 

Grandpa Newell sharing his Christmas wisdom.

 

Cortney was kind enough to french braid Phoebe's hair
(we'd never seen her sit in one place so long!).

 

The finished product!  Love it!

 

Phoebe playing with her Polly Pockets.

 

You know it's the holidays when it's time to play Bingo!

 
 
Monday morning we finally headed to YiaYia and Papou's for breakfast and Christmas.  See how happy my boys are?
 
 
Maverick was SO happy to be with Auntie again!

 

She had these cute little waves in her hair after sleeping in her braids but it was hard to capture in a picture. 


Maverick got some good boy books to add to our collection.


Phoebe was Papou's assistant in helping pass out the presents.



Showing off the pillow pet she's been asking for and a poodle purse in her two favorite colors!



Ryan modeling a new scarf (not his, in case you're curious!).



Maverick getting a ride in YiaYia's wheelchair.


Trying out her Disney "Read to Me" books.


Maverick showing Papou how everything can fit in his mouth!


It seems he's also rediscovered his tongue - it's constantly out or to the side.  Adorable!



Phoebe loved hanging out with Uncle Steve!


Maverick's new tool bench. 


Uncle Steve got Phoebe a build-your-own crazy straw kit. 




The holidays were pretty laid back and seemed to fly by.   We actually started packing up all our decorations last night.   I think there are now enough toys to distract our kids and they won't even notice the tree is missing!   Either way, I had to post one more picture of happy boy and his messy face!  He's officially eating vegetables and yogurt, too - for the longest time he would only eat fruit and wouldn't touch anything that had cereal mixed in - he's come a LONG way!













Blogger is REALLY throwing a wrench in my posts lately.  The spacing is all funky (case in point as my writing starts directly underneath this picture) and it's not allowing me to upload more than one picture at a time- am I alone in this? If anyone knows how to avoid this, please let me know!


Thursday, December 22, 2011

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

Last Friday, Phoebe had her Christmas party at school.  Ryan learned last year that only one parent is needed as it's beyond chaotic and ninety degrees in the room so I braved it alone.  After pizza, opening their stockings and a Secret Santa gift exchange, we headed home to enjoy a laid back weekend.



Auntie Kate made it home Saturday from Pennsylvania so after her long trip in the car, we piled her in our van and headed downtown to experience Christmas at the Zoo.   It was our first time and we learned the hard way to never again go the weekend before Christmas - lines were horrendous everywhere we went.  I had grand plans to see the lights on the Circle and eat pasta at the Spaghetti Factory (it was over a two-hour wait!) - so...lesson learned.





Maverick refused to be happy in his car seat in the stroller so we did what we could without his coat - zipped him up in mine!  But that worked out well for Phoebe - we just placed her facing front in his bucket seat and she got a free ride!


I love this blurry family photo - especially Phoebe's face. 


Since Italian food wasn't in the cards, we opted for La Hacienda which is conveniently only a mile from home. 



Maverick got to experience eating in a restaurant high chair for the first time.  He'd also never had prunes before.  I'd say both ventures were a success based on the pictures below!





Phoebe and Maverick matched at church on Sunday - unfortunately, a decent photo couldn't be had!


Sunday afternoon, Auntie Kate came over to play and help make some Christmas cookies.




It's official - the two teeth are in and the kid knows how to use them!


Making the most of our little kitchen!  Note Phoebe's continued obsession with wearing summer clothes in the dead of winter...



Phoebe loves her some chocolate and this is typically the face we get afterwards.









Last night we got a package from Ella, Alecia, Mark and Aunt Debi. 
 Maverick got this fun tool set from Ikea and as soon as it was opened, Phoebe tried grabbing all the pieces.  We can already see we'll need a few more lessons on sharing this holiday season.


Phoebe loves her veterinary dog kennel - she's already named the puppy CoCo...



And to share a chuckle that Phoebe gave me this week...we were driving to school and she wanted to listen to one of her Christmas cds.  Then she wanted to read a book.  While she was reading, I turned off the cd and listened to the radio (something I hardly ever do when the kids are in the car).  All of a sudden she looks up and says, "Where's my cd?"  I tried to explain that if she's reading a book then she's not really listening to the music and I preferred to listen to something else.  She points her finger at me and says, "I'm going to tell you something.  You get what you get and you don't throw a fit."  Oh that child...we had a nice little chat about tone of voice and respect but I'm pretty sure her little three-year-old mind couldn't quite understand it all.  We love our little handfuls!