Pumpkin Pie

Christmas Picture Fail

We failed big time at Christmas pictures this year. Sadly, this is the best we have. Matthew enjoyed ripping wrapping paper off the gifts. Santa brought him a kitchen with all the matching accessories - even a shopping cart.

Here he is trying out his new cookware.

We spent Christmas Eve at the Graffe's where Matty got a play food set. Christmas Day we spent at Mom and Dad's where Joshua made an awesome breakfast for all.

We did manage to take a family photo at a portrait studio this year, so at least we have that. Here's to next year with more pictures!

Christmas Fun with Aunt Jackie

This first picture has nothing to do with Jackie, but it's pretty cute. Matthew has been asking for specific snacks lately either by name or by pointing. The other day he asked me to "ope" the fridge and chose this lovely cucumber as his early morning snack. Fine by me!
Daddy taught Matthew how to say "boots". He of course had to try them on as well.
This one is for Mag-m. Here you are chatting with the Matt man.
Nothing says Christmas like a boy in a stocking!
Reading with his aunt. Two of his most favorite things!

Aunt Jackie gave Matty a keyboard for Christmas. Theses videos are way too long to enjoy so just check out the first 3 seconds and you're good to go.

Matthew says "applezoz"

Thanksgiving

This year Joshua began what I think will be a tradition for years to come: Wear your craziest holiday sweater to Thanksgiving dinner. Oh what fun to be silly together and thankful for family!

As we shared our most thankful lists before bed I couldn't help but break down in tears missing my family. Life is full of choices and we are forced to make decisions constantly. While I do not regret the decision to live here in WA, my heart longs to be in California with those that I love.
Here is my sweet (and not yet growing - sorry people!) family. I am so thankful for my two boys.
Aunt Jackie managed to escape the photo opportunities, but she did come down to spend the holiday with us. She brought Christmas a bit early with this awesome reusable cup and other fun Starbucks treats.

Today we are going to brave the crowds and see what this Black Friday is all about. Jackie talked a lot about the 4:00 opening times, but here it is 9:00 and she is still in dreamland. :) Do you think there will be anything left at 4:00PM?

Nap update

So Matthew did in fact go down for a nap this afternoon. Hooray! About an hour and a half in he called, "Mommy?" like he usually does when he's ready to get up. When I went yo pick him up, instead of raising his arms and saying, "Up?" as usual, he swatted at me. So I left thinking I would very soon hear screaming. Nope. I just checked on him and he is back out again. Hmm, maybe I should be making dinner instead of blogging ...

"Like Homies and Gansters" and "Stuck"

I once had a student we'll call M. He asked me if boys crossed their legs. I told him yes, many men find it comfortable to cross their legs and demonstrated the usual "guy" style. He nodded in agreement and asked, "Like homies and gangsters?" From then on anything deemed "ghetto" is referred to as like homies and gangsters.

For example, Matthew's jeans. We have been doing a lot of switching between cloth and disposable diapers (darn the rashes!) and therefore need two sizes of pants. Get them wrong and you have a half naked boy on your hands.
These actually do fit quite nicely, but Matthew has discovered that he can take them off himself. Uh oh.
Matthew has also been learning words that begin with an s-blend: snake, snack, sticks, and stuck. Yes, he is playing with a girly pink stroller. He loves to push that thing around the house. Sometimes empty, sometimes with blocks, books, or shoes. He was attempting to put himself in and ask his friend to push him. Oops.
Speaking of pushing, he has tried to push all of our furniture around and in many cases succeeded. He told me he was stuck on the kitchen cart, but I think he meant the kitchen cart was stuck as he could no longer make it move.

My sweet little man is in his crib talking to himself and avoiding his afternoon nap (an unhappy habit that has been going on for about a week.) He has decided that he doesn't need a nap, however, come 6:00 and he is out like a light. Great! Wrong. He takes a nap and is wide eyed and bushy tailed by 7:30 when little boys should be getting ready for bed. Perhaps the eight new teeth coming in have something to do with this crazy schedule. Time will tell.

Just like Daddy

Matthew's vocabulary is expanding rapidly - like 2-3 words every day. Some of my favorites are "Dackie" (Aunt Jackie), "rackoo" (cracker), "baby" (at every child under 15), and "backoo" (vacuum).

He usually is more adept with his vacuuming skills. I think he was rushing to keep up with Daddy. I love it when my fellas help out!

Ahhh... Mornings with Matthew

Apparently Duckie needed his morning caffeine fix too. Thanks Matthew.

Joshua's 33rd Birthday

So for my 33rd birthday Erin wanted to bake me a special cake. A carrot cake shaped like a pumpkin. We also had bible study that night and it was our turn to provide the snack. Before we headed out the door, Erin was quick to snap this shot. The cake was delicious and everyone enjoyed it.

The group gave me a singing card, which Matthew has been enjoying all week. He has even created some new dance moves. Watch him teach some of those moves to you in the video.