Firsts

Happy 19 months old, Caiden!

I wanted to take this special opportunity to share one of Caiden's FIRSTS. 

No, it has nothing to do with words or food or inches. Rather, this little boy climbed up the ladder to his brothers top bunk. Then, according to a witness, proceeded to walk around, tripping on a bear and came tumbling down super man style after a somersault. I was not in the room. But I heard the thud...cry...and Caiden met me in the hall with tears streaming down. I am pretty sure the wind got knocked out of him and he has a bump on his head to show for it. But somehow, other than that, he is fine. The dr. did the full check because I was particularly scared about him hitting his head. But no signs of concussion. I was quite shaken up and I thought the scare of a fall would slow him down. But he seems to have been given wings in his new limitless discovery because he has been climbing onto everything he can get his hands and feet on. (he even revisited the ladder to the bunk...but did not get far at all! mom is keeping a hawk's eye on this one for awhile!) 

Busy days all around. Sandwiched with beautiful weather (in between the rain) and homeschooling and a husband that is working an inordinate amount of hours...we're hoping things will start to balance out a teeny bit as we march through Spring. 

month twelve.

Happy December!

 No, I haven't finished my Christmas shopping already! But we ARE starting THIS today and I am oh, so excited about it! It is our "advent calendar" for this year. I wrapped 24 books, labeled them and each night until Christmas the boys will get the chosen book read to them before bed. You can see my friends' version HERE who first shared this idea with me. For more advent ideas, see HERE. 

These are the books that were selected for our first (annual ?) advent book reading, most of which we already owned. A few were a last minute rescue from our second hand store. You may also notice that I mixed in winter themed books with spiritual related books. We will be doing our Scripture advent reading separately.

Here is the list of books that we'll be reading:

1. Footprints in the Snow (Cynthia Benjamin)

2. Little Einstein's Christmas Wish (Disney)

3. The Little Drummer Boy (1968 Little Golden Book)

4. The Elves and the Shoemaker (Little Golden Book)

5. The Christmas Story (Little Golden Book)

6. Room For A Little One (Martin Waddell)

7. Owl Moon (Jane Yolen)

8. The Little Lost Angel 

9. Katy and the BIG SNOW (Virginia Lee Burton)

10. The Steadfast Tin Soldier (Graham Percy)

11. The Little Drummer Boy (Ezra Jack Keats)

12. Who Is Coming To Our House? (Joseph Slate)

13. Noel (Little Board Books)

14. Jingle Bells 

15. The Snowchild (Ill. by Deborah Kogan Ray)

16. The Christmas Mouse 

17. Socks for Supper (Jack Kent)

18. Father and Son, A Nativity Story (Geraldine McCaughrea)

19. Madeline's Christmas (Ludwig Bemelmans)

20. The Apple Tree Christmas (Trinka Hakes Noble)

21. Spunky's First Christmas (Janette Oke)

22. Winnie the Pooh's Christmas (Bruce Talkington)

23. Red Boots for Christmas (Carol Greene)

24. Mortimer's Christmas Manger (Karma Wilson & Jane Chapman)

I also needed a new chapter book to start with the boys and came across THIS gem at the library:

So, looks like we're all booked up for December!!??  

(sorry. I couldn't resist!!!)   :)  

What are some of YOUR (and your kids) favorite reads during "the most wonderful time of the year?" 

SNIP snip

Well, the time has come.

Actually, the time should have been awhile ago, but it happened this past weekend.



Jack got his first haircut!!!



Jack has infamously received the nick-name "hippy baby" from his father.
His hair has grown out adorably and I was secretly wishing he would have curly golden locks of hair. But, alas, it grew pretty straight. And it hung down over his ears soooo far, he really was starting to look kind of hippy. So I took the scissors to his last sign of babyhood. (well...the diapers will probably be the LAST sign of babyhood!) He really did not sit well and Drew was banned from the bathroom in the first minute. But John held on to him and entertained him and made such noises and voices that it was even making me laugh. So here are the pics. Oh, and I forgot to keep a "lock" for his baby book. Baby book...that too. I have a lot to do this year!

:: BEFORE::

{I wish I would have combed it all down in his face. It was really long. It hung well over his eyebrows!}

::THE MOMMY GRIP::

{we have very sharp scissors and he was being soooo fidgety. not to mention drew wanted in on the action and jack kept looking at drew.}

::DISTRACTION::

{and his very cool BEARS t-shirt from his cousin mckenna!}

::AFTER THE BLOW DRY::

{it's freezing...can't let them go to bed with wet hair}

...and some Swartzcopff stylin' serum to finish him off!!!

{For some reason...he looks Dutch in this photo?????}

::THE COMBOVER::

{Irish, German & Italian make up this little boy. Sorry, no Dutch!!!)

And you may be thinking he is cutely smiling in this above picture, but the truth of the matter is that he would not look up. He was so intently playing with that bottle, figuring out how to get the cap off. So I snatched it from him and somehow I got a smiley face...because he was not too happy about this game mommy was playing!

Well, now that we've passed that phase of life...