First Snow

The first snow came just in time, the day before Christmas Eve. The boys played outside for a bit while I got the baking and cooking done. It put everyone in the Christmas spirit. I of course took a break to take some photos.

Bunch with Santa

We went to brunch with Santa this morning. After our great visit yesterday, the boys were looking forward to seeing Santa again today. As soon as Alex walked in, he asked the hostess where Santa was. She was so nice in getting him so we could have a visit with before we started eating, then he came back later for pictures.

Asking Luke what he wanted on his waffle

Alex trying eat and skip the pictures

Keeping an eye on Santa, making sure he stopped by for a second visit

I was a bit relieved he didn't ask to see his pocket watch again

Santa saying ho, ho, ho

Luke and grandpa drawing after brunch

We Love Kerrytown Santa!

I was so happy to see the same Santa at Kerrytown as last year. He has the best trick of using the pocket watch to lure kids in for great pictures. There is no way we could of got these without that watch!

Luke was more easily directed to Santa, so he got a few minutes alone

Then Alex caught sight of the watch

And up on the lap, they both are

Alex thinking about what he wants for Christmas, Alex saw a remote control Thomas in the paper and has been set on receiving it for Christmas

Luke saying what he wants, "a fish and a fan", creating laughs like usual

hugs for Santa before we go

Swim lessons

Three months in, Alex is finally having some fun at swim. This place is great in that it's a party every time you go with ribbons, candy, stickers and balloons being offered. It makes it much easier to get reluctant kids to in and out of there.

It's so warm in there!  Somewhere around 90 degrees I believe.  My camera steamed up.

I took the rest behind the observation window.  Throwing the rings to retrieve.

Alex loved his teacher "Miss Alex"

The Lights at the Zoo

We went to the zoo last weekend since it was warm.  We were planning on going, but the warm weather definitely made it more doable.  Kris and Alex are not big fans of the zoo and I knew that cold weather would make it even less desirable.  We got there at around 4 so the kids could enjoy the zoo before it got dark and left around 6 as the crowd came pouring in. Good timing made it fun for all.

Here comes the seal

Alex actually had some interest looking at the animals this visit, but an hour was enough

The big blue tree

Watching the synchronized lights and music

The trains were the best for all males involved

Alex was so excited to be able to push the horn button

watching baby Lucas

My only picture of lights, due to all the impatient males that accompanied me, there was no stopping for pictures easily tolerated

It's December?

Warm December weather has allowed us to have some extra park trips without freezing.

Poor Luke was worn out due to a late night at Kerrytown Kindlefest the night before

Kerrytown Midnight Madness

We went to Kerrytown on Friday November 30th to watch the lantern parade. It was midnight madness and all the stores were open. We chose the safe approach and parked at church and walked the 2 blocks. Everything at the toy store was on sale. There seemed to be about 80 people in that small store. I am guessing they do a bulk of their biz that day. When we got there, no one wanted hot chocolate from one of the vendors so we got "Kerrytown juice". When we went to farmers market in the summer we would get them each a juice from Sparrow Market, that's how they got the name.

They had an older style band playing and Alex really wanted to listen to them. There was a ton of traffic walking by them so not many places to stand and watch. Alex chose to watch right outside the window. Then this college aged kid comes by with 2 really nice cameras. He stops right in the middle of all the traffic kneels down and starts taking pics of Alex and the band.



http://www.annarbor.com/entertainment/scenes-from-midnight-madness-2012-in-downtown-ann-arbor/

The guy was from AnnArbor.com, he went up to Michelle and got her info and his name. Said that he might be on the website on the weekend and in the paper on the following weekend. That would be pretty cool. The boys had a fun time looking at all the lights and lanterns.

O Christmas Tree

Yes, it's Alex's favorite time of the year.  Time to get out those Christmas lights!  It makes me laugh when I watch that one video of the Christmas when he was nearly two and the intense delight that was evident when the Christmas lights were brought out.  Not to mention he finally crawled (to the tree) the day after we set up the tree for his first Christmas.

Luke putting ornaments on the playroom Christmas tree

Alex gets a turn too.

Their finished product.  I thought they did pretty good evenly distributing the ornaments.  They did this completely on their own.  Nice teamwork guys!

Mommy decorated this completely on her own.  Alex watched and Luke napped.  It's nice to have children that understand no touching without continuous reminders as we had deal with the past four years.