Sunshine

It's amazing what a little sunshine can do.  It certainly makes me happy...especially when it involves melting snow and ice.

Yesterday, Sam and I played outside and built this cute snow family.  The cucumber nose was our favorite.

Then today we had some weird weather.  Not only did we have an earthquake, but it was a balmy 50 degrees!  So, we played football outside and laughed at our snowmen with their now pointy heads and shrunken bodies. 

What a difference a day makes!

Some 2010 Christmas favorites...

Downtown lights + hot cocoa +  the best parking spot ever = an almost perfect night

 Eric taking over the kitchen + cooking an Ecuadorian style Christmas Eve dinner = a very happy wife 

New super hero jammies = two wildly happy little boys

 Christmas Eve + the Curtis Crew = A night that felt just like we were with family

 The magic of Christmas seen through the eyes of two believing boys = Pure Joy

Skype + family over 1500 miles away = Absolutely amazing

Merry Christmas!!

Christmas this and that...

We had flour all over the kitchen while we made some Christmas sugar cookies.  Sam insisted on wearing his chef hat, and Max almost ate an entire bottle of sprinkles. 

 

This cold Christmas weather makes for much more time spent inside.  The boys get creative and spend lots of time jumping around.  I thought Sam's form was particularly good in this picture below. 

The Indiana State Museum had a Christmas train that my boys loved.  We (and that includes me!) rode it twice.  

Eric and I have donned our ugly Christmas sweaters twice this holiday season.  Eric's sweater was even voted a winner.  Thank you Salvation Army.

We ventured to see the Christmas lights at the zoo.  It was crowded and freezing...but worth the trip.

We've been loving this holiday season!  So much to do and so many yummy things to eat!!

With only 4 days til Christmas we're feeling ready and excited!

My afternoon

My boys are getting too big too fast.  I'm already dreading the day I have to send Sam off to kindergarten.  I've been feeling the need to really soak up my time at home with my boys; because one day I think I'm really going to miss afternoons like we had today.  We had no where to be and nothing to do except play...together.  And I loved it. 

 And this is just something I loved that Sam did on Sunday.  Can you tell what this is?

Why, it's the San Francisco Giants logo on a baseball!  Now do you see the resemblence?

 

He drew it all on his own and then taped it to his bedroom window.

Sam wants nothing more than to be exactly like his dad.  If you ask him what his favorite team is he always replies without hesitation, "The Giants.  The Dodgers are just a horrible team." 

Yes, he's been brainwashed.

Now that's more like it!

Second time with Santa is a success!

Isn't he cute?

Sam's words on the way home from our visit:

"Ahhhh.  Life is good!"

Thanks for the Santa tip, Emilee.  The Children's Museum has the REAL Santa..for sure!

Santa

We visited Santa earlier this week at the library.  Sam was surprisingly shy and got completely tongue-tied when talking to him.  He couldn't remember what he wanted to ask for and hardly dare make eye contact.  I don't blame him either.  I'll be the first to admit that this Santa was a little sad looking; creepy even.  His cheeks were far from rosy, and his nose was definitely not cherry-like.  But he was dressed in red and his beard was white, so I guess he sorta- kinda fit the part. 

 

Max, on the other hand, had no problem with this Santa imposter.  He knew kids were getting candy canes if they sat on this old guy's lap, so he gladly obliged. 

I love the ages of my boys for Christmas this year; Sam especially.  He has become very knowledgeable with all things Christmas related; particularly those things related to being naughty and nice.  You want an example?  Okay.

This morning I was getting after the boys for whining and arguing.  I told them that I'd put them back to bed if they couldn't choose to be happy.  We made our way downstairs for breakfast and Sam said a prayer on the food that cracked me up.  Part of it went like this:

"Please bless Mom that she can be happy so she doesn't get a rump of troll in her stocking for Christmas."

See?  He's totally a Christmas expert. 

Snow

These guys make all of this snow and cold seem almost fun!  

Oh, and we've got paper snowflakes coming out our ears.  If you need any, Sam's taking orders.

 

Our week...

This week something changed with Sam and Max.  Maybe it's Sam becoming more mature (now that he's a whopping 4 years old) or perhaps is just the fact that Max is talking so much more now...whatever the reason, my kids are now more than just buddies.  They're like real  friends.  Real friends!  I love to hear their conversations and watch them play pretend together.  They're truly inseparable right now.  I love it. 

Max worships Sam, and Sam eats it up.  Life is good. 

This week I've been reminded that the 'Terrible Twos' do indeed exist.  Mr. Max has had more meltdowns in public places than ever before.  Target, Hobby Lobby and Meijer top his list this week.  Good thing he's cute.

This week we had our first taste of winter.  We pulled out the snow clothes and played in the little dust of snow on our grass.  Sam tried desperately to catch snowflakes on his tongue.  We only lasted about 10 minutes in the blowing cold, but it was worth it. 

This week we began our Christmas countdown.  We ventured to a Christmas tree farm and found the perfect tree.  Sam and I decorated it together while Eric hung lights on the house.  I just love all of the preparations that come along with Christmas.  There isn't a better time of year.