If You Build It

Last week my parents went with us to the National Building Museum. Best part for the kids? Metro ride probably. They love that. And we changed trains a bunch so that made it even more exciting! Plus, day after Christmas? Quiet Metro!

Anyway, there are 2 main parts of the building museum for kids. A big room with LOTS of building material, and well...another big room with lots of building material!

Giant Legos. Those were a hit, of course. 

Cones. Why are cones so popular?

In the room upstairs there was this big screen that you stand in front if and it somehow makes an outline of your body and fills in the shape - Tetris style. Then you kick them down. Logan made Pa Pa stay over there foreeeeever! Pa Pa slept good that night!

Why yes, that is Pa Pa's foot kicking there!

While Aubrey tried to get Grandma to build her a spaceship. 

Grandma's creation met her approval!

Who knew a room full of basically giant pool noodles could be so fun?

On the way home we stopped at the "underground mall" for Chipotle and the kids' day was complete. 

Happiness overload!

Thankful on Thursday

- Two week breaks. It's like school never existed. Seriously. I mean, that's great and I'm so glad it hasn't encroached on our time. But man, Monday is goig to be ROUGH. 

- Wake Up issues resolved. Shh. I can't say more. 

- I'm glad to be on break to have more time to help a very sick Peter feel better. Pretty sure he has the flu (ahem, thank you 46% effective flu shot! Yes, we will still always get it, but that number stinks!). His immune system is weaker than the rest of us because if his diabetes, so I'm hoping we can still manage to avoid it. Poor guy has had a fever for 3 days!

Happy almost Friday! Actually a little sad to see this Friday arrive, now that's a change!

So Long 2014

I'm not quite sure what to make of this year. September and  October were hard in these parts. Like, HARD.  There are still unanswered questions and wonderings and a little missing spot that makes my heart take an extra beat occasionally. The unknown. The what if. We don't dwell - but it exists. One day I'll blog about it - I know I've said it before. But I will. 

But the reality is there are two very full spots that make my heart beat like nothing else. I LOVE these children so fully. 

And I can't wait to see what 2015 brings for us all. 

We'll climb high mountains!

We'll take time to laugh. 

And we'll relax, snuggle, and love. 

(and get rid of Peter's flu germs!). 

Happy New Year! Goals and Dreams to follow! 

Choices

I still have a couple fun blogs to do, but I forgot and now it's late! A certain girl has gone back to her 5:15am wake ups...yawn!

Here's Logan today:

Let me make sure you're taking it all in...

-gray striped shirt 

-camo pants

-rain boots

-Star Wars watch

He's been picking out his own clothes. And every fiber of my being wants to say "honey, that doesn't match." 

But I don't. 

Because he is so proud of himself. He is learning independence. He is making choices.  And really, who cares? 

I repeat these things to myself. It doesn't come naturally. 

But I do it. 

Because it's him. And I love every single thing about him - even if it doesn't match. And I want him to know that, always. 

Oh, and when you're a teacher you get lots of Starbucks cards. A problem when you don't drink coffee. But it makes for fun hot chocolate outings! 

Ho Ho Ho!

We had a great Christmas Eve and Christmas! I didn’t pick up the camera too much – I wanted to be in on the fun. But here are a few peeks at our celebrating.

We made a gingerbread house! And it actually worked because we had the kit, not my awful idea of graham crackers and icing! Yay for making things easier. The candy even came with it! Who knew?

Yes, there was some taste testing involved, clearly.

    

Awww, such a  cute picture with Grandma and Grandpa K!

Peter read “The Night Before Christmas.” Aubrey wasn’t happy because Peter turned the fire on for some ambiance and she did not like it at all. Becuase you know, we tell her to stay away from fire and then we wanted her to sit right next to it.

Logan trying to hard to make her feel better!

Christmas morning…Aubrey’s big hit was this FurReal Puppy. She is in love. She also got (all total, from Santa, us, grandparents,etc) other favorites: dollhouse, Anna and Elsa dolls, “talking” baby that poops and pees (lord help me), frozen purse, frozen dress, pretend makeup, a new umbrella, clothes, etc.

Logan talked about this Ninja Turtle hideout for weeks. He has never seen Ninja Turtles in his life, but he is obsessed. So he got that, turtles to go in it, a car for them, a star wars ship, a billion star wars things, books, and a very big hit – a watch. He now reports the time very 3 minutes.

Sporting his Ninja Turtle Shell (uh, on his back…)

Peter’s parents were here for Christmas Eve and Christmas breakfast, my parents came for Christmas afternoon and dinner. We had our usual filet mignon and it was delicious.

I’m not sure why we didn’t stand in front of the tree. And yes, Aubrey has on her Nightgown again – this was after baths.

We hope you had a Merry, Merry Christmas! Now I just want all the decorations over. I love it all so much but it makes me sad when it’s over!

Thankful on Thursday

Merry Christmas!

So thankful for a fabulous day full of family. Especially thankful for my two best gifts ever...

Hope your day involved so much excitement you almost squished someone! 

Merry Christmas Eve!

It's a candy cane. Yes, I have low Pinterest standards. 

Logan left a present for Santa. It was a drawing of a rocket. He was so darn proud of his wrapping!

Elfie left a special present this morning - Christmas jammies!

Them things got a little crazy...

Cookies were left...

Littles went to bed and elves and Santa came. 

There was even more fun with Gingerbread houses and Grandpa and Grandma K, but those are on the real camera and it's the elves bedtime! 

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!