What a wonderful time....

Yea, another Christmas gone. So quickly it came and went. It was almost a blur. Thankfully I took pictures to keep the memories alive. I have always enjoyed Christmas time. I love the snow, the family time and just celebrating the TRUE meaning of the day.

So the day started early from Monkey - I heard him at 4am in the living room by the tree. I got up quickly and directed him back to his bed to sleep for a while longer. He actually went back to bed. So then at 530 I hear both boys playing and talking. Well Husband and I had bought them a train set and it was set up under the tree as a surprise so we wanted to get up and show it to them. As we are going into the living room Monkey says "Daddy can you start the train?" Go figure he had seen it at 4 that morning. Thankfully Silly Pants didn't know what he was talking about.

Here Husband is showing the boys how it works...here comes the train!!!!

The two of them were absolutely giddy about that train - both saying "look, look it's Polar Express!!!" Which was a good thing as we didn't want to actually buy the Polar Express train but were hoping that they would feel this one was the same.

Here's Mini C watching the train come around - and LOVING it & here he is opening one of his presents

After the joy of the train set in it was time to open presents. What a wonderful thing to watch. first they opened things from Santa. They got fun things, practical thing and goofy things. They each even got a movie - which they were thrilled about. Then on to what Husband and I had gotten them - First they opened their new pajama's...I love that they get excited about such little things. After that was "THE BIG ONE." Silly Pants has been asking for a scooter for the better part of this year. So yes, we did indeed get them each one (I never thought I would have twins...and as of now I don't, however, with two boys fairly close in age - if one has it the other has to have it...so of course we bought two of just about everything this year) Silly Pants went crazy! So much so that both Husband and I got a HUGE hug and a wonderfully sweet thank you.

After the excitement of it all we sat down and watched A Christmas Story until it was a little more into the morning and we could go to BF's.

We got there and started our traditional breakfast of egg bake, fruit and some other things. We also had champagne with orange juice...although we all agreed next time we had better get a higher quality one...then we all opted for Sparkling Apple juice and orange juice.

We had such a wonderful day...we opened presents after breakfast. The boys were so excited about all they got. The remote control vehicles were such a great thing...they LOVE running them around the house. We had left the boat at BF's but Monkey is insisting we bring it home so that it can go in the bath...I will be sure to take pictures and post them...it will be hilarious!!

I am in love with my knives...you ask me....Knives??? Yes I got knives.. They are freakin' awesome!! I am so excited I got them...I continually try to figure out what I can make so that I can use them...Truly wonderful!! Thanks BF!!

Husband got a new Gopher hat (thank you soooo much BF...seriously the one he had looked like it would fit Silly Pants better) and Gopher Shirt and pajama pants...Husband being the goof he is - refuses to wear them since they are new and they belong under the tree....Seriously??? - Yep!

Mini C got a Little people boat for the bathtub...I was unsure as to how he would respond..but when he is in there he grabs hold and doesn't let go...SIL, Brother & Prits got the boys a bathtub soap set thing from Crayola...oh my! They color themselves, the walls and Mini C!

Who cares though...it's soap and they are getting clean!!

Below are some pictures of the day and the good time had by all!!!

Here's Brother riding Monkey's scooter w/ Silly Pants around the dining room & kitchen

Here's Brother with Monkey - helping him learn how to ride his scooter...if you look Monkey has his left leg up - he REFUSED to put it down...so he spent the whole time like that...LOL

Here are Brother, BF, Monkey, SIL & Mini C lounging on the couch...

Husband spent a lot of time "relaxing" on his lounge with the boys... 1st w/ Silly Pants & then with Monkey...Look closely - Monkey is totally asleep...That will happen when you get up before the sun, take no nap and run crazy for hours!!

It was Brother's & Silly Pants turn for a nap...Brother napped on one side & Silly soon fell asleep on the other

Finally here is SIL - relaxing at the table with BF, Prits & me...

I hope your Christmas was as wonderful as mine - and I wish you a very happy new Year!!!

See you in 2009!!

Our first real time playing in the snow...

Public Service Announcement-

So if you have been paying attention - I am a little behind on my blogging - so I will remind again, I am posting all that I should have in the past few weeks. So make sure you are scrolling down to see all that is new...

Knowing I am a bit behind - this blog actually happened a couple of weeks ago - so yes we have been going out side - it's not that we have been cooped up so far this season...

So if you had read my blog about winter you would know that we really enjoy going out at night. The first night it was a good temp with little to no wind we were out there!

Got the two big boys bundled up and shoved them outside while Husband got ready and I got Mini C ready. Mini C wasn't liking the extra layers that were required but as soon as we got outside he was mesmerized byt he falling snow.

As husband was clearing the deck off Monkey was playing with the snow on the slife and well...you guessed it - eating it! What is it about kids and eating snow? Unfortunately I just don't remember what the wonder is about that. But hey as long as it's not yellow snow all is well!

While Monkey was doing his thing Silly Pants decided that he was going to make a snow angel.

Although when he was done he needed a hand getting up so that he wouldn't break it.

Here husband& I are with Mini C

We didn't last to terribley long outside that night. He was tired and wanted to be able to roll around. So soon after I took him in so he could go to bed.

Here are the two big boys sledding down the hill in our back yard. It was so cute watching the two of them. Silly Pants would help Monkey bring his sled up and then they would either go down alone or Silly would hold the sled so Monkey could get on and they would go down together. I was so fun so fun to watch. It was so hard getting them in when it was time.

Although like any other time - you mention Hot Chocolate with Marshmallows and they pretty much go running!!!

So this was our first real night of fun in the snow!

Making Cookies....oh my!

It's what time??? COOKIE TIME!! I don't know if I have ever been so entertained when making cookies...well maybe last year making them with BF & Auntie Viking but this is different...you understand.

So we decided to make Sugar cookies to start...I put my mixer on the table in the kitchen so that it was at their level and they could really help make them - start to finish. It was such a great time.

With this batch Silly Pants wore my apron (don't worry it was yellow) and he was in charge of turning on the mixer and helping add ingredients. Monkey was in charge of measuring ingredients and putting them in the mixer as well. (Mini C was sleeping through this process)

We got the dough made and let it rest in the fridge for 2 hours. Then it was Monkey's turn with my apron...


I got them each a ball of dough and they went to work. Silly Pants rolled and rolled and seemed to really like the different sizes I have for circles.

Monkey really enjoyed just eating the dough...he did make cookies though...and Silly also ate the dough!

Then it was frosting time - Monkey was not so happy about frosting pictures - he kept taking the bowl and hiding...imagine what he was doing???

Silly Pants on the other hand didn't feel the need to hide...he just stuck his fingers in and had at it!

The ones on the left at Silly Pants' (Like the colors Auntie Viking?? that was all HIM) The ones on the right at Monkey's can you see his quick job - mainly done so he could go ahead and eat them!

On to the next cookie - which actually happened the next day - Gingerbread Men! (Or women...well not in our house at least...or unfortunately...I am all alone...)

So we did not get the pictures taken of the actually preparation of them but these are the fun ones of it! Here Monkey is standing with a measuring spoon filled with the gingerbread dough...It didn't surprise me much that he liked it but it shocked the heck out of me that Silly Pants did. If you know him - he is not much for spice, or anything with a new flavor but hey he loved this!

So during this cookie preparation Mini C was awake and wanting to be involved...so Silly Pants got him involved - involved in eating the dough! I thought he might not like it - boy was I wrong. That boy wouldn't let his brother out of him sight...by his brother I mean which ever one was holding the mixer blade!

Again, we had to let the dough rest - this time over night. So the next morning we made the cookies after breakfast. That was by far the most fun they had had!!! Here is Silly Pants eating the head off one of his!

On the left is Silly Pants' finished Men. If you look closely you can see the jar of sprinkles he thought the guy on the right needed...Can we say dentist???

The ones on the right at Monkey's - he liked the jumbo confetti sprinkles and the color green (that may have been because I limited him, as he was eating every sprinkle I would give him) (When I say every - I truly mean EVERY)

So this was our first ever full on baking experience with the boys. They had a lot of fun and so did I. I know that they probably ate more of the dough than went in the oven, more sprinkles made it to their tongues then did onto the gingerbread men & that the frosting was more often snuck into their mouths instead of on the cookies...but who cares?? It was fun, creative and they were allowed to be little boys!

They are only this small for a little while and why not let them have fun!

Decorating the Chirstmas Tree!

We went the went the weekend after Thanksgiving and got ourselves a tree...This is the first year we managed to do this task so soon...we are usually way behind - GO US!!

We went to pick it out and of course the boys only lasted 10 minutes outside - so we left Husband out side to pick one out while we found candy canes inside. (In case any one does not know, Husband was a boy scout and he would sell trees every year...well that translates into him trying to find the PERFECT tree - no matter how long it may take) Finally he found one that would be suitable for him...although I am certain he would liked to have spent $15 more to get the Fraser fir..but seriously $50 for a tree...not on my watch!

We get it home and put up. We MUST wait until the next day to decorate because it needs to settle. Does he know who he is married to? I mean seriously? Wait? I don't remember a year growing up that we did that but maybe an hour...but OK I will go along with it.
Finally Monday night we are allowed to decorate the tree. We got the bins out from under the crawl space - which took almost an hour by itself with the boys trying to "help" get the bins...LOL I was on the couch laughing the whole time!

Anyway to we all go upstairs and I pull the stuff out. Last year I started each boy with a container that has only their personal ornaments in it. That's what we had them start with...Monkey spend through his bin in record time

(Mind you there are only 9 in there but still)

Silly Pants...well...not so fast...I think he got 2 on and then decided he needed a break form what apparently was a very labor intensive task. (Who would have thought?)

While Silly Pants was sitting on the couch being a potato (LOL) Monkey was helping me and Husband get the tree all prettied up. As we were going through this task Mini C was right there...trying to eat all the ornaments.

He found that he was most intrigued with the snow flakes that were on the bottom...although I can't imagine they tasted that great.

So this is our tree...if you really take a good look at it you can see where the boys did the decorating...it is very "full" and well decorated on the bottom portion of it. Husband wanted to fix it when they went to sleep that night but I refused. They decorated it and to change it would be so mean. They were so proud when they finally finished it!

So now we have a beautiful tree decorated by our boys. Truly I believe this is our FIRST tree as a family. Reason being the boys are both so involved and are so proud of it - that it was a family thing not just a Husband and me thing. =)

Let's help out BF...

OK so BF is a HUGE MercyMe fan...when I say fan that really doesn't accurately describe it...to put it better - she has flown to Florida to see them (after she had been there a month earlier on vacation) She has taken a road trip to Iowa to see them (seriously Iowa???), gone to Rochester and well it goes on and on....So being a MercyMe "groupie" she would also like to be officially labeled a S.L.O.B....what is a SLOB?? "Spectacular League of Bloggers" and well to become one you need people to go from your blog to MercyMe's blog. So I am BEGGING all of you to do this - After you get your entertainment fix from my Blog please go to My Mayhem's. After doing that PLEASE then go to MercyMe's blog from her list. If we all do this for her then she may have a shot of SLOB of the month for December.

I would like to entice you to do this - first - on MercyMe's blog Bart has posted his eight Christmas trees - there are pictures and notes and such...also - on their blog they have what they call Cover Tune Grab Bag which is HILARIOUS!! They sing big name songs and do it with a great bit of humor!

Second - since you will be doing me a personal favor I will give each and everyone of you a dessert of you choice (obviously with in reason - and on a personal -or at least your family size - level) Talk about incentives!!! How will I know if you are doing as I have pleaded with you...? She has a traffic feed - that will give me a good idea as you who is willing to help this charity.
Yes I said Charity - which means you could count this as your good deed for the month! Wow and you get a treat!! That is a nice trade - don't you think?

Thank you for reading this public service announcement...

Be prepared...

Ok yes I know I have been slacking in my blog this month...I apologize (I recieved a few concerns that I was interupting entertainment) So I want to prepare you that between today and tomorrow I will be trying to update all that I hadn't posted. So when you come here to be entertained - please make sure you scroll down as there will likely be multiple new postings in one day. =)
So be ready to read - and comment!!!

Rejection...

This morning was a typical Wednesday morning, we got up and they watched Disney for an hour while I got things moving. BF came over before work (not typical - but not that unheard of either) and sat with us as we ate breakfast and got ready to bring Silly Pants to preschool.
Both boys were terribly excited about the snow - I think that when they see it - it causes their little brains to go into over drive...

So they eat breakfast, we say goodbye to BF and off we go to preschool...

We are driving down McAndrews and Silly Pants is talking about what he thinks he is going to be doing at school today and how he loved having BF there at our house this morning. Then he says it -

"Mom?" SP
"Yes?" Me
"I think you should go to work." SP
"My work is taking care of you and your brothers and making sure you are safe and happy." Me
"But I think you should go to work, so that Grandma & Daddy can stay home instead." SP

How do you respond to being rejected by your almost 5 year old? Seriously - apparently I am taken advantage of by my sweet boy and that maybe I just bore him....Got to love him!

Not sure what to say now...just thought I would post it...if only to give you all humor...

The last 5 days...

So obviously this past weekend was Thanksgiving - and boy do I have a whole lot to be thankful for (But that is another blog...)

We started the holiday weekend on Wednesday after picking up Silly Pants from Preschool and bringing home the class Guinea Pig, Rosie. The reason I chose this weekend to take her was that Husband and I decided that there will be no pets for the time being in our home. So as a treat we would take Rosie for the long weekend so the boys could have that "experience". They loved it!

Here is Rosie--->

Here is Mini C enjoying her - he wouldn't leave the poor caged animal be!

The boys got such a kick out of her - but I was plenty happy to return her today Having her for the long weekend was a great way to remind us why we don't want a pet right now!

So Wednesday night I wanted to make sure all was set up. We went over to Nurse Neighbors and got some tables and chairs. I wanted it set up on Wednesday - however husband was a bit head strong on waiting. We did it Thursday morning - Mini C helped... Then we got started on the day! Here they all are Thursday morning - can you see their excitement about helping me???

Husband - really not too excited about my prepping...Monkey just wanting food...Silly Pants excited knowing BF is coming!

Mini C excited about the new food...Prits wondering what the heck she was doing up so early...

Of course BF was the first to arrive - While she was helping get the house in order Silly Pants was drawing a picture of her - He even drew her brain...do you think it is drawn to scale? One will never know...

The following is a Pictorial of the day - there will be comments on some and not on others - doesn't mean I don't like or love them - but I mean how much can be said about a person stuffing their face with food?? I think that is pretty self explanatory!

Food time!

Mini C loving all the new foods! Auntie Viking, CK & Mini C (in case you didn't know)

Monkey picked out the turkey drum stick!


Mini C having his first bite of pumpkin pie! - Silly Pants & Grandpa w/a semi...

After we ate - we relaxed (well not BF, Brother or SIL - they had to leave - one to clean a house and the others to go to SIL's house) Then when everyone got back we played games - So much fun....everyone got to see Husband's competitive side come out! I hope he didn't hurt anyone!

Auntie Viking snoozing...picture captured by CK! Don't blame me!

Some pictures of game time - it was a lot of fun! I hope we can do it again...Does SIL EVER take a bad picture?? I mean she's got a goofy visor on!

Prits, CK, Monkey & Silly Pants playing with the race set (CK was pretty obsessed with it!)

Ok - Sunday night was rough. Silly Pants was looking pretty bad & Monkey did what he calls "spill" (aka threw up). So while Monkey was sleeping on the floor upstairs and Silly Pants was sleeping - we were playing with Mini. Husband was eating an orange and want to give Mini C some of it. So I cut it up so he could. This is a little video of how it went...please listen closely - Husband is holding in laughter the ENTIRE time!

Hope your Thanksgiving was as great as mine!