Advent

This year we are working hard at our house to observe the weeks of Advent and be present in the days leading up to Christmas! We have been spending time teaching Jack the meaning of Advent and  Christmas. We also have been talking about the importance of our preparation for the special day not being centered around shopping and stress, but Instead around family time, prayer, reading from our Advent book, and playing and learning about the many nativity sets spread around our home! Although Jack may not understand all of this that we are trying to teach him he can definitely feed off our calmness leading up to the holiday. We intentionally keep the gift giving small in our family which allows us to stay away from all the busy stores and just enjoy time together during Advent.

That being said, we do enjoy visiting the sights around town that have decorated for Christmas to get us in the spirit! The zoo lights, the train museum, Christmas story times, Christmas tree lightings, watching the ice skaters downtown, the live nativity at Krohn's Conservatory, decorating our home, and walks around the neighborhood to enjoy the festive decorations! 

That first time Papa turned on the lights! Pure amazement!

Silly nights in the matching Christmas jams!

We even got a special visit from Saint Nicholas (who visited our house and Omi's house!) 

Saint Nicholas brought gingerbread men to Omi's house and we got to spend the afternoon with Henry decorating them!

My favorite part was that the boys didn't know that the gingerbread man's "clothes" were actually edible!

Such a wonderful time of the year - and all these 65 degree days we've been having is making it even better! Happy Advent!

Our Little Artist

Jack could do art projects, color, glue, stamp, stickers, playdough all day everyday. He is often found these days at the kitchen table hard at work! I love to watch him concentrate on making his picture just the right color or glue an object in just the right place. He is becoming a more detailed artist (for a 2 year old!) drawing circles, triangles, clouds, rocket ships, and even beginning to color specific objects:

While making this picture he told me he was making "four green rabbits."  

Jack often gets marker all over himself or the table and when he does he says "jack! No draw on jack, No draw on table! Only draw on Paper!" He is definitely in the phase of calling himself out for breaking the rules. It's often hard to keep a straight face around here!

He loves to draw "BIG circles and teeny tiny circles." And often asks us to draw "uncle zhenya and a rocket ship going to the moon."  And he thinks all his art work is "beuiful!"

We continued to enjoy Fall and the great weather we are still having. Jack as a toddler is just the best - the things that come out of his mouth, the giggling, the high energy, the imaginative play - all of it just makes me laugh all the time.

He is becoming such a great big brother to Elisabeth. He has lots of tricks up his sleeve to make her laugh and he is really into pinching her cheeks and saying "hi pretty girl!" And "Mama, yook at Jack's baby!" (He clearly copies everything we say! Ha) 

Our life recently has just been filled with family time and play time. I haven't blogged as much recently but will share just a few of a my favorites over the last few weeks. 

We had a nice visit to Cleveland and this was the first trip that Jack was into packing his own backpack of "things for grandma and grandpas house."

Toys, blankie, books and a few puppets - what else does a 2 year old need!?

We got to celebrate Grandma March's 87th birthday while we were there and spend some extra special time with her.

Fun is made in simple ways around here!

 

And when you're 2 and you are growing, teething and playing hard you tend to fall asleep anywhere!

When jack wakes up earlier then normal he likes to ask to sleep in his chair for a bit before coming downstairs and this is what we find when we check on him a few hours later! Ha

Five Months!

Baby E is 5 months old today on Thanksgiving! She is getting so big and strong.

Elisabeth is a very smiley baby and is easy to make laugh! She loves to stand up with our help, play with her toys and watch Jack's every move.

She has spent time this month cheering on her favorite sports teams!

Jack will hold her hand in the stroller and car to love on her when she is crying. 

She has a sweet personality and we have loved watching her grow and develop a relationship with her brother!

Happy 5 months beautiful girl! 

2 Month Countdown!

In 2 months from today, Elisabeth and Oliver get to take their first plane ride with their Mamas to Albuquerque to visit a very special auntie on her 30th birthday!

Looking for a ride from the ABQ airport on 1/15/16 at 10:30am. 

Halloween 2015

We had a few chances in October to dress up J and E and celebrate Halloween. One of our favorite holidays!

This year we had 2 adorable puppies! We went to Parky's farm to visit the animals and take a hayride, we carved pumpkins and sang Halloween songs with grandma and grandpa, we attended a great Halloween party at the Brichlers and the whole family went to The Rickes on Halloween night to trick or treat and celebrate! 

On Halloween night we had great weather and enjoyed trick or treating in the Ricke's neighborhood. Jack definitely got the hang of it this year but still doesn't know what candy is so we were lucky he was easily distracted from the bag of goodies. Henry and Jack mastered "trick or treat" and "thank you" it was very cute to see them run from house to house!

This picture is blurry but it captures them running through the neighborhood!

*insert ricke family photo from Tina's camera

 

 

O and E

Already just the best of friends! Maybe forced by their moms but it's working so far for Jack and Henry so we can only hope the same for these little cuties.

Elisabeth 4 months. Oliver 6 weeks.