The Holidays

Luke "napping" with Annie

Jack, the carpenter

Annie's Rudolph hair

Jack wearing the scarf Aunt Linda made for the boys

As 2012 comes to a close, I'm thankful for every day I got to spend with my kids, my husband, and all of you who make my life richer. 

Quick Photo Dump

Now I know why Jack's hugs feel so good.

This was how Jack dealt with the cold and sun yesterday, two hats.

Sweet little Luke

Favorite Christmas Book

We have continued my favorite Christmas tradition this year at our house. We have read a new Christmas book every month in December. 

Jack has four or five Christmas stories that he is especially fond of, but his favorite book so far this year is a Little Golden Book called The Little Christmas Elf. It's about a young elf named Nina, which coincidentally was my grandmother's name, who is making toys for the first time this year. She works and works all Christmas Eve, but she doesn't finish her teddy bear in time for it to be delivered to a child. Nina has to tell Santa that she didn't finish in time. He tells her to keep working so they can use the bear the next year. Nina keeps working and finishes the bear just in time for Santa's return. He comes straight to the workshop and tells Nina that a new baby was born, and he needs the teddy bear for the new baby. It's a beautiful story. 

During one of the thirty or forty times I have read this book to Jack, he told me that he does not have a teddy bear. He has lots of stuffed animals, but believe it or not he does not have a teddy bear! You know Mama had to rectify that situation! 

So, I bought a teddy bear that resembles Nina's and stitched a heart patch on him and tied a bow around his neck. All finished he looks a lot like the teddy bear in the book. It is the gift I am most excited to give this Christmas. Jack won't even know it came from me since I am going to set it next to his stocking, but I am so excited to see his reaction. 

Luke doesn't always sit still long enough to hear the pre-k age stories that most of our Christmas books are, but he really loves The Gingerbread Man, That's Not My Santa, and That's Not My Reindeer. 

Away in a Manger

I walked into this nativity scene in Jack's room today. Jack told me the bear was Mary, Jesus's mother, and the moose was Baby Jesus's father. He couldn't remember "that guy's" name. The animals were all the animals that were in the stable. 

Bedtime Companions

Going to bed red-eyed because Mom mistakenly thought (for a moment) 

that he didn't need to sleep with his train. 

2012 Ornaments

Here are the boys' 2012 ornaments. 

For Jack, it's a star made out of a bicycle chain to remind us that this was the year that Jack learned to ride a pedal bike. 

For Luke, it could have been a train, a plane, or Mickey Mouse. I'm still thinking that I will use one of his Matchbox planes on the tree, but I settled on Mickey. 

Our family spent the afternoon in Senoia, Georgia on Saturday. Jack and I came across this reindeer food while we were browsing in one of the shops. When I read the story of how this magical food works to him, he wanted some for Christmas Eve. 

These are the ornaments that Jack and I made for two special women in the kids' lives. Grandma and Aunt Kathy will each have one hanging on their tree's branches this Christmas. 

Letter to Santa and Other Holiday Happenings

All of his name writing practice paid off. He is certain Santa will know who his letter is from this year.

I bought him a 25¢ ornament from Hobby Lobby. He painted it all by himself.

I made a Christmas tree lot, and we loaded up some of the boys' cars with trees.

Jack's Picture 

Jack's Picture of Buddy, our elf, when he was playing with Jack's fire truck.

Luke Joined Gymnastics

Since Jack started gymnastics in July, Luke has patiently watched and played outside the gym. Then during Jack's class on Thursday, Jack's teacher invited Luke in for the last 10 minutes of class. The smile didn't leave his face the entire time he was in the gym. I knew it was time to get him in his own class. Kids under 3 take a parent/child class at The Little Gym, so Luke and I will be going every Saturday morning beginning in January. He got to take a free try-it-out class this morning. He's hooked. 

This last picture is why I love The Little Gym. First look at Luke's face. Then look at the teacher's face. You can't pretend to enjoy your job that much. All of the teachers at The Little Gym truly love children, and it is their goal that every kid has FUN. Luke didn't hold any fun back at all. 

Funny

Does anyone else think it's funny that this is how we travel these days?

Gingerbread With Grandma

December Portraits 2012

Adventures on Two Wheels

Jack and I put the bikes on the car and traveled up to the Blankets Creek mountain bike trails in Woodstock, Georgia. The trail system had a good amount of beginner trails that Jack was able to ride with confidence. We wound our way through the forest on the hard-packed singletrack and crossed small creeks on wooden bridges. The weather was beautiful today, and Jack got to see a lot of other people riding their bikes and a few kids his age pedaling through the woods. Taking Jack mountain biking reminded me of my first introduction to the sport when my father bought mountain bikes for us, and we started exploring the trails around West Point. I specifically remember the steep trails in an area called Black Rock Forest where my father came up with a way to tow me behind him on the steepest of hills. I hope today was the beginning of similar memories for Jack.

Here Jack is riding down the one of the connector trails to the beginner loops.

This section of singletrack was our favorite, and we went back to run it a few times.

More singletrack

Jack had me read all of the signs on this direction marker.

Here are one of the small bridges that Jack got a thrill out of crossing.

Here is Jack on one of the more daring obstacles we encountered today.

Making Jack Happy

Today, all it took to make Jack happy was helping him build this robot. I was so proud of him when he suggested making the robot able to turn his head around all the way and found the part that made our robot capable of the feat. It took us thirty minutes to make and all day to play. 

Santa Visit 2012

Thanksgiving Weekend

The beautiful sunset made it easier to forget the traffic we battled on our way to Thanksgiving in Nashville. We shared a beautiful dinner at Grandpa and Grandma's house with Annie, Shane, Eric, Betsy, and Betsy's parents. Grandpa dug out one of Grandma's childhood toys, a ViewMaster. It was a hit with Jack, and Luke gave it a try too. 

Grandma gave the boys their first Christmas present a little early. It's this little tv that plays a winter scene. Jack was and is enthralled. 

We headed back to Atlanta early Saturday morning so we would have time to decorate our tree. Luke scurried upstairs to the train table as soon as we arrived home. John, Jack, and I worked on the tree. 

When Jack finally convinced Luke to come down and look at the tree, Luke walked over to the lights, pointed at a blue one and said, "Green," a red one and said, "Blue," and so on. Pretty cute. 

Jack spent all evening and much of today looking at the tree. The boy loves Christmas. Buddy, our elf, arrived this morning after his long trip from the North Pole. We're happy to see him. And, we started our Christmas book each night tradition at bedtime. Jack is in Christmas bliss.