Practicing Our Sledding Technique

The boys received sleds for Christmas, and it was perfect timing for the 6 inches of snow we got that day. The boys and Eva practiced their sledding technique in the living room before hitting the hills the next day.

A Very Wolny Christmas

The second weekend in December we celebrated our Wolny Christmas (which was a really good idea thanks to little cousins making early debuts and our trip to NOLA). After a yummy dinner of beef tenderloin and perogies and purple soup, the kids opened gifts. The kids loved all their presents! Including the bag and boxes they were wrapped it. 

A Lincoln Log Village

Ben has been trying to get the Lincoln Log village built with the logs at Grandma Lee's house for a few weeks now. He and I got some quiet time in the basement by ourselves, where we were finally able to get it all put together without and destructive sub 3 year olds around. Ben was very excited about the house and shed we built! At least until Nick came downstairs and destroyed it... 

And then he played Ninja Turtles with lincoln logs.

The Nativity Set

This year Ben asked about a Nativity set (he kind of calls it a-tivity set). I have never gotten around to getting one, though I had seen the Playmobil one last year and thought about getting it. So when Ben brought it, I went ahead and ordered the Playmobil one so they could play and interact with it. And it was quite the big hit! But a warning, it has a ton of small pieces that children wouldn't even choke on, just swallow and poop out they are so small. The boys played with all the people and animals. But, true to the Nativity, Baby Jesus does not make an appearance until his birthday. Thus, everyday for the last three weeks I have been asked at least 3 times a day, 'Is it Baby Jesus' birthday today?' Not because he asking if Santa is coming or about getting presents, but because he wants to get Baby Jesus out and add him to the Nativity set. 

That Elf Is Going to Get Us In Trouble!

George was up to no good a few nights ago! He hung underwear and jammies from the ceiling fan! The video clip is more of an audio clip of Ben telling me about George's antics. What I don't have on video is Ben's initial reaction. It went something like this, 'What the...What...[silence for a few moments] Ugh! That elf! Mommy!!'

Silly Elf, George!

George the elf has been a bit silly this year. One day he read a story to some other toys, he sat in a sleigh being pulled by matchbox cars and on St. Nicholas day, he was in a hanging shoe with a candy cane! St. Nicholas brought the boys a ninja turtle and trains (but bad mommy didn't think to take pictures of that...). In honor of St. Nicholas day, George strung a shoe on the coat hook and hide inside the shoe. He also stole a candy cane from my shoe and had it wrapped around his arm. Ben was very amused by George's antics! 

Decorating the Christmas Tree!

This year I decided to let the boys do the majority of tree decorating. And they were all over it! I tried to limit the non-plastic ornaments, but we did net one broken glass ball. So, the boys got the first night to decorate and then I finished up the second night. After the first night, there were 80% of the ornaments on the bottom two tiers of the tree and a minimum of 3 ornaments per branch. So, the second night I worked to fill the upper 4 feet of the tree and disperse. 

The Most Favoritest Jake and the Neverland Pirates

Nick loves his Jake and the Neverland Pirates right now. He constantly asks to watch Jake. He got a Bucky ship for Christmas last year and he plays with it from time to time, but he has been playing with it a lot lately! He has two Jake figures and he makes little stories for them. It's funny to me that Nick is so good at pretend play at this age while Ben didn't really start to do it until he was closer to three and a half. I guess that's what happens when your older brother constantly makes you play castle and restaurant and whatever else he comes up with!

Probably the Beginning of the End

Adam introduced Ben to the PS3 last week. They played some of the sports games with the PS3 Move or whatever it's called camera thing. Ben really liked playing the jousting/battle game and boccie ball, which is basically the same as bowling to him. Somehow we have been luck so far, he hasn't asked to play again. He just asks to play on the iPad if anything. 

Forget Santa, Let's Have a Snowbal Fight!

Two weeks ago, we went over to Bass Pro after church. We went to check out the Santa area, but we were a little early and Santa wasn't there yet. The boys played snowball fight and a few of the other activities, but were not interested in seeing Santa (at all), so we moved on. I'm not sure if will make another Santa attempt. I think the last three years have been enough to make me think talking to George the elf is a better way for us to go. 

Only Boys...Seriously.

ugh.

Play-doh, Hot Chocolate and Cookies

Last Saturday the boys were not in a 'public worthy' disposition, so we had a night at home. The boys asked to play play-doh, then we had homemade cookies and hot chocolate. It was a screen-free, fun family night!

Tea Time at the Library

The boys playing restaurant at the library. 

A Story Staring Mr. Ninja Turtle

Ben doesn't usually make up stories when he's playing, but he was having fun with his Ninja turtle last week. 

Best. Toy. Ever.

At least according to Ben. He got a new toy last week, a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle action figure, and it has is most prized possession. They had show and tell for the first time at school yesterday, and it was the toy Ben took.