Monday, December 31, 2012

Last Post of 2012!


And so 2012 comes to an end!  December was a bit of a blur, and loaded full of fun activities and much to do to get ready for the holidays.  Jay and I took two Fridays off while the kids were in school and had a nice long lunch at one of our favorite restaurants and went to see a movie in an actual movie theater.  There were holiday parties, gatherings with friends, a fun Chanukah celebration with family down in Illinois, Joseph's holiday program at school and even some snow before we packed up and headed to Ohio to celebrate Christmas.  We had snow while in Ohio too and Joseph and Jay built a snowman in Grandpap and Grandma's backyard after we all shoveled and played for a bit.  Then when we returned home....more snow!  The kids love the hill across the street from our house so we've gone sledding the past few mornings, except for the morning that we went ice skating downtown instead.  Lots of winter fun with family and friends as we say goodbye to 2012 and get ready to ring in 2013!





Monday, December 17, 2012

So Much Funakkah


Leah ready to light up tinkerbell for nap time
Hannah dressed up and played with all her new toys
Jay and Joseph played legos and games for hours

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Holiday Happenings


October 1 to January 1 is always everyone's favorite time of year.....I suppose the summer season with lots of swimming and water activities give the holiday season a close match, but I think because of all of the decorations, costumes, lights, celebrations, treats, fun games/activities and presents (yes, the presents) the holiday season may win out despite the sometimes cold weather.  (we do after all also enjoy a good snowfall as well, it's more so the gray ickiness and frigidness of January to March that is tougher to enjoy (yes, I think I have decided that despite March being my birthday month, it is actually not that much better than February).  This is why I am referring to this time as the holiday season, as it is really only fall and the beginning of winter that are the most fun.  We took the kids to Candy Cane Lane over the weekend to see all the houses decorated and done up in fun characters and patterned lights, and we also celebrated the first night of Hanukkah with homemade latkes by Chef Jay.  They were quite delicious, at least that is what the girls and I thought.  Joseph is not very adventurous in his eating and opted not to try one.  Joseph wondered why our candles weren't burning for eight days in a row and we had to explain to him that there were no miracles occurring at our house that night so 30 minutes was about all we could get!  He also asked why he's not getting Legos every night, and has told our Elf on the Shelf (named Fuzzy) everything from the catalogs that he would like Santa to bring him in a few weeks.  Santa after all does not need money, because the elves just make everything that the kids ask for (also Joseph logic, which is sometimes hard to reason with at the time but I come up with perfect explanations later on.  Like the elves only having so much time, duh!)  Hannah and Leah don't seem quite as particular, and are just enjoying all of the fun stuff like making cookies and playing dreidels and wearing fun clothes.  This includes their winter boots which they frequently put on and run around the house in since we don't really need them outside yet. Yes we are all enjoying all of the holiday happenings....if only we could declare the entire period between Thanksgiving and New Years official holiday season where no work is required and everyone gets a nice long winter break.  That may be the hardest adjustment to life after college....no long breaks!

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Our First Holiday Parade

Jay came up with the idea to take the kids out for the Milwaukee Holiday Parade so we loaded up and headed down to the city to stake out or spot.  (Not a long trip since it's only about a 10 minute drive, but the kids think it's a big deal to go to "Milwaukee")  We got a fantastic spot, and since we had plenty of time I ran to starbucks to pick up hot chocolates for the kids and a seasonal latte for myself (I went with caramel brulee....despite the option for pumpkin spice).  The kids LOVED the parade.  They all clapped as high school bands marched by, and Hannah and Leah even did a little marching of their own.  The girls went absolutely bizerk when people walked their dogs in training by, and Joseph enjoyed all the holiday floats, milwaukee sports icons (the sausages from the Brewers games, Rosco of the Admirals, etc), the harley motorcycles, and star wars characters.  He also like the crazy looking puppy person pictured below, but I have no idea who that is.  Anyone have a clue?  It was a fun morning, and now we know for next time to wear warm boots, bring our santa and rudolph hats, and food to donate. (And maybe find a spot in the sun, and maybe Jay and I should wear coats)

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Dress Up





Have I mentioned that the kids like dressing up?  Pretty much any weekend that they have some time hanging around the house they are in costume, and while Jay was in India I took them to the zoo and let them go as Iron Man, a Bear, and a Puppy (since it only involved hats and masks).  Then Robin had some fun cruising around the yard and blowing bubbles with my parents, and later everyone did some baking in the house (note Cinderella and Hannah in aprons).  After we finished baking I offered Joseph a quarter to sweep up the kitchen floor, and he paused for thought and then responded with, "How about a dollar?".  I did end up giving him a dollar, but only because I made him choose 4 clean up activities at a quarter a pop!  He swept the kitchen floor, the dining room floor, made his bed, and put away the toys in the family room.   Jay had him clean up his room the other day and today I am going to see if I can get him to put away his laundry again (while dressed up as a Power Ranger of course, as that is his selected outfit of the day!)


Friday, November 09, 2012

The Face

Leah was caught making this face quite a few times this fall, once when we were carving pumpkins and I don't recall what triggered it that time, but usually it is when she thinks she's caught doing something or for some strange unknown reason not yet figured out.  Still more common to find her sucking her thumb with her Bear of course!

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Happy Halloween

Oh how this family loves Halloween!  Our neighborhood trick or treat was Saturday night, and we decorated the house up as much as we could to Joseph's liking and then set out for treats with Bubbie and Papa dressed in the costumes of everyone's choice.  Joseph's Halloween parade at school was last Thursday and the girls are dressing up tomorrow at daycare so it turns out we had no actual Halloween festivities on Halloween.  Kind of strange.....so I asked Joseph's teacher if it would be ok if he wore a costume to school today.  Which he did, but it appeared as though he was the only one out of the two kindergarten classes that did so!  But that didn't phase him, he was just happy to be a Ninja for the day and show everyone how he had long underwear on underneath. (Yes, that was the first thing he did in line today.  Pulled up his shirt and pants to show the girl next to him his blue long underwear.  What a kid!)  And I may have been the only one at work today in a bright orange sweater with fuzzy spider earrings, but even Jay decided to switch to an orange button down shirt after I suggested the idea. (ok, so Joseph may get his love for the holiday from me)  The girls said they were going to both be Tinkerbell Princesses with wings tomorrow, but now Leah has settled on Alice and Hannah is going with Cinderella.  We'll see what they say in the morning! (I don't know where the princess and dress obsessions comes from, but I'm pretty sure it's not me or Jay!)

Monday, October 29, 2012

Fabulous Number Five


Hannah how old are you?
Response: 5 (because then she will get to do everything Joseph does)


Hannah how many fingers do you have?
Response: 5 (well she's half right)


Hannah how much does Daddy love you?
Response: 5 (she really loves this number)

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Scary Poses

Most frightening is Hannah's version of a scary face, makes the mummy seem quite normal. :)

Monday, October 22, 2012

Dress Up Fun








Everyone loves dress up, even if it's not Halloween season.  The girls added some new items to their costume collection over their birthday, and have been running around like princesses, fairies, and for one week Hannah walked around as a pirate and Leah requested to be referred to as Alice.  Joseph was a Transformer one afternoon (Bumblebee), still is very into super heroes and running around like Spiderman, but since it is the spooky season is much more into Mummies and all things scary.  I think it is my love for the holiday that has rubbed off on them, though Jay is also a big fan, he just may not be as into celebrating the whole month as I am.  But he does enjoy setting up the effects for trick or treat night and dressing up to hand out candy.  I don't even know what I am going to wear yet....quite unusual for me!  Joseph however decided weeks ago that he would like to wear the same mummy costume as last year, but this time paint his face.  Trick or Treat scenes coming soon!