Downtown Christmastime

This afternoon when N woke up from this nap we shuffled the kids into the van, drove downtown to find a parking spot and did our yearly Christmas outing. It was just us, and we had a really nice few hours. N even wore underwear the entire time without an accident! We didn't do everything I had on our list; we forgot about the giant gingerbread houses until we were already back in our seat on the monorail, we skipped ice skating on purpose because neither D nor I wanted to wait on the sidelines with a 2-year-old rubber ball bouncing off the walls. But the miniature train was pure magic for N, the aforementioned monorail offered a lovely view, and the carousel is a must. This year we also stopped in for a scheduled snow flurry inside a mall (not much to write home about, but now we've done it). All in all it was a really nice time with my family.

Stilts

It's been really fun to see N take a few of the same classes E did when all those years ago. The 1 1/2 hour Fun Factory class with Teacher Tracey has/was great for both. It's basically preschool time with parents. Art, songs, snack, sensory table, parachute play, and large motor play. E especially loved the stilts back then and N is getting the hang of them too.

Little Boy(s) Blue

As I mentioned yesterday, N has finally flipped that all important "use the potty, not my diaper" switch. And apparently, so has Kola his side-kick puppy, both in their blue undies this morning.

He Makes Chocolate Look Good

N surprised us all today by using the potty all day! We rewarded him with a trip out for ice cream.

Vacuum

N has really been into using scissors lately and is making a royal confetti mess at the art table. Every few days I haul out the vacuum and have him clean up. (click on picture to watch video)

I feel like there should be an overdub of Julie Andrews as Marry Poppins saying "In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun. You find the fun and SNAP the job's a game!"

"Op-Ti-Cus"

N talks a lot about octopus's since our last visit to the aquarium a month and a half ago. Today he drew one, showing off his new talent of lovely circle making! They're not connected, but all the 'pieces' there; body, and long legs and in the same color as the real thing!

Throw Your Teddy Bear

Here's N in his gymnastics class, you can also see cousin Inger in the pink shirt and piggy tails.

Tech Candy

I think I may love my new iPhone cover as much as my new phone. I had a first generation iPhone that was giving up the fight. D sweetly ordered me a new one and it was delivered recently. But, I'm one of those people that try as I might, I drop my phone. So I was on the look out for something a little special. This cover comes with 2 interchangeable soft cases that protect it from bumps and bruises and a hard little snap on filigree that looks so sweet. Check the site out.

love.

My Christmas Decidedly Just Got Merrier.

I love Tuesday mornings, we wake up to find all the delightful things I ordered the day before from our milkman. Most every other morning it's, well, milk, sour cream, the occasional muffin 4-pack, loaf of bread or bag of coffee and since N can't stomach (literally) the cow variety, Almond milk. But when the holiday's come round their seasonal offering's are mouth watering! Today's splurge was Alki Bakery's Chocolate Crinkle cookies, they're dipped in peppermint white chocolate and then topped with crushed candy cane. Yu-Um. So perfect with my afternoon cup of coffee.

A Noun is a Person

Today we began working on identifying people as nouns. E's workbook requested that on a separate page she draw a person and then write a sentence about that person and underline the noun, she choose Kaela, her best friend: