Can You Hear Me Now?

A few weeks ago Grandpa Paul got his first hearing aid. Will was very curious about the device itself, how it fit in Grandpa's ear, and how the volume adjusted, so Grandpa helped Will try it out.

Helping Grandpa take his hearing aid out, perhaps a little too aggressively.

Will loved turning the volume up and down - he's already trying to tune me out.

And then, thinking that the hearing aid AND Grandpa's glasses would make him unrecognizable to us, Will donned both. I think glasses make Will look like the little boy from Jerry McGuire.

"The human head weighs eight pounds."

It's kind of silly, but I love watching the kids try on their grandma and grandpa's glasses, hats, jewelry, etc. When I was a little girl I used to trade such things with my grandma and grandpa, believing that doing so made my parents think I was my grandpa and my grandpa was me. My favorite picture of me and my grandpa is of the two of us sitting on the couch, me wearing his black framed glasses and him wearing my pink glasses and clutching my Winnie the Pooh.

It's December

This month, instead of watching one video, you really should watch five. These five videos tell a pretty funny story of how Hallie finally came to perform "It's December".

At first, the pressure of performing - and her fear of not knowing the words - sent Hallie into a downward spiral.


Eventually she pulled herself together, but she still couldn't muster the strength to make it through the song.


Will stepped in to save the day - as they say, the show must go on - but when Hallie saw her brother stealing her spotlight she started to come alive.


With Will out of the picture, Hallie stepped tentatively back onto her stage.


And finally, she hit her mark.


It's November
It's October
It's September

We Wish You a Rockin' Christmas

Rockin' around the Christmas tree, let the Christmas spirit ring.

Merry Christmas, from our family to yours.

Christmas at the School for Little People

"Cap on head, suit that's red, special night and a beard that's white.  

Must be Santa, must be Santa, must be Santa, Santa Claus."

All of the four-year-old classes singing their Christmas tunes.

Will's class, posing - as best they can - for a group picture.

Will and his buddies, Thomas and Logan.

Hallie's class entered ringing jingle bells. 

My little performer.

Listening to the message...sort of.

Cupcakes for Will's class' "Happy Birthday Jesus" party.

Decorating ice cream cones as Christmas trees at the "Happy Birthday Jesus" party.

Oops!

The 12 Days of Christmas, Version 2

On the first day of Christmas my children gave to me: love to last an eternity.

On the second day of Christmas my children gave to me: two hands to hold, and love to last an eternity.

On the third day of Christmas my children gave to me: three homemade cards, two hands to hold, and love to last an eternity.

On the fourth day of Christmas my children gave to me: four great big hugs, three homemade cards, two hands to hold, and love to last an eternity.

On the fifth day of Christmas my children gave to me: five "I love you"(s)! Four great big hugs, three homemade cards, two hands to hold, and love to last an eternity.

On the sixth day of Christmas my children gave to me: six bouquets of flowers, five "I love you"(s)! Four great big hugs, three homemade cards, two hands to hold, and love to last an eternity.

On the seventh day of Christmas my children gave to me: seven breakfasts in bed, six bouquets of flowers, five "I love you"(s)! Four great big hugs, three homemade cards, two hands to hold, and love to last an eternity.

On the eighth day of Christmas my children gave to me: eight slobbery kisses, seven breakfasts in bed, six bouquets of flowers, five "I love you"(s)! Four great big hugs, three homemade cards, two hands to hold, and love to last an eternity.

On the ninth day of Christmas my children gave to me: nine ear-to-ear grins, eight slobbery kisses, seven breakfasts in bed, six bouquets of flowers, five "I love you"(s)! Four great big hugs, three homemade cards, two hands to hold, and love to last an eternity.

On the tenth day of Christmas my children gave to me: ten joyful giggles, nine ear-to-ear grins, eight slobbery kisses, seven breakfasts in bed, six bouquets of flowers, five "I love you"(s)! Four great big hugs, three homemade cards, two hands to hold, and love to last an eternity.

On the eleventh day of Christmas my children gave to me: eleven quiet cuddles, ten joyful giggles, nine ear-to-ear grins, eight slobbery kisses, seven breakfasts in bed, six bouquets of flowers, five "I love you"(s)! Four great big hugs, three homemade cards, two hands to hold, and love to last an eternity.

On the twelfth day of Christmas my children gave to me: twelve morning snuggles, eleven quiet cuddles, ten joyful giggles, nine ear-to-ear grins, eight slobbery kisses, seven breakfasts in bed, six bouquets of flowers, five "I love you"(s)! Four great big hugs, three homemade cards, two hands to hold, and love to last an eternity.

Wordless Wednesday Wonder

The 12 Days of Christmas, Version 1

On the first day of Christmas, my children gave to me: a gigantic apology.

On the second day of Christmas my children gave to me: two broken toes and a gigantic apology.

On the third day of Christmas my children gave to me: three carpet stains, two broken toes, and a gigantic apology.

On the fourth day of Christmas my children gave to me: four orange juice spills, three carpet stains, two broken toes, and a gigantic apology.

On the fifth day of Christmas my children gave to me: five sleepless nights! Four orange juice spills, three carpet stains, two broken toes, and a gigantic apology.

On the sixth day of Christmas my children gave to me: six broken windows, five sleepless nights! Four orange juice spills, three carpet stains, two broken toes, and a gigantic apology.

On the seventh day of Christmas my children gave to me: seven runny noses, six broken windows, five sleepless nights! Four orange juice spills, three carpet stains, two broken toes, and a gigantic apology.

On the eight day of Christmas my children gave to me: eight migraine headaches, seven runny noses, six broken windows, five sleepless nights! Four orange juice spills, three carpet stains, two broken toes, and a gigantic apology.

On the ninth day of Christmas my children gave to me: nine stopped up toilets, eight migraine headaches, seven runny noses, six broken windows, five sleepless nights! Four orange juice spills, three carpet stains, two broken toes, and a gigantic apology.

On the tenth day of Christmas my children gave to me: ten o'erflowed bathtubs, nine stopped up toilets, eight migraine headaches, seven runny noses, six broken windows, five sleepless nights! Four orange juice spills, three carpet stains, two broken toes, and a gigantic apology.

On the eleventh day of Christmas my children gave to me: eleven grass-stained pant knees, ten o'erflowed bathtubs, nine stopped up toilets, eight migraine headaches, seven runny noses, six broken windows, five sleepless nights! Four orange juice spills, three carpet stains, two broken toes, and a gigantic apology.

On the twelfth day of Christmas my children gave to me: enough fodder to fill a song twice this long.

Happy Birthday Baby Lily!

I can't believe she's already one. Last year, we had JUST moved into our rental house in Texas - I was standing in the kitchen surrounded by unpacked boxes - when my mom called to tell me my sister had gone to work, decided she was in labor and left work (that's a commitment to teaching), and checked into the hospital. A few hours later we learned that Will and Hallie's first cousin - "Baby Yi-yee" - had been born.

We all love this little munchkin so much, and wish her the happiest of first birthdays!

Christmas Preparations, Round 2

On Friday night we participated in the Bryan Christmas Parade. I handed out candy and information about the Red Cross, Will rode on the Red Cross float, and Tom pushed a cheerful Hallie in the stroller. Will lost interest in "parading" about halfway through the route, but Hallie yelled "Merry Christmas!" and waved enthusiastically for the entire 30 minutes.

After we finished the parade route we walked back against the flow of traffic so the kids could see some of the other floats. Hallie enjoyed Santa, but Will, he couldn't get enough of these cars.

The following evening I took the kids to "Christmas at the Creek", an outdoor Christmas celebration at a park here in College Station. While there were lots of activities available, we didn't give many of them a try. (I had a bit of trouble keeping track of Will and Hallie by myself in the dark, and neither kid was on their best behavior.) Perhaps next year Tom and I can take them together and we can try out the hayrides, crafts, cookie decorating, and live nativity scene.

We did, however, watch quite a few dance performances, including one by Will's buddy Logan's older sister, Kendra, and Hallie's friend Caroline's older sister, Natalie. The stage was gorgeous, and I could see Hallie dreaming about the day when she gets to take dance lessons and perhaps perform on that same Christmas stage.

Christmas Preparations, Round 1

Baking and decorating christmas cookies.

Opening our first Christmas presents (we always exchange ornaments when we decorate the Christmas tree, and we gave Grandma and Grandpa a little gift that evening as well).

Our first visit from Chris the Elf (Chris is short for Christmas, and was selected after the names Harry, Super Grover, Mark, and Ho were nixed). Will was excited, Hallie was just confused.

Games, activities, dinner, and chats with Santa at the annual School for Little People Dinner with Santa fundraiser.

Fishing for Sweet Tarts

Will's letter to Santa

Hallie's letter to Santa

Working on marshmallow snowmen

Putting together a bag of reindeer food

Showing off her balloon flower corsage

Attacking other children with his balloon sword

It was an epic battle

Telling Santa what she wants for Christmas

Our first picture of the two of them together on Santa's lap!  

(Two years ago, when Will was three and Hallie was eight months, Will refused to sit on 

Santa's lap so our picture is of only Hallie.  Last year, when Will was four and Hallie 

was 20 months, we were moving and never made it to Santa's lap.)

We hope you're having fun getting ready for Christmas!