Christmas Crafts @ Playgroup

Our Friday playgroup had a special Holiday Crafts event a few weeks ago.  Since Tyler loves to paint, color and get messy I thought it would be perfect. 

 

Christmas stamps.

This little man makes it next to impossible to take photos, help with crafts and keep an eye on him so he cannot escape.   Whew!

Nathan's little hand wanted to help with stamps too!

Tyler's favorite craft was making the pinecone birdfeeder.  He loved covering them with the birdseed.  I remember making these too with peanut butter.  Since peanut butter is such an allergy risk they used shortening.  Yuck!  It will fatten those birds right up! 

Tyler's finished product right next to the Mizzou birdfeeder outside.  The birds had a good majority of the seeds gone within the first few days. 

 

We also got to make a snowman out of shaving cream and glue, a Christmas tree with tissue paper pieces and there was a craft station to make noodle and cereal necklaces.  Tyler was not into making a necklace at ALL!  (I think we ended up with three noodles on a string.) 



Church Christmas Program

If you remember Tyler practicing for the church Christmas program in an earlier post, you would never believe after that video that this was his expression throughout the entire Away in the Manger performance:

 

Shy, quiet and looking down at the floor most of the time.  I couldn't believe it!  Where did this kid come from?  I am pretty sure he didn't sing a note. :(

It might have been my fault as I told him if he stayed quiet during church he could have a cookie afterwards.  I guess there is a first time for that incentive working. :)  I also told him to sing loud so Daddy and Grandma could hear him.  He obviously missed that part of the instructions.   

This was his class Preschool - Kindergarten.

This is what I was picturing would happen...only by Tyler.  Too funny!

 

Zach performed on his big 'ole baritone saxaphone at church as well. 

 

Thanks to everyone that came to see Tyler's performance standing ability.  Ha!  Maybe next year...

 

 



Elf on the Shelf, Part 2

Red, our elf, has not been forgotten.  See the introductory post here. Tyler searches for him every morning.  Thankfully, between Jeff and I, we have remembered to make sure Red has found a new hiding spot.  I have not been as thorough at photographing his shenanigans. 

 

Here are a few:

 

Hiding in the Christmas tree.

In Tyler's stocking.

On the Christmas card wreath before it was filled up with cards. 

The envelope Red was holding had magic seeds (sprinkles) with a note that instructed Tyler to plant the magic seeds in sugar and wait two days. 

Preparing the sugar...

...to plant his "seeds."

Red was up hiding above the cabinets. 

 

Look what the magic seeds and sugar turned into! 

Thank you Schultes Bakery! ;) 

Red was a bit lazy and called Santa.

When I asked Tyler what Red was doing this morning, Tyler exclaimed that he was getting ready to have pancakes! 

Red got a bit crazy with Tyler's precious Curious George. 

I think George looks a bit Amish. Ha!

 

Another adventure Red had included taking a bubble bath in marshmallows. 

Tyler didn't quite get it. :(

We are also doing our 12 books of Christmas (all Christmas themed books) this year and Tyler loves picking a number out of the bowl and finding his book for the night.  I rewrapped a lot of the Christmas books I had from last year but I think he may remember if I want to do it next year. 



9 Months!

Nathan turned 9 months old yesterday!  He was at the doctor this morning for his check-up and shot.   The crazy thing is when we were leaving I was making the next appointment for him - his 1 year check-up!  Seriously!?!  Where has the time gone? 

 

Nathan continues to progress at rapid speed.  He is walking more frequently now and taking up to 20 or more steps at a time.  He typically prefers to walk as he likes to feel like a hot shot.  Nathan is still walking with the Frankenstein hands (ironic that it was his Halloween costume).  However, if he wants to get somewhere FAST then crawling is still his preferred method. 

 

Happy snotty, drool covered baby.

After a nose wipe, he is still a happy camper.

More, mom?

Now I am going to talk to you about my day. 

 Nathan is rather quiet most of the time, but once you get him talking he will tell you all about it especially when I keep up with the conversation and respond. 

So BIG!  Daddy taught him to respond to "touchdown."  Yes, I live with all boys!

Hey, mom - this sitting in the chair stuff is for little kids. ;)

Now I am going to walk to you and get waaaay too close to the camera.

Why are you moving away?

And I am done.  It is 8:30 and I am past ready for bed.  Mom is pushing her luck with these photos this late at night.  

(Notice poor Joseph and the Wise Men on the floor in the background.  Nathan likes to eat the nativity set in his room.  And yes, Tyler and Nathan each have a kid friendly nativity set in their rooms). 

 

Nathan updates:

• 7 teeth - working on the 8th tooth and Dr. Rudloff said his one year molars are looking close to coming in.
• Diaper size: 3  I sure am glad we are using disposable diapers with this one - he poops usually 3 times a day!  He has a very healthy digestive system.  Geez!  I know, I know - TMI. :)
• Clothing: 12-18 months tops; 12 month pants and 18 month sleepers - he is too long for most 12 month sleepers. 
• Cool tricks: WALKING, So Big or Touchdown, waving bye bye (this includes waving to random people on TV), clapping, sings himself to sleep - it is so sweet!  
• Nathan is saying mama, dada, baba (bottle) and Aunt Sandy swears he says ABC.  I haven't heard that one yet.   He also speaks lots of other gibberish that I have yet to figure out. 
• We call Nathan our little billy goat as he climbs on EVERYTHING!  The other day he climbed in the back of the Tonka dump truck, used it as a skate board to push it next to the Little People garage and then climbed on top of the garage to sit for a bit.  I was too slow to get my camera.  He tries to climb on the rocking John Deere tractor (like a rocking horse) but usually just stands on the rails and rocks back and forth.  I am convinced he will climb out of his crib or pack 'n play before his first birthday as I have seen him trying.  I hope I am wrong as I am not sure how you get a 12-month old to stay in a big bed.  Nathan has also been caught eating dirt out of the potted plant.  Talk about feeding him organic food! :)  (Kyle used to do the same thing when he was little.)   
• Nathan's favorite toys are balls, cars, anything that makes music, anything that fits inside his mouth and, let's be honest, anything that Tyler is playing with.  Tyler gets pretty annoyed with Nathan always in his space, but is learning to deal with it. 
• Eating: A LOT.  He is getting bored with baby food and would prefer "big" food broken up for him.  He loves pretty much everything we put on his tray.   
• Sleeping: pretty well although this snotty nose that he has had had woken him up several nights in the last week as his nostrils have been clogged shut.  Poor guy.   
 
Nathan's Stats:
Weight: 22lbs 10 oz (80 %ile - this is pretty low for our kiddos)  Nathan has dropped off his curve a bit - probably due to him being so active.  
Height: 30.6 inches (off the chart so 98/99 %ile)
Head circumference: 20 cm. (way off the chart - 99%)

 

Dinner Party

The week before deer season started, Uncle Stu was in town from Utah and so Kyle and Maggie hosted a dinner at their house for everyone to get together. 

 

It was a great meal and even better company. 

Kyle built this dining room table.  Pretty impressive!  He is becoming quite the furniture builder. 

Stu, Julie and Ross

Popo and Nathan. 

Nathan enjoyed his first tastes (yes, several) of blackberry and peach cobbler this night in November.  It was paired with another one of his favorites - ice cream!  Nathan loves ice cream!  I know I started him on ice cream way sooner than I did with Tyler but why hold out on such a wonderful food? ;)  

Between a big meal and very active grandkids, Dad was worn out and crashed on Kyle's couch right in the middle of the after dinner conversation.  Typical!

 

Thanks, Kyle and Maggie, for hosting. We are looking forward to seeing Stu just after Christmas and then again in January for our Utah ski trip!  I cannot wait since I missed out last year because I was pregnant.  We are taking Tyler skiing for the first time!  I am not sure who is more excited - us or Tyler! 



iPhone Photo Overload - Part 2

The Part 1 iPhone overload included photos from October.  Part 2 is from November.  Someday, I might be caught up...okay, probably not.  :)

 

Nathan chewing on his books.  This kid constantly has something in his mouth.

Told you.  Nathan loves meal time!

This is how Tyler falls asleep most afternoons - surrounded by books. 

Tyler enjoys shopping the Christmas toy catalogs. 

(We are no longer using the bouncer - it was just in the kitchen this particular day to remind me to give it to Aunt Sandy so Hadley would have a safe place to sit at her house.)

Playing dress up - this is about as good as it gets right now. 

Nathan has since been upgraded from his pumpkin seat to a rear facing seat.  The 20 lb kid plus a seat was getting too heavy for mommy to carry everywhere and the main reason was Nathan threw a FIT when we tried to put him in it.  No fits being thrown for the bigger seat.  I guess he got what he wanted. 

Dancing man.

Peek-a-boo.  Mom, why are you taking my picture when I am getting up from my nap?

I love bath photos! 

Happy Mizzou fan!  We have since added a third tooth on the bottom.  Nathan is up to 7 teeth!  Can anyone say steak for Christmas?  ;)

Impromptu family photo.

Tyler wanted to keep taking photos. 

 

That is all for this edition of random iPhone photos.



Visiting Santa

We met Santa last Saturday at Hillermann's Nursery.  Tyler was pretty unimpressed and has never really cared too much about Santa.  Nathan was pretty expressionless.  Tyler was fairly quiet which is VERY rare.  He is usually not a shy kid at all.

 

Brynn McCormack and Nathan are only 8 days apart.  The two of them sat there for a few seconds, Brynn just chatting away.

And then Nathan got bored and took off.  Typical boy - not listening to what the girl is saying. :)

Tyler was in the background tackling poor Kellen.  I told Jeff we have to stop watching football at our house.  Ahhh boys!

Tyler being quiet and shy.  Nathan (who we woke up from a nap for the pictures) was a bit dumbfounded. 

Tyler did tell Santa he wanted "presents"...genius!   When Santa asked what kind of presents Tyler quietly responded "uh...books and Hot Wheels."  Really?  Like we don't have ANY of those! 

 

Tyler told Red, our Elf on the Shelf, that he wanted "a pony, a real live pony."  Geez!  Jeff had a pony when he was younger but he lived on a farm.  I am pretty sure it is against the subdivision restrictions to have a pony in the back yard. 

 

Another funny thing Tyler said this week that I have to document...Tyler woke up from his nap (still naps 2-3 hours a day) and had a slight cough.  When he was causally asked "Where did that cough come from?"  Tyler answered "the coffee table."  Tyler didn't think it was funny at all but I thought it was pretty hilarious.  Kids say the darndest things.

Hillermann's also had a station set up to bag up some reindeer food.  Very fun! 



Singing Tyler

Tyler has his Christmas program at church this coming weekend.  The preschool class sings Away in the Manger and has every year since before I was in preschool. 

 

Tyler found his microphone the other day and I was able to capture his rendition on video.  This is not how he has sung it the past two weeks at church...at all.  At church he stands there quietly with his head down and sings.  Who knows what Tyler we will get this week in church? 

 

Tyler loves to sing and his favorite show recently has been The Voice which he sings the intro "This is the BOYS"  :) 

 

These are some photos of him watching The Voice last night - he gets pretty into it. 

He is using a "microphone" from his doctor kit. 

Every good doctor needs a microphone in their bag, right? 

 

Silly boy!