Camping out and catching up

Whew, it has been a long 10 days. The boys have been out of school, Tim has been off work and I've been working part days. We've tried to stay busy but it wasn't always easy since the weather wasn't too cooperative.

Let's see if I can remember the highlights: Monday - Eli & Cole had a playdate with Eli's classmate Gray. They had a lot of fun running around like crazy boys. We braved the ice and snow to get out of the house for this one. It was a much needed playdate for the boys (and the moms!). Tuesday and Wednesday are a blur but I know there was at least one trip to the Y with the boys. Thursday I worked while Tim took the boys to the indoor playground and to Chick-fil-a with Ryan and Carol. Then Grandpa & Grandma N arrived at lunch time for our delayed Christmas celebration.

We had a great family dinner. I made Pioneer Woman's chicken fried steak, her homemade mashed potatoes and green beans. Yummy! I could get used to all this home cooking if only there was more time!! After dinner we opened gifts and the boys loved that. By that time, they'd really gotten the hang of presents. Friday morning, we had a nice breakfast. Tim & his Dad put the hitch on his truck. We hung out a bit and then they were on their way back home. It's almost time for them to migrate to warmer climates so they've got to get the "bus" ready for its' journey.

Friday night, New Year's Eve - you'd never know it in this house. We just wanted to relax and bring in the new year sleeping. New Year's Day included some exercise and family time. We did manage to un-decorate our Christmas tree (Eli & Cole were great helpers) and put it outside. Then last night, Tim & Eli had a camp out in the playroom. It was so cute seeing the two of them inside the tent, sleeping on the air mattress. They slept in there all night and this morning Eli told Tim "Thank you for the camp out Daddy". It was so sweet! Next step will be to camp in the back yard and then we'll be headed for the woods!

Today was probably our best day. Tim & I did a little divide and conquer. This morning Cole had his first solo playdate with his own friend, no big brother tagging along. He had a blast playing with Boyd and was pooped out when we stopped by Ryan's house to find Tim & Eli. Tim & I switched kids and he brought Cole home to nap. Then it was lunch and nap time for Eli. Cole woke up before Eli so he went with me to the Y. By the time we headed home, Cole was asking for Eli in the truck. They played together so great after being apart most of the day.

Now the boys are sleeping and we're getting ready for the week. Going to be hard getting back into a routine and getting out the door at a specific time but we'll get it done!

Eli & Ryan were wrestling with his moose pillow on our couch. Their expressions are so funny.

Thursday we made chocolate chip cookie bars. Of course, my little helpers care mostly about the chocolate chips.

Pouring chocolate chips in the bowl. I have to mix fast so they don't eat too many!

Eli surprised me by wanting to wash the mixing bowl. I definitely let him try.

Slinky Dog from Grandpa & Grandma N. He has done miles around the house so far.

Cole got some adorable Elmo slippers. He thought they were fun and cute until he tried to walk in them and then he was not amused. He quickly went back to Grandpa to get them off his feet.

We gave Grandma & Grandpa a calendar with pictures of the boys and one with their cousins. They loved it.

Eli & Cole had to help us open our gifts. Here they helped Tim open his awesome new shop vac. I'm hoping to get my truck detailed soon!

Eli is already learning to love Craftsman tools.

Grandpa supervising Tim putting the hitch on his truck. Thankfully it was as easy as Tim thought it would be.

Eli has been playing with the "Trio" blocks his cousins sent him. He loves making all kinds of things.

Eli helping with the tent poles for the playroom camp-out.

Checking out their accomodations.

Books before bed.

Full set up - doesn't this look fun?!

Last post of 2010

Shot of my cuties taken tonight - unsolicited. Eli was just being sweet to his brother. Update on our week coming soon. Hope you have a great New Year's. If all goes well, we'll be sleeping our way into 2011!

Snow Day - a white Christmas!

So last night when we took our family walk, we noticed that the clouds looked pretty full of snow. The weather reports have been calling for snow but these days, I don't believe it until I see it. The snow started before we went to bed last night and it snowed all night. We woke up to our yard covered with snow and would later end up with 6-1/2" to 7", more in some places. Mid morning we took the boys on a walk through the neighborhood then played in the yard and made a snowman. The boys had fun playing in the snow and also playing inside with their new toys.

Cole having breakfast, looking all cute in some new pjs.

All bundled up and ready to play (we did put gloves on him).

Daddy was pulling Cole on the sled and Cole loved it until.......

he fell over and went face first into the snow. He was SO not happy after that.

He wanted a better / more stable ride and was very happy when he got dusted off and Daddy put him on his shoulders.

Daddy and his boys walking down our road.

That face........

Eli took a turn being pulled on the sled.

Family self portrait - Eli wasn't interested in being in it so we tried with Cole.

I loved looking at and taking pictures of the pretty trees around the neighborhood.

Eli kept stopping to make snowballs and throw them at me.

My cute boys!!

I love them so.

Tim measured the snow on the picnic table in the back yard.

My little snow man. Eli wasn't much help, he preferred watching.

Me & my snow friend - yes Mom, those are Whoppers for his face. Didn't have anything else to use!

This afternoon I heard "Mom, come look I just cut my hair". Scary words especially when I saw a few locks on hair on the floor. You can kinda see in this picture the center of his head where he cut a piece out. At least it's not THAT bad.

Eli & I had some game time this afternoon while Tim & Cole ran to the grocery store. First up, Candy Land - Eli won three times.

Then Chutes & Ladders - only one time, Eli won. To be followed by a Lightning McQueen puzzle. Eli has gotten to where he likes tv a lot so we try to keep him busy and from watching too much of it.

Eli got a Text and Learn from his cousins in Florida. He loved playing with it. Lately we've been practicing words on my BlackBerry so this is a cool thing for him to play with. Who knew a 3 year old would experience QWERTY?

Santa Claus came to town

Christmas morning was so much fun! I remember how my brother & I used to try to peek and see what Santa had brought us. Eli & Cole aren't quite there yet but I know one day they will be.

Somehow we were fortunate enough to stay in bed until 7am - a Christmas gift to Tim & I if there ever was one!! As soon as Cole got up, Eli did too and it was time to see if Santa had come to town. Well, he most definitely did!! The boys loved checking out their goodies and playing with them. Eli was thrilled to see that Santa had brought him his "truck crane" and Cole loved his four-wheel scooter. After the boys played for a while, we exchanged gifts with my family. It was a lot of fun opening presents and seeing that everyone loved their gifts. Christmas isn't supposed to be all about the gifts but I love giving presents to people and it's a great occasion to do just that!

We then had a nice family breakfast - again all together at the dining room table. The boys were more interested in playing than eating, who can blame them. We hung out with my family for a bit before they headed back home. Billy & Niki left first and then my parents, after getting some more grandbaby love, left as well. Tim & I were fortunate enough to get simultaneous naps from the boys so we relaxed a bit. After naps, we got everyone outside for some fresh air and a walk. It was so nice.

All in all, it was a wonderful Christmas Day. I really loved doing our big dinner Christmas Eve so that we had more time as a family and more time to play on Christmas Day. I think I'll have to make that the norm.

Eli's load from Santa

Cole liked all his toys, especially the scooter bike

So fun Mommy!

This "truck crane" has been EVERYWHERE and trying to pick up / pull down everything. Eli loves it so much.

Eli had fun "cutting" Cole's basket of food.

Stockings have such goodies. Both boys loved them.

Eli had to give Cole's scooter bike a whirl.

Niki loved the pink Browning sweatshirt we got her.

Mom / Grandma loved her Shutterfly calendar. Now she can see her Grandboys ALL year long.

Tim was thrilled with the Speedy Bike Club Paris jersey that the boys gave him.

Eli & Cole had fun helping Tim open his big gift - a hitch for his truck. He was surprised!

Crane - EVERYWHERE! I had to intervene to keep the tree from getting pulled over - more than once.

Grandma & Grandpa love their Grandboys - we're so glad they came to visit and celebrate with us.

Eli had been trying to perfect headstands on the couch. Such my little monkey.

Cole in his cute sock monkey hat from the neighbors.

My big boys - so cute.

When making dinner, I looked in and the boys had climbed on the couch together with their pillow pals and were looking through the Toys R Us wish book. Guess they didn't get enough toys!

Eli couldn't wait to bite into the chocolate football Santa left for him.