Anticipating Christmas - December, 2017

December flew by! It was a great month with many fun things going on. The boys really enjoy their weekly Awana program, Taekwondo, and Kyle's chess class. They each had school performances and fun class parties. December was a fun month of anticipating Christmas.

First up, get a tree! We usually enjoy going to an outdoor farm and cutting our tree down ourselves, but this year, since I was a a bit laid up, we went very local and brought home a little beauty. While shopping, we enjoyed some hot chocolate. The boys love the idea of hot chocolate more than the drink itself, but it was fun to hold nevertheless. :)

We brought our car around for the actual pick up of the tree. I loved watching Gavin's expressions as he waited to catch his first glimpse of our tree. The boys were just SO excited about the tree.

Straining to see it...

The boys couldn't take their eyes off either our tree or the neighbor's light/sound display.

Each day leading up to Christmas, the boys would race through the door to open up another Christmas book. This has been our form of advent for the past 2 or 3 years and while I change out a few of the books depending on their interest, most are just the classics they enjoy re-opening once a year. 

Even Murdo joined in on the Christmas spirit...he loved playing with the nativity set and each time we'd set the figures back up he'd knock them down before we knew it.

Totally safe, these wooden figures provided this guy with hours and hours of entertainment. 

Kyle's performance and speaking part (below). Gavin and I got to go to the dress rehearsal the day before.

Gavie loved watching his big brother and singing along with all the Christmas songs.

Gavin's party happened to be during my lunch break, so I was happy to pop in and see Gavin enjoying all the fun going on in his classroom.

The boys and I enjoyed baking. Here we are making our gingerbread men. 

The best part was decorating and making sure the gingerbread men didn't escape via even the slightest crack in windows or doors. Whew...good thing, none escaped.

We made a good dozen and enjoyed sharing them with our family on Christmas.

A few new things have occurred this month, too. Gavin's been doing very well with his phonemic awareness and could blend any group of letter sounds together, but we hadn't really given him the opportunity to read books on his own until one night he surprised us by reading the whole book, himself! He was so proud and of course, Kyle was glowing with pride, too.

Gavin also is learning how to ride his bike without training wheels! Here he is with Daddy, coming down towards our end of the cul-de-sac. We live on a great street for working on this.

I'll end this post with how we enjoy our evenings when Daddy comes home early enough to see the boys before bed. Nothing like a nice, calming down activity to read them for bed, eh? :) They LOVE riding on "the maker" and it's way better riding on the floors at the new house. Easier on dad, too.

Christmas post coming up next! I'm on a roll, folks!

Riding the Christmas Train

Thankfully, our recent fires avoided the best parts of Irvine Regional Park. It took out some acres and play areas, but the train route was left untouched. After a few weeks, the park was reopened and the boys got to enjoy their long-awaited Christmas train ride to see Santa. It really is a cute, new tradition we've started. Two years ago we did all the fun things to do at the village area but couldn't get tickets to ride the train since tickets sell out within days they go on sale. Last year, we got in on a deal from someone who couldn't use them and was selling them online. This year, as soon as tickets were available, I got right on it. The boys looked forward to this for a long while. We went the night of our last day of school and it felt like it kicked off the vacation break in just the right, special way.

What would Christmas be like without a little ice fishing, eh?

Their smiles were the best!

Waiting for the train to come back.

Mrs. Claus reading to children. Kyle said she had a jolly voice. It was, indeed, the perfect voice for a Mrs. Claus.

 

 Finally on the train!!

While we waited in line, Kyle bought himself and Gavin some hot chocolate with his own money. He was so proud. :) Sorry for the dark picture, but I loved this memory and those smiles.

 The boys put their letters to Santa (made at the village) in the post office box.

 Then, picture time!

 I love Gavin's look of pure delight while Kyle is trying to figure out if he's real or not.

Then back on the train to the village.

November Recap: Mother/Son Sports Dance Party, House Projects, IL Family, Being Silly, and Thanksgiving!

November came and went faster than fast. We started out the month attending our school's Mother/Son Sports and Dance Party! We are always proud to represent Chicago, however, we tend to get booed. This was confusing for Gavin and he solemnly asked me, "Mommy, why do people say "Boo Bears" so much? Why don't they like Chicago?!" His little face and voice were so precious. Like, how could anyone possibly not like Chicago or the Bears? :) We tried to explain teams and team spirit to Gavin. Aside from Gavin's momentary bewilderment, we had a super fun time playing games and dancing with the boys' friends and mommies.

Kyle found his friend, Curtis.

And Gavin found his closest friend, Linden. These two were inseparable, jumping up and down with glee that the other was there.

I spy an adorable, little boy...

Over the course of the past two months, we have worked non-stop on projects. Anyone surprised? Rudy would say "we" is a loose term. Projects are mostly being done by Rudy. But while he works around the clock, I consider myself a part of the operation by holding down the fort and all things children and domestic. There are a few projects that I've handled and one of them is the outdoor landscaping. We aren't budgeting right now for serious work out there, yet, but I did transplant and buy some plants to clean the front area up, as well as other spots in the yard.

This is what the planter looked like before, when we bought it. The palm in the center was in need of a haircut and I just really couldn't get on board with these rocks. The boys and their friends would help me off and on, but it took me a few weeks of collecting to get em all. Tedious work, I tell you. I couldn't believe how many rocks there were! I listed them for free online and watched them disappear. 

Here's what I was working with, without the rocks and a trim to the palm. We tried to birth the baby palms that were growing around the momma in the middle, but alas, they all died, and frankly, 3 big palms in there were enough.

Here's a shot of it now. It doesn't look like much, but as the plants grow, I'm confident it will look better. Those bigger flowering-looking succulents get huge over time, so I transplanted 3 from the backyard and I'm looking forward to when they fill the space out a bit more. I added some succulents that will spread and cover the dirt as well as some flowering succulents intermixed with some perennials. 

A few more quick shots of our favorite places in the front yard...

The boys' favorite spot...the tire swing! I had a flat tire last year, and in anticipation of buying a home with a yard, I convinced the mechanic to let me keep the tire. When we saw this tree, I just knew the tire had to go there.  Also, our gardeners took out a huge palm that blocked the entire window you see there...we planted it in the backyard and it's looking so good. Loving the unobstructed view from the living room looking out and all the added light that comes in to the house as well.

- I interrupt this programming for a little Martin silliness! -

 Back to another house project... Rudy worked hard to replace and reinforce any wooden beam or board that needed attention. The result? This thing isn't going anywhere and the imaginative play that occurs here every day continues... :)

 The wood has since been treated. One of the most often uses of this structure is their "America Ninja Warrior" platform/obstacle course.

But really, their imagination is endless and one of the things I love, LOVE, about having bought this house, is watching all the new ways they play outside.

Family from Illinois came to visit their kids (GG's cousins) and since they live only 30+ minutes away, we all got together for some yummy Italian food and just all around good, fun company. We really love their visits!

Cousin David and Aunt Carol (and their spouses!)

Each weekend, we work...but we also play... :) Daddy's cut palm fronds became hut material. Kyle built this all by himself. Also in the pic, is Gavin playing in his favorite dirt spot behind the hut.

:) :) :)

 Then, a mud bath... because, why not?!

I think that's all the photos I have for November. We ended the month with a week off from school during the Thanksgiving break. I had surgery. And my aunt and uncle came to stay with us and help out! It turned out to be a great time of togetherness and a simple, but nice Thanksgiving dinner at home. Many thanks to my Auntie Jan, for her intuition and care for me, the boys, and all the needs of the home. What a difference she made. Also appreciate all the love and fun my Uncle Mike brought for the boys. We ended November extremely grateful. :)