Recharge

 Sunday was a recharge day.. we seem to be spending more time indoors this winter due to the weather. More so than years past... we needed to burn off some steam and the fog.. 

 Fieldin's foot print

 This little guy was back in his element so happy to be digging with his shovel again. 

 Greta found the biggest and prettiest urchin shell she has ever found. It was laying right on the beach..

 creating new dinosaur species...

 we played in the sand, played some volleyball and football... below the quarterback just got sacked by Fieldin... He can't take us down but he can still plow her down. 

 a little soccer and then home. It was a short trip but much needed.. I don't think Fieldin stopped running the whole time. 

Sofa Time Capsule

 This sofa has been good to us. 

She is 12 years old..with years of watching PBS cartoons, being covered in sippy cup juice, formula and the effects of sick kids. She also made it through the toilet training of both kids. After all that she still looks good. She has watched lots of movies, been used as a trampoline, held sick kids, watched as the kids said their first words to reading their first words, she's been part of circus acts, countless forts and seen Greta go from a baby under 7 lbs to a girl that can barely stretch out on this sofa now. 

After all that we are going to give her a new life.. hopefully a happy retirement. We decided not to replace her. Just moving in a couch from another room. We knew the sofa was full of popcorn(and it turns out ALOT of cheerios from way back). We turned the sofa on its side and heard some major clanking, so we opened up the back slightly and this is what we found in the sofa time capsule. 

Three books, a pack of lupine seeds(???), an  Imaginext toy pilot, two hair clips, magazine subscription cards, uno cards, wood block, dvd, camera case(I've been looking for that for years), hairbrush, little football, a power ranger walkie talkie thing that Fieldin won in a coloring contest, pens, a plastic tomato, a teething ring, Fieldin's old binky, a playdoh toy, kid scissors, hair scrunchy(that is really old), half of a plastic Easter egg, pencils, lots of straws and one fruit roll up wrapper. 

While moving it to the garage we heard more clanking but couldn't get the last things out. We are guessing one of the sounds is one of Fieldin's hot wheel cars, the other sound we have no idea... 

Thanks for many years of wonderful service "Green Couch". 

Christmas Morning

 We were woken up by Miss Greta who in a worried tone informed us that Santa did not come this year...Turned out she didn't look closely enough and hollered to let us know all was right with the world after all.. Upon this news came a bolting Fieldin out of his room half asleep on a direct path to his stocking.. 

 After his stocking dissection he went right back to building. 

 and more building.. we barely tore him away to eat breakfast. Greta got busy with a sewing project. 

 more building..

 The kids got some new board games so Greta and I played alot of connect 4 and operation.. Then it was Fieldin's turn. 

 lots of creating today.. LOVE IT. No tech toys.. just using their heads and their hands to create and play and having good ol' fun. 

We were going to try to do our annual Christmas hike but we all voted to stay in our pj's and play. We may go see a Christmas light display later.. 

A Very Merry Christmas To You! 

Twas The Night Before Christmas..

It was a late night on Christmas Eve... We told the kids if they were on good behavior at church that they could open presents when we got home.. you can imagine that they were as good as could be. They also bypassed dinner and headed straight to the tree when we got home. I think flying paper and unwrapping was the craziest it has ever been. They unwrapped most of their gifts standing up.. no time to sit when there is paper to rip! 

 This one was in his present unwrapping prime this year.. :)

 lots of excitement over gifts from us and family.

 Can you find the crazy cat? Jeff and I spent our time making sure he wasn't being trampled. He wouldn't move of course. 

 A Chewbacca pillow from Aunt Denise was a hit... 

 It was a lego Christmas for this one and he pretty much hasn't stopped building since..

 Fieldin got Greta a felt sewing kit she has really wanted... 

 They were excited for each other and had to show each other everything. 

It was chaos and fun..

 He went right to work building. 

 Then Santa tracking online when they should have been in bed. They REALLY get into this. 

 Then out in the back yard spreading Reindeer food in the grass.. it sparkles in the night so the reindeer see it. Fieldin at this moment said "Hurry Greta, I don't see them on the roof yet!!" 

 ..and spreading while Fieldin looked around paranoid hoping they didn't miss Santa. 

 Then of course the annual Santa bribe.. 

 They wrote a letter that said(I didn't change spelling)" Dear Santa, please give the carrots to the Reindeer. We left some stuff out in the yard for you to see, don't let the reindeer eat it. I hope you enjoy the cookies and water. Sinncerly, Greta and Fieldin

They finally made it to bed. We always read Twas' the night before Christmas on Christmas eve.. Once they were in bed I jingled a sleigh bell and Jeff stomped around making loud noises.... They new it was us and told us to knock it off and go to bed:) 

Around Here.. Christmas Preparedness

Now that we are on Christmas break we are enjoying the holiday.. 

Christmas themed lunches and art projects.. below are the kids nutcrackers. 

 The boys are watching football bowl games... 

 playing with tree ornaments....

 and poking at presents.. The cat took the bows and ribbons off our gifts this year.. 

 The kids finished up their advent calendar today so Fieldin made one for next year. He found a box in the garage and made holes and decorated the top. The inside is filled with monster trucks and star wars characters. 

 Cutting off one of the last countdown Christmas chains. 

 resupplying cookies for Santa this morning. 

 Our yearly German Christmas eve lunch. We change it up some times. We always have hot German potato salad, sausage and sauerkraut. We were also lucky enough to have Mark's dads pear apple cider again this year.. the best in the world the kids say. 

Every time the doorbell rings the kids freeze and drop everything and sprint to the door. A doorbell these days means goodies from neighbors or a package.. it's win win. 

A Nutcracker Tradition

 Every year, Greta and I get dressed up and go to the Nutcracker Ballet. This year we went with a friend and her daughter and made a day of it. I love the live orchestra and choir and it is fun to recognize some of the same dancers from years past. 

We made sugarplums this year and they are actually really good. I've been wanting to make them for years and now I think it will be a yearly tradition to make them as a treat before the ballet. 

Below, is Miss Greta with the Sugar plum fairy. Greta was so nervous to meet her. It was cute. 

If We Were Legos...

Over The Weekend

 We weren't home too much this last weekend which was fine with us. I think we are still in cooped up mode after that week of school closures. We spent the weekend having some holiday fun and visiting with friends. It was especially nice to see our friend Mark for a bit this weekend while he was home visiting. Early Saturday morning the kids were busy with glitter(above) making decorations and glittering up their pictures. I contain the glitter to a box mostly so I'm not worried about it getting all over the house, I still find it everywhere anyway.. 

 Then a trip to our favorite nursery where the kids learned how to make their own swags out of different greens, magnolia leaves, dried oranges, pine cones and bells. I love how they turned out. 

 last night we went to zoo lights. The kids remembered their "light" glasses from years passed. 

 I liked the puffin and Greta liked the scene from Wizard of Oz. 

 Checking out the lights. He kept getting up on picnic tables to see better.. 

 ocean scene lights.. 

 These lights looked like a penguin sliding on its belly.. 

 more lights and a lit up carousel

 We seem to go here every year, I think it has become a tradition. A very fun weekend.