Billy Graham Library

Peggy, Miles, Noah & I checked out the Christmas display at the Billy Graham library. Most of their festivities were in the evening (carolers, sleigh rides, light display, live nativity scene), but at 2pm we were still able to check out the animals from the live nativity scene. We saw a camel, some sheep and a baby kangaroo. Anyone know the significance of the kangaroo?

The grounds were beautiful. We'll definitely plan to enjoy the nighttime activities next year!





(Nice face, Miles...and nice hulk pj-shirt!)

Warming Up for Christmas

Its so much fun to gear up for Christmas! There are friends to hang out with, shopping trips to be had, parties to enjoy. We've had our fair share of fun (& we're not done yet!).

Friends!

Trish, Ella, and Jack joined us for a much-overdue-and-oh-so-fun play date. Its been awhile since we've all hung out...and the kids didn't waste a moment in idle time. They played up a storm. Later in the night, while the older kids were attempting some daredevil tricks, Ella hurt her leg. A bag of ice and a Christmas special fixed everything. Check out the positioning of Ella's leg...straight across Miles' lap!


Paige, Abby, and Meagan stopped by for a fun afternoon playdate. We decided to make some Christmas gingerbread cookies. It quickly became the messiest play date ever...but also a blast and oh-so-yum!

Shows!


I took the older boys to the children's theater production of Velveteen Rabbit. They LOVED it. Their eyes were glued throughout the performance.

Shopping


Noah and Griffin joined me on a shopping trip. We spent 98% percent of the time playing in the fun play area (squishy looney-toons characters that you can climb on, under, etc..) and 2% of the time in a toy store where Noah kept changing his mind about what Santa should bring him.

Christmas Parties
No adult parties this year (although Mike and I were invited see Neil Diamond in Mike's client's/my old employer's very cool suite. It was SO FUN and we treated it as our grand holiday party of the year).


Miles' public school helped him celebrate so many holidays this December (except Jesus' birthday). He learned about Kwanzaa & Hanukkah, and he took a trip around the world (shuffling through different classrooms each day/week) to learn about different countries' traditions of celebrating Christmas. He'd jump off the bus and say things like, "some kids put out shoes and Santa fills them up with candy!!" I joined his class for their holiday party and was in charge of the super-fun-definitely-happening Bingo table. Miles is in the corner in his blue super hero shirt. BINGO!


Griffin's Christmas party was pretty basic year. I brought in little Christmas cookies and a couple of Christmas singing toys from home (another mom brought a little gift for each child). Griffin was hilarious to watch. At home, he is the 'baby brother'. At school (among his peers), he became 'in charge' when he saw toys from HIS house unveiled. He recognized them immediately, and wanted his favorite toy to sit right next to him. He looked at the other kids as if to say, "This is mine...I know how it works...and I won't mind if you back off". He did share -- but as soon as some of the other moms came to pick up their kids, he grabbed his toy, carried it to my bag and gave me a look like, 'I got the toy....let's go!" It was all so hilarious...I love watching this little guy grow up!


Noah was very silly during his party (all the hype after his super-cute acting debut as a sheep, I guess ). The teachers gave us these precious ornaments and Noah refused a picture without mini-Noah in front of his face. Voila!

Our Little Reader

Griffin is in the 'I love to read books' phase. He often carries a book around with him and he reaches for books before bed and as soon as we get him out of his crib in the morning. His current favorite is 'Goodnight Moon' --- and his favorite part is to point to and talk about the bunny (which is never mentioned in the book...the bunny is the one in the bed, saying "goodnight" to everything). I love that he has a special way of reading/viewing the story....he is, after all, our special guy.

Oh the Weather Outside is Frightful.....

Circus Discovery!

We had a great afternoon playing in the visiting circus exhibit at Discovery Place. If you live in Charlotte, definitely check it out!


Griffin hated me wearing in this clown costume. He pulled on it until I took it off...



The boys loved dressing up. They stood on raised platforms and pretended to be on 'center stage'. Roar!


Mike, the master juggler...


Griffin jumped right up and started "dancing" with the clowns. For a little guy that is not talking very much, he seems to pick things up surprisingly fast!


Before we left, the older boys took a quick trip UP on the gravity chair.


While playing in the museum's open play room, Griffin grabbed a shopping cart and proceeded to run around the room and swipe toys from every table...sometimes right out from under unsuspecting (older) kids. Mike and I were impressed by his "moves" as he was definitely working a type of 'sneak attack'. This kid is definitely one to watch!

A+ for the Gingerbread TREE

Each Christmas the boys and I decorate a gingerbread house. In theory its 'great fun'; but, in actuality, it can be frustrating for the kiddos, as the walls come-tumbling-down quite easily if the icing (glue) doesn't set just right. This year, as I was about to grab the gingerbread house kit, another mom stopped me in the store and recommended the gingerbread tree. SCORE! The tree was easy, fun, and continues to be tasty (for the daring palettes of the boys). We are now officially a 'tree family'!





(it didn't take long for Noah to sneak over for a quick taste...little did he know I was right behind him...haha)

Santa!

We spent 2 hours in line waiting to see Santa at the mall today. We went right after church (11:30), so we thought we'd beat the rush. No dice. Mike was able to do some Christmas shopping, take the boys to eat lunch in the food court, and take Miles to buy some new jeans -- all while I waited in line. By the time we got to Santa, Griffin was exhausted -- so the picture of Santa with the boys turned into a family photo.



Miles told Santa he wants an "electric guitar" and Noah told Santa that he wants an "acoustic guitar". We suggested that Santa buy Griffin some drums. Merry Musical Christmas!

Griffin is 18 months old!

Griffin is growing up quickly! Today he had his 18-month-old appointment.

• He weighs 22lbs (5-10%), is 33 inches (75%) and still has the cutest dimple on his right cheek. :)
  
• He is changing quickly - and I now see him as more of a little boy, less of a baby.
  
• He is really starting to enjoy playing with toys. His current favorites are cars --- he loves to carry matchbox cars around and he loves to load up his favorite firetruck with little toys and push them all around the house.
  
• He officially knows where the treats are in the house and he'll stand below certain cabinet doors and will yell out, as if he'll surely wilt away if he doesn't get one starburst candy immediately.
  
• He loves to play chase -- and he, his big brothers, and Bodie will often chase each other around the house after dinner.
  
• He is silly (he'll put an empty bowl on his head and look around, hoping to generate some laughter) and loves to laugh.
  
• He has favorite clothes (he loves this short-sleeved red shirt with super heroes on it) and he really doesn't like sweaters, coats, and hats.
  
• He's starting to signal to me when he wants his diaper changed (....man, it would be so great if he wants to start potty training soon!)
• He understands most everything and is verbalizing more (more sounds than actual words...but he seems on the verge of letting the floodgates open)
• He loves music and we'll frequently catch him bustin'-a-move (and when he sees us watching him, he'll flash a big smile as if to say, "yeah, I'm cute...and funny")
  
• He is super, super snuggly.
  

We are so blessed to have this sweet, sweet boy in our family! Love you, Griffin! xoxoxo

Noah the Sheep

Noah's Christmas program was today. It was SO cute! He played the part of a sheep. He stood up while singing the songs; otherwise, he sat on the floor in front of his shepard. When it was time for the shepards to visit baby Jesus, Noah crawled across the floor to get there. It was hilarious and precious as the same time.

He smiled at me, Mike, and Griffin almost the entire time -- and fully participated in the hand motions, etc.. In the last picture, he is screaming "Happy Birthday, baby Jesus!" Love it!

Rock Star Santa

Miles is in a "rock star" phase and he made this Santa in school last week. What a get-up! I also love that Miles wrote the little sentence below the picture. Kindergarten teachers are incredible.



Since this is my one place to document the boys' big accomplishments, here is an excerpt of an email that Miles' teacher sent last week about this Santa:
Miles pays attention to detail with everything he does....today we read a story about Santa wanting a new suit for Christmas and the students had to design a new suit for Santa. Some had a difficult time generating an idea...Miles knew exactly what he wanted to do....a rockstar suit....you have to see it!!! It's on the bulletin board outside the room....he did everything himself (well...I did the sunglasses.) but he did the guitar, microphone, etc...and it was all his idea....he's such a great student....such a thinker...

Miles' one big Christmas request has been an electric guitar. He's also interested in "colored spot lights to hang from the ceiling," rock star glasses, a rock star hat and rock star clothing. He's decided that Noah's big gift should be a drum set. We'll be sure to have the video running on Christmas morning. :)

Passing Notes

I had lunch with Miles today at school. Mid-way through lunch, he 'passed me a note'. It was a piece of paper all folded up -- and when I unwrapped some of it, I noticed that he'd written my name on the outside. On the inside he had drawn a picture of himself climbing on the monkey bars solo (a new accomplishment for him -- and his current favorite recess activity).

A definite keeper!

My Blue Angel

Noah's preschool had a Christmas parade today. His class dressed up as angels --- the costume included a white shirt of Mike's (which in Mike's case means white with blue stripes), some wings, a tinsel belt, and a tinsel halo. Noah was not pleased when he learned of the parade.

Noah: I am NOT going to dress up as an angel for the parade.
Brooke: Why not? Everyone in your class is going to be an angel. It will be fun!
Noah: Angels are GIRLS.
Brooke: Angels are boys and girls...and they are all very special to God.
Noah: EVERY book has pictures of angels that look like girls!
Brooke: Well, your shirt has blue stripes in it, so everyone will know that you are a boy angel.
Noah: There are no such thing as Blue Angels!
Brooke: (laughing) how much you have to learn, little grasshopper!

Pre-parade, he was determined to show me how miserable he was. Here is is with his belt, after refusing to wear the halo.


He was very excited about the candle they each carried -- and even managed to smile when he passed Griffin & me during the parade. He turned out to be quite a cute, blue angel, I'd say!

My Olympic Event....

.....is figuring out what picture to use for our Christmas card each year. I currently have a box of 150 cards that will be used for grocery lists in 2009. Griffin turned out to be blurry and ghostlike in the picture I selected.

Round 2, Take 1:

Miles decided that he'd prefer to be a lion in his Christmas card picture. Here's his best roar.


Noah showed up with a cute smile...


And Griffin looked a little serious...but, man, don't those eyes just grab you?!


Still haven't managed to get a cute one of all 3 of them. Tomorrow we'll try for Round 2, Take 98. Wish me luck.

Miles' Holiday Program

Tonight was Miles' holiday program at school. It was pretty simple - the kindergarteners just sang a few songs - but it was really, really sweet. I was very proud of Miles. He sang the songs AND did the hand motions (unheard of for him during preschool performances!). He was in the front row (you can see him in the blue & brown striped sweater) and I was sure that I would miss his entire performance (based on how short he is, how short I am, and how far back I was sitting). But, as soon as he started to sing, there was literally a 'parting of the heads' and I had a perfect vision of him. Divine intervention for sure. I'm eternally grateful. Just thinking about how cute it was makes me tear up!

More New Bern Fun

After Thanksgiving dinner, we all went for a walk on the neighborhood nature trail. On the way there, we stumbled across seven deer (hard to see here -- they are way in the distance). Very cool!



All of our boys have loved hanging from/doing pull-ups on Grandma & Grandpa's over. Griffin was no exception!


Peggy has an amazing eye for color and is really skilled at figuring out what "season" people are. She draped the boys with fabric while we were there and figured out that Miles is an autumn (like me), Noah is a summer (like Mike), and Griffin is a Spring (like my mom and sister, Dana). Miles really got into it. You can see him in the last picture trying to help assess what looked good on Noah. Too funny! Peggy hooked us up with some great color books that we can use when shopping. They've already come in SO handy! Thanks, Peggy!