More fun with Cooper

Kelly, Dan, and Cooper stayed with us a few days at the end of their visit. Each of the boys loved having extra playmates around :)

Baha

Our insurance company felt the Christmas spirit and approved our appeal for Brady's hearing aid. We got to try out the loaner over the holidays and are going back tomorrow to pick up our very own. He has to wear it on a band around his head, so I was expecting him to be pretty irritated by it.

It turned out that he actually didn't bother with it at all. While not huge, we did notice some definite improvements in his hearing. It will be exciting for him to have the option to wear it in the future!

More Christmas pics

We went to Baltimore the day after Christmas for a holiday party with James' mom's family. I managed to avoid being the photographer for the day, which was nice except that now I have to wait (patiently...I'm so good at that!) for everyone to email me pictures!

We did a lot of Christmas caroling, with piano and guitar accompaniment. This family is exceptionally blessed with good singing voices. I, of course, am not! It was a treat for the kids to hear what Christmas carols are actually supposed to sound like when not sung by the tone deaf. The power went out mid-party, which actually only added to the ambiance.

Firehouse train gardens are a uniquely Baltimore tradition and we visited one that Kathy visited as a child. The kids thought it was fascinating and had to walk through twice.

We told Brady and Rudy about our gift to them on the morning of the 26th. I was a little worried that it would be too abstract for them, but they are so excited! We've organized a family adventure for a weekend in January. We're taking the train to Baltimore, staying in a hotel, going to the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang musical, and going to the aquarium. Any ONE of those things would be exciting for the kids, but all of them in one weekend is positively thrilling!

Two of my favorite Christmas moments:
-We sat down at the table for Christmas dinner and joined hands for the blessing. Before anyone could even start our every day prayer, Rudy said, "let's sing happy birfday". We asked who we were singing to. He said, "to baby Jesus!" Of course, that was our blessing for the dinner but it was so appropriate. I was thrilled that, even to a 2 year old, we had managed to get that message through!

-I organized a neighborhood-wide sponsorship of two local needy families. We had a huge pile of gifts accumulated in our living room. Brady was very aware of who they were for and kept reminding me that they were for kids who aren't as lucky as he is this Christmas. He did stump me by asking if Santa was going to bring them presents, but then answered his own question by telling me that might bring them something but that these kids probably wouldn't get anything from their families, so our gifts would "make it more fair." [We're all about what's fair and not fair around here these days!]

Merry Christmas morning!

The four of us slept downstairs by the Christmas tree last night to see if we could catch Santa. He came, but he was too sneaky for us!

Nana and Popsie and the Donaldsons all spent the night so we could open presents together this morning. Brady woke up at 4:30 and acknowledged that Santa had come, but promptly fell back asleep. We all started stirring about 6:30 this morning.

Rudy and Cooper with Cooper's new camera:

Videos of our "kids" (Brady, Rudy, and Maggie) opening their presents...

After 7 years, Maggie is a pro at present-opening...

The primary item on Brady's letter to Santa was the Star Wars Transformer...



Since our vacation last summer, Rudy has been wanting a Blue Angel jet. He was sure to share this with Santa (twice) and anyone else who asked!

More cookie baking...

We were still baking cookies yesterday, and I think I'll be baking even more today. Who knew we could eat (and give away!) so many treats!

Rudy was my primary helper yesterday...he was an expert cookie roller and rolled two entire batches of ginger molasses cookies in the sugar for me.

Christmas Eve

I'm taking advantage of a temporary lull in the Christmas activities to put up a few pictures from last night and this morning. (My parents aren't with us and missed seeing the boys!)

We went to church last night. Somehow, we didn't get any pictures with James or me. We'll be dressed up again tomorrow so we'll have to try again!

Before the boys changed out of their jeans...

ABCs Duet

Cooper and Rudy serenaded us at lunch earlier this week with the ABCs.

Fun with Cooper

Rudy and Brady have loved having their cousin around again - especially at Nana and Popsie's house where they are allowed to ride the cozy coupe and big wheels in the house (only until the 12-month inspection on their new house though).

Wheresis da kitties?

Rudy spent the last two nights at Nana and Popsie's house. He walked into the house this afternoon when he came home, took a lap around and came back to me...

R: Wheresis da kitties? [anytime he can't find something he says wheresis]
K: They were sick. They had to go to the doctor.
R: Why?
K: They had colds and they needed a lot of medicine, so they needed to stay with the doctor.
R: [In deep thought for a while]
K: After the doctor makes them better, they'll go to new homes.
R: I have an apple??

I took the kittens to the SPCA to see the vet yesterday because Frankie and Lola were very lethargic and all three of them were sneezing and had runny noses. The vet called and said that all three of them needed 3 different meds 2-3 times a day for 10 days. I didn't feel like we'd be able to keep up with that schedule, especially around the holidays. We talked to Brady, who didn't seem too interested in keeping a cat, so we decided to leave the kittens at the SPCA where they'd be better taken care of.

I was worried that he would be distressed to come home and find the kittens gone. Apparently not...as long as we have food!

We did find out that the kids and I can start volunteering at the SPCA, so we'll be able to visit with Frankie, Lola, and Fiona until they get adopted.

Sneaky Elves

Santa's elves dropped in on us last night to let the boys know that they're being watched. The elves rang the doorbell and disappeared, but they left behind new PJs for Brady, Rudy, and Cooper.

I know there are some people out there who can take one picture of 3 preschoolers where all the kids are looking and smiling. I am not one of those people.

Unfortunately, I'm also not one of those people who is adept at photo editing. I can rationalize that part of the charm of these pictures comes from the goofiness of the subjects!

These are unrelated pictures, but too cute not to post. Rudy is going to be the most devastated when the kittens leave. As soon as he gets up in the morning and after nap, he comes down and asks, "I have a kitty?" He loves toting one around with him wherever he goes. I think we have decided not to keep one at this point and to just foster another litter in the spring.

Back to the 'burg

We took a trip back to Williamsburg with some friends last weekend. James and I never pass up an opportunity to get back there - a lot of fun memories. I'm sure the kids will be sick of hearing the college stories long before they get to college themselves {at The College, of course :) }

We happened to be in town for the Yule Log Ceremony at W&M. We went and didn't feel all THAT old (probably only because we stood outside the fence next to a much older couple). Happily, we thought the event was almost as much fun as we did as undergrads! The new president's reading of The Grinch couldn't compare to President Sullivan's (he kept pronouncing the Whos down is Whoville as "woos"). Brady thought the Gentlemen of the College version of the 12 Days of Christmas was hysterical and has been repeating the last line (three fat hens and a duck...QUACK) since then.

We ran into Santa Claus at Merchants Square. He had a magic bell with him that only he could ring - none of the kids could get it to work.

The boys with their treats from Wythe Candy Shop (which doesn't sell blackberry brandy cordials anymore...what is that about?!?) Thankfully, the house dressing at the Cheese Shop still tastes just as excellent!

A trip to DoG Street isn't complete without sticking your head in the stocks!

The kids were very excited to be on this adventure with their buddies!

Kitty update

One of our foster kittens (Shrek, renamed Oscar) has gone to his new home. We still have Fiona, Frankie, and Lola with us. I'm back and forth every day about whether we should keep Fiona or Lola (or neither).

Rudy LOVES the kitties - he picks one up and carries it around with him everywhere. He's about as gentle as a 2 year old can be...these kittens will be well-socialized, that's for sure!

Even Maggie has a favorite: Lola, because she ignores Maggie. (Fiona has a tendency to fight back!)

Cats have always been attracted to James, who is quite vocal in his preference for dogs over cats. He is open to keeping one of the girls, though, and they all obviously love him:

Lola is the runt of the litter. She's very sweet but also very insistent on sitting on my head...not a fan. She's also not all that great at grooming so I've had to bathe her twice already!

Even Ben and Bella have favorites. Too bad Cindy won't let the kids take one (or two!) home!

Denial

This little lovely is from James...

Scene: Bathroom during toothbrushing last night, kids open drawers, Rudy slams one shut on Brady's fingers.

Brady: screaming
James: Rylan, tell Brady you're sorry.
Ru: silence

Brady: screaming
James: Rylan...say, "I'm sorry, Brady."
Ru: I not know how to talk.

Foster parenting

So, we're foster parents. Of cats. Four of them...teeny tiny little 5 week old kittens that my dad found abandoned outside our neighborhood.

Two boys and two girls - Shrek and Fiona and Frankie and Lola. And they are CUTE! The boys love them of course, and I wouldn't be surprised if we own one of them before it's all over.

All aboard the Santa Train

It's become a new tradition to see Santa on the Santa train. We meet up with some friends for this annual event.

Rudy was not the least bit shy, practically jumping into Santa's arms and shouting,
"Blue Angel! I wanna Blue Angel jet!"

Brady was a little more reserved and very polite, asking for Star Wars Transformers and Hot Wheels Stunt Track. He was a little stumped when Santa asked if he'd been good and looked to James to help him answer that question!

Rudy and Ben...best buds!

Brady, Bella, Ben, and Rudy.

Bella is NOT Brady's girlfriend, she's his best friend. He's as uncomfortable as I am when people ask him if she's his girlfriend.
(Just one of my personal pet peeves when people talk to little kids!)

Even the grown ups had fun...