Keeping the beat!

Proud mommy moment this evening: While we were reading and getting ready for bed, Levi was singing something.  It may have been Jingle Bells, but it doesn't really matter.  He was patting his legs to the beat!  He did it perfectly and for the entire song!  That's the first time I've seen that.

Of course, when I pointed it out to him and congratulated him, he switched and started patting first the rhythm of the words and then regressing to wild patterns that didn't match.  Micah tried to do it, too, because he saw I was so excited about it.

I'm looking forward to more music making at our house!

January Wacky Wednesdays

Week 1: Playdate at Hannah and James' house
Week 2: Point Defiance Playground
Week 3: Lunch at Red Robin
Week 4: Rainier View Park, Sumner

Mystery Monday: Heritage Park (next to Zeiger Elementary)

We're going to be temporarily suspending our Wacky Wednesdays because Grannie has begun an exercise class on Monday mornings.  Since we can't see her on Mondays right now, we've moved our weekly visits to Wednesdays.  That leaves Mondays open for new adventures.  We're calling it "Mystery Monday."

Micah's Second Birthday Party

Micah had a farm-themed birthday party.  Here is the big red barn cake.

Pin the tail on the donkey!

The menu included several of the boys' favorites: chicken strips, broccoli salad, cornbread muffins, veggies, chips, and pink lemonade.

Avery took an interest in Ethan....

Tractor pinata!  It worked out great: each child got two turns to hit the pinata, and Ethan dealt the final blow.  All the kids enjoyed it ... until it actually broke.  Then Micah burst into tears.  Poor guy!  We broke his new tractor!

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

On Christmas Eve, we had dinner at my parents' house with Grannie, Auntie Ann, Uncle Doug, Evan, and Olivia.  We had a great time!  The boys donned their Christmas PJs before heading home to bed.

On Christmas morning, the boys got to open their stockings.

 Micah wants to do whatever Levi is doing.

 We had a lovely service at church before coming home for a miniature lunch.  Then we headed to Bob's for "A Mediterranean Christmas Feast."  We had lamb, Greek fish and vegetables, spanakopita ... the works!  It was so fun to hang out with the family and open gifts!

Christmas Preparations

Decorating the tree

 Making gingerbread houses with the cousins

Graham cracker houses at home

 Note to self: this plan was genius!  I formed the houses and let them dry before the boys started decorating them.  Then I put the ingredients in an egg carton instead of 10 different little containers.  We didn't use candy; rather we used what was in the house: star-shaped cereal puffs, chocolate chips, raisins, craisins, walnuts, almonds, cheerios, goldfish crackers, marshmallows, coconut, and leftover candy canes.  That way I didn't have to feel so bad when the boys inevitably started eating the decorations.

Their finished products

Time for a Starbucks break!

Gorham-Hayden Music Night

December Wacky Wednesdays

Week 1: Watson's Greenhouse (to see the reindeer)
Week 2: Cemetery visit (in remembrance of Nathan's mother and grandmother)
Week 3: Bass Pro Shops (for photos with Santa)
Week 4: Wapato Park
Week 5: Painting at Grannie and Grandpa's house