On the Ice

Winter 2015 may be the season of ice skating! Julia, Benj, and I went with friends before Christmas and while at first I was a little leery of taking them by myself we ended up having a fabulous time. I had forgotten how much I love to skate and both kids did fantastic on skates.

Julia had skated the previous year and had done pretty well but it was Benjamin's first real time on skates. It took a little figuring out for him and I, and a change from hockey skates to figure skates, but by the end of a couple of hours he was walking on the ice solo and even gliding a little bit.

of course, we had to watch the zamboni!!

We had so much fun we went back right after Christmas along with Grandpa Rick and Grandma Les and Julia skated for almost 2 hours! She was having a ball pulling everyone around the rink!

Heard Around our House

From the mouth of Benj:

• The other day he was singing "Do you Know the Muffin Man?" but his version is "Do you Know the Muffin Babe?"
• Andrew and I were cleaning up from lunch and Benjamin was playing on Andrew's computer when we heard, "ummmmm, guys? I have a little problem over here."
• Benj and I were sitting at the table eating breakfast this morning and I asked Julia to sit down and join us to which she replied that she did not want to. Benj's response? "It's just life, Julia."

also his vocabulary is becoming quite impressive. In the last few days he has (appropriately) used the words compromise, consequences, considering, categorizing, and complicated... I guess it was a "c" word week!

Christmas!!

We have entered into the peak time of Christmas fun in our household! Julia and Benjamin were both really into the holiday this year. There was much anticipation and excitement starting even before Thanksgiving. 

Their Christmas lists for Santa were short: a train for Benjamin (but one that he could ride on around the house) and a monster truck and pom-poms for Julia. Both of them got their wishes and a few other things and were thrilled! But the highlight of the season, for Benjamin, came a few days after Christmas when he received his gifts from Auntie Lyndsay and he opened a Nesquik chocolate milk gift pack! I wish I had a video or even a picture of his pure delight - it was priceless! 

I really didn't get too many pictures this Christmas. I just enjoyed the day with Andrew and the kids. So I'll end this with what has become our annual family picture with Santa (Andrew and I try to extricate ourselves each year but no luck yet!).

Christmas Fun - The Nutcracker

Julia and I had a special date in December to go see The Nutcracker at the Providence Performing Arts Center. The production was put on by the Festival Ballet and was very well done. We had terrific seats in the seventh row - perfect views and close enough really get wrapped up in the show. Julia  getting antsy right at the end (it's a long show!) but she really loved it! And I loved having some special time for just the two of us!

The Destroyers

This is a picture of what Julia and Benjamin's room looks like each day after they play in it. What I would like to know is this: if they can get the mattresses into these positions/states on their own why, oh why, is it impossible for them to restore them to their original states???

Oh, and in case you're wondering (because I was after re-making the beds for the 14th time in 5 days), they have to take the sheets off the beds so they can reach the handles on the sides of the mattresses. Imagine their surprise when I showed them a little trick of simply lifting the sheet up a bit to access those handles!!

Christmas Fun - LaSalette

Julia is at the age when she is mesmerized and in love with Christmas lights. I am too! Benjamin loves them too but he doesn't quite have the attention span that J does so a house or two usually does it for him. 

I love Christmas lights too (really, who doesn't??) and so a few years ago Merrill and I started taking the kids to LaSalette Shrine in early December. We have dinner at Bliss Creamery and then head down the road to the lights!

This year as we were driving up to LaSalette and started to see some of the lights in the trees Benj, with a little awe in his voice, said "they're so beautiful." It is a magical place.

Alex did a terrific job reading the story of Jesus to all of us

The star walkway which we couldn't go up last year because it covered in ice!

goofy kids!

Cuteness

My loves!