A Big December Post

So many things...I am so behind.  What a busy month.  School has run me ragged and I finally have some down time to reflect on the last few weeks.  It's a special time but boy oh boy, it's a good thing it only comes once a year.

Polar Express (Pajama Day)....

 

Hanging of the Greens...

 

Intercepting Jed before he has a chance to destroy the reindeer chalk drawing....

 

Evangeline was in the Christmas parade in our church's float.  All the kids were dressed like animals from the manger scene.  It was sweet.  Jed was totally confused as to what was going on.  He is also not used to wearing a coat.  In the car he is only bundled with a blanket since coats aren't safe to use with car seats.  When I put this big coat on him he reminded me of Randy from The Christmas Story, all bundled up and "laying there like a slug".

 

My mom and I took Evangeline and her friend Avery Gard to see the Nutcracker at ISU.  Evangeline was so excited that she got to take a friend with her.  They sang Christmas carols in the car the whole way over to Terre Haute.  

 

It was so fun to listen to their conversations on the way back home.  I overheard Avery talking to Evangeline about a boy she had a crush on and Evangeline butted in saying, "this is off the subject, but do you know what you had to do in prairie times when you answered a question wrong in school?  You had to wear a dunce cap!".  Oh Evangeline, never change, please, never change.  

 

Here are some of the cookies I made for school.  Another thing that I can only muster up the strength to do about once a year....

 

Evangeline is back to basketball.  She's doing great.  The below picture is at her last game where they played the other Marshall team.  Here she just happened to get paired up to guard Avery Gard.  The girls giggled all over the court.  It was pretty funny to watch them guarding each other. 

We spent the night with mom a few weekends ago and went to see Santa at Clabber Girl.  Jed looked like he had been hit with a stun gun when he was sat on Santa's lap.  Santa tried to hand him a candy cane and both Santa and Evangeline had to work really hard to get him to realize what was going on and take the candy cane.  It was funny. 

 

Evangeline was so sweet.  When Santa asked her what she wanted she told him, Magic Reindeer (a book) after she answered him she realized that Santa was asking what Jed wanted.  He then asked her if she wanted surprises.  She was all flustered because she thought Santa thought that Jed wanted the book Magic Reindeer, but she told me that she didn't have the heart to correct Santa so she just went with it.  We laughed at the thought of the book being in Jed's stocking on Christmas morning.  We decided that if that happens we would know it was actually for her and that Jed wouldn't mind.  

 

Here's Jed receiving his candy cane from Santa.  

We look forward to this event each year.  Evangeline has the best time. 

 

Jed is constantly on the go.  Me and E were both cracking up during this next picture.  I thought it would be a cute little backdrop for a photo, but the second I set Jed down he was off  to the races.  I had to place him back in front of her several times.  She tried to keep him in place.  Finally we knocked over that blue sign and Jed took off into the Santa line, there were also people behind us waiting to get a picture watching the whole spectacle.  We all got a laugh though.

We enjoyed the first snow of the season.  Evangeline bundled up after school to go out and play.  Jed enjoyed watching her from the window.  She was putting on quite a snow for him being silly and eating snow. 

 

Jed loves to say thank you.  I think I've mentioned that before, but it's so cute.  It's more like da-du and he changes his pitch making the "thank" part higher than the "you".  It's just adorable. 

 

He also says "PU" and "stinky".  He loves to pick up socks and shoes and say "PU", except he says it, "TU".  Again ADORABLE. 

 

He has two favorite books that he wants us to read to him over and over.  One is Goodnight Moon.  He loves to point to the kittens and meow and count the three little bears sitting on chairs.  He also loves to point to the mouse. 

 

The other book Jed likes is called One Foot, Two Feet.  It's a counting book.  He always points to the feet and socks and says, "TU".  He also loves to point to the goose in the book and say "gook". 

 

He is mimicking so much right now.  He sings the "up above the world so high" part of Twinkle Twinkle.  You can tell his melody, but the words aren't all there.  It's more like "upabovvvva ya ya ya" or something like that, but you can definitely hear the sounds. 

 

He also calls cats "meow meow" only it sounds more like a sound you would make for a goat than a cat...more of a "maaa maaa", but he makes his voice really high. 

 

I just love my sweet little children.  I love that they are so far apart in ages.  There is just so much to enjoy at both of their stages.  My heart is so full.  And my goodness, they sure do enjoy each other.