The Most Christ Like Monkey

Tonight at Mass, Father Jeff asked three questions:

1. Who among you decided to attend the 4:30 Mass to avoid the snow?

Lots of chuckles...

2. Who prayed for a White Christmas?

More chuckles...

Before question # 3, the children of the parish did a skit about how God got really frustrated with his people because they weren't being Christ like. He sent lots of messages (rainbows, stone tablets, etc.) and eventually had to come down here himself in the form of a baby.

After the skit, Father asked the final question:

3. Children in attendance tonight, which of you think you have been Christ like? Who has been good this year?

More chuckles from the parents, followed by groans from their children.

But not my child. My child piped up at the top of his lungs:

"Ooo-oo, ahh-ahh" (an excellent imitation of Curious himself).

My child. The most Christ like monkey at St. Patrick Church.

Awesome.

Christmas Wish

Dear Santa,

Here is what I want for Christmas. I would like for Brian to start talking in full sentences all the time. I would like to be able to understand every word he says. Then I could stop worrying about his hearing loss affecting his speech. I don't care if he talks all day and all night and drives me crazy. It would be better than the worrying.

I promise to leave cookies for you and celery for the reindeer.

Thanks,
Maria

Cape

We made it to Cape and back. Whew, what a long trip! It supposedly takes 6 hours, but with Brian it's more like 8. Ugh.

Archie was surprised, and we got to spend lots of time visiting the fam. Brian was excited to open his presents from Aunt Beth. He also very much enjoyed Andrew's company and his toy trains!

We're both worn out and recovering today. It's really cold,but eventually we are going to have to venture out to Kroger and maybe work for a few minutes. Brrr!!

Playing chase and tickle monster with Andrew...

Opening presents with Aunt Beth...

Bad Omens

We are leaving on a 6ish hour trip this morning to visit my Grandmother. Here are the bad things that have happened this morning before 10a.m. Note: We haven't even left yet.

1. We woke up to a power outage.

2. Brian could not watch T.V.

3. The van (vehicle we are taking on the trip) would not start.

4. My parents' roof if leaking.

5. Jon stubbed his toe getting in the shower.

6. Teri lost her keys at Kohls and had to go get them.

7. Pappy backed into the neighbor's mailbox.

Pray for us.

Festival of Lights

Last Thursday was the Keeper's Circle event at the zoo. We braved the cold and went mostly because we knew the actual member's event would be inside (with free hot cocoa)!

The event was really cute. They had all kind of animals for the kids to pet and wear...

Brian wouldn't have any part of this and was NOT happy that Shawn chose to. He kept saying, "No 'nake Dada, no."

The had lots of food and a few age appropriate crafts that Brian enjoyed. He got to make an elephant Christmas card for Nana (with a real picture of Sabu the elephant) and a peanut/seed feeder for the birds in the bird show!

The lights were really pretty too, although we didn't stay outside too long. Brrr! Brian really enjoyed them and spent most of the time running around the zoo...same as last year.

Thanks, Amy!

Mom's friend Amy sold her boys' kitchen set to her for Brian. It seems her boys were jumping off of it and she decided it just wasn't safe anymore. I didn't think Brian would do that, so Mom bought it. He doesn't climb on the one at school. Boy was I WRONG.

Approved kitchen play...

Typical kitchen play...

Only a matter of time before he is jumping off of it!

Smiling Santa Picture

We got one!

Tumbling Together

La La came to tumbling this week and acted as our photographer! Finally some great pics of tumbling that aren't from a cell phone. Mel and I tried to capture the kids with our phones, but it was pretty tough!

Brian has been really out of sorts at tumbling the past couple of weeks. He definitely tests my patience. Sometimes he wipes out any patience I thought I had. So, many of the pictures are of (as La La said) Brian just doing his thing.

Case in point...
However, some of the pictures are of him actually doing what he is supposed to do:

Forward roll...

Present...


Climb over the pommel horse thingie...


Front support...
Bat hang (well, one of these is more of a flex arm hang, but he's TWO)...


Beam (he was actually supposed to be crawling in the crawling shots)...





This week because it's so cold, the kids got to "ice skate" and have a "snow ball" fight...


The whole class. OMG they are so stinkin' cute! And Ms. Missy has SO MUCH stinkin' patience!

And my favorite picture of all...

Mommy Pictures

Recently, I have been complaining that Shawn never takes pictures with me in them. The other night, he decided to try to make up for this. At bath time. Trust me, I look absolutely lovely in these photos!

This is actually one of my favorite parts of the day. Brian gets so excited over his bath. The past few days he's actually asked for "bath time." Of course he usually asks at some ridiculous time like 5:30p.m! Crazy boy.

After I dress him, he especially likes to tap his fish wind chime. He loves that thing!

Lights!

Nana bought some super cool lights for her tree in Gatlinburg.

Brian loved the Elmo lights until the football lights went up.


Then he just tried to a.) make his football a part of the decorations and b.) pull the football lights off the tree so that they could become his toy.

Caught!

Pappy was caught playing with Brian's toys the other day. The nativity set from Uncle Billy and and Bibber is pretty cool!

Train Ride

On the Saturday after Thanksgiving, we met up with Addison and fam (and our fam to0) for the annual Santa Train Ride. I am not going to post any Santa pictures just yet, as we didn't get the best of the best on our camera. The photographer got a great one though, which I am hoping to get digitally!

Here are some fun pictures from the day...

P.S. I am diggin' the hat. Lucky for me, Brian LOVES it too!

A certain Nana was definitely bruised in the taking of this picture. Brian was standing ON her to see out of the top window.

Not sure why Nana decided to hide in this picture, but a good one of Pappy and Brian nonetheless.