Thursday, December 29, 2011

Merry Christmas!!

Look at me! Actually blogging about something in a timely manner! "I'm so proud of me" (as Noah would say).

Noah had a fun little Christmas party at school the week before Christmas. John got to go. (He's my trusty sidekick.) They had snacks, made ornaments, and sang a few songs for the moms. (I'm currently having trouble downloading the video, but I'll keep trying...)


Waiting for snacks...John's about to fall asleep...


 Noah with his class and teachers (talking of course)


John making cookies

On Christmas Eve, Noah and I made a gingerbread house. Noah was very excited and did an excellent job sticking the candy on (and sampling too).


Building our first house (and look! Mommy even made the blog.)


Smiling for the camera.


Cleaning off his fingers.


The finished product (made in only 30 minutes.)

The boys each got to open one thing on Christmas Eve. Noah opened Polar Express and the boys got to watch it while they ate their dinner after the Christmas Eve service.

My boys


Under the tree Christmas morning


Opening presents

John opened M&Ms first and was so excited about them. He wouldn't put them down. He had a fit when we put them up so we could eat breakfast. (Don't worry! He did get a few after breakfast.)


Barely awake at Grandma's.


John, Noah, and cousin Aiden...So sweet!

Friday, December 23, 2011

You Never Know What He'll Say (or Do)

During deer season, we were at Greg's parent's. Sunday morning we went to church. It's a very small church. We sat near the back with the boys. I was letting John play in the diaper bag to keep him quiet (I use the term quiet loosely). We hadn't been there very long and John pulled Noah's extra underwear out of the diaper bag and yelled "Underwear!" as he waved them around in the air. I regretted putting them in their Schuster sweaters that day... Then I realized it didn't matter; everyone knows who Greg is anyway.

We were sitting at Grandma and Grandpa's eating lunch. Noah said, "My foot's stuck. Now I can't take a nap." Finally, I realized, his foot really was stuck. That boy will try anything to get out of going to bed.

For a while, after he'd go to the bathroom, Noah would make the sound of the water running pretending to really wash his hands. Greg wondered why he didn't just turn the water on and not wash his hands...

I said to Noah, "I need to call Daddy and..." Then I paused. Noah said, "remind him to call the flooring place." I said "Yes, how'd you know." He replied, "I'm an expert."

Immediately after I changed John's diaper, he seemed like he may have been working on a surprise. I asked him if he just pooped in a clean diaper. He answered, "Yup!"

The last time we were at Grandma and Grandpa's all the cousins had little cars they'd made out of Legos. (The big kids helped the little kids make theirs.) John of course had to have one. Every two minutes he'd hand it to me and say, "It's bro-keen."

I took the car through the gas station car wash one Sunday on the way to the church (I had been bombed by birds the day before). We got ready to pull out and the garage door at the end of the car wash only opened about half way. I waited a bit to see if it would open once the dryer stopped. Noah was really upset and asked how we were going to get home!

I asked Noah to do something (I don't remember now what it was). He said, "I don't really want to do this, but I'm going to do it anyway."

I bought diapers at the store. I put them on the kitchen counter when we got home. Noah walked through the kitchen and said "Mommy, we got the wrong diapers." And sure enough, we had gotten the wrong size. Smart boy!!

We were all in the basement working on getting things put in order. Greg explained to the boys they were not to go near a cabinet in the basement, not to touch it or even go near it. Pretty soon Noah looked over and said, "Mommy, Daddy is by the cabinet."

One Sunday after church, we went to lunch. Greg order Buffalo Chicken Pizza. John wanted some. He would take a bit, stick his hand in his mouth (like he was trying to wipe his tongue off) and say spicy. Then he'd take another bit and do it all over again.

Noah has been very attached recently to his Jesus Storybook Bible. He opened to a page and asked what story it was. I said it's the story of Abraham and Isaac. Noah corrected me and said, you mean Abraham and Sarah.

One day a nap time, we were reading the story of Jesus' crucifixion. Noah got really upset and started crying. He was so upset that they were mean to Jesus and that his Daddy left him for 3 days. It was very sweet. (If only our hearts were as tender as a child's!!)

One day, we pulled up to pick up Noah and John said, "Let's go get Noah!"

We often have trouble with Noah yelling for things after bed. You know, I need a drink or asking silly questions. Anything to prolong sleep. We told him no yelling anything once the door closes or he'd get a spanking. So, no sooner did the door close, he yelled, "I love you, Mommy!" (Don't worry, he didn't get a spanking.)

One day I decided not to dry my hair (which I never do). Noah said, "Are you going to leave your hair like that?" I said yes. He said, "I don't like it. Go dry it."

John bumped into the wall and said "Excuse me."

Greg took the boys to get my Christmas present. (Last year, Noah went with him and would not tell.) Noah asked me to help him wash his hands after he went to the bathroom. As he was finishing up, he said, "Me and Daddy need to relax. We're worn out from getting your cowboy boots. Oops! Sorry!" (all in one breath.)

Now that we've moved, when we go just about anywhere, we drive by our friends, the Gilbert's house. When we pass, Noah always says, "There's the Gilbert's." A few weeks ago, John and I were going to pick Noah up from school. John said (at exactly the right time), "Gilbert's."

December in Pictures


John looking through the Toys 'R' Us catalog...making his Christmas list.


MiMi came home from work one day and asked the boys if they wanted to check her pockets. There were M&Ms she'd tucked in there. Every time she came home, the boys wanted to check MiMi's pockets.


Poppy with his boys.


The boys playing in the mulch. (John may have had more mulch stuck in his hair than there was in the mulch bed.)


Watching a movie and having popcorn with Daddy.


Noah eating spicy chicken wings (and loving them!)


Noah hosted a tea party and invited his friends, the Hunters. Noah was so sweet and served his friends tea first. It was very cute.


Daddy brought home crowns for the boys. They marched around like a king and a prince.


21 month picture


The boys playing with their new bow and arrow (is this really an inside toy??)


Riding the carousel at the Zoo during Wild Lights


Checking out the penguins.


Taking in the lights at the Zoo


Santa and Mrs. Claus came for a visit


Check out what they were riding on.

Uh...Happy Thanksgiving!

As usual, I'm a little behind on my blogging... But better late than never right. (And, hey, I'm getting the Thanksgiving stuff up before Christmas! That's something, right?)

Noah's class had the cutest little program for Thanksgiving. A week or so before the program, one of his teachers texted me this picture of their practice. Her caption read, "I see some one's tummy!"



Noah waving at Mommy and Daddy


The great performer


Singing the Ladybug Song (so cute!!)


Praising the Lord.


John watching intently

On Thanksgiving morning, Poppy and MiMi came for a visit. The boys couldn't wait for them to get here.


Watching for Poppy and MiMi

Greg makes a trip to Bass Pro Shops every year on Thanksgiving Day. When my parents are here, my dad goes with him too. John snuggled up to Greg and wouldn't leave his side as they were getting ready to go. He wasn't about to let the boys go and leave him at home with Mommy again. 


You are NOT leaving without me this time!!

Noah, as usual, was dawdling when they were getting into the car. My dad told Noah he'd better get in his seat before the women changed their mind. Pretty soon, Noah said to Greg, "We better get going before these women change their mind."

While the boys were gone, MiMi and I worked on making Thanksgiving dinner. When the boys got home, Noah and John helped MiMi make the gravy.



After naps, we headed to the ZOE house to have dessert with the Hunters, Brooks, and Thoms. It was so much fun.


Kim with Nathan (2 weeks younger than John), Shelly with Champ (2 months younger than John), me with John, Julie with Britton (4 months younger than John)

It was so sweet to be with our friends and watch the boys run around and get into everything. They will be such good buddies when they get a little bigger (if the mommies have anything to say about it anyway).

The boys ate lots of sugar... After we got home, we got the boys all ready for bed. They were sitting on the couch with my dad. My dad said, "uh, John just threw up." Meanwhile, John says, "Yummy!" Apparently, it was just as good the second time.

Monday, December 19, 2011

A Trip to the Dentist

Noah had his first trip to the dentist. I wasn't sure how he'd do. But he did great! I'm sure it helped that MiMi was the one doing the cleaning. 


Picking a new toothbrush before the cleaning


Checking out MiMi's funny glasses


"Counting" teeth


The big cleaning


A good rinse


Notice the grip... MiMi kept asking him if he wanted to hold things for her. He refused to let go of the chair. But he did sit with his mouth open and did just what she asked.


John was looking up over the edge of the chair...until I took the picture.


He even opened wide so Dr. Willett could take a quick look.

Saturday, December 3, 2011

The Unfair Trade Act (by MiMi)

Never heard of it?? This is how it goes: John and Noah are outside playing in the mulch having a big ol' time. Noah has the rake. John has the shovel. Noah wants the shovel. Noah to John: "Buddy how about we trade?" Noah marches up to John and takes his shovel and quickly replaces it with the rake. Noah is off playing happily. John stands there stunned and blinking. He didn’t agree to the trade. He runs to Noah holding out the unwanted rake saying, “Buddy! Buddy! Buddy!” There you have it the Unfair Trade Act.