Sunday, January 4, 2009

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Antelope

"Mommy, antelope is an animal AND and fruit!"

Monday, December 22, 2008

Friday, December 19, 2008

Vacation!

WOOHOO! 2 more hours and I am on vacation. I am writing this during my prep time because I have no grading or planning to do. Ok, I do have those things to do, but everything is ready for the week I get back so that's all that matters.

Since I am writing from my school computer I won't be able to post pictures until next time. Ryan is growing like a weed and Haley looks more like a little girl every day.

All has been wonderfully busy. Last week we (Haley and I) went with the Casillas girls, Garcia girls, Kuhl girls and Barnes girls to see the Nutcracker. They got all dressed up and we took the light rail. It was perfect that the show was one hour, a very fun Saturday!

The kids are great. Ryan is a little love bug. He is calm and observant. He will stare you down, checking you out. Haley has mastered making him crack up every day on the way home from Diane's. He is starting to eat new foods. So far he has had rice cereal, oatmeal, sweet potatoes, bananas, avocados, pears, and he is on day 3 of yogurt. He is a Russell. He loves food. His newest thing is that he turns the pages of the book at bedtime. Of course he will sometimes try to pull it to his mouth, but the job gets done.

Haley is SO excited for the holidays. She can feel the excitement of the season. She has wanted The Grinch every night at bedtime. The other night, after we read it and left her room, Josh heard her "reading" it. She said some of the rhyming lines with the same inflection I used when I read it. I also just noticed that when she "reads" to me she will take her finger and run it along from left to right like she actually is reading it. So funny! Every year the holiday time gets better for her. We tried to find a place where we could help pass out food on Thanksgiving or Christmas, but most places don't allow children under 12. I didn't get it enough together to look into churches, but the intent is there. I think something like that would really be a great tradition to start.

So there it is. The holidays are here and we are doing just fine. Pictures will come soon!

Friday, December 12, 2008

Fridays

I love them.

Sunday, December 7, 2008

'Tis the Season

This is my favorite time of year and this weekend was a real kick off to the season. We had our play group holiday party last night at Pump It Up. We had never been there, but just picture a huge room of jumpy houses, slides, mazes, etc. Haley had a wonderful time as did all the kids there. Then this morning we saw Santa! We got some shopping done right when the mall opened and then stood in line to see the big guy. Ryan just stared at him while Haley did the talking. She marched right up and gave him a high 5 and a hug. He told how tall she had gotten and asked if she has been a good girl. Ryan continued to stare. That's how Haley was her first Christmas. The next one was when she flipped so we'll see how Ry does next year. We then went to a friend's holiday party and Santa showed up there too (as seen in the picture)! Haley was in HEAVEN. Ryan...just stared. It was a bit surreal to have our TWO kids sitting on Santa's lap. We know how blessed we are this season. Next weekend...The Nutcracker! There are 5 of us moms taking our girls to see the 1 hour version of the professional show. I love it all!

Singing With Santa- (P.S., lots of people sound like me, but I'm not singing)