List made, checked twice... Santa is ready!

We're having a lot of fun around the house these days. Ian can't wait for Christmas. I am choosing to think it is his anticipation that drives his, "Stop singing that!" comments. You know, that he is so excited about Christmas that he just can't stand to hear his Mom singing Christmas songs around the house!



Noa is blissfully unaware of the activities around him - he's my cool cucumber. After all, all he wanted for Christmas was his two front teeth, and he got that! Both top teeth have now broken the skin and are working their way down. It's so strange to see my little guy sitting up with teeth. I swear he is growing up much faster than Ian did. He is really interested in food and will grab plates and spoons if you aren't watching carefully.

Two of these pics are from our trip to Christmas at Brookfield Zoo. That was really a great night and is sure to be a part of our Christmas tradition for years to come. People right behind us in line to see Santa had been coming for 20 years. The kids were all grown up and they sat on Santa's lap for a picture. I love it!

I am really looking forward to a short week at the office. My most generous boss has even said I could leave at 4 pm on Christmas eve (@#%&! scrooge!). My supervisor has let me know on the low down that the big boss won't actually be there so I shouldn't worry about it too much.

Ian is looking forward to visiting the Grandma's because, as he told me last night, there are kids to play with there. Ahhh... I feel bad that he is lonely. Aaron and I are aware of his need for interaction with other kids and we have enrolled him in the Chicago Park District preschool program. So starting the beginning of the new year he will be going to Independence Park every day from 12:30-3:30 for preschool. It's a three or four month program and very affordable. We are thinking it will be really good for him and Dad. At least it is the hope that this will provide him with stimulation, companionship and help stave off cabin fever. Lets all keep our fingers crossed because he is definitely squirrelly right now! It is enough to try a saints patience and Aaron and I are not in line for sainthood! Yesterday I busted him running around in circles spitting juice. I was in the process of feeding Noa and talking on the phone to Mary (who thought this was all very funny) and I hear this spitting noise. I couldn't believe he was spitting juice on the floor while running in circles. Do you think he was trying to get my attention??

Well it is time to stop procrastinating, get dressed and start this Monday. If I don't start the week, it won't come to an end.

Merry Christmas everyone!!

Bliss

Noa has gotten one of his front teeth through the skin and the other is soon to follow. I can see the edge of it right below the skin. That and the anti-biotics have made our home a much quieter place to be. We had a great weekend! Saturday evening we packed the boys in the car and headed to the zoo. Brookfield Zoo has a Christmas with the animals and they put lights in all the trees and line all the lanes with decorated and lite Christmas trees. It was a great time AND we got to visit Santa Claus! Ian was so giddy he did a little happy dance, let out a squeal and ran up to Santa. That was worth the half hour or more spent in line.

On Sunday we made cookies and decorated them. Ian kept eating all the candies that were meant for decorations. He had no interest in trying a cookie or in the frosting - just wanted those candies. We had a great time - sugar buzz and all. Christmas is soooo much better when you see it through the eyes of a three year old!!

Watching Bugs Bunny

IMG_3068, originally uploaded by Elizabeth Stek.

Uncle Josh has a fan club in my house.

Nothing in particular...just another blog post.

Hi All! We had a great time at Thanksgiving, it was great to see the fam. Unfortunately all of us came down with Noa's cold starting about Friday for me and Ian followed soon after. Aaron was the only one that didn't seem to get hit too hard. I am taking today off because I just can't seem to shake it and Noa is headed to see Dr. Peter today for the same reason. Noa now rolls over both ways and will sit up by himself for brief moments. He has his left top tooth just under the skin so you can imagine with colds and teething there isn't a whole lot of sleeping going on in our house. In spite of all the chaos, and maybe because of all the chaos, I am happy. After all, if things weren't nutty, it's probably because I wasn't living.



Ian has been perusing the catalogs and deciding what he will be asking Santa for. We are planning on getting a tree this Saturday. That and the snow we are getting today will be sure to put us all in the holiday spirit. I'll have to see if I can save my cookie cutters from the playdough bin...