Oh Christmas Tree

We decided to get a real tree this year. It's our first year of a REAL tree.

On the search for a tree. It was a pretty quick search as it was super cold out. Gabe picked out a white pine.

Blake wanted to go outside see Daddy who was getting the tree ready. He quickly realized it was c-c-c-cold and made this weird cold face.

Helping Daddy set up the tree. 

Look at how fluffy the tree got! It's so fluffy that it hides most of the ornaments. We really like how it turned out.

First Joke Same as the Last

I don't know what is so funny about Nana (aka Nanny as she's known to Blake), but following in the footsteps of his big sister, Blake's first 'Knock Knock' joke was about Nana. It went something like this:

• Blake: "Kna Kna" (Knock Knock)
• Me: Who's there?
• Blake: .....undecipherable mumbles..."Nanny!" Then a big belly laugh.

Fun in the Snow

It was a day full of playing outside and enjoying winter. In the morning we took the kids outside and played in the fresh snow. And then in the afternoon Grant invited us over to his place for sledding. He made an awesome luge track for inner tubes to go down in his back yard. It was perfect. Campbell didn't hesitate - she wanted to go by herself the first time and she was such a big girl trucking back up the hill to go again and again and again. Blake didn't like his one trip down the hill and then he got so nervous (bawled) when ever he'd watch anyone go down. Poor guy. Who would think he'd be the timid one?!?

We warmed up inside with hot cocoa and a great dinner. Thanks Grant for all the work on the hill - it was awesome!

Snow angel

Good thing we got a picture of the first time Blake went down the hill because it was his also his last. 

Go Granty Baby!

Campbell & E had a blast.

Blake and Daddy

GG says Whee!

Fashion Claim to Fame

So if you know me, you probably know that I'm not very fashion forward. So, imagine my surprise when the opening scene of the movie Table for Three that Gabe and I were watching Saturday night had a girl in it wearing a dress I own. Never mind the actress's only scene was her being proposed to and them promptly vomiting - I'm not saying I recommend the movie, I was just so surprised to see MY DRESS which I purchased a long time ago at Herbergers in the good ole Thunderbird Mall. Ha!

Me pictured in THE DRESS during Rachy's wedding weekend. Look at how little Blake and Campbell are!

Mexican Movie & Game Night

We've been loving having relaxing weekends at home after being on the road all summer. Campbell loves it when her Daddy makes popcorn, so they had been planning a Movie Night with popcorn all week. So when I didn't feel like making dinner, I decided to turn it into a Mexican (takeout) Movie Night. And when I didn't feel like watching the Wiggles movie, I had the idea to set up some games to play. Now it was a Mexican Movie & Game Night. It might have to become something we do more often. The kids were really excited about it all & we all had a great time.

Watching the movie with yummy popcorn.

Tape the Tail on the Donkey. Campbell had a hard time keeping her eyes closed and therefore was very precise with her purple tails. Even with his eyes open, Blake was a bit off. I think he thought he was putting legs on the donkey (he had the red tails).

Picture taken by Campbell.

A game of Candy Land followed by a matching game and then time for bed. We'll have to do it again soon!

Word Evolution

Blake has changed up how he says some of his common words. Perhaps not interesting to who ever is reading this (except for grandparents), but I'm feeling the need to document.

• Nana is now "Nanny"
• Da (Papa) is now "Da-da"
• Dada (Dad)  is now "Daddy"
• Dada (Campbell) is now "Dow-dowww" with a drawn out emphasis on the "dowww"

The closer Blake gets to 20 months, I'm realizing what a baby Campbell still was when she became a big sister. Granted, she was way more verbal, but I expected, perhaps, too much out of her. For example, moving her into a toddler bed at 20 months was a torturous transition. Looking back I don't know what I was thinking. Scratch that, I knew what I was thinking: I needed the crib for Blake and I didn't want to get another crib. And the whole 9 month potty training fiasco. She could tell me ALL about her bodily functions and we had countless two-way conversations/ in depth discussions where she totally understood what she was supposed to do, so it was so had for me to comprehend/understand/accept that she didn't have the muscle control and/or desire to use the potty. No matter how badly I wanted her to be potty trained and no matter what strategy I tried to get her to do it, she was potty trained when she wanted to. So now that I have this firm stand that I'm waiting until Blake is 3 to even think about potty training, he keeps wanting to take off his pants/diaper and hang out on the potty. He thinks it's a blast to use the toilet paper to "wipe." HA! I guess this is what the child development 'experts' mean when they say you have to parent each kid differently. 

But anyway, I guess my point is that it's easy to have 20/20 vision in the rear view mirror. I was doing what I thought was right at the time. Live & learn!  Or maybe in this case it should be "parent & learn."

Tidbits of Wisdom

Sometimes if I hear/read a quote/thought/bit of wisdom that strikes a cord with me, I write it down. In order to get rid of these random pieces of paper that I find in various parts of the house, I'm going to document them in my blog as I come across them. Take them or leave them, but they are things that I think are wise/interesting.

• "When people show you who they are, believe them, the first time." From Oprah Winfrey's Commencement Address at Wellesley College May 30, 1997

• Identify your strengths and maximize those strengths. Instead of trying to eliminate your weaknesses, learn to manage them. From the book: Now, Discover Your Strengths.