Strong!

We have been so busy this break, just trying to order things, and fit everything in.  Cleaning, undecorating, organizing.


Today we took a break to play.


We went to Strong to the Museum of Play.  
I truly love this place but always forget how exhausting it is.




I will say- maybe its because Dyleva is a little older- I felt they actually came away with something this time.

my little vegetarian

In the past, there is SO much to explore, that they run from here to there, and never truly engage in anything.




Not today.  Like seasoned visitors, they went in with an agenda....and enjoyed what they chose to interact with.

Eva chose the more creative options, Dylan, the more physical.  

The Ninja Turtles were the theme of the visit.  Very cool, Dyleva had a lot of fun exploring today!

Battleship!

Fun!

Holiday Madness

8.5

That is my Christmas rating for this year.

Stressful, but not down to the last moment stressful.  Everything was planned and organized; only a couple days exhaustion endured.

Sickness hit the house early this year, and exited in time for caroling.  Also an extra point for white Christmas.

Every year I tell myself it may be the last Christmas to make magical, so I want to remember it and make it special for Dyleva.

Dylan started the season right away with the paper chains, and then Eva followed suit.  Seriously, there was like 35 links on the chain.

After the tree was erected, that weekend we did the fire truck Christmas parade.  Always a favorite, but this year especially loud!

We added Christmas cheer to the inside, and outside of the house.  So much that Dyleva has said on more than one occasion, that our house is their favorite Christmas stop!

Dyleva wrote their letters to Santa, which Enano delivered and responded to!

We have done gingerbread houses, Xmas movies, holiday crafts that become gifts for our friends, wrapping, music around the clock, gone to look at the lights to music.

This year, we went to the Nutcracker with their cousins.  
It was the children's production- very beautiful, and very long.

I kind of push the the traditions.  
So much that this year I found myself stringing popcorn by myself.  In the corner.  In the cold.

Dyleva is growing out of some of it.





It is sad.  It is more Dylan grudgingly participating than Eva.  He has a Pokemon agenda.  But still, I know it will not last forever.  

Eva did voluntarily agreed to wrap the majority of my gifts this year.  

And like five days before Christmas, I realized, COOKIES!  We didn't make any cookies!  What are we supposed to leave Santa?!  A last minute crisis averted.  Both Dyleva came to my rescue in need and we baked up three different things.  

Only two unburnt.

We closed in on Christmas Eve with our annual caroling this year.  We had an awesome time!  This year we had a bus!  Everyone was healthy, and no bus breaking down.

There was even time for some fun in the snow!

Successful outing!

Christmas eve was at Aunt Jill's house.  It was very nice.  There was a lot of family, but always ends with a visit from Santa.  

We woke to a plethora of gifts under the tree.  Dylan chose the largest box to start with.

He opened it to find another box.

And another box.

And another.

Finally, the smallest box contained a ton of Pokemon cards.  Then he was content, and didn't want to open any more.

Eva was a bit more passive.  She opened mostly clothes and books, and such.  She got to all the toys last.

But of course, the most excited to open his gifts, is Marley.

We ended the day at Grandma Candy's house, where the generosity flows crazily every year.  Thanks, Mom

Later that night...

8.5

Belated Birthday

For some reason, this year it was crazy busy the week of my birthday.  I didn't get to hang with my fam.  
So I said to them, why don't we wait, and do something Christmasy later on?


Well, Weenie, you rock.  

She found a painting place that would cater to our needs!  


At this place, when you came in they talked you through, step by step how to create something...in this case Rudolph.

I was a little nervous about Dyleva having a frustration level; but for the most part they rolled with it.  We had a couple 'oops,' but most of it was happy painting.


My favorite part was seeing all the different results and how each family member tailored their painting with their own creativity.  
For example, Jenna put 'GrandmaGrandma surprise eyes' on her reindeer.  Dylan put crazy antlers on his with angry eyes.  Eva put beautiful eyelashes and a bow on her rei

Surprise eyes like GrandmaGrandma!

Drinks!

They had drinks.  They had music.  It was very nice.

I suck at painting, but that's beside the point.  It made for a very nice birthday celebration.

Thank you Tiney!