i spy

Oscar is loving the Melissa and Doug nativity that Nana bought him. He knows who Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus are, and likes to move around the pieces on the “farm” as he calls it. After playing with it a bit, I put it all back and went to put the laundry in the dryer. This is how it looked when I returned…

It is like one if those “what is wrong with this picture?” pictures in Highlights magazines. Note to self: if we ever can’t find baby Evelyn, check the roof and interrogate her big brother.

freezing festive family fun

While it was 60 and sunny on Thanksgiving, yesterday was 35 and quite windy… sounds like perfect weather to find and cut down the perfect tree, right?  We knew it was chilly, but the wind made it quite a challenge for all of us to spend too much time out bundled up while hunting, but we did find the perfect one.  Because we were all froze to the bone, on a mission, and someone had to potty, we didn’t get a picture of us all in front of it before cutting it down…but here are a few of our family fun time in the cold.

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Since putting it up yesterday morning, each time Oscar wakes from a nap or in the morning he is amazed by his “new tree” and their “cool lights”.  Even though it is only November 24, already Christmas through his eyes is truly magical.  I thought that we loved Christmas, but I double-dog-dare you to be a Scrooge around this fella.

rebels

We are typically rule followers in this house.  No white shoes or pants after Labor Day (actually, I don’t think there are a single pair of either in this house).  I before E except after C (and when sounding like ay as in “neighbor” and “weigh”).  You get the idea.  Rule followers.

We typically break a certain rule around this time of year pertaining to Christmas music.  We just can’t help it.  Given the nature of the Mr.’s job, he starts listening to it at work in September or October, and we allow it in the house after Halloween.  If you had this cd, or this one, you’d be chomping at the bit too.  However, we busted through our typical Christmas decorating rules with force this year.  Last year, my husband risked life and limb to hang our Christmas lights, while I was inside checking our life insurance policy.  Maybe it is age, but we both thought this last weekend (with temps in the 50s) would be a much better time to hang them.  We agreed not to turn them on until Friday, but to get the work done while the weather was nice.  He had a few bulbs to fix last night, but then they mysteriously stayed on… and I didn’t complain.  I promise that’s all the decorating we’ve done, besides the stockings… but that’s just because the Little Man thought they were “awesome” when he saw them in the box, and you try telling those big baby blues no.  The rest will wait until Friday.

hanging lights and looking rather studly doing it

And since I’ve already confessed to our Christmas music playing in the house already, it is safe to share the following video, given the background soundtrack.  Oscar inherited a fun pedal tractor from my mom’s cousin this summer.  His feet now reach, and he’s got the steering down, so look out toes!  He regularly fills the wagon with whatever it is he feels he needs at that moment, which is typically “Hungry Hungry Hippos”, few trains, and a drink, and cruises around the house.

baby hat: check

There are many things I do not know.  But I do know the following:

1. Indiana is unpredictable.  Saturday it was nearly 70 and today it snowed.

2. March is unpredictable.  For Oscar’s birthday last year we played outside, went fishing and cooked out (but that’s not usually the case)

Because of both of the above, I decided Evelyn needed (at least one) cute hat made with love by Mom.  I came across this pattern via Pinterest a while back and knew if we ever had a girl, that she would have to have one…or three.  The pattern was super easy, worked up very quickly, and is super adorbs.

I started her blanket over the weekend, so the question is now:  One more hat, or move on to booties?

 

random cuteness

This cute “mismatched pjs kid” drug his rocking giraffe to our room this morning, put on his Viking hat and rocked away. Random? Yes. Cute? You bet.

somewhere else

For November I’m cheating. Here is a song lyric, but it’s not recorded. Imagine a melody!

I can’t win this battle in my mind
Common sense and nonsense are fighting all the time
Things are exploding to my left and to my right
And I can’t win this battle in my mind

I’m lost standing in an open field
Paralyzed decisions are all that I can feel
I want to take a step but I can’t tell what’s real
I’m lost standing in an open field

I think I’ll just pretend I’m somewhere else
Hiding at a distance here among the empty shells
Yes my eyes are open but my mind is with itself
I think I’ll just pretend I’m somewhere else

happy halloween

He went.  He got candy.  He had fun.

It was chilly, but we went out with our neighbors for a little bit last night for O’s first trick-or-treat experience.  Little stinker wasn’t the least bit shy, showing most of the neighbors what a shark says, and chomping his teeth.  He even went up to a house where a guy was real still and then jumped.  He asked to go to that house, but was a little unsure as we got closer, but when asked if he wanted to still go up there he said “ok.”  He even gave the ghoul a sweet “thank you!” as we walked away.

Happy Halloween!