Monday, December 20, 2010

Christmas Joy


I love my mantle. Every time I see it, it fills me with Christmas joyo I especially love my ornament stocking holders. I love the idea of each of us having a special ornament (made by Grandma Barb) to have year after year. I'm sappy like that :)

Aren't they pretty?

Dulu Designs

My name is Zoe. I have a shopping problem. I embrace that! It really doesn't help that I have somehow manged to surround myself with very creative, talented people. People like Dulu Designs. They have the cutest stuff...for boys even!!! It has inspired me to start planning Luke's 3rd birthday...I mean really, it's only 10 months away...

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Santa part deux...and other stuff

Our playgroups Christmas party was tonight. Claire got ALL sorts of dressed up. She was fascinated with Santa's beard. We think she's trying to convince him that she deserves to be on the "nice" list!
Can the girl wear a tutu or can the girl wear a tutu!

Luke had a blast. Mainly because there were balloons and children to chase him! His two favorite things :)
Of course, we had a moment of panicked pleading in the parking lot when we got there. He was positive we were taking him to "school" and there was no convincing him otherwise. I wanted to cry. I hate that we caused him so much anxiety! So we were so happy that he jumped right in to play with "fun kids".
Ah, so happy. I adore this boy.
Balloon fight!

I asked Luke if he would like to see Santa. Of course, he said "No, mommy. No Santa today!"
So we sat on the floor watching the other kids climb on and off Santa's lap. Then Santa gave the kids candy canes. As soon as Luke saw this, he shouted "Sucrets!" and pushed through the pile of kids, perhaps stepping on one or two on the way, went right up the the Jolly old elf and got him a "sucret"! So I guess, this is my Santa picture of Luke this year :)
Sweet, sweet victory

Luke's crafts. He decorated the paper bag all by himself. He put the stars on his frame, and I didn't let him touch the painted ornament...that was Mommy's craft :)
It was a great night!

Didn't see that one coming...


My very curious 2 year old has left all the trees alone.

Guess who my problem is?t.r.o.u.b.l.e.

Friday, December 17, 2010

Merry Everything


This next week is gonna be a busy one! So I thought I should probably post my holiday greeting now. Whatever holiday you celebrate, may it be the happiest ever!

Santa


Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Mid December Catch Up

I can't sleep. That usually doesn't happen to me! I have a lot on my mind-friends, family, Christmas-and I just can't get it to quiet down enough to rest. So what's one to do? Update the blog with random pictures that don't require a lot of thought! And because I despise Blogger, these pictures are out of order, but I'm out of patience to rearrange them.

See! Nothing to say about this picture...sometimes, words just aren't necessary!
Last week was our mom's group cookie exchange. It was awesome! 16 different types of cookies. I stole these pictures from Heather's blog because (gasp) I left the house without my camera!
It was a tasty, sickeningly sweet, tummy aching, lovely night with the ladies.
Then we headed to Topeka to see family and I journeyed on to Olathe for a Christmas Par-Tay. Good times had by all. However, it's always hard on me going because it reminds me of everything I miss. I think that has a lot to do with my current mental state. But I digress.
Grandma and I took the kiddos to the Kansas History Museum. Most of us had a good time:) It took Luke a bit to warm up since he thought he was going to "school" :( Boy did we screw him up with Kids Day Out. Once he did start playing, he spun the Wheel of Fortune. Shocking news!!! A Tobia might be a Scientist! Crazy, huh?

See? Why does blogger do this to me? Imagine this picture next to the cookie exchange pictures.

Luke watched Elf (or about 5 minutes of it) for the first time! He REALLY enjoyed those 5 minutes! I believe this is the part where Santa shows up. Surprisingly, he was not this excited when he actually saw Santa.
Claire learned to blow spit bubbles. Gross. So now we will be coordinating bibs with outfits.
Ah, and back to Santa. Here we are at the Reindeer Romp. Santa was a no go for Luke, but he did manage to score a "Sucret" from the Jolly old man. I did manage to get a cute picture of Santa and Claire and then a family picture with a very distrusting looking Luke. I'll post it later.

Claire was thrilled to be in ANOTHER tutu! It's rough being this adorable. I swear, 4 strangers pinched her cheeks at this event! Seriously folks, it's flu season. Keep your grubby hands off my baby's face.
You wanna pinch em, don't ya?

Christmas Claire

I had big plans! That was my first mistake :) I decided to take advantage of a local photo place with a $9.95 package. I wanted ONE picture with both my children looking at me. So I scheduled the appointment, picked out the clothes, practiced "nice smiley faces" with Luke. We were ready. And then the morning of our appointment, Luke got the stomach flu. I rescheduled 4 days later...Luke still had the stomach flu. So I did what any good mother would do. I took my favorite daughter for a photo shoot alone. I should mention, I did this the day after Thanksgiving. I assumed everyone would be shopping. I greatly underestimated the number of families coming for pictures because everyone was in town for the holiday. It was packed and they were behind about 35 minutes. I was so glad I didn't take Luke!

Sweet Claire did awesome!



She did so awesome, instead of getting the $9.95 package, I spent $100. It didn't help that everyone waiting for pictures to be taken kept looking at my pictures on the screen saying "Oh, you HAVE to buy that one!".
Yes, she's adorable.

7 Months

I must have forgotten to blog about Sweet Claire's 7 month birthday because SHE CAN'T POSSIBLY BE 7 MONTHS! But apparently she is. And boy, is she busy!


Sweetness has mastered sitting, now she just needs to work on some defensive moves to avoid being tackled by her brother. She can get from point A to point B by rolling, inch-worming backwards, inch-worming on her back(which is interesting), and as of yesterday, army crawling in forward motion!

She is developing quite the palate and enjoying more and more foods! She still prefers fruit to her veggies, but she's getting better--still gagging, but less gagging. That's better, right?

Claire is one of the grabbiest (did I make that word up?) babies EVER. Nothing is safe within reach. And trust me, she will find a way to get it in reach! I don't remember Luke being that way. She is definitely a more inquisitive baby :)

I think this weekend we are finally giving up the baby car seat and installing the Big Girl Seat. Her dainty 20lb frame and the weight of the car seat are a bit much for my 34 year old back to be lugging around. I was hoping to make it through the winter so I wouldn't have to stand out in the cold buckling 2 kids in car seats, but no such luck! Why did I not get the minivan?!?!?

She's a sweet, happy, talkative little girl and we are so blessed to have her in our lives. Even if she is a horrible Momma's Girl. Which I secretly love!

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

A day in the life of a Big Brother (and a Zombie)

She seems sweet enough.
Is that a little kiss? Or is it just a taste?
He's just trying to watch Nemo.
Claire is only momentarily distracted from her attack.
We think she's part Zombie.
Maybe we shouldn't have let her watch "Walking Dead" with us.
The little brute pulled him over.
Poor kid. He does pretty well with her, being a Zombie and all.

Monday, December 6, 2010

Lukisms



Me: Can you use your big boy voice?
Luke: Ummm. No, I use my baby boy voice.
--at least he gave it some consideration.

Luke started off calling all of his grandparents "Grandpa". A few months later, he would say Grandma and Grandpa. Suddenly, now everyone is "Grandma". My mom was walking up to the door and Luke shouted "GRANDMA!!" and when he saw my dad following, he shouted "TWO GRANDMAS!" Bless his heart.


We were watching cartoon's and I said "Look! A woodpecker!" and Luke gave me that 'bless your heart' look and said "No Mommy, that's a Jayhawk".

If you don't watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, you won't get this one: Luke was walking around the house shouting "O Toodles! O Toodles!" and then he came over to me and sadly said "It doesn't work". I'm not sure what he felt he needed a Mouskatool for, but I feel kinda bad that he didn't get his problem solved :)

I don't know if Luke is scared of Santa or just doesn't want to sit on his lap, either way, he was not thrilled with the prospect of a photo with the jolly man. We sat at a table for a while watching all the other kids happily hop up and tell Santa what they wanted for Christmas and smile for pictures. Luke kept saying "Nice Santa. That's a nice Santa." then his alter ego Bossy McGee came out and shouted "WAIT YOUR TURN" to all the kids in line. Eat your "Sucret" and keep quiet.

Luke: Vitamins please?
Me: Sure.
Luke: I'll get a plate!
--huh? And he did put those two vitamins on a plate and ate them.


Me: Here's your drink.
Luke: I'm welcome.

"Merry Crispin!"
"Crispin Tree"
"Crispin presents! Happy Birthday! ( and then acts like he's blowing out candles. 'Crispin' should be fun this year!)

Bath Time

My bathing beauty.Why does this face look familiar?

Oh yeah, cause I saw it about 18 months ago.

Sibling Bliss

These two really enjoy being siblings. You can see it in their faces. Sort of.
Claire likes to pull on Luke's shirt. Luke doesn't care for it. She thinks it's great.
You can almost hear him "Don't do dat, Quaires!", can't ya?
Strategy 1: Attempt to unclench hand from shirt and continue watching Chuggington.
Nice try, Luke. Claire doesn't give up that easy.

Strategy 2: Distraction. So a bunny on the head it is.


While not entirely effective, Luke finds it amusing.
Claire is sizing up the next part of the shirt to grab.


Strategy 3: Poke in the face
While occasionally effective, this one backfired as Claire saw an opportunity to chew on something. Nothing is safe within and inch of her mouth!(building antibodies, right?)
It seems Claire could use some chew toys for Christmas.

Strategy 4: Sit on your opponent

Unfortunately, 20lb Claire doesn't mind her 25lb brother sitting on her lap.
Uh-oh, where'd she go?Time for Mommy to intervene.
Yeah, they love each other!