A Boy and His Toy

Our little rocket scientist asked me to take a picture of how much he loves his new toy. 

Precious!

It is the simple things that matter

Two days of tooth-pain-induced tantrums aside, Alexa was an absolute wonder to watch this Christmas.  I suppose I didn't know what to expect from her-this is the first year she's been able to recognize Santa and reindeer, however I'm not positive that she understands the concept.  Religiously she's right there with Billy and his Baby Genius beliefs.  However, she showed little interest in the gifts that sat under the tree all month and instead opted for naming the colors of each Christmas light.

On Christmas she simply melted my heart with the sweet, innocent joy she got from the simplest things (my heart was either melting, or simply relishing the break from the constant whining and crying she otherwise did all weekend!)  On Christmas Eve morning, she saw her baby doll toys and wanted nothing to do with opening more packages.

At Uncle Randy's she sat fascinated with the gift tag, which she admired and sang "Winnie the Pooh" to the teddy bears printed on it.  It took her a few minutes to even think about the gift inside.

When she opened her My Little Pony from Aunt Brenda and Uncle Dustin, she kept telling them "I love it! I love it!"  What a time to pick up that phrase!  She later refused, however, to tell them she loved them or goodnight, opting to profess her love and best wishes for the Christmas tree instead: "I love you, Christmas tree.  Good night, Christmas tree!" (could she really be doing that from spite already!)

 She loved playing bubbles with Grandma.

And stomping on the bubble wrap!

Storytime with Papa

Billy and Alexa are blessed with the most doting grandparents around.  Papa Bill can even be spotted enjoying a good story of Strawberry Shortcake on occassion :)

Deck the Halls

Earlier in the month the kids had a blast making dough ornaments.  After we FINALLY got them cooked (the oven started leaking gas as they were baking, so we had to wait about a week to finish them), I gave them cups of paint and sprinkles and turned them loose.

 

Billy made a fantastic gingerbread man and several striped candy canes.  Alexa did a fantastic job of making sure the stars were super-sparkly!

Speech Geek

Although my dreams for my little princess to become Montana's best debater might be thwarted by her obsession with cheerleading and gymnastics (those pictures will come later), I'm still going to try.  I brought her along to our speech and drama meet in Red Lodge (not her first, and not her last).  She had a blast hanging out in the library jumping off of chairs and dragging the other coach, Kimberly, up and down the stairs (over 20 of them each way-we know because Alexa can count each one!) 

She is well on her way to being able to give a first negative constructive-for the past week she's been trying to speak in sentences.   Now she's speaks in sentences more often than not!

For now, however, she's content to just drive the bus.

Boo Was Here

During hunting season my aunt Mary Lou (Boo) came for a visit!  Billy was super excited that he knew how to write her name!  We enjoyed a good meal with a bunch of family.

Charming.

Mom and Boo.

Transformers book and hot chocolate.  This boy is set!

We're Going On A Tree Hunt . . .

. . . in our backyard.  So maybe it isn't a tradition we can keep year after year, but "hunting" for our Christmas tree in our yard sure was easy!

Now, before you think "Wow-just when I thought I'd seen it all in redneck Montana," let me defend ourselves.  See, this tree was planted right next to our storage shed and fence.  And if the four story tall pine tree under which I took this photo is any indication of the tree to come, it had to go.  So, we decided to keep it until December.  Why not?

And Mom, we didn't even use a steak knife to cut it down!

Deer Me

When Rocky brought home his deer this hunting season, I warned him not to let Billy see it.  Billy's pretty sensitive to things being hurt, and he's recently been concerned about the variety of animals we eat.  Flashback's of my cousin Jennifer's "Deer Murderer" complex kept running through my head.

OK-Helicopter mom.  Butt out. 

The kids were facinated by the deer.  Billy watched Rocky skin it and made deer tracks all around the yard with a hoof.  Alexa even dared to touch it.  She did keep calling it a puppy, though.  It turns out the only one afraid of the deer was Dodger (who, ironically enough, is a tough dog when he's chasing them through the mountains). 

Daddy's A Cop!

Tonight Rocky was sworn in as an Officer of the Manhattan Police Department.  Billy had been looking forward to this day for so long.  He idolizes his Daddy like nobody else.  Rather than counting down the days until Christmas, he's been counting down the days until we get to watch Daddy become a cop.

 The kids also made some new friends.  Billy and another boy were talking about all of the things you can do when you are five.  The top of Billy's list was making his bed.  I'm not sure the other boy knew what to say.

Alexa chased a fellow officer's two-year-old little boy around all night calling him cute.  Lordy, I can't believe she's starting this so early!

Rocky, we are so very proud of you!  Congratulations!  And our entire family is looking forward to our future adventures in Manhattan.

Yo Soy Billy

A super-awesome friend lent us the Muzzy Spanish program (learn Spanish from cartoons).  The kids LOVE it!  Billy has picked up so much and recognizes Spanish (or at least another language-I think he believes Spanish is the only other one out there).  He has also made up his own language-or word.  "Mooska" originally meant "I love you."  However, it has meant everything from "Watch out!" to "That's weird."  I'm pretty sure Alexa has some Spanish vocab too since she asks to watch Muzzy every day.

Oh, and Billy's favorite word (he'll be so excited to ask you):

What's the Spanish word for "no"?

NO!

Baby Genius

Billy is smart.  Very smart.  And he knows it.  But I'll get to that story in a second. . .

A few weeks ago I found this activity on a blog and have been wanting to try it.  It just so happens when Billy came home from his mom's on Sunday, he wanted to play music with glasses.  Perfect.  So, I busted out the glasses, food coloring, paper, crayons and knives (because when you are five, it is such a big deal to be able to use a knife rather than a spoon).  This is the BEST activity ever-so much practice for so many skills:

1) He lined up the glasses from most water to least.

2) Tried out all of different glasses to see what sound they made.

3) Learned to draw musical notes.

4) Made a pattern with a black note, yellow note, black note . . .

5) Made the one-to-one connnection between the note on paper and the note being played.

6) Named the songs.

Here are his songs:

I'd show Alexa's songs, but she drank hers before I had a chance to show her how to play them.

And Billy has such ingenious ideas.  He thought to use this idea with our colored jingle bells in preschool.  And he had another great stroke of genius when I was explaining to the kids that their compasses point north, and he pointed out that they are actually pointing to Santa.  Of course!  How boring is north, when it could always be Santa's house.

But here's the funniest part-and how I now know I may boost his intellectual ego a little much.  Tonight we were driving around town checking out Christmas lights.  We drove by a nativity scene and Billy asked what it was.  I told him it was Baby Jesus and it is Baby Jesus's birthday and that's why we celebrate Christmas.  He said, "It's not my birthday."  I replied, "No, it is Baby Jesus's."  He responds, frustrated that I'm not quick enough to catch on to what he is telling me, "NO-I'M a baby genius [baby Jesus] and it is not my birthday!"

Touche.

3, 2, 1 . . . BLASTOFF!

My kids are out of this world.  Literally.

Ever since I broke out the 99 cent post-Halloween special space suits, landings back on Earth have been few and far between.  It would seem the food in space is far superior to the food in my kitchen.

Alexa returned, however, to gear up in some winter-ware.  They must have been headed for Pluto (which, I will say, my kids have been taught IS a planet.)  Oh, and it looks like she's tucked away a space burger in her belt for later (my cooking must REALLY leave much to be desired.)

Billy's a great Captain.  Somehow he can keep his little co-pilot entertained for hours shut away in their pack-n-play turned rocket.

Now that Alexa's pretend-playing skills are rivaling her brother's, I'm not sure if our kids will ever make their final landing back at home.

(Another) Day at the Park

Billy was SO excited that he could swing on these swings now that he is FIVE (ok-he has been able to swing on big kids swings for years, but for whatever reason he became terrified of them and refused to try about a year ago).  Naturally, his little shadow to the left had to try too.  I guess all the squealing and giggling sounded too tempting! 

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow

OK-so upfront I should apologize to my little guy as this should be his post.  This was actually the first non-family birthday party he has gone to, and I couldn't keep up with him long enough to get a decent picture!

So, despite from my lack of appropriate historical record-keeping, I will go on!  Billy got invited to his friends' (Benjamin and Phillip) 4th birthday.  After kidnapping Daddy because I was not comfortable driving our boat of a car up an icy mountain road, we made it to the sledding party. 

Billy jumped out of the car and was up the mountain with his friends in seconds.  Alexa, this being her first time in deep snow as a walker, stood there, tipped over, and just looked at me :)  She's still very unsure of the snow and (unbelievably) asks to be carried when she sees it.