Christmas Day

On Christmas Eve, the kids were super excited for Santa to come. For the first time in recorded history, Kyle said he was tired and needed to go to bed by 7:30pm! So the kids went to bed by 7:30. Thankfully they don't do super early morning so we didn't get little feet in our room until 7:30am. And then the kids went downstairs to see if Santa had come. They were pretty excited that he did decide to stop here. 

Kyle with his Duke sweatshirt from Addison

Aaron with the front of his walking toy from Trevor

Emily with her hula hoop from Santa

Santa also brought Emily a mat to practice her gymnastics on. She and Kyle put it to use right away as a side for their fort. 

Aaron Claus saying Merry Christmas from the fort. 

Christmas Eve

We were in San Diego this year for Christmas Eve so we cooked up a nice meal. We made deviled eggs, corn chowder, stone crab claws with Joe's sauce, and a salad. Topped off with some champagne and sparkling juice, it was a great meal together. 

Ice skating

We went down to Horton Plaza for ice skating again this year. Only this year, without a pregnant belly, I got to ice skate with the kids. Jeff graciously (and very willingly) skipped going out on the ice and hung out with Aaron on the sidelines. The kids and I skated together after they did a little skating with the skating officials. I tried helping both at once which was quite cumbersome while they get their bearings so thankfully the officials helped each of them out for a few laps and then they were good to go. They only took a few falls, though those falls were on the slushy end of the ice - I supposed 60+ degrees and ice will have some slush - but they brushed it off quickly and wanted to keep on skating. 

Emily skating with one of the officials (Emily in the pink jacket)

Kyle skating with me

Garrison Street lights

We went to Garrison Street again this year to see their amazing light display. That block of houses sure is something else come holiday time - so very festive. The pictures below are in front of the most lighted house.

Crystal mining

For Hanukkah, Emily got a crystal mining kit. She loves shiny rocks and precious metals so this seemed a great fit for her. She had a great time carving out the jewels from the rock. And Kyle enjoyed helping her too. It was very messy business though. But several hours of concentrated effort to extract the jewels. 

Happy Hanukkah

Happy Hanukkah! We celebrated a bit late this year so that we could all be together for Hanukkah. On our final night, we had our friends over to celebrate with us. We had a big, fun, crowded dinner of pork (kosher of course!) brisket, salad and beet latkes to round out the holiday. 

Shopper

Going shopping... in the hot sauce section

Gingerbread houses

Kyle and Emily had a fun time decorating gingerbread houses. They had a train and a train station (A-frame house) to put together and decorate for a nice gingerbread scene. They were pretty excited to make this set-up. 

Aaron at 9 months

Where has the time gone?! Aaron is now 9 months old. He has officially spent more time out of the womb than in at this point. He sure is a sweet little baby. So the 9 month run-down (so I can put it in the baby book eventually): 

• 19 pounds, 3 ounces which is 45%
• 28.5 inches good for 65%
• I don't remember his head, but remember they said it's 85%. That sounds like a big head, but his looks perfectly proportional. The doctor said so too. 
• He eats everything except the banned baby food of peanuts, milk and honey. We give him what we eat and meals are pretty easy. He can pick up food and feed himself and will drink a little out of a sippy cup. He is an eater. The boy loves his food. We joke that he has a hollow leg because he sure packs it away. 
• He signs "more" during meals to tell us he wants another bite. 
• He still nurses as well and is quite efficient which has opened up more time to play. 
• He has 4 teeth with 2 more on the cusp of breaking through. The first 2 came at 5 months, the top 2 came at 8 months. The second 2 were a top middle and side instead of both middles. But now the other top middle and side are just breaking through. 
• He sleeps like a champ still. Nighttimes are great with 11.5-12 hours. He has 3 naps a day though the 3rd is a catnap (~30-45 minutes) and we have been skipping it more and more because we are on the go with Kyle and Emily's activities. His morning nap is a good solid one ~2 hours. Afternoon is ~1-1.5 hours. Thankfully we got rid of the 45 minute nap a while ago. That was an unpleasant phase. 
• He sucks his thumb to comfort himself. He hasn't taken to a special blanket or animal yet. 
• His eyes keep getting bluer and bluer. Passerbys notice this and comment all the time. 
• He's still blonde though sometimes his hair seems to be getting darker depending on the lighting. 
• He crawls. He pulls up to standing. He moves along something while holding on. 
• He smiles and giggles and is very interactive. He claps and gives high fives. He gives big, giant, wet, open mouth kisses. He gives hugs too.
• He discovered his tongue the other day and was sticking his tongue out at himself in the mirror. He also discovered that he can blow spit bubbles. 
• Jeff says he says "mama". I would love to think this is true. He said it when waiting in the car for me and Jeff went to soothe him and he said "mama" and continued fussing but then stopped when I got there. Not sure it was truly "mama", especially since we can't replicate it, but I'll take it for now. Kyle and Emily didn't say "mama" until many other words were mastered first like "ball" and "daddy". 
• He LOVES LOVES LOVES his family. He gets so overjoyed when he sees Kyle and Emily. If we are in the car and they aren't there, he fusses when getting buckled in. But when they are around, he is smiling and craning to see them. He absolutely loves them. And they absolutely love him back.

Waiting for the doctor... waiting 45 minutes at the 1st appointment of the day... 

Take time to smell the flowers

Aaron certainly does. He loves this flower on his exersaucer (aka baby jail). 

And Emily does too

Stair climber

Aaron can now climb stairs... Trouble now! Better start baby-proofing!

Zerbert giggles

Aaron was exceptionally giggle tonight at bedtime. Neck kisses and zerberts from Emily had him laughing a lot. Here is a video that isn't a video, but rather just audio since it was dark. 

Meat eater

After cutting down our Christmas tree, we went to a great BBQ place and had lunch. Aaron had his first rib there. The boy loves his food and of course he loved ribs. 

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Well almost minus the lack of snow. But we are more than okay with that! We have the decorations up at home and this weekend we went to pick out our Christmas tree. And instead of the Home Depot parking lot, this year we went to an actual Christmas tree farm with our friend and his 4 kids. 

Aaron loving the garland. And standing. And reaching. 

At the tree farm, Kyle & Emily played a rousing game of tag around the hay stacks with Claudia, Sophie, Oliva & William. Then they had fun running through all the trees, finding the perfect ones for each family to cut down and bring home. 

All the kids, minus Aaron who was in the carrier

Aaron loved it!

Kyle taking his turn sawing down our tree

Emily taking her turn sawing down our tree
Mommy & Aaron's turn sawing down our tree. It was very difficult with Aaron in the front carrier
Daddy finishing the sawing. Timer!

Then they shake the tree

Our finished tree

Blue eyes

These eyes just keep getting bluer and bluer. Beautiful. 

Back at the pub

We love the Irish pub. Love. Kids do too. Kyle recently said one of his favorite foods are Irish potato skins. Not all potato skins are made equally - the pub's are definitely one of the best out there. And the pub itself makes it even better. Total authentic Irish pub. Just like you'd expect in Ireland. In fact, this pub was 'shipped' piece by piece to San Diego to create this awesome place. 

Thursday

Thursday is major activity day. Kyle and Emily have all of their activities on one day. Kyle has tennis and Emily has gymnastics. Then they both have karate. Tennis is Kyle's love and gymnastics is Emily's love. Kyle always wants to go outside and play tennis in the alleyway when we are home. Emily is constantly doing cartwheels anywhere we are. And I mean anywhere. 

Award ceremony

Emily and Kyle both received awards today at school. Kyle's award was for being great at all things school - reading, math, science, etc. Emily's award as for being an awesome reader and an enthusiastic learner. Great work Kyle & Emily! 

Underdog

Aaron got his first underdog from Kyle. What a little thrill seeker and what a sweet older brother to share the joys of swinging with his baby brother, even if he's a bit small for a wild ride on the swing!

Rub a dub dub 3 kids in a tub

Or rather 1 kid in a tub in a tub with 2 more. Think they're having fun?! Yes indeed! Loads of laughter and shrieks of joy!

Tennis tournament

Kyle played in his first singles tennis tournament today. It was through the afterschool tennis program that he and Emily play in each week. There weren't any 1st graders so Kyle played with the older kids. It was very small so he ended up playing 4 other kids who were all about 10 years old. Kyle did very well and held his own. He got a trophy for winning first place and chose a tennis shirt that looks like Nic's, his coach's. 

Crawling and standing

Needless to say, Aaron is mobile now. He crawls everywhere and loves to pull up to standing to see what is up higher. He is even happier now with his new found mobility. 

Color balls

This was crazy. I realize it is most likely just a lot of coincidental luck on Aaron's part. I had 3 balls and told him what colors they were and asked him to choose a certain color ball (and it wasn't always the ball closest to him or by a certain hand - it changed position). For 5 in a row, he got it right. And then he got bored. But it was pretty awesome. Lucky. But awesome. What a fun 'little experiment'.

Thanksgiving part 2

And on Saturday we had Thanksgiving over at my family's house. Loads of kids there too! Ages 6, 6, 5, almost 4, 2.5, 18 months, 8 months, 7 months, 2 months and one almost due. 

Visiting with Spike who made a delicious pecan pie

Clap your hands!

Jeff and the kids

Aaron having breakfast with the squirrels. He was very entertained by their shenanigans. Kyle and Emily still love watching the squirrels at Grandma's house while they eat. Those crazy squirrels figured out how to leap over to the top of the bird feeder despite the cone to (attempt to) keep them off.