conard jay - week 32

This Christmas season has been such a fun one.  There's joy and novelty in each little thing we do.  For Ivan, everything is happening for the first time. Silas is putting together all the pieces in his head this year.  Amos has an idea of what's coming next and just can't wait.  And Conrad's happily along for the ride.

We spent two evenings this week driving around and looking at Christmas lights.  This may be Ivan's favorite thing to do.  On Thursday, we visited the Precious Moments Chapel for the first time.

Jason made them Christmas milk shakes for the car, so the two older boys were running around like crazy people.  Luckily, there was space and not too many people.

Apparently there was too much to look at to get anyone to look at me!

Oh, Ivan!  Soooo ornery!  Conrad is getting so stable while sitting.  He still has shown no effort to crawl, but his desire to eat has picked up this week.  He now thinks baby food is a must and gobbles it down.

A little Christmas painting!

The Way of Salvation is always a favorite.  Especially because they get to get out of their seats and look around.

 "Mom, stop using the flash!"

Our Saturday plans got postponed and so we were able to hang out with other friends for a while, but that meant no travelling and lots of snuggling.  Church was cancelled on Sunday, so we all stayed in our jammies and hung out!  That's my idea of a restful weekend!

There was lots of playing ninjas and legos and cars with Dad and I finished reading a book!

 And then, of course, once the temperature reached a whopping 5 degrees, the boys headed outside for the snow!

" Mom, just let us get outside!"

 He's got an actual spot at the table!  And he's happy about it.

 Silas came up with a new way to eat his carrots.  He decided if he added them to his PBJ sandwich he couldn't taste them.  He's always got some creative scheme going.

Today is Jason's last day of work and we are all excited about it!  Bring on the celebrating!

conrad jay - week 31

It seems like forever since I wrote a blog post, but I'm pretty sure it was just last week.  I don't know what that says about our week, (long, short, full, slow?).

Conrad is serious bizness about Christmas cookie decorating!

We started the week with the Joplin Christmas Parade.  We came a little earlier and little more prepared than we normally do.  For one, we sat closer to the start of the parade.  In previous years, we are almost always done being there by the time the parade finally makes it to us.  Sitting at the Gryphon building also provided access to hot chocolate and bathrooms.

We at our peanut butter and jelly sandwiches while waiting for the parade to start.

This little one was the warmest of us all, I'm sure.  All the lights mesmerized him.  Ivan is very big into the lights this year and he just kept telling me when he saw them.

Conrad has fully transitioned the the four hour schedule.  He's up with us longer and has started joining us at things he's normally sleeping for.  Like reading time on the couch.  He's so laid back it's usually hasn't been a problem, except when Ivan realizes that Mom's hands are ALWAYS full.  Ivan's on the brink of BIG kid.  He can't decide if he wants to run with the big brothers are be held by Mom. I'm okay with that.  I'm holding on as long as I can.

Speaking of BIG brothers.  He's got two great ones.  The scene below happens often.  And just as often, it's preceded by yelling and hitting.  But they don't hold grudges.  

Mr. Man!  Jumping man.  

 You can only sort of tell in this picture, but I think Conrad may be my first son who doesn't have deep chocolate brown eyes.  He might take a little more after his Mom with a hazel-ly mix.  We shall see.

This boy is always into something.  Very creative Ivan, very creative.

Lot's of sitting and playing with toys for this guy.  Ivan's normally somewhere close, but for the most part he leaves him alone now, or he comes up and tries to "hold" him.

 On Friday, Grammy came over so that Jason and I could go out together.  We just did dessert at Sweet Caroline's and brought our own books to read, like old people.  This was our first time there and it was a really neat place.

Then on Saturday, the boys (except Conrad) headed to Lebanon for the weekend.  And Mama stayed home!  It was so weird to be in my house alone (Conrad doesn't count.  He sleeps a lot.)

My friend joined me in the evening and we had a blast celebrating the season together!  We don't get to hang out near enough, but when we do, we have a blast.  I went to bed at 1am.  And I honestly, do not know when that last happened.

This new week has already started and we are filling it with some of our favorite Christmas traditions.  Christmas cookies, looking at lights, christmas movies....

conrad jay - week 30

After a busy, full Thanksgiving week and weekend, this past week was rather uneventful.  The boys kept asking if we were going anywhere and I kept smiling and telling them no.  They, as I knew they would, began making their own fast-paced fun!

This little one has been eating some more baby food. If I warm it a little for him, he'll happily oblige.  I don't know if it's just his age or the baby food, but he's starting stretching to a four hour schedule (going four hours between feedings).  I love this stage.  Only four feedings a day.  He's up longer and sleeps better.

As far as school goes, our December plans, mainly involve reading some fun Christmas stories together and learning about Jesus through advent readings and activities.  Amos is asking lots of great questions and we definitely sense the Spirit working in his heart.  We continue to pray that the eyes of his heart would be enlightened and the hope to which we are called!  Join us in praying this for him.

I busied myself this week by recovering our falling apart chairs.  Before kids, I had upholstered them with burlap coffee bags.  We loved it at the time, but they've slowly fallen completely apart.  The last time I was at Ikea, I picked up some wipeable material.  We had our first major spill last night and the seat held up beautifully!

Boys in the kitchen.  Excuse the poor picture, but I love to see how much these boys love their dad.  Everyone just kept wanting up, up, up!

Someone else has been joining me in the kitchen too!  Now that he's much more stable at sitting, he keeps me company while I cook or clean away.

Ivan's taken full advantage of Conrad's sitting ability.  He loves to sneak up behind him and "hold" him.  Ivan's faces are priceless below!  He loves his brother.

 Conrad is not so sure about all of it.

 Pure delight!

 And this is how it always ends!

On Monday, we created bird feeders and hung them outside.  On Sunday, the birds finally found them!  We've enjoyed watching them eat to their hearts content!  We called them Christmas trees for the birds.

Our hearts are full as we wait, watch and anticipate celebrating our King!