Merry Christmas Eve!

Well the boys each picked a cookie to leave for Santa tonight! We poured a glass of milk and even left a carrot out for the reindeer. I can't wait to share their reaction to the presents he will leave for them!

I'll leave you with the pictures from our session with Santa!

Almost white, almost Christmas

We woke up to a dusting of snow this morning and it was still falling. Clayton's question during breakfast, and he was very serious and looked worried: "but, is there enough snow?"  Enough snow for what, honey? "Enough to build a snowman!?"

So mid-morning I sent daddy and the boys outside, and what do you know? There was just enough for a little snowman!

He even has a carrot nose and two lumps of coal for eyes. What a good daddy they have!

The snowman however met an untimely end not long after this picture was taken!

And as you can see the snow changed over to rain by late morning and the snow is already gone. So glad they were able to seize the moment!

Last day of Preschool Before Christmas

Friday was the last day of school until January 5th for Clayton, and this is our family's first experience having a kid home from school for Christmas break! We'll see how Clayton does with the 2 week break. I think he will need a lot of activities planned to keep him entertained and focused so he doesn't go too wild!

The best part though is that he got to have a "holiday" party at the end of the day on Friday. The students got to invite a grown-up to come to the party with them, and it worked out for Grandma Branz to accompany Clayton. It sounds like that had a lot of fun, and got to build a gingerbread house together! I think that a highlight for Clayton is that as they were getting ready to go home, Santa came to visit. Just look at the joy on his face! It's so sweet!

And the gingerbread house Clayton and Grandma worked on so hard together. (Both boys enjoyed eating the candy and smashing the house this afternoon, and it is no more,)

Hot Tubbin'

The boys and Daddy and Papa had some male bonding time in the hot tub this evening (or Hot Bath, as the boys say).

Flash on the camera and steam in the air makes for a special kind of filter for the picture!

Jingle Bells

This is from earlier this month, I can't believe I almost forgot to post it! Clayton and Reese sure enjoyed getting their groove on with Grandma Branz's Christmas decoration that plays Jingle Bells!

Video is courtesy of Papa Doug Branz, used with permission, and an IOU ;-)

Mommy's Tigers

The boys love to act out whatever item or animal is on their pajamas when they are getting ready for bed. (So fire truck pajamas yield a little boy making siren noises throughout the house for example). Here are mommy's little bedtime tigers. (Video is from Tuesday, Dec. 9)

Reese's Preschool

Reese had his last day of preschool and a little graduation ceremony on Tuesday, Dec. 9. He really enjoyed preschool and just loved "his" teacher, Tonya. He was a little overwhelmed by all the parents and grandparents (he had both sets of grandparents and mom and dad there!) being there and he did not sing the special song they learned, but I've been told that when they practiced he was the one who sang the loudest. I've heard him singing it at home too. I'm sure he kept Miss Tonya on her toes!

Receiving his "diploma"

The whole class

Reese didn't really want to wear the hat. . .

Playing PlayDoh with Tonya one last time

Enjoying his cookie and juice before it's time to say goodbye

Here are some highlights of Reese at Preschool over the last month:

S'more Preschool (It was a camping theme)

Checking in. (They put a sticker on their card to track attendance)

Painting with Tonya

Playing with "Mr. Tiddles" the turtle

Arts and Crafts

Fishing

Reese sure loved Mr. Tiddles!

He made a snake puppet. I remember the day they made that, he came home and tore through his backpack throwing everything else (extra clothes, diapers) out around him saying "Oh no, where is it??" When he finally found this snake "There it is! I made this snake, Mommy!" He thought it was so cool and was soooo proud of it.

The Friday before graduation they did a little petting zoo with real animals and Reese held a snake, letting it stick it's tongue in his face and everything, and said it was cool. He also held a bunny. When I asked what he did that day he told me he "I pat the bunny" (just like the book!)