Decorating Tree

Last year we got a tree, put lights on it, and hung about three ornaments. This year I was determined to step it up a notch. I put the lights on the tree. Now, about two weeks later we have hung some wooden ornaments. The children have really enjoyed the process this year. They were very proud of their accomplishments.






We left all the ornaments where our children hung them. I thought it was more important for our children to feel competent than for our tree to be perfectly beautiful. An unbalanced, disorderly, beautiful tree is the perfect tree for us.

Another Parade

Last Saturday we went to the town's Christmas parade. The children were so excited. We talked about the parade for a week before it was time. They very much still love the marching band, the candy, and the fire trucks. It was very cold (for us) that morning so I made hot chocolate and bundled the children up.





As you can see below, Elliott is becoming more comfortable with parades. He usually stays in the car and watches. Today he felt he could venture out and pick up candy.
We are proud of our Mama Bee. Her business's float won an award. We thought they were very deserving and the best float out there.

Our children have had limited contact with Santa thus far in their lives. They think Santa's main job in life is to throw candy off fire engines.
After the parade, we went to the local blizzard blitz and let the children play in the snow.











They enjoyed the bouncing purple horse the best. Mazie and Elliott were brave enough to get in, but they didn't jump around much. Lucia did not want to get in...until we were pulling out of the parking lot.
We hope you are enjoying your holiday festivities.

Shavin'

When my dad stays with us he shows the children how he shaves. Since his last trip to see us the children have been doing a lot of "shavin' like Grandpa." Cottage cheese and paint have been our recent shaving creams.

Poem #9

Preacher Don't Send Me
by Maya Angelou

Preacher, Don't send me
when I die
to some big ghetto
in the sky
where rats eat cats
of the leopard type
and Sunday brunch
is grits and tripe.

I've known those rats
I've seen them kill
and the grits I've had
could make a hill
or maybe a mountain
so what I need
from you on Sunday
is a different creed.

Preacher don't
promise me
streets of gold
and milk for free.
I stopped all milk
at four years old
and once I'm dead
I won't need gold.

I'd call a place
pure paradise
where families are loyal
and strangers are nice,
where the music is jazz
and the season is fall.
Promise me that
or nothing at all.

Coyoacan

Cousin Avery gave the babes a Melissa & Doug easel for their birthday. One side is a chalkboard, the other a dry erase board which you can also clip paper to. The easel comes with paint, brushes, and cups to put the paint in. The best thing about the painting attraction of the easel is that the cups have lids with small holes in the middle, just big enough for a paintbrush to go through.
Because I am a big fraidy cat, I only let the children paint when I have one. I just don't think I am emotionally stable enough to paint with three two-year-olds. (I'll work on that, maybe.) So, it has taken a little while, but now all three have gotten a chance to paint their first masterpiece (thanks to getting up early from naps and staying home from school sick).
The pictures above are of Lucia. She was first to give it a go. She loves art the most. She holds her crayon like adults hold pens, not with a fist like the other two. She also uses her left hand almost exclusively (this thrills her Mama Bee, as she is a lefty).



Above is Elliott's masterpiece along with photos of him painting away. He especially loved wearing the smock his Aunt Patti made him. He didn't want to take it off until it was bathtime.

Both Mazie and Lucia experimented with various brush strokes, especially the pointillism style. Everyone enjoyed painting. I have kept their first paintings, though I am not sure what I will do with them because they are so big. I am thinking of ways to save them for future enjoyment.

Twelve Minutes

When you have a slew of two-year-olds, you'll do most anything to eat up some time on a rainy day.