Thursday, December 13, 2012

The 12 Days of Christmas

We have been very Merrily getting into the Christmas spirit the past few weeks, and here are just a dozen ways we do that in our home.

1. We sent out a few Christmas cards.

2. We watched Home Alone for a family movie night.

3. I have been forcing Rob to play Christmas songs on the piano nearly every day.


4. We picked out a tree and decorated it and the rest of the house for Christmas.


5. We went to “Lights of the South” and visited with the nicest Santa ever.  (I especially liked when he told Charlotte and Toby to pick up their rooms when they got home.)

6. We have been baking- English Toffee, Peanut Butter blossoms, Molasses, Oatmeal Raisin, Caramel Popcorn, Chocolate Chocolate Chip, and Angel Puffs.  Too bad for Santa those are all gone already, but luckily I still have Fudge, Sugar cookies, and Chocolate Chip cookies on my to-do list.  


7. I made some Super Tobs and Super Jakey capes this year.  My first time doing appliqué work- so I have some skills to improve, but I don’t think they will mind.


8. I chaperoned Charlotte’s class field trip to the Clark’s Hill Christmas tree farm.

9. We’ve got all of our shopping done!  Rob and I have been wrapping gifts after the kids go to bed this week while re-watching The Lord of the Rings trilogy together.


10. Rob and I took the coffee table frame that my dad made in high school, removed the glass top, and upholstered an ottoman- style top for it.  Charlotte renamed it the Comfy Table.  I sewed some throw pillows to go along with the new look. (Toby especially likes to lie on it with a blanket and watch a movie  in the afternoon.)

11. We’ve been reading Christmas stories before bedtime.

and last, but not least,

12. We have been thinking of YOU
our friends and family, near and far, and hoping that you are happy and healthy this holiday season.

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

16 going on 17

Tomorrow Jacob is 16 months old!  
I meant to dedicate a post to his milestones when he turned 15 months old, so hey, I made it with one day to spare, right?


Jakey Bear is quite the handful these days.  

He loves to run, walk backwards, and climb things.  Seriously our most active child by a mile... That he ran... Backwards.  ;)

In the past month his language has really taken off. He has added to the basics (Mom, Dad, dog-dog,) with things like "buff-buh" (brother,) "Dahhht" (Charlotte,) Ho, Ho, Ho, again, kitty, "mmmm-hmmm" (this food is tasty and I would like some more,) "dakh," (thank you,) and "wub, wub, wub" (I love you.)

He can identify major body parts (hair, ears, mouth, toes, hands, etc,) but if you ask him where his nose is he  laughingly shakes his head no.  The Jake-ster is a Joke-ster.

Jake is an omnivore.  He eats everything put in front of him.  He used to dislike bananas, but he now eats one nearly every day. I can only assume he gets his willingness to try new foods from Rob. (Or my mom I suppose.)

Jake has a to-do list of his very own making.  Every day after breakfast he sets out to empty my lower kitchen cupboards and redistribute items throughout the house.  When that is done, he moves a chair, climbs up, and turns the lights on and off for 10 minutes or so.  After that he has to track down Rob's shoes and move them around the house as well.  Then maybe it is snack time, so he picks up anything that was dropped during breakfast and eats it. Then he needs a quick cuddle with mom. Then he actually goes and plays with some toys before having a nap.  At this point it is 9:30-10 am.  So you can see, he has quite a lot of responsibilities around here.  (Perhaps you can also see why this blog post is so long in coming as I spend my evenings putting everything back where it belongs.)

Our home and family would not be the same without our little Jakey Bear and we love him so. :)