somebody's watching you....

I keep playing that song in my head after finding this person in the shower.

These Playmobil people are showing up everywhere.  I'm thinking of changing the blog to "Where are they now?" It's really starting to remind me of Toy Story.

I do actually know how this one arrived in my shower.  Teague happened to find this one in the laundry hamper right before bath time.  He pulled her (let's just call her Betty) all the way up the stairs (Betty was lucky she didn't end up in the washing machine - a firefighter wasn't so lucky).  When I tried to tell him that Betty couldn't take a bath with him, he kind of walked around for a few minutes.  Then (here's where the story takes a weird turn) as I was hooking up the hose to the shower so I could fill up the tub (our tub is broken and the boys love taking a bath in our tub, however there's no way to turn it on so we have to connect a hose to the shower head and then hold the button on the hose for about fifteen minutes while it fills the tub), so in the process of standing on the step stool to hook up the hose (did you follow that?), I noticed Teague was in the shower with me.  Now I'm thinking that when I told Teague that Betty couldn't take a bath, he thought maybe she should have a shower.  He is one smart cookie (who loves a bath)!

Neland's fish face.

While Teague does seem to be a smartie, he has no fashion sense.

He snuck into Neland's closet and pulled out some shoes.  This is what he ended up in, a Spiderman snow boot and a black loafer.  Maybe he was going for comfort?

And lastly, Neland could not wait to decorate for Christmas.  Usually I wait until December. I make sure all the fall stuff is put away, the house is clean, Christmas music is on, but after church on Sunday Neland begged and begged to get out our decorations.  I pulled out some bins and told him to have fun.  This is what the playroom looked like.  His room ended up with two small trees and two Nativity scenes (or Jesus' birthday as he calls it). I hope Neland isn't offended if I redecorate.  

Thanksgiving

Last Wednesday we headed up to Grandma and Grandpa's house for Thanksgiving.  Before getting out of town, we stopped for breakfast at Panera.  Neland ordered his usual, orange juice and a scone, and then announced "We're going to Grandma and Grandpa's house for a Thanksgiving feast".  He says the cutest things.

Once we arrived, we said our hellos and took our crazy kids to the playground (and let Grandpa cook some of the Thanksgiving feast).

 On turkey day we watched the parade. Teague loved the Sesame Street float and while Neland might not admit it, he liked the one with the Fresh Beat Band.

 Poor Teaguie wasn't feeling so great.  He looked cute though.

 While he didn't eat a lot, he had his share of whip cream.

 We had a huge Thanksgiving table with lots of family.  Once the dinner was over, it was time to play.  There was an intense dance contest, which was not won by one of the dance lovin' girls of the group, but a college guy!  After the contest, Neland got some of the action.  He's got some moves.

Poor Teague was worn out.

 

Grandpa did some black Friday shopping and picked up a train set.  Neland stayed at the table with the train the rest of the weekend.

Teague spent black Friday like this:

Poor Teague did not feel well.  He didn't sleep well, had a fever, a terrible cough, so we gave him some meds to help him out.  And eventually he slept.

Neland whined and whined on Saturday because we had to leave Grandpa and Grandma's house.  After all the excitement of the weekend, he was asleep before we even got on the highway.

Thanksgiving Eve

It is tradition for us to get our visit in with Santa before the official start to the holiday season.  There is never a line and Neland gets lots of time to chat.

 He looks thrilled doesn't he? At least the shirt is cute!

That's better.

Teague was a little more apprehensive.  Although he had no problem taking candy from Santa.

The only way to get a picture with Teague was to have me in the picture as well.  

Neland mentioned a few things he wants, a playmobil airplane, the zoo, a trumpet, and a garage truck (I think that was the last one).  Teague just ran off with the candy.

i forgot

This is what my other two boys did while Neland has his party.  They had a picnic lunch.

class party

Last Monday, Neland's class had their Thanksgiving party.  There was a feast and some old fashioned games.  The kids played hot potato, a guessing game, and Thanksgiving bingo (with candy pumpkin markers).  As a favor they received "corn" poppers.

 This is his, 'man I hope there is dessert' face.

 Learning the rules to Bingo, although his favorite game was hot potato.

Before we left, the teachers indulged us by having the kids do the cha-cha slide.

If only I'd had the Flip.  Neland loves the cha-cha slide.  He does it at home quite a bit! 

don't judge a person

until you've walked a mile in their shoes (is that how it goes)?

Looks like I may be getting some sympathy from the playmobil peeps (or they may get mine, since they are the ones in the stinky shoes).

then and now

November 2008

 November 2011

When Neland first showed an interest in trains, Grandpa and Grandma bought him a train table and a set of trains.  Another year later, he was obsessed with Thomas.  When we were preparing to move him to his current room, and his furniture had not yet arrived, we made it the Thomas room. 

Once Teague started pulling up, we put the train table away and Neland realized the only time he could play trains was while Teague napped.  Then, last week, at Barnes and Nobles, I saw Teague "play" trains.  Usually he'll push a train here or there, but then kind of lose interest.  But that day, he really played.  He said "choo choo" and moved them all around.  So now the train table is officially back out.  Teague doesn't always play nice, but it is always the first thing he runs to when he wakes up.  It's nice to see he shares the same train love, and it's so sweet to see Neland playing with his old favorites again.

whoa

Neland's been practicing riding his bike on the greenways the past couple weeks. 

He gets started and I hear "whoa" over and over.

Then on Tuesday, after a record number of "whoas", came  

"WOOHOO" 

and he was off.

When Grandma and Grandpa were here to assist, Teague got to ride as well (he NEEDS a helmet, he probably needs one most of the day).

oh how i love tuesday

On Tuesdays, we have NOTHING scheduled!  No school, no swim lessons, no gymboree, it's a day to enjoy being together, cinnamon rolls, pjs, playing with Dali (which I'm sure she finds to be more of an attack), riding bikes, meeting friends to bounce, or exploring our "woods".  It's a day of endless possibilities.

 Poor Dali! She is very loved.  Teague hunts her down in the mornings. She used to be safe on the bed or the couch but now he can climb on both of those (and her).

Beautiful Tuesday afternoons are perfect for playing outside.

This is one of our favorite fall spots.

just look at the view!

We have a new game that involves laying in the hammock and spotting airplanes.  The first one to spot one gets a point.  Neland won 10 - 3.  And according to Neland every plane is going to California. I hope we don't have to fly anywhere else relatively soon, he may be rather disappointed.

For some reason, kids love the hill in our back.  I didn't realize how steep it was until after we bought the house, but the first time friends with kids visited, the hill was a magnet.  Now, I can identify with the love of the hill, sledding, kicking balls up it just to have them roll back, the trek up it to "the woods". AND recently I taught the boys to roll down it.  I had completely forgotten how much fun rolling down a hill is (and it's actually a lot more fun as an adult - you roll much faster - I couldn't walk straight after rolling and Chris had trouble standing up). It does add quite a bit to the laundry pile. 

 These bedtime pictures are from different days, but blocks before bedtime is becoming quite a ritual. It's relatively calm and not too messy.  

Then one of the best times, snuggling up with stories and the boys.  Although I'm always sad when Tuesday is over.

Then comes Wednesday:  Neland has school, yet I forget it's picture day (he wore a robot shirt with googly eyes), we're out of jelly so he takes pumpkin butter on bread, Teague has Gymboree, but afterwards we have to run to the bookstore for Neland's fundraiser where I figure out my contacts are in the wrong eyes, order a venti latte in some holiday flavor (because it's a fundraiser and every dollar counts) only to throw it away because it tastes gross, Teague has lunch in the car - goldfish and a clementine, we pick up Neland, play on the playground for two hours because Chris promised Neland ice cream after school the day before but has to finish something before he can meet us, Teague misses his nap, but loves the ice cream and we're finally headed home with the busy part of our day done... did I mention I love our absolutely-nothing-we-have-to-do-Tuesday?

18 month comparisons

Thanks to Bower Studio... my boys at 18 months. 

NJ in Jan. of 2009 and Tman in Oct. of 2011

(It's pretty obvious who is who!)

 I get comments all the time about the boys looking alike, but I really don't see it.  They look so different to me, and their personalities are complete opposites! 

I think Auntie Olivia got it right when she said this picture captured their personalities.  Neland is quiet and kind, Teague is loud and loving!  (although their tantrums seem remarkably similar)