Let the Magic Begin

Our Christmas traditions have started.  This morning, our elf, Sam, made his first visit.

After breakfast, the boys got to open their first drawer in their advent calendar.  Nana Way does this for the boys every year and it's very special.  Some days they get a piece of chocolate, other days they might get a dollar and a few days a week they will get to open a gift.  Today, both boys got to open one gift.

We also started our Random Acts of Christmas Kindness.  While Adam napped, Owen and I chose 7 acts of kindness that we will do together as a family before Christmas.

We have a few other special things to look forward to as well.  It's hard to believe we only have 3 weeks until Christmas!

Enjoying our time off

The night before Thanksgiving, our friends invited us to a Hershey Bears game.  They have spoiled us with box seats.  The kids enjoyed taking turns hiding Easter eggs and hunting for them for at least an hour.  Who ever said Easter egg hunts were only for Easter time?  Owen ate wings for the first time and really liked them (except for the getting dirty part). 

There was a sweet little 5 year old girl there.  I think she thought Owen was super cool, and I'm sure Adam thought she was super cool, so there was a little love triangle going on.

The day after Thanksgiving Owen went to a "Breaking Boards Camp" at karate.  That boy definitely needed something to get out his energy and excitement from Thanksgiving so 4 hours of karate chopping, kicking, and punching was perfect! 

These are all the boards he broke.

While he was at camp, I decided to brave the crowds and go to the Hershey outlets before my hair appointment.  I usually stay far away from any shopping area on Black Friday, but I was mentally prepared for standing in long lines and people watching.  It ended up being just the opposite.  The parking lot looked like any other shopping day with lots of open spaces.  I didn't wait in one line!

Aunt Beth and Eric spent some time with Adam while Owen and I were gone all day. Here are a few pictures she sent me...

Adam has a thing about coloring his nose.  Not sure why, but lately, anytime he's alone with markers he colors his nose.

Owen was a little tired when I picked him up, but that didn't stop him from taking Finney up on her offer for a sleepover.  Adam insisted on going too which meant Mike and I had an impromptu night alone!  Mike wasn't feeling that great, but he mustered up enough energy to go to Lowe's (hot date night) so we could pick out things for our bathroom.  We are redoing our downstairs bathroom and wanted to take advantage of Black Friday sales.  On our way home we stopped at the Blue Bird for something to eat.  Mike went to bed as soon as we got home and I spent the entire evening taking down our Thanksgiving decorations and getting out all of our Christmas things.  I put up the tree and had everything ready for the boys to help decorate.  I wanted to surprise them when they came home the next day and Adam's face was priceless when he saw our house looking all Christmasy. 

Today, my mom and I took the boys to see Frozen.  I accidentally had the times mixed up and we had to see the 3D movie and I'm so glad we did.  It was incredible and I think we (the adults) enjoyed the movie as much as Owen and Adam. 

 

What Thanksgivings Are Made Of...

 Hockey, soccer, and football in the back yard.

 Family visiting from out of town.

Handmade place cards.

12 people.  2 turkeys.  1 ham. 1 little house.  3 folding tables.  1 bed sheet.  And a whole lot of chaos, laughter, and happiness.

Lately...

Last weekend we went over to a friend's house for a birthday party.  There were more than 10 kids there running all over the place having a great time together.  They are all so close since they've grown up going to Linda's House together.  It's like one big family :)  Adam was especially happy to be playing with his very best friend, Haley.

 

 We were really hoping Mike would get a deer this year.  He hasn't gotten one in almost 10 years.  He put some game cameras out in the woods where he hunts and saw pictures of big buck walking by, but he never saw any when he went out hunting.  Poor guy.  My parents and I are not into hunting at all, but we were all rooting for him to get one since he spent so much time sitting out there in the freezing cold!  We talked about hunting so much and he showed the boys the pictures from his camera that I think it started to wear off on them.  One afternoon they were in the yard pretending they were hunting and got a big buck with their bow and arrow.  They had to load the buck in the back of their jeep, tie it down, and drive it home.  The big buck was the actually their big wheel.

This was one of my leaves for this week for our thankful tree...

The Monday before Halloween I picked Adam up from daycare and noticed him blinking a lot.  Right away I thought it was a tic.  After trying some drops recommended by his pediatrician we took him to his pediatric opthamologist where we discovered it was a definite eye tic.  Thankfully his eyes are healthy and he doesn't need glasses again.  I read the best thing to do (for tics) is ignore them and they usually go away, but he was really bothered by it one day.  He was trying to watch TV and his eyes were tic-ing so much he was getting upset.  Our doctor referred us to a pediatric neurologist.  Last Wednesday we drove an hour to York to meet with this doctor.  He did some tests and talked to us for a while and confirmed that he did have a tic, but it would most likely go away eventually.  Supposedly, 25% of boys this age develop them and they really aren't sure why.  His son had one when has little as well.  They usually go away in a few months and are nothing to worry about, but I'm glad we had it checked. 

Wednesday night Adam complained of a headache and I took his temperature and he had a fever.  Thursday night we looked in his mouth and it was disgusting.  I was pretty sure he had Strep.  Papa took him to the doctor on Friday and we found out he had Hand, Foot, and Mouth disease.  Owen had it when he was Adam's age and it's no fun!  He's feeling much better now.  So this week, we are thankful for good doctors and excellent health care (and Tylenol & Motrin).

Saturday morning we went to the Lebanon Holiday Parade.  I've lived here my entire life and I had never been to a parade.  It was lots of fun, but very cold!

 Today Owen wrote his letter to Santa.  Stinker decided he didn't want a Lion Chi Temple anymore.  He wanted a Rainbow Loom and remote control helicopter.  I already purchased the Lion Chi Temple a while ago.  I told him that I texted Santa a while back when he said he wanted it.  I told him there's a special number parent's can use to text Santa to give them gift ideas.  I told him I would have to text him again and tell him he didn't want it.  He decided he'd add it to his list.... thank goodness!!  That's what I get for trying to be on the ball this year and get my shopping done early. 

 And while I was gone today and Adam was supposed to be napping and Mike was watching a movie in the basement, Mr. Adam snuck out of his bed and got a hold of the blue heart stamp.  He stamped his face, eye lids, nose, chin, feet, hands, knees, legs.... everywhere.  It also got on our white bed sheets since he was napping in our bed.  This is what he looked like after Mike scrubbed him and tried to get it off.  Nice.  His new name is Denis the Menace. 

Happy short week of work!

Our Thankful Tree

A bit ago we started a Thankful Tree.  Owen found the perfect branch.  I had intended for each of us to write something we are thankful for every night after dinner, but sometimes evenings can be rushed and crazy around here so it ends up being every few nights we all write something.

Owen's leaves are so precious to me.  He comes up with them all by himself.  And Adam really thinks he's writing words.... pretty funny.

Fall Fun!

 What a busy week we've had!  Friday night the boys and I made Christmas cookies, put on our jammies,  and then watched The Polar Express.  It was probably the highlight of my week.  I was sandwiched between two snuggly boys with Cheech on my lap watching one of my favorite Christmas movies.  What could be better?!

Mike came home from an event he went to with some fun stick on mustaches.

This morning, while I was doing some Christmas shopping with my mom, Mike took the boys to Michaels for their craft club.  Adam was super excited.  Owen... not so much.

When I got home the boys were jumping in leaves and doing a fun obstacle course that Mike made for them. 

 Adam loved jumping and playing in the leaves!

And now Mr. Adam is resting up for our date tonight.  We are going to the Hershey Theater to see Disney's Princesses and Pirates show.  It's just the two of us and we can't wait!  Sure hope he doesn't fall out of his bunk bed!