Rock Climbing

 I took the boys rock climbing on New Year's Eve.  They had been pretty good all day, but they were ready to get out of the house and Greg and I were ready for them burn off some energy.  Ryan and I took a class in November, so I now have my belay certification.  It was Luke's first to go at it  in a couple of years.  They both had a good time - as you can see, Ryan was excited.

Both boys can make it about half way up the wall - then they realize that they are at the same level as the second floor above us, and don't want to go any higher.

 Luke attacked the wall like he does many things - no hesitation and tried to go up like Spiderman as fast as he could go.

Ryan climbs more slowly and deliberately.  Check out his new shoes-he picked them out himself and has woken up early the last 2 mornings to get dressed so he can wear his shoes all day.

We will need to go every few weeks in order for me to remember the correct knots to tie - Ryan was upset that Luke climbed about a foot higher, so we'll need to go back soon so he can try again.

Merry Christmas!

 We had a really nice Christmas.  Our Christmas Break is a little different this year - we had school until right before Christmas, and we have the week off after New Years.  Usually, we are off the week before Christmas and go back to school right after New Years.  Not sure which I like better.  I'm looking forward to this week with no plans or events - and it was nice to have Christmas parties and preparation over with early, but it made for a very difficult last week of school and weekend to get ready for 2 parties and Christmas morning.  We had my Book Club Christmas Party on the Saturday before Christmas - 13 kids under the age of 6 running around the house - but they were mostly in the basement being contained by the dads.  Then on Monday, we had Greg's family over for Christmas Eve.  We had Christmas morning with the 4 of us and then Nana and Grandad joined us a little later in the day.  Overall, it was all very nice.  The boys received some great gifts that they've been busy playing with and Greg and I love enjoying Christmas with them and through their eyes.

 Christmas Eve morning, I set the boys up with decorating their own gingerbread trains.  They had a great time with this and it kept them busy for about an hour.  They were very anxious and excited for Christmas Eve night to come.

 No real pictures from Christmas Eve - too much going on - but I did get this sweet picture of the boys' cousin, Tommy.

I had asked the boys to come and get us when they woke up Christmas morning.  They are not late sleepers, especially Ryan - so we knew it would be early.  At about 6:30, I woke up to the hall light being turned on - and found Ryan coming back upstairs.  He told us what Santa had brought him and he had already unpacked his stocking.  We kept him occupied for a short bit with Curious George and gave Luke a chance to sleep a little longer.  Once both boys were up - we headed downstairs.

 I love this reaction of Luke seeing what Santa had brought him.

 Luke requested a R2D2 costume - he told us that he had something different pictured in his head, but this was even better.  Santa felt really good to hear that!

 R2D2 has already gone through a few repairs, but I think he is finally ready to go.

 Santa also left a letter for the boys.  He wanted to let Luke know that this was his first request ever for a R2D2 costume and his elves worked really hard on it.  Santa also told Ryan that he loves playing Space Angry Birds, too.

Gift excitement:

 A remote control helicopter!

 Legos from Ryan!

 Star Wars Angry Birds PJs!!

 Ryan asked Santa for the Space Angry Birds stuffed animals.  He was super excited to get them and has added them to his large collection of animals that he sleeps with each night.

 Ryan and Daddy playing with his new helicopter.  The box states that it is for ages 14+ but Ryan has done a great job figuring out how to fly it.

Ryan, Luke and Grandad with Grandad's present.  I made the plate this summer with the boys' hand and footprints - they loved being able to help create it

We had a great Christmas.  Greg and I got each other new furniture - so that was super exciting for us, as well.  Now we have another week to play with toys - too bad it is too cold for the snow to melt for the boys to try out their new scooters.

Santa 2012

Sorry for the long delay between posts.  I sat down a few weeks ago to do a Thanksgiving post of our week in Lubbock - but when I started trying to upload pictures, I got a message that I had run out of memory space.  I thought Blogger was free, and it has been for the last 5 years - so not sure what is going on.  I was planning on paying for the memory space today to keep my journal of my kids going-but now it seems to be working fine.  We'll see how long this lasts.  Anyways - here is our annual Santa picture.  This year we opted to skip the mall Santa and take the picture with the Santa who joins our neighborhood's annual hayride.  Much easier.  Ryan has asked for all of the Space Angry Birds stuffies (his phrase) - not sure where he'll put them in his bed, he already sleeps with at least 15 other friends.  Luke asked Santa for a R2D2 costume.  Santa had not heard of that request before and I imagine that he (or she) has been very busy over the last couple of weeks creating a custom made R2D2 costume.

 Santa - 2011, age 5

 Santa 2010 - age 4

 Santa 2009 - age 3

 Santa 2008 - age 2

Santa 2007 - age 1 (the only crying year)

Santa 2006 - age 6 months