Weeks 49 & 50: Holiday spirit

These are mostly pictures of the elf. She was a little low-key this year, mainly keeping an eye on the kids from the mantle, the kitchen island, or the living room shelf. The kids helped create this year's Christmas card (drawing and painting). I took the boys to Starbucks on a Saturday morning. We celebrated Frank's birthday with Domino's pizza, a viewing of A Very Monkey Christmas, and twinkies. Zach created a beautiful tree painting in his gifted class. He also made cookies for Santa, who came about a week early because the elf told him we'd be traveling. The boys said they got their stockings at around midnight then went back to sleep. We were able to stay in bed until the late hour of...7 am. Charlotte is excited about her "Baby GaGa" as she is calling her and a high chair that converts into a swing. The boys are immediately put up their dream tents to hang out with phones, their boogie boards, and an iPod for Gabe.

Week 48: Sickness and the elf

Just a few photos from the busy, sick, warmer and sunnier, Christmas-y week we had.

We finished the boys' tie-dyed shirts from Disney. They turned out great!

Happy 10th birthday, Zach!

Charlotte was still sick after a week, but probably just a virus. She enjoyed her huge collection of stickers after getting blood drawn.

Ally, our elf, showed up on December 1st with an advent calendar for the kids.

The next day she was waiting on the star of our otherwise-empty tree. The kids started decorating, but I don't know that we'll bother getting all the ornaments out this year.

Weeks 46 & 47: Disney! and other stuff

It's a good thing I look through my photos chronologically, otherwise I wouldn't know where to start. So much happened over the last two weeks...

Zach traveled to the Challenger Learning Center in Wheeling for a gifted field trip. He and his Expedition Mars team simulated landing a rover.

Charlotte was a Native American in her class Thanksgiving program. The two Pre-K classrooms put on a great (short) reenactment and prepared a feast for everyone.

We took the boys to the airport for their epic Walt Disney World vacation with Lisa and Grandma Jill. Everything went very smoothly.

We had our own mini vacation in Pittsburgh. After the airport we hit the children's museum, swam in the hotel pool, and ate takeout/watched a movie back in our room. After breakfast in the hotel, we went to Ikea for a few hours and drove back home.

We continued to get updates from WDW. They had a wonderful magical time.

We ate our Thanksgiving meal at Cracker Barrel. Charlotte was a little under the weather.

Charlotte went to school (daycare) all week except Thursday. On Friday Frank and I braved Target for a few (non-black Friday) items and saw a movie.

And Saturday we were back in Pittsburgh to pick up the boys. They relaxed in the back of the minivan with food, their phones, and a movie to watch. Zach said "I've got a week's worth of YouTube videos to catch up on!" 

We also welcomed a droid to the family.

Week 45: It's winter here

Here's what I rounded up from last week:

There's been lots of talk about what they want for Christmas. And for the last time, we are not getting a Nintendo Switch!

Charlotte had a pup playdate with her friend.

Zach is learning to cup stack in gym class.

The boys are watching YouTube videos of Disney World rides and getting recommendations from friends at school.

Friday they were off school, and we went to watch the cub scouts in the Veterans Day parade. Unfortunately it was so cold and windy (and we were there early to help set up) that we didn't make it, even though we were layered and bundled up. I ended up back in the car with the kids watching The Lego Movie while Frank waited for the cub scouts to complete the parade route. I feel like we've been trying to warm up ever since.

Gabe under his blanket.

Week 44: Halloween

The boys are getting old enough that they can almost handle their own pumpkin carving. The only thing they don't like is reaching in to pull out the guts. Frank is really the expert at scraping the insides, but we did them before he came home on Halloween (last minute!) so I did my best. The kids always have a good time running around the neighborhood with their friends, and this year was no exception.
We had an exciting weekend with another kid play date Friday after school. Three friends of Gabe's came over and one brought his little sister to play with Charlotte. Then Saturday night Frank took the kids to dinner and Toys 'r' Us while I had some friends over. They took tons of pictures of stuff they want for Christmas, and we're working on getting things added to their Amazon lists.