Charging

My MacBook was dead for four days due to a malfunction in the power cord. It may or may not have had anything to do with a certain 2 year old who felt the need to suck on it from 12-24 months old.  :( Good news, though....we are back and fully charged!

Let's catch up! Day 6 morning

 Day 7:

 Graham decided he didn't want to get his hand or foot in paint, so Parker had to do both.

Graham entertained himself with watercolors while Parker and I worked with dangerously permanent acrylic paint.

 Day 8:

 With the boys bathed and somewhat calm, I attempted including Graham with a project that involved glue. It went fairly well.

 I don't know how he didn't paper cut his nose.

 This kid is obsessed with coloring right now.

 I love his little hands. I'm a little sad that they don't have baby chub on them anymore :(

3,4,5, and some T-Rex

I botched up our day three activity. I was planning on taking Parker to this local comedy show that was doing a Christmas special, but realized the day of the show that it didn't start until 8:00 pm. Ooops. Parker would have been fine most likely, but we had to get up rather early the next day. I apologized to him because he was really excited. I made it up to him by taking him to see Aurthur Christmas in 3D at the theater. He loved it. Score.

Day four involved making lists. I decided it would be good for us all to think about what we were thankful for before we began wanting. They boys enjoyed decorating the lists with stickers. 

 Since he felt the need to cover his words with stickers, I'll tell you Graham's #3 is trains and his #5 is Parker.

 Mommy and Daddy need to work on having cheaper wants. Graham covered his second desire with a snowflake, but it was funny. He wants a cracker. Easy enough.

The first thing Parker does when he gets up in the morning is run to the calendar. This morning was Graham's first day joining him. The veteran helped the newbie see how it was done.

 Day 5 read, "Cook a breakfast dinner with mommy." Parker was all about it. We ran short on time tonight, so we whipped up some eggs, with sausage links and spinach. The boys helped me cut up the little smokies (which they called mini hot dogs because they had never seen them before). Don't worry, the knife blades are completely dull. No lost fingers.

 Mini sous chef number two can be demanding sometimes.

 Look at that face. I mean, he was serious about some cutting.

 Adding the spinach like a pro.

 The face of approval.

 Big 'ol raspberry.

 They got cleaned up after dinner...

 ...and put on their pajamas. They were beside themselves because both had a T-Rex on their shirt. I mean, really, how cool is that? You have no idea.

 I couldn't get a picture in focus because Graham wouldn't quit jumping.

So easy to please. Tacky pj's and we're good to go.

Reunited

Am I allowed to say that last week was very relaxing? Is that bad or against some Mothers' Code of Conduct? It is wrong that I enjoyed the quietness of my home with only Parker in tow? Well, it's the truth. Even if it does make make me look like a not-very-nice mommy. If I am being completely honest, which I am known to be, I even questioned my decision to have a second child as early as I did as well as my desire to have future children. Last week, I never seemed to get to that crazy frustrated point that I so easily get to with two little boys. David came home to a calm, happy atmosphere where dinner wasn't cold or unfinished. I was able to keep up with the house and laundry while still playing Candy Land on a regular basis. I was able to decorate my home for Christmas in peace while Park played quietly in his playroom. Parker spent hours coloring instead of pushing a screaming, laughing two-year old around in a play shopping cart. I could go on, but you get my point. Life was less stressful and INSANELY easy with only one young child to parent.

Before you start to think I'm an awful person, let me describe when my thoughts started going the other direction. When I got through the security checkpoint to wait on my second bundle of joy to come through the door with my Dad, I started to get excited. The second Graham saw me, he yelled my name and ran fast to my arms. He tightly hugged my neck and I was so very thankful for my little "handful." Don't get me wrong, I have never wished I didn't have Graham. It has little to do with who Graham is, just the combo of two rambunctious boys together that wears me thin quickly. They are both so well-behaved apart, however, together they seem so difficult and hyper. They bicker when together, yet can't stand being apart. I am trying to figure out how to manage their combined energy, but it's just hard. Really hard. I'm slowly becoming better and they are getting older, thank goodness. 

I became even more aware of how thankful I am to have had both boys when Parker saw Graham. They embraced, shared peanut M&M's (thanks Papaw), and locked hands. They walked around the airport for the next few minutes talking while never letting go. It made me so happy to see they genuinely missed one another. Their true affection for one another was clearly shown. Parker repeatedly kissed Grammy's face. Moments like this help remind me of why I chose to give Parker a sibling. Last week, though undeniably peaceful, started to look a little boring to my new found "airport" perspective. Life is all about perspective anyway, right?

Just so you don't think everything stayed all merry and bright, I'll let you know I had to break up fights in the backseat on the way home. I also heard more tattling in the three hours before bedtime than I can count on two hands, but my home is back to normal. Crazy, loud, dysfunctional normal. But there is lots of love. There will always be lots of love.

Day Two

Hot Cocoa and How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Does it get any better?

Day One

It's the most wonderful time of the year! I love the Christmas season with all of the traditions and celebration. I wanted to make sure my boys had an Advent calendar this year since they would be old enough (especially Park) to understand the countdown. November was a busy month for me so I didn't get to making the calendar until this week when I got home from our Thanksgiving pilgrimage to Florida. (We had a great visit, by the way. The weather was perfect and the shopping was, well, Florida shopping. Let's just say, I got stuck in the Banana Republic Outlet for over two hours. Ouch. ) 

Anyway, I decided I didn't have time to make the cute felt calendar I had dreamed up in my mind from Pinterest inspiration. I had to go with a paper model. For being made in one afternoon, I'm happy with this bright little festive piece. Everyday there is a new Christmas activity and starting half way through, we'll begin reading the Christmas story in sections from Matthew and Luke. I really want this time of year to be a big celebration of our Lord's birth.

Parker is so excited about waking up in the morning and reading the card for each day. The visual countdown really helped him understand how much more time we have...the chocolate Hershey bar in each envelope brought a little cheer too ;)

Note: You won't see Graham helping decorate the tree because he's still on vacation this week. My parents wanted some time with him, so Dad will be flying Graham back to me this weekend. Since I knew we'd be leaving him down there, we got our tree as a family before we left for Florida. I doubt Grammy would have been much help decorating anyway, considering his inability to leave shiny things alone.

Day One: Decorate the Christmas Tree.

 Before:

 After lights and garland. (Yes, those are handmade pom poms. There are over one hundred and I have the blisters on my fingers to prove it.)

 Don't think I wore my winter pj's for decorating the tree. The sad truth is that I had them on all day long. I never left the house today, so the flannels never left my body. Don't judge.

 Daddy helped hang our nail ornament to remember the importance of why Jesus was born. He always had a destiny with a tree and I am so thankful.

 All finished!

 Merry Christmas! Get your countdown on!