Christmas in 5 minutes

I didn't want to just jump over Christmas.  This Christmas season was so fun for Jones. He was excited for Santa, he loved the story of baby Jesus's birthday, he enjoyed the crafting and tree, and decor.  He wished Christmas kept going on forever.  Thea was also equally into it although I think because she was watching Jones.  Even a month later he asks me questions about Christmas, sings jingle bells, and he asked if it was Jesus's birthday at church this week.  

It's a good reminder of the magic and joy of the Christmas season.  And I hope we can inject a little of that from time to time throughout the year.  

Here's a list of things remembered from the season: 

Jones giving Santa high five. 

Santa asked Jones what Thea wanted for Christmas with no hesitation his response was "snacks".  (This is so her).

Thea in the snow suit hardly able to move at the tree farm.

Jones attempting to saw the tree down.

Jones expecting a hayride at all Santa sightings after the one at the tree farm.

The kids fascination with the antique glass bulb ornaments. (We broke 6).

Jones wanting to hang all ornaments next to the monkey on the tree.

Theas Christmas bows. 

Thea climbing into present boxes.

Jones's Christmas band. 

The fighting over the train set pieces.

Thea hugging presents as she opens them. 

Jones watching grinch with uncle Shannon.

Christmas swimming.

Brickmas with uncle JJ, auntie Lita and grandma. 

Uncle jones bible reading at dinner. 

Ninjabread house making.

Playing after auntie Lita's Christmas party and Jones wanting to do everything the big kids did. 

Our small group party with one overflowed living room. 

JJ being our official toy putter together. 

Jones 30 months

I am always behind posting these.  We are approaching 31 months and I am just getting to 30.  

Dear Jonesy -

I feel like daily you get smarter and remember more.

You are holding strong at 31 lbs.  

But you are getting taller.

Daily you tell me you luv me.  

You loved Christmas.  

You wish it was still Christmas. 

You ask lots of questions.

We have big conversations. 

You notice things.

You like to tell me which way to drive if say you want to go to Target or Walgreens.

You like to build with Legos and cook in your little kitchen.

You enjoy playing with your people and building choo choo trains.

You like to take photos. 

You have started to say "mom take my picture of this".

You ask me about Thea.

"Where is she?  What's she doing? Can we get her?"

You love the music set from Christmas.

You continue to prefer eating proteins and fruit as your favorite.

Oh you say "that's my favorite mom." Your favorite cereal, your favorite book, your favorite toy. 

You adore school buses and wish to ride then. 

You pull up a chair and help me cook. 

You like to mimic me.  

You red books from memory. 

You are growing up so fast. 

Love mommy

46 - Make a Playlist

One of my list goals was to make a playlist for 2016.  I actually made this playlist from all the songs I downloaded in 2016.   I love that we have some oldies on here, some weird ones, worship music as well as some of my favorite bands I listened to this today while working I love it.  

• Waste a Moment - Kings of Leon
• Your Soul - Hippie Sabotage
• Just the Way You Are - Billy Joel
• My Life - Billy Joel
• Can't Think - Dawg Yawp
• Ophelia - The Lumineers
• Worry - Jack Garrett
• Adventure of a Lifetime - Coldplay
• Mess Around - Cage the Elephant 
• All I Want - Jared Craft
• Here Now - Hillsong United
• Come Back Home - Trampled by Turtles
• Love Me Now - John Legend
• Photograph - Ed Sheeran
• Thinking Out Loud - Ed Sheeran
• Don't Let me Down - The Chainsmokers
• Way Down We Go - Kaleo 
• Can't Stop the Feelinlg - Justin Timberlake
• I Wanna Be a Dawg - Dawg Yawp
• The Hills - Weekend

Best of 2016

The best of 2016.  This year was all about baby magic since we added a second baby to our family.  It's full of everyday bests, but I tried to also summarize things.

2016 Recap

Here is my list and I'll be back in a day or so do share my 2016 recaps.

Finished - I finished 24 items, seems much higher than I thought it was so I'll take it.  

1. One Second Everyday - Finished

2. Add a baby girl to our family. -  Hello Thea

7. Make quilt for baby Thea. - Finished

8. Finish a quilt from the unfinished pile. - Finished

9. Quilt for guest bed. - Done.

10. Gift a quilt. - Done.

12. Buy Jones rain boots. - Done.

13. Traveled Map. - Done

18. Finish baby Thea's Room. - Done

23. Start a 529 account for Baby Thea. - Done

24. Robins wedding. - Done.

25. Sign Jones up for a class. - Soccer
28. Make cookies with Jones. - Done

33. Games with Jono and Lo.

34. Games with Schreve and Alicia. 
37. Family Vacation. - California
39. Build back up the savings. - Considering this done I did save some money.
42. Continue hosting small group. - We took a break but we are back to hosting.

43. Make Thea a stocking. - Done.

45. Make Thea a baby book. - Started

46. Make a 2016 playlist. - Need to share.

47. Visit a National Park. - Done.

48. Add photos to the photo wall. - Done

49. Get toys in living room organized. - Done

50. Pick "one little word" and/or year theme. - Here and Now

51. Paint the front door. - Finished

52. Make a new list. - Done.

Started (I started 7 of the other items, so like play date I probably finished I just didn't document).  

3. Monthly Family Photos Take 3.

16. 4 play dates - 1 Museum, 2 Museum Again, 

17. Make 6 pies. - 2 Finished

20. Take aunties and uncles to the children's museum with kids. - Took JJ & Lita

30. Make and Eat 10 unique salads. - 1 Spinach Twist, 2 Popcorn, 3 Avacodo Egg

31. Go on 12 dates with Dustin. -1 Fogo, We also went on others but I failed at documenting.

32. Visit 8 new to us playgrounds. Partially Finished

Not to bad all told although there were a few that I still want to finish so I put them on the 2017 list like Paint My Bedroom. 

1 - One Second Everyday 2016

Here's my One Second Everyday video, 1 from my list.  I LOVED this project and it's totally happening in 2017 as well.  I added the song Adventure of a Lifetime by Coldplay.  If the video doesn't load you can also find it here.

Thea Stories

So a little Thea story.  She's only 10 months old...

In the evenings when dinner is ready when I call jones to get in his chair Thea will come toddling in and sit in her chair (she's still sitting in the bumby chair as her high chair needs to be reassembled).  But it's so cute how she knows what I am telling Jones.  

And then a little later on when I ask "who's ready for a bath?" Thea will walk to the bathroom and bang on the door if it's closed if it's open she will go in and try to climb into the bath fully clothed.  But again she knows exactly what I said.  It's so priceless I don't recall jones doing these things but maybe he did - I don't remember.

The 2017 List

Here's my 2017 list it's shy a few items but I couldn't think of anything I really wanted to add so I left it blank.  I may add a few more later and I may not.  I will be back soon to recap last years list and share highlights of 2016.  

1. One Second Everyday

2. Take the kids to Tarkington Park

3. Make Halloween costumes

4. Visit JJ

5. Take a road Trip

6. Make Baby Bows

7. swimming Lessons

8. get jones potty trained 

9. Throw Thea first birthday party

10. Throw Jones third birthday party

11. Make do quilt

12. Block of Month Quilt

13. Half square triangle scrappy quilt

14. flying geese quilt

15. Finish heart quilt

16. Finish improv quilt

17. Finish baby Randy's quilt

18. Cartoon a day (tracker)

19. 8 glasses of water a day (tracker)

20. Buy new glasses

21. Art journal

22. Balloons at state fair

23. Reconnect with 2 old Friends

24. Work on finishing the baby books

25. Paint Master Bedroom.

26. Update the back bathroom.

27. Trip to the zoo. 

28. Nature walk with kids. 

29. Check out library books with Jones.

30. Use pottery Groupon with Kathleen. 

31. Make tortillas 

32. Diversify dinners.

33. Summer event under the Sails.

34. Attend Big Car Event

35. Get two new pairs of jeans. 

36. Add two new winter tops to wardrobe.

37. Get rid of the clothes not wore once in 18 months.

38. Jones sleepover with grandma and Lita

39. Take babies to parade.

40. Buy new tennis shoes.

41. Wash siding in front. 

42. Clear off Theas dresser.  

43. Paint Jones's lockers

44. Add new photos to photo wall.

45. Send JJ art.

46. Make new list.

51 - Paint the Front Door

Painted both the front and back of the front door a bright red.  It matches the new frame color I added to the walls as well.  I wanted to take a new photo after I washed the siding but I couldn't get the spicket on the side of the house to turn on.  I also updated the house numbers and mailbox with a fresh coat of gold paint. And now we also have a new light too.  Oh well I will take another picture another time.

Christmas ornament crafts 2016

This year we made salt dough ornaments.  Originally I was going to make cute santa from their hand prints but then I realized jones paint skills weren't really up to intricate details on santa.  (He can paint in a shape but not so good yet at making actually recognizable things).

So we just painted the hand prints (Thea even helped paint). We did do little snowman ornaments as well - where jones pressed circles into the dough and he painted them but then I did the faces. (Somehow I failed on getting a photo of the finished hands and feet but you can get the idea from the ones Thea is painting).

And melted bead ornaments were total fails - jones loved putting beads into the ornaments, but they didn't come out and when they did they were super wonky.  I only gave out like 4 of the best ones because they were terrible.

Anyhow this years craft project was fun for jones but maybe not the best two year old craft. 

Theaburf - 10 months

Lady baby -

Hello 10 months!

You walk now girl not all the time but you are taking about 5-10 steps unassisted.

You are 18 lbs.  

You love being bounced.

You dance when you hear music.

You eat anything we put in front of you. 

You perfect baby Cheetos, Blueberries, pizza, and beans.

You like shoes (although maybe not so much wearing them).

You can give kisses.

You wave hello and goodbye.

You shake your head yes and no.

You growl when you want something.

You typically like to follow jones when playing.

You like toys that make sounds and often play drums on toys that aren't drums.  

You drink from cups.

You are a little intimidated by people you don't know.  

Your hair is growing its still very wispy.

Love you so.

mommy