Penny Pincher

Who knew that a box of coins and three piggy banks could entertain a wiggly toddler for over an hour?


We are quarantined to the house this week thanks to a yucky case of croup and an ear infection. Thankfully, Nate has been content to stay at home and has found fun in surprising things around the house (you know, like pennies and piggy banks).

Sneaky

Nope, it is not actually December 22, but that didn't stop Sticky Fingers Olivier from collecting the treat from door 22 on the Advent calendar. In fact, to look at the number of empty doors you might think it is already Christmas Eve...

Thanks, Dad

Last night after Nathan went to sleep, Jason built a castle for him out of mega blocks. Nate was very excited to discover his surprise this morning (too excited to finish getting dressed, apparently)...

(I finally convinced him that clothes were a good idea)

North Pole-bound

To know Nathan is to know that he adores all things choo choo, and our weekend ride aboard the North Pole Express further embedded that love of trains into his little heart. When we arrived at the station there was a show with music and dancing for the kids to enjoy. Noni and Paw Paw were planning to join us on the train but were a little delayed by the crazy Houston weather. Hopefully these pictures will help them feel they were there with us...


There was even a little bit of snow (of the unnatural variety) as we boarded the train...

Clapping to the Christmas music (the kiddos all wore their pajamas just as the children do in The Polar Express)...

This was Nate's reaction seeing Santa walk into our train car (quickly followed by tightly shut eyes and his head buried into my shoulder). He seems to prefer that Santa be in the pages of a book...

Thomas and James came along for the ride, too. Playing with trains while on a train was surely a glimpse of Heaven to my little man...

Paw Paw and Noni were kind enough to still drive up later in the day to watch Nathan so we could attended Jason's company Christmas party. What a treat it was to dress up a bit and have a date! (Would you believe it has been almost 10 years since our very first date? I think that means we're getting old —ha!)

Candy Cane Nate

A sweet (and very sticky) first candy cane encounter...

To all of our family and friends in Houston: Happy Snow Day! Snow in Texas is pretty special, but snow in Houston is downright miraculous. My most recent Houston snow memory was in fifth grade. Our principal let the whole school go outside for recess simply because snow flakes had begun to fall from the sky (they didn't even stick to the ground). That, my friends, is how rare Houston snow is. Enjoy!

Snow!

This morning we awoke to find snow quietly falling outside the window. When Nathan looked out, he pointed saying, "Rain!" After we explained that it was called snow, he took great delight in saying, "Snow! Snow! Snow! Outside!"


We later warmed up inside with our playgroup friends. Nate gave Miss Milla's birthday cookies two chocolate-covered thumbs up...