Yearly interviews...

Elfie...

Update:  It is time for Elfie to leave and no one is sadder than me!  Below is what Elfie has been up to since the day after Thanksgiving...safe travels dear friend!  :-) 

11/27/12:  Elfie is back and the Aidan couldn't be happier.  Lucas isn't sure what to make of it exactly, but I'll tell you this is my favorite month...all I have to do is say "uh oh...Elfie!"  and Aidan listens...why can't Elfie stay all year?  I will be posting Elfie's pictures in this post until Christmas - so check back for the updates!

   Elfie made pancakes!

 

Elfie TP'd our tree!

Elfie brought the boys a new game today (Go Fish)!

Elfie brought another new card game for us (Old Maid) and had a bonfire roasting marshmallows with Aidan's robot!

 Elfie dressed up for Jesus' birthday party!


Goodbye Elfie - I wish you could stay all year!

Christmas Party

Aidan's class Christmas party was Friday and lucky for me Nate was able to stay home so I could be room mom!  Ms. Huber, his teacher, has been so wonderful so the party was bittersweet.  She was filling in for Aidan's full time teacher who went on maternity leave during the teacher's strike (2nd week of school).  We are happy that she will be still be at the school - the principal wisely decided to keep her as a permanent substitute, so I think that will help them ease into the transition with a teacher they only had for four days at the beginning of the year.  I have heard wonderful things about her as well.  Here are some picks from the party - we gave her a going away gift as well...it was very sweet, I believe I even saw her shed some tears.  She clearly loves our kids!

Perspective.

12.14.12

  (photo courtesy of Google images)

I think that date will be etched in our minds forever now.  A senseless tragedy.  Pure evil.  Today, in Newton, Connecticut a mentally ill 20 year old killed 20 innocent children and 6 adults.  The focus seems to be on the 20 children - they were in kindergarten - babies, with their whole lives ahead of them.  But let's not forget the heros - those six adults that died trying to protect those children.  My heart hurts.  I wanted to go to Aidan's school and take him home, away from his Kindergarten class and not leave our little nest.  I held both of my boys a little closer and a little tighter today.  I cried out for those parents today whose babies wouldn't be coming home.  I don't know how you survive losing a child like this.

I noticed at school today, during pick-up, people who don't usually have much to say wanted to talk.  They wanted to feel the sense of community in our school.  Strangers were mourning together and feeling the pain of these parents.  Lots of us moms had tears streaming down our face when our kids poured out of school - they were running, yelling "hi mom!" and not knowing our heavy hearts.  We put our brave faces on and wiped our tears away.

Our country tends to rise together during times of crisis like this one - different religions join together in prayer.  These acts of violence are the kind that make people question their faith.  The acts of kindness that follow are the ones that strengthen faith.  I hope that these families are surrounded in love and faithful people that can lift them up and help carry their grief.  Such a senseless tragedy.

Very proud of his shower self portrait....

 My latest crafty project...

60 degrees in December?

What else to do on a 60 degree day in December?  Get outside!!!  I had a couple of photo session scheduled for today and Aidan decided to be my helper.  

I of course had to snap a few of him while preparing...

 My handsome little guy...

He then turned the camera on me...he took this one...

He wanted me to climb his favorite tree, but decided if I just leaned on it that would be okay...so sweet.

Santa Baby....

 So proud of my boys today!  Aidan was up all night coughing so I kept him home from school.  He felt fine, just tired.  So I thought a trip to see Santa was due - better than dealing with the crowds/lines on the weekend!  I had no idea how Lucas would do - last year he screamed.  I was pretty sure Aidan would get over his fear pretty quickly because he knew potential presents would be involved.  Lucas was hilarious - I put him on Santa's lap and he wouldn't turn his head and look at Santa - he only moved his eyes to find out where I was - it was so funny.  Eventually he warmed up to him, mostly because his big brother was there, and at the end he said "I love you Santa!"  Ridiculousness.  Serious cuteness going on.

Aidan was excited to write a letter to Santa - I helped him with the spelling, but he wrote the letter himself!  He was so excited to give it to Santa.  Love him.

Later in the day we had a visit with Little Miss Sophia - both boys were excited to have her hang out with us for a little bit. 

 Aidan made popcorn with her and Lucas loves her some much he was crying when she was leaving.  

So sweet. 

Christmas photo session....

 

Trying to figure out how Santa will fit down our chimney...

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