X mas tree decorating

 Our family tradition is to put up the Christmas tree the weekend after Thanksgiving.  One of us puts up the tree and gets out the box of ornaments and let the kids take over from there.  This was the first year we have ornaments at all levels!  LT can reach the top, A the middle and B gets the bottom pretty well decorated (and undecorated).  

The best I could do

For 6 months, we have been trying to have dinner with some good friends, but due to both of our busy schedules, it took 6 months.  Finally we had dinner together last week.  These are the best pics I could get of these 6 wild boys.  

Botanic Gardens Lights

B and a friend

 As I've said before, little B doesn't get a lot of playdates with kids his age.  We are just too busy (and most of his friends are the third child also).  Last week, however, one of A's friends nanny took the two older boys to Spider Monkey to meet several other friends and I kept the two younger brothers and did little guy stuff.

 I forgot how short their attention span is, so in less than 3 hours, we had 2 snack breaks, painted pictures, played legos, played trucks, went on a walk outside to look at trucks, played with playdough, jumped on the trampoline and built a volcano.  

Volunteering with my big guys

The big guys and I volunteered last weekend to help make welcome boxes for African refugee families who are new to the country and celebrating their first Thanksgiving.  It was so wonderful for the boys to hear some of these family's stories and hear the horror stories of fleeing their country and the near impossibility of getting into the US.  LT thoughtfully asked, as we were writing personal cards to include in each box, "they speak so many languages and are brand new to our country.  How will they understand my card in English?"  

I am definitely making this a tradition that we do as a family (and B can go next year for sure).  It was a good reminder of all the things we have to be thankful for.  

Wrapping Paper

 As I've mentioned before, its difficult to find activities for our different aged kids that everyone enjoys, but yesterday I got out the paint and some big paper from a box that came and the boys made wrapping paper.  And everyone was happy, win win.

Zoo with B

 This week was a warm one and so B and I went to the zoo one afternoon.  As is typical in our family, his favorite parts weren't the animals, but the tuk tuk and walking on rocks.

But I loved seeing the tiger walk above us!  I hadn't seen the tigers using the elevated walkway before and it was pretty neat.

Busy Week Back home

We got back from Seattle and jumped right back into a busy week.  On Tuesday LT had his memoir celebration at school.  He read his memoir so clearly, its so wonderful to see how far he's come with both his writing and public speaking.  

B, for the most part, was pretty tolerant of the long evening.  At one point he left his toys and the back of the room, wandered up and sat right in the audience (see middle above).  

 This morning was musical morning for Adler.  Last year, this day inspired him to want to take piano.  I am so sad that I didn't video his performance because he did so well.  He spoked confidently before he played and then played both his songs nearly perfectly.  

Seattle!

 I took the boys to Seattle for a few days to visit my brother, sister in law and nephew.  The boys had so much fun with each other, it was very hard to say goodbye.  

 We packed a lot in.  One day we spent at the museum of flight, which I hadn't been to since I went with my nephew when he was B's age.

 B had a hard time the first morning with the time change, so we watched a few shows while everyone else slept.

 We had some long yummy family dinners.

 Visited Pikes Place and the famous gum wall.

 And of course ate donuts at the market, definitely the best I have ever had.  I always make a point to go there while in Seattle.

 Took a walk along the water.

 Played lots of games and baby stuff.

And the boys were all incredibly easy on both flights.  We are all anxious to go back for a visit.

Family Photos

This fall we had actual professional family photos taken. It was a bit of a blow to my ego but I took it in stride because we were able to get pics that I wouldn't be able to do myself. Including and most importantly the piece above, which was modified to include a shadow representation of Elsie - the closest we will come to a complete family picture.