FOUR!

Our favorite little boy turned 4 a few weeks ago.

He's all boy with a love of hot wheels, construction, ninja turtles and legos.

I made him a carved cake to look like a road. It had Swiss meringue buttercream... and I didn't have any. :)

He got lots of Hot Wheels for his birthday, and tracks!

They were a hit all around. :) Happy birthday, buddy!

Impromptu Dance Party

A few things to note:

Yes, my house it messy. Yes, my kids are wearing their pajamas (and I'm in yoga pants). Yes, that terrible cough is Allison (she has the flu, hence the messy house and kids in pjs). And yes, that funny little fast stomping action is Lindsey's interpretation of "dance."

I really love this video. :)

Rochester

Out here, Rochester is kind of the place to be. Better restaurants, awesome kids museums, close to the temple... all sorts of good things!

Over Christmas break (yes, I'm still trying to catch up!) we took the kids for a little 2 day trip to Rochester. We hit up the Science Museum and the Museum of Play. It was two kid-focused days and helped break up the winter break. But next time, I'd like to take after my friend Estelle and run away to a craft/home dec store while Brian does the museum with the kids... we'll see how that goes over.

Warning: Picture overload ahead. Hope you think my kids are cute... cause I took SO many pictures. 

 Digging for Mastadon bones...

 Allison got to be a special helper in an electricity demonstration, because she was wearing light-up shoes. She thought that was pretty fun... :) 

 Carter with a Devonion era fish fossile replication... I know I used to know the name of this creature back before my children stole all my knowledge.

 Lindsey enjoyed it too... she was trying to do what the big kids had done. 

 Daddy explaining how the solar cars worked

 Carter digging up dino bones. I LOVE this picture. 

Oh no!

 T-rex! Run!!!

 Roar!

 Lindsey loved the reading pit.

 

Climbing the obstacle course

 

 Racing at the Museum of Play

 Making constellations at the Dora Exhibit

 Lindsey like "planting flowers"

 And digging in "rocks"

 Carter planted flowers too.

 Allison made a magic wand

and used the spotting scope.

 Carter's king of the world.

 and a shopping master at the mini Wegmans.

 Mmm... fake food...

 First sliding experience. She loved it!

 Carter did too. And he moved fast, which is why the photo's blurry. 

 Cutest taxi driver ever.

And otherwise, I promise we're not dead over here. Just busy. I swear I've barely had a minute to stop and think for the last few months. And its all my own doing... just call me queen of self-inflicted over-commitment.

Somtimes...

Sometimes I'm certain that we are raising the next Gene Simmons... 

Christmas

We had a really lovely Christmas at our house. Here's a recap in pictures and captions. :)

 

Theres just something wonderful about the late night hours of Christmas Eve, when all the wrapping is done and the tree is ready for the morning. I love to take a few minute to enjoy the peace and the anticipation of the joy the next morning will bring. 

 

 Speaking of anticipation, I intend to be one of those parents who makes the minutes before being allowed downstairs on Christmas morning last as L.O.O.O.O.N.G as possible. And I intend to enjoy it, too. 

 

The stockings were carefully stuffed and placed by the chimney on the couch with care (my mantle is way back in the playroom... I'm not braving that mess for Christmas morning!)

 

And the contents were much enjoyed by children all over the house.

 On to the Presents! We got...

 Ski clothes from Grandma and Grandpa McKee for our family ski trip.

 

and Legos and Craft Kits from Grandma and Grandpa Thornock...

 

 

A baby more interested in the wrappings...

 

until she realized that there were new, noisy TOYS inside the wrappings!

 

Santa came through with Hot Wheels Play Sets... 

 and a LaLaLoopsey Doll.

 

Mommy and Daddy worked hard and managed to finish a doll bed for Allison 18" doll...complete with quilt, mattress, sheets, pillows and pillowcases (I might have gotten a bit carried away...)

 

 And a hand-made tower crane...

 

And a tool belt for our Mini Mr. Fix-It. 

An awesome husband gifted a punching bag (its about exercise, not anger!)...

 and gorgeous handmade cutting boards...

And a super-awesome wife gave lots and lots of tools (again! More tools!), of which there are no pictures... (but here he is flipping through the photo book his parents sent... see! He was totally there!)

perhaps I'll take pictures of what he makes with the tools instead (A MASTER BEDROOM SET!!!). And the less-awesome part of the wife also gave some fabric, which was supposed to have been made into a shop apron before Christmas... but its possible that doll bedding took over my brain.

The baby got bored and decided that she'd rather watch from her high chair, munching the snacks Santa left in her stocking.

 And then we pretty much stayed in our PJs, built legos, assembled toys, did crafts and talked to family all day. Hope your Christmas was as lovely as our was.