Our Low Key Family Christmas

It's hard to imagine the Christmas season is over already. Dude is quite confused about this whole concept. All the sudden it's just over? We take our tree down and we don't listen to Christmas tunes anymore? And Elfie is no long hiding in random locations around our house? "But Mom, dere is still snow outside, so where did Christmas go?" Poor guy. Life doesn't always make a whole lotta sense. Anyway...we had a lovely weekend, despite the fact that we had a "family free" holiday this year. That doesn't happen often, but we're headed to Chi-town later this week for 4 days of fam time.

We took the kiddos swimming on Christmas Eve day and were pumped to find they both adore the water. Squirt crawled around and giggled all the while. And Dude is independent now, which makes it much easier for pool outings. We all headed to church Christmas Eve as we were asked to light the advent candles in front of the congregation. You see, our pastor is well aware and loves the fact that Dude is a bit of a social wild card. The evil genius in him thought this would be a grrrreat idea. Let's see what the Vogs pull out of their bag of tricks. I had a moderate amount of anxiety about this occasion and worked with Dude all day on how we were going to behave. I envisioned Squirt grabbing at the fire, trying to eat my liturgy papers and screaming like a pterodactyl when she was denied. I envisioned Dude screeching loudly about Santa as we lit the Christ candle. And I envisioned Tim and me thanking the congregation for loving and accepting us in the name of the sweet baby Jesus.


Christmas miracle - it went off without a hitch! Squirt only tried grabbing the flames once, I held Dude while I read and he proudly grabbed the microphone when I was done and shouted, "Let us walk in da name of da LORD!" Perfection. We whisked them off to nursery and let out a few (ok, like 10) sighs of relief.

We headed home with a sleepy Squirt and a rambunctious Dude. We let baby girl sleep in the car while Dude and I sprinkled reindeer dust on the driveway (so they can see us from the sky and have a little snack) and drove over to our neighborhood "dancing house." The fabulous lights on this house dance to music on the radio and has been a Christmas treat for our family. We went 4 times this season. Dude adores it and asks about it all year long. At home the kids opened their new PJs to wear on Christmas morning and they hit the sack. Tim and I attempted to watch my fave, Elf, but cashed out after 20 minutes.

 Sprinkling his reindeer dust (aka oatmeal and glitter)

 The dancing house is behind us. Dude is giddy with anticipation.

Opening up Christmas Eve PJ's.  Dude loves nothing more than "cozy foot PJ's."

Christmas morning Dude woke up promptly at 6:30, but didn't seem to remember that the fat man in red came to bring presents.  So we went with it and let him watch a Christmas show in our bed and slept for another hour.  When Squirt woke up we headed down and started the gift opening extravaganza.  Squirt could have cared less and wanted to eat all the boxes and we worked with Dude on enjoying and appreciating each gift before asking (demanding) for another.  The gift of the year was his fireman outfit.  We've never seen him react quite like this to a gift before.  He didn't remove the ensemble, including belt and every single tool, for 48 hours straight (minus sleeping time).  If I have to "play fire" once more this week I might accidentally misplace the costume. 

 Grandma V and Grandpa Marc bought Squirt her own pink car.  We're ready for some snow free sidewalks to go try her out!

 Our daycare provider does these sweet hand print wreaths for all the kids.  We got one from Dude last year.

 Da da da!  Say hello to our new son, Mr. Fireman. 

 Grandma also sent these monogrammed Pottery Barn towels.  Love them.

 Duder shopped for all of us at his Secret Santa Store at school.  He picked out this pennant and a toy airplane for Dad.  I got some charming little earings and the glass angel below.  I LOVE this concept of him picking things out for us.  It was my favorite part of the gift giving without a doubt.

 Squirt's hungry hungry caterpillar jack in the box.  It made her giggle.

Dude picked this out for his little sister.  And he sat, staring at it, for 30 minutes straight.  So, kinda for his sister but more because he thought it was cool.

After Squirt's morning slumber, we made our way to a local sledding hill for our very first family sledding adventure. Why haven't we gone before this? I haven't the slightest because it was SUPER fun. Dude and Squirt giggled their little fannies off each and every time down the hill. We topped it off with a play session at the connecting park. Have to make the most out of 55 degree Colorado winter days. We stopped in at the Syers for Christmas hugs and hellos from our buds and went home for afternoon naps.

 I know, there's a ton of sledding shots, but they're so darn cute. 

 The kids had a blast toolin' around at the park before we headed out.

 Yes, he's wearing purple gloves.  We forgot his, so he was forced to wear his sisters. 

 Sliding.  Pure joy.

Oh how I love this little pumpkin face.

 Whole Food supplied us with a lovely and tasty family dinner. The Sheas popped over after dinner to say hello for a bit (and share Maria's divine chocolate cake) and we took Duder and Squirt to look at some holiday lights around Cherry Creek. Dude loved the lights this year, so we made a big deal out all the beautiful displays. While we were out, the McKinsters called and invited us to pop in for round #2 of dessert, so we did just that. It was a wonderful weekend. We did miss our fams, but we loved our low key Christmas with no agenda.

Hoping you and yours had a fabulous and memorable Christmas season as well.

Unexpected Nana Time

Unexpected company is kinda the best, especially when it's Nana. Mom flew in for Oma's funeral, which meant we got a good 4 days of love. The kids were overjoyed with the attention and adoration and I rather adore watching them interact. There's nothing like sharing your kids' adorableness with family who don't get to see them on a day to day basis. Nana is game for whatever the munchkins request of her, at whatever time of day...bless her patient heart. Of course I cried just a bit the day she left. My poor husband has to deal with my moodiness every time parents leave. It's really not a pretty site.

Thanks for spoiling us Nana. And thanks to Papa for loaning her out. See you in a few days for Christmas celebration #2.

 Dude got a little grill to help us cook up some serious hot dogs and burgers.  He loves it!

And Miss Squirt got her very own kitchen, which is right up her alley.  She can open doors, close doors, open doors, close doors. 

After we dropped Nana off at the airport we took the kids to the Butterfly Pavilion.  It's a hike from home, so we've never braved the trip before.  Don't know that we'll do it again as Dude was freaked out at the reality of winged creatures flying at his face from every angle.  Squirt didn't even notice.  One landed right on her shoulder and was the size of her face and she just waved at it.  Dude would have peed his pants. 

 You can see the butterfly induced anxiety in Dude's face here. 

The butterfly on my leg was the one who jumped up to Squirt's shoulder. 

Merry Merry, Love Us

Christmasy Fun & Remembering Oma Bosch

We've been keeping plenty busy round here. I get this urge to incorporate as many Christmasy festivities into our life as possible around this time of year. This year that meant voyaging out to White Fence Farm. If you're not from here for Chicago, you know not of this phenomenon. It's a sprawling land of farm animals, outdoor and indoor playgrounds that amaze even the adult folk, stores to shop in and the best fried chicken to be found in the state. The wait time was over an hour, but the random activities available kept us plenty busy. Our friends Joe, Michelle and Izzy joined us in discovering this treasure. We all walked away feeling like Grandma had cooked us up a fine dinner and were impressed with the overall outcome of the evening.

 What seems like our 15th trip to see Santa.  He was conveniently hanging out with no line, so Dude took full advantage.  Without even asking permission.  He is, once again, asking for "Dumbo."

 The rock star playground.  They didn't care that it was 29 degrees.  No time for being cold.

Next was our annual Syers night o fun.  This year they hosted us in their newish house, which was just lovely.  By lovely I mean 5 kids running, screaming, tackling, whining, crying, laughing, giggling, eating, drinking, spilling, tackling some more, opening gifts, eating wrapping paper, climbing....you get the idea.  We embrace the chaos.  However, at 6:00 we handed the little rascals off to 2 high school girls, said a loud and exuberant "SEEE YA" and dined at our favorite Italian spot.  Just the 4 of us big people.  It was perfection. 

 Clothes for Squirt, Mama's favorite gift.

 Lando got some big boy shoes since he's cruising around like a 2 year old. 

 Drum roll please....Dude is opening......DUMBO!!!!!!  His greatest Christmas desire. 

 We bought PR & Brady capes to match Dudes.  We LOVE this gift idea.  Thanks to our bud Avery for starting the tradition with ours!

Following dinner I headed to the airport to pick up my Mama, who came to town last minute for the funeral services of our dear Oma Bosch.  She passed away last week at the amazing age of 94, the very same day that her granddaughter Abby and grandson Mark had their 3rd baby boy, Brooks.  Its been a sad week of remembering one of the most humble, genuine, caring, gracious women I will ever know.  And I've been privileged to know her my whole life.  Never a bad word about anyone, never a complaint, never a day unappreciated and always a smile and a "thank you".  She was a gem and her memory makes me look hard at myself and what people will say about me when I'm gone.  Certainly not all those things.  But I can work on it.  And in Oma's memory, I'm going to do my best. 

 Dude loved sitting with Oma B, helping her choose egg colors for our annual egg hunt at Easter.  She was the head of the games for as long as I can remember.

What a beauty, inside and out.  We'll miss you Oma!

The Latest From Dude's Verbal Vault

I've got a whole lotta cuteness to report on from our Dude's verbal vault.  Most of these can be found on Facebook, but I know not all of my followers get those updates.  Here ya go....

Someone stole Tim's snowboard out of our garage.  Dude is quite bothered by this (as are we financially).  This morning he tells Riley about it and says, "Riley, dose guys need to be punched."  I hesitate, because that isn't too far off, but of course can't promote violence.  I say, "No, we don't ever hurt people.  That's not how we deal with being upset."  He says, "No Mom, like a time out.  Dose guys should be pppuuunnnsshhhed."  "Ahhhh...you mean punished?"  "Yes Mom!  Punished." 

Our friend Abby had her baby and dude says, "Oh good.  Dat baby Brooks hatched from Abby's belly.  Just like Rea Rea hatched last time." 

We're driving to daycare and Dude says, "Woah Mom!  Look at dat FULL moon!  He must have had a HUGE dinner last day!" 

The other night I say, "Tim, there's a huge draft coming under the laundry room door (it was -10 outside)." Dude jumps up, mouth agape and says, "Mom! Dere's a huge GIRAFFE coming under our door? WHERE?"

Dude saw 2 Santas in November (sat on their laps for the first time in his life too). Last year he negotiated by sitting on the floor in front of Santa and talking loudly, straight ahead. One night before bed he says, "Mom, dat number 2 Santa is NOT the real one from the mountains. His beard had curly fings in it and da odder one was straight." He's already outsmarting us in the Santa department, which is disheartening.

Rylan announced that he had an exciting new invention to show me. He proceeds to call me to the bathroom, where he's peeing, using the handy, new found hole in his underwear. I said, "Neat buddy. Did Dad show you that?" "No Mom. I found it! ACTUALLY, my HAND found it for me!" Oh dear. Not already.

Rylan is sitting at our kitchen island and says, "Mom, dis week I wanna get me some BIG BOOBIES!" I'm terrified to dig deeper into this random request. But I have to. "Come again buddy?" He holds his arms up in the air and says, "Ya know, BIG BOOBIES!." My fear is escalating. Not already God. He's only four. He then shows me a "People" magazine open in front of him with a picture of a six packed shirtless celeb on the beach.  Pecks. He wants pecks. THAT I am okay with. I tell him to each his broccoli and when he gets older, his dream for boobies will come true. Well, that or a eat a boat load of ice cream and chocolate cake.

My darling son is in the downstairs bathroom doing his business and he yells up, "Mom, I have a whole lotta toots you know AND baby Jesus is poking me in the tummy." Rylan and Jesus. They have a special kinda relationship.

Rylan yells down the stairs, "Mom! I have an amazing invention about my boogers!" I didn't dare speak. "Mom! I can flush dem into da toilet wif my pee!" Ahhhhh yes. Perhaps this is the "higher intelligence" his pre-school teacher refers to.

Tim tells Rylan to "settle down" last night. Rylan responds with "I'm gonna smell the flowers (breaths in dramatically) and blow out the candles (breathes out dramatically). Genius. Thanks Mrs. Williams. We'll be using that one for this point forward.

I'm pulling out of the driveway for work, saying bye to my Rylan, who is sitting on the front step waving. As I drive down the block I hear him screaming, in perfect Beatles tune "I love you yea yea yea, I love you yea yea yea, I love you yea yea yea yea......" A grab your chest moment.

Our Little Rico

Dude has been surrounded by darling little girlfriends all his life.  When we moved in to this house, Riley became his "other half" in a sense.  He adores his Riley, in an oh so adorable brother sister kind of way.  They fight, they make up, they ignore each other, they play hard, they laugh, they cry.  It's heart warming.    

Not sure who he's winking at...perhaps Hannah.....

Moving on to another lovely little lady friend.  Our Pre-K'er is a bit distracted with his new class mate cutie, Hannah.  These two are quite the duo.  Hannah has proclaimed to her parents that she and Dude will get married some day and has chosen the shoes she'll wear for the big day.  Dude doesn't talk about mushy marriage stuff, but Hannah is always at the front of his mind.  He has dreams about going to the jumping place with his gal pal.  He wants to "text" her to have play dates.  They play chase with Riley at recess and tell secrets.  They giggle at each other and sit next to each other at snack time.  Their teachers tell me that they have a very special friendship.  No kidding.  Hannah's mom and I just laugh, a bit nervously.

And so it begins. 

 Is this not the sweetest thing you've ever laid eyes on?  Hannah kept covering up her face and blushing and Dude wouldn't take his tie out of his mouth.  And they have sheep ears on.