Call Day #136, 12/31/12

Breakfast isn't always so smooth.  We prayed for our breakfast, I stepped out to get the camera, and came back to this.  They both wanted to add to our prayer but talked at the same time, got mad at each other, then Eleanor shook her milk cup in frustration spraying Claire in the face with it, and Claire started crying. 

 Eleanor enjoyed some color-your-own-stickers.

 We made pretzels this morning.  Claire helped.

 Eleanor and the "2013" pretzel.  We talked about a new year starting and what years they were born.

They spent time in the guest room together, sometimes arguing sometimes playing.  This was one of the good moments when there were lots of giggles.  They were wrestling.

 Because I had yet another ultrasound today, we headed out to the hospital.  Normally waiting at the bus stop is not so fun, but Eleanor and Claire found the neighboring snow-covered yard to be a perfect diversion.

 Talking about the snow.

 Realizing that digging down into the snow too much means it gets in your sleeve.

 Riding the bus.

 After the ultrasound, we headed over to the children's hospital to visit Daddy.  While we waited the kids ran up and down the musical stairs.

 Claire visited the fish.

 Eleanor watched the balls.

 And we got to see Daddy for a few minutes.

Waiting for the bus back home, Claire shows off her people gloves (mine when I was little). 

After a rest time, Eleanor and I talked about the new year starting at midnight.  We talked about how each new day starts then too while we're sleeping.  She filled in the numbers on a paper clock I had made for her with no trouble.  We talked about how the little hand has to go around the whole clock two times a day.  She asked if we could make noise makers to celebrate.  She apparently remembers that's what we did last year!

Call Day #135, 12/16/12

 Starting off the morning with Advent calendars from Nanny.  Every day you add one element of the nativity scene.  Today we got to add a second wise man.

 Claire's current nativity scene.

 I think Grandma found these Christmas dresses for them.  They were excited to wear them to church.

 Hugs.

 More of the same--couldn't pick a favorite.

 After nap, we opened the big box from Grandma and Grandpa.  On top were some clothes.  They know to check the labels for size to see who the items were for.

 Also in the box were Christmas presents that got put under the tree.

 Claire wanted this outfit on right away.  She said "I am excited to have it."

Claire's bruise from last night where her head banged into the bathroom door.  Looks bad but she's not bothered by it. 

 Asked for a picture with her balloon.

This is what was going on while Eleanor was having her turn talking to Daddy on the phone.  Claire, running up and down the hall with her balloon, saying "O Come, O Come Emmanuel!"

Call Day #134, 12/12/12

What do they want first thing in the morning?  Chocolate from their advent calendars, of course.  But sometimes it's hard to get out.

 I don't know how but they managed to forget to do it yesterday, and Eleanor was excited to get TWO pieces today.

 Breakfast with a view.  A new house being built on the lot behind us.  Can I say how much I LOVE the entertainment it provides?

 Waiting in the van while Eleanor and Daddy run in to the post office.

 Yum!

 When Daddy doesn't have to go in til the afternoon, what do you do?  Go to Chick-Fil-A, of course!

 How I found Claire when I woke her.  She had gathered everything (nativity, step stool, etc) off the floor of her room and piled them all on her bed.

 Because they both slept in til 8:30 (That never happens, and on the same day too!!!), we did our craft tonight.  Claire pulls out the supplies.

 Dying rice in bags.

 Spreading it out to dry.

 Eleanor helps Claire by heating her food in the microwave.  Not a big deal that she can do it, but that she wanted to do it.  We're really trying to help Eleanor learn to look for ways to help others to keep her focus off of herself and always wanting her way, etc.

Filling up a jar with the rice.  It also has two little marbles in it to represent Mary and Joseph among all the other people crowded into Bethlehem to be counted in the census.  Then, you get to shake it around and find them. 

 Tonight we walked around to see the Christmas lights in the neighborhood.  We've been doing a lot of walks around nearby streets just because they have so much pent-up energy in the winter, but having the goal of finding lights made it even more fun.  These poses crack me up!

 Lights down low where they can see them up close.

 This was the place I thought they might most want to see, "the crown house."  We can see the lights from this from far away since it is way up on a hill, but they'd never seen the actual house so it was fun to find.

 In front of the Hyde Square Christmas tree, in the nearby roundabout.  Light hunting was a great end to the day!

Eleanor posing by her chart of good and bad marks.  She has been trying hard for the past week to get good marks for serving others and being respectful.  Today she had a lot more good marks than bad and has met the goal we set for her to earn back having Christmas lights hung on her bed frame (which is super cool when you're 4 years old!).  Proud of her efforts and happy we can return the fun lights!

Call Day #133, 12/8/12

Starting out the morning playing with the nativity.  This gets lots of use in our house every December.  (So much so that they now each have their own--thanks Nanny and Papa!) 

 Today we talked about John being born to Zechariah and Elizabeth.  Eleanor ran to her room and came back with this.  It's a little booklet they made in church forever ago (that says that baby John was born to grow up and prepare the way for Jesus) and she remembered that she'd heard the story before.  She also brought me one of her Bibles that had the story of Zechariah in it, turned to just the right page.  I love how she remembers all these things!

Claire doing the craft of the day, making a sun since Zechariah said that Jesus would be like the rising sun shining on those living in darkness.

 Coloring pictures to send to Mimi for her birthday.

 After mailing Mimi's package, we stopped at the toy store to buy a birthday present for a party tomorrow.  They had fun arranging some little people they found.

 Claire tried on the silly glasses and nose.

 And, of course, Claire gravitated towards the babies in the back of the store.  She's taking them grocery shopping.

 At lunch time, Eleanor got silly making pepper mustaches.

 Claire wanted her picture taken too.

 Eleanor and I read Grandma's latest letter to her.  She can read it herself if she puts her mind to it--takes her about 5 minutes--but she often is first intimidated that it looks too long.

 There has been all kinds of fun mail coming our way recently, like this card from Aunt Linda and Uncle Buck.

 The card had a puzzle on it.

 While Claire napped, Eleanor helped wrap some presents wanting to do as much cutting and taping herself as possible.

 After Claire got up, we opened more mail.  Christmas card from Mimi with money to buy presents for Mommy and Daddy.

Snowmen to stick on the windows from Grandma and Grandpa.  See?  A really great mail day!