Grandma Lori says...

Last week I tended Luke and Halle while Lindsay worked. While Halle was asleep Luke and I went outside. First, of course, was the getting ready. Getting little kids ready to go out in the snow is no small task. It always reminds me of the Christmas Story where the little brother is all bundled up and can’t move his arms. Snow suit, boots, gloves, coat, hats, --- it takes a lot of effort and by the time you are done, your are hot and out of breath. It doesn’t seem hard, but it is. At any rate, we finally got him ready and went out to make footprints in the snow. I think I wrote you that he has discovered that new word, “footprint” from making tracks in the snow. We made lots of tracks including big circles all over the back yard. He liked that. I tried to show him how to make a snow angel, but he didn’t like that at all. Then we tried to make a snowman, but the snow wouldn’t pack because it was too cold. However, when I taught him how to eat snow he LOVED that. He thought that was so cool. I explained that it always has to be clean, white snow. Anyway, after eating several handfuls of snow, he was cold and tired so we trudged back in. It’s so much easier for the snow clothes to come off than on!

Rudolph-nose Luke

Luke loves Rudolph and all month long has been coloring his nose red so he looks like him! Funny guy.

A video from Santa AND a false alarm Santa visit

Luke is very excited about the video he got from Santa. It is a fun video Santa sent to mommy's email and Luke has watched it over and over. Santa talks to Luke by his name in it and there are even pictures of Luke in Santa's magical book. It's very cute and very exciting for Luke.

We showed Luke the video Friday night and like I said, he watched it at least a dozen times. Later that night Cory and I stayed up late wrapping presents. I put all the presents for grandmas, grandpas, white elephants for Christmas parties under the tree. I thought we might as well try it out and see if they could make it past an attack from Halle.

Luke woke up in the morning calling into us frantically, "Mommy, Daddy, Santa came!!" He was so excited. Poor guy was a little disappointed when we had to explain those weren't presents from Santa and that he still had a week before Santa would come.

As for the presents, they are now in a box in our garage. Halle thought stepping all over them and ripping the bows off was really fun. Finally after she opened one this morning I came to my senses and moved them. What made me think we could get those presents by her? Not a chance!

Luke playing in the snow with Grandma Lori - by Grandma Lori

This was written in a letter to uncle Jake by Grandma Lori:
Last week I tended Luke and Halle while Lindsay worked. While Halle was asleep Luke and I went outside. First, of course, was the getting ready. Getting little kids ready to go out in the snow is no small task. It always reminds me of the Christmas Story where the little brother is all bundled up and can’t move his arms. Snow suit, boots, gloves, coat, hats, --- it takes a lot of effort and by the time you are done, your are hot and out of breath. It doesn’t seem hard, but it is. At any rate, we finally got him ready and went out to make footprints in the snow. I think I wrote you that he has discovered that new word, “footprint” from making tracks in the snow. We made lots of tracks including big circles all over the back yard. He liked that. I tried to show him how to make a snow angel, but he didn’t like that at all. Then we tried to make a snowman, but the snow wouldn’t pack because it was too cold. However, when I taught him how to eat snow he LOVED that. He thought that was so cool. I explained that it always has to be clean, white snow. Anyway, after eating several handfuls of snow, he was cold and tired so we trudged back in. It’s so much easier for the snow clothes to come off than on!

Holiday fun

At the Ferguson Christmas party

Riding the train around the mall

Making Christmas countdown chains. Notice the Rudolph Luke is holding - his new favorite stuffed animal. 

Our Christmas tree. Ornaments are only on the upper half, otherwise the kids would pull them all off!

At the Grand America to see their Christmas displays and Santa. They had this little bobsled car the kids thought was really fun, and Halle loved sitting in it. 

Visiting Santa and Mrs. Claus! The kids were both scared to sit on their laps by themselves so we jumped in the photo with them. 

Glasses Obsession

Do all kids have an obsession with glasses? Because these two sure do. Whenever we are at either grandparents' house the kids spot glasses they have to try them on. And they often end up breaking them...good thing they are just cheap reading glasses.

I get a kick out of them wearing the glasses every time. They just look so cute and studious with them on. Grandpa Sheldon took these pics a few weeks ago and sent them over to me a couple days back and I thought they were so cute.

Helping daddy shovel snow

It has been snowing a lot in the past few days. The snow seems to keep coming and coming! Luke is loving it. He loves being a big boy and helping daddy shovel the snow. These pictures are from yesterday when I got Luke all bundled up to go outside to "help" with the shoveling. That's our guy, always wanting to be involved and doing everything he can to help.