Oh Christmas Tree!

After we finished decorating inside we headed for Handley's tree farm in Solon to look for the perfect Christmas tree. 

I'm not sure if the kids were more excited about the Christmas tree or receiving the first candy cane of the season at Handley's.

All aboard the Frosty Express

Cece's First Visit to Handley's

Perfect!

It Begins.

Christmas fever hit our house early this morning.

Chris carried all of the Christmas decorations up from the basement and I think it took about 10 minutes before someone was in tears. 

I have beautiful mental images of how Christmas decorating will play out---carols in the background, the children skipping merrily from room to room while Chris and I gaze adoringly at them.

Instead there was almost a knock-down-drag-out fight over a $0.47 string of artificial Christmas bulbs used to decorate miniature trees. 

Since 9:30 am is too early to open a bottle of wine, everyone went to their rooms and emerged...well, if not happier then at least quieter.

They are unruly little elves but they're my unruly little elves.

The elves, pre-meltdown

Trimming the (mini) Christmas trees, which led to a battle of epic proportions, despite my cries of "Santa is watching you know!!!"

Cece says, "No hat for me, thanks."

What do you get the baby who has everything?

As the fourth child and the third girl in our family, there isn't much that Cece doesn't already have.

The other day I said to Maggie, "What should we get Cece for Christmas?"

We went through the list of everything that Cece has---toys, dolls, puzzles, books.

Suddenly Maggie brightened up. 

"I know what we can get her!" she said.

"A baby sister!  She doesn't have one of those,"  was Maggie's response.

I can pretty much guarantee that Cece will not get a baby sister for Christmas (this year or any other)  but judging by how much she loved playing in this giant cardboard box last week there might be some paper products in her future.

GREAT Grandmas

My kids are very lucky to have to great-grandmas on my side and even luckier to have been able to spend Thanksgiving day with them.

Four Generations of Johnsons

 Four Generations of Hylands

 Cece with her Great-Grandmas

Cece and Great-Grandma Hyland

Cece and Great-Grandma Johnson

Thankful

Chris and I hosted Thanksgiving this year for my side of the family.  The food was great (if I do say so myself...) and the company was even better.  We were fortunate to have my parents, my brothers, my two grandmas, my Aunt Maureen and Uncle Gordon, and a visiting Italian student, Juan Pablo, share this holiday with us.

We have so many things to be thankful for this year! 

 Cece and Grandpa Doug supervise last minute food preparation.

 Cece's First Thanksgiving

When the turkey is a few minutes behind schedule, Maggie steps in to offer appetizers to the hungry crowd.

 The Kid's Table

 Maggie and Grandma Sheila try out Aunt Maureen's famous raisin bread.

The post-dinner spinning of the kids by Uncle Devo

Hello Pilgrim

In preparation for Thanksgiving the second graders at Cate's school spend time learning about the Mayflower.  For three days prior to Thanksgiving the classrooms were transformed into "ships" and the students dressed in Pilgrim costumes.

Each was given a part to play and encouraged to learn some autobiographical information about their character.  Pictured here is Cate as Priscilla Mullins, one of her special talents aboard the Mayflower was entertaining the small children on the voyage. 

She now knows more about the Mayflower, the pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving than I do.  I think Cate loved every minute of the activity although by the third day she complained that the dress was uncomfortable and hard to play in.

Maggie's Music Concert

Maggie had her first preschool music concert on November 20.  She danced and bounced the entire 20 minutes and thoroughly enjoyed her post-concert cupcake.

The class sang a rather diverse group of songs---everything from "Twinkle Twinkle" to "Driedl, Driedl" to "Little Willy." 

And she hasn't stopped singing since...

45 Degrees and Sunny

We took advantage of the beautiful fall weather today and got out for a walk.

I bundled Cece into her stroller. Maggie took one look and said, "Aww. She looks just like a little sugar bear."

The Chamberlain Crew

We went to Harlan on Saturday to celebrate Grandma Joan's 60th birthday. 

All of Chris' siblings, nieces and nephews were there and considering the number of people under the age of 7(!) I think this group photo turned out pretty well.

Dear Tooth Fairy...

What a difference a year makes! 

A year ago I couldn't have paid Ben to sit down and write his name, let alone a letter.

But the loss of his second tooth, which he swallowed at lunch while biting into a mozzarella stick, prompted him to write this letter to the tooth fairy.

Cecilia - 8 Months



 

Sweet Cece McGee...where to begin?

 

Likes: pulling up to standing(!), taking books off the shelves, chewing on books, Mommy, "This Little Piggy,"  "SO BIG!," books with animal sounds, being outside, other babies, Sadie

 

 

Dislikes: hats, Daddy in a ninja costume, Maggie taking her bink, noisemakers

 

 

Cece is not quite crawling although she is able to get up on her hands and knees and scoot or roll to where she wants to go.  She has started pulling up on everything, and has the bruises to prove it. She is a very alert baby.  She notices new faces, even if she does not want to get close to them.  She is developing quite the personality and I think that as soon as she's mobile she will wreak havoc on the lives of her siblings.

Pals

In her ongoing effort to prevent me from finding her a nice home in the country, Sadie befriends another member of the family.

Not only does she sleep at the foot of Ben's bed but she allows Cece to pull and tug on her fur, much to Cece's great delight. 

Well played Sadie, well played.

More Birthday for Ben

I think Ben had a pretty fabulous sixth birthday.

He woke in the morning to a balloon-filled room and our traditional birthday morning scavenger hunt.  I think he enjoyed the scavenger hunt even more than in previous years because he could read all the clues himself.

 Ben admires the Chima Lego set---a set he's been begging for since last Christmas.

 In preparation for Ben's birthday party the girls help me decorate cupcakes.  We make tennis balls, baseballs, and basketballs.  I'm grateful that he love sports and so his cakes are always easy to make.

Ben has truly developed a love affair with Legos.  It's interesting to see how differently he and Cate play with their Legos.  Cate likes to build her sets according to the instruction sheets and then place them high on the shelves in her closet where no one can touch them or play with them.

Ben, on the other hand, builds according to the instructions but then really, really plays with his Legos.  And he often tears apart what he has built to make new creations---robots, slingshots, cars, police, trucks, and fortresses.  

He has a Lego Building book that he pores over at night before he goes to bed.

"Happy Birthday Bubs!  I love you!"  says Cece McGee.  

It's interesting to see how differently Ben and the girls play with Cece.  Ben is certainly careful with Cece but he definitely is more physical with her than are Cate and Maggie.  He likes to push his face up against hers or have her pretend to punch him and make him fall over, for example.

And she loves every minute of it.

Whenever I'm on the verge of reminding him to "Be gentle with the baby!" Cece will let out a big belly laugh indicating that she doesn't really mind...at all. 

Ben has a sports party at the Mercer Recreation Center.  He and his friends play football, floor hockey and kickball.  Ben loved every second.

That night we have his favorite dish (spaghetti and meatballs) and are lucky to have Uncle Mike and Grandma Joan join us for ice cream and cupcakes.

First Snow!

A Six Year Old Interview

What is your favorite color?  Red and white and blue

What is your favorite food?  Spaghetti and meatballs

What is your favorite thing to play?  Legos
 What is your favorite book?  Scooby Doo

What is your favorite song?  Back in Black

What is your favorite place to visit?  Legoland in Chicago

What is your favorite thing to do with your family?  Go on trips

Who are your best friends?  Emmett and Henry

What do you love to learn about?  Animals

What was the best part of your birthday?  Getting presents and eating cupcakes

What do you think about before you fall asleep?  Nothing

What is your favorite thing to do outside?  Play football

What is your favorite thing to do at recess?  Play football and kickball

What do you want to be when you grow up?  A boxer

Roar!

Legoland Discovery Center

Schaumburg, IL

Birthday Celebration - Round 1

Ben turns 6 on November 10th and we celebrated his birthday with my parents last weekend.

We dined on barbeque from Jimmy Jack's and ice cream, complete with six candles. 

Ben was thrilled with his new archery set.  Thanks Grandma and Grandpa!

My Last Baby Ladybug

I remember when Chris came home from the mall with this ladybug costume for Cate's first Halloween. (There was even a matching ladybug hat, complete with antennae, that Cece refused to wear).

It was insanely cute. 

And, at the time, I thought it was insanely expensive.  We justified the expense since it was Cate's first Halloween and maybe, just possibly, we'd save the costume for another baby down the road.

In fact, there two more babies who wore this costume for their first Halloween and it was with great sadness that I packed this costume away last week. 

Cece will be our last baby ladybug, and although I've been quick to part with the majority of baby-related items that have been outgrown in this house I think I'll hang onto this one for a while.

(Almost) On The Move

Cece wants to be moving sooo badly.  She is incredibly frustrated when things are just out of reach.  I've tried to prepare the kids for her eventual movement (and how this will impact their lives/toys).

They are not deterred and cheer on her every attempt to crawl.

But, really, how could you ever be mad at a face like this???