Friday, December 31, 2010

Happy New Year!

How wonderful it has been to spend this extra time with you!

Today was the first time Hanoi celebrated the New Year's Eve countdown, so we celebrated here too, their time. Auntie Steffie came to the party and brought us candy canes for our tree.

We had party hats

and noisemakers

There was wild dancing

and a New Year's feast

Happy New Year everyone!

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

a little less ugh

Better now but today was tough with both of us racing for the bathroom every few minutes (Woody got it too)... The poor boys felt a little lost. And now dear Max is trying to go to sleep without his blanket, which has another hour to go in the wash/dry cycle...

Back to normal tomorrow - please?

(Ps Max did eventually go to sleep without his blanket, we are very proud of him. Also of the way he says "blanket" not "banky" or anything like that.)

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

ugh

Max said it all when I tried to show my face downstairs around suppertime:
"Mommy 'till sick. Go up-tairs, Mommy. Get in bed.
Tuck in. Seep tight."

And that was all I saw of them all day!

Monday, December 27, 2010

Raffi anyone?

Five little ducks went out one day,

Over the hills and far away...

... Mother Duck said, "Quack, quack, quack, quack,"

And all of her five little duckies came back.

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Boxing Day







(Max took this one)

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Merry Christmas Mommy!

Max gave me a wonderful gift this morning! We've no idea where he learned this:

Merry Christmas to our Mommies too - Oma in Holland and MeMe down south - we made these videos for you!

Santa came!








Friday, December 24, 2010

Christmas Eve traditions

Early supper and then a drive to see the Christmas lights downtown.


Home and into the shower to wash off the candy cane juice. Then the careful selection of cookies for Santa.

Vanh selected himself, so Santa would know who I guess, and Max his M for the same reason. Did you notice Vanh gave Santa his starcatcher? And Max decided to offer one of Vanh's gingerbread men... perhaps he forgot whose was whose.

Next stockings were placed


and off to bed. And so Christmas traditions are born.

Merry, merry, fun and laughing, sweet and silly Christmas wishes to one and all!

Gingerbread men


Top left: Max chose pink hair and fingers, blue face and buttons, & yellow boots. Then Max did one on his own - he was describing a face and such, but had trouble getting the icing to do what he envisioned.

Bottom left: Max wanted his to be holding a green apple and a cupcake. Then he overheard Vanh talking about bums and decided he needed a green diaper. For his last fellow he skipped clothing entirely and concentrated on the cupcake and slice of watermelon he is carrying.

Middle two: I did these... the boys approved of the brown eyes

Top right: Vanh's first with pink eyes, a blue nose, and a green neck. You can also see his hands and feet, and his cute pink bum. Then he overheard his brother's diaper idea so his next two had to have diapers... Oh and you can see on the last one where he licked off the eyes, at which point I decided we were done.

I have learned something from my week of cookie making with toddlers.
Hand-washing will be step 1. Also step 2, step 4, step 5, step 7, and possibly step 8... If possible try to have a responsible adult assigned solely to hand-washing. Or, facilitate participation that doesn't require spotless hands (ex hold the bag to pour the marshmallows, squeeze icing from a tube). Or just stick with recipes that craft well but are basically so dry and tasteless you don't have to worry about anyone eating them. Heh.

Weigh-in

They pointed to the scale last night and asked to "step on". They weigh 29 pounds each.

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Holiday Baking


Max has a rubber duck, two Christmas trees, a firetruck, and a Santa. Vanh made a duckie and firetruck too, and a plate and bowl, then asked for help with a starcatcher.

You know, if there is anything more fun than Christmas with two-year-olds I don't know what it is. Except maybe Christmas with three-year-olds. I'll let you know next year.

Christmas Concert

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

29 months old

I forgot the boys' monthday on Sunday! Luckily Van's daddy was taking photos at the cookie party, or I wouldn't even have this one to steal from his blog:

I love the way Max and Daddy are holding hands...

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Vanh's Christmas shopping


By the way, here is what Max picked out for Vanh yesterday: click here

And here is what Vanh picked out for Max today, different store, without seeing the other, and without (as far as I know) any previous discussion or request for this theme: click here

I think that is pretty cute!

Monday, December 20, 2010

Max's Christmas shopping


So I took Max shopping this morning for a little one-on-one time more than anything, and we ended up in Walmart. It wasn't in my plans but the store we were headed for wasn't open yet and it was the closest that was open. And we were lucky it wasn't and we did because there he found The Perfect Gift for his brother. Something he will like. Something Daddy will like. Something you don't find second-hand. Something Mommy didn't even see as she whizzed past until Max shouted, "That -----! For Vanh-bug!". Something that was prominently displayed in identical stacks and clearly labeled $3.97. Like I said, the perfect present. It's the one Max is holding up in the photo, if you'd like to guess. But don't tell Vanh!

(Oh, and don't try to buy this gift at South Keys. They can't find it in their system so they refuse to sell it. Even if the store is empty and you are willing to wait an indefinite amount of time because there is absolutely no way your child is leaving the store without The Perfect Gift. So they have now removed them all from the shelves. Not even kidding.)

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Making cookies

Matteo came to help make cookies yesterday

He did a good job.

Stirring is for big boys

What a cutie!

Decorations designed by Vanh.

We were happy to add some of these beautiful cookies to the plates we made for Baby Van's cookie party today - hope everyone enjoys them!

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Stylin' Saturday #16

Today I showed, or rather tried to show, the boys that they have a closet full of clothes in addition to their dresser. Max was too focused on the hangars to look at clothing, and Vanh zeroed right in on a drawer way in the back that contains way-too-big stuff I was saving for a few years from now. After he selected a size 5 hoody and size 11/12 slippers, we went back to the dresser so Max could find a (familiar looking) sweater. Neither boy even looked in the pants drawer, they just pulled out the first pairs they touched.

Then we went downstairs for photos and I asked if they wanted anything else, "...hats or anything?" and they both requested their pom-pom hats. Not sure if they really like them or have just accepted them as part of the ritual, but they kept them on all morning.

Workin' it for the camera



The ever popular "Give your brother a kiss"

Vanh was especially into posing again today!

He is so proud of the slippers he found.
"Not Daddy's hockey shoes.
Not for Max.
Vanh's hockey shoes!"

Friday, December 17, 2010

Happy Holidays begin!

Two weeks off to see you whenever I want. I have missed you so much these past few months!

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Once On A Housetop

The musical went well. I deliberately didn't bring my camera, but here is a photo from the dress rehearsal. (It's grainy on purpose to protect the students' privacy.)

I am so proud of them...