Story Time

Story time is Thursday mornings at the Howe Library in Hanover and it's one of our favorite outings! Analise is waving to "Midge" the teacher's puppet hedgehog. We have fun listening to stories, singing songs and coloring.playing her egg shaker . ..

My favorite part is watching Analise grow from such a little toddler to a pre-pre-schooler! We started coming at the beginning of the fall and the change in how she interacts in the class, listens to the stories and absorbs everything going on has been so interesting and fun to watch.
Our friend Stephanie and her two boys, Zachy and Van, come too!
After story time Analise lined up all the characters on the felt board . . .
Van and Eli - rebels without a cause, hangers-on in the "above 2 year old" class . . .
the magic rain stick turns over to say "The magic of story time has begun" it gets their attention every week!
Zachy putting his piece on the felt board

After story time we walk across the street to Ramuntos with Stephanie and her boys to have pizza for lunch. Usually the daddies get done around the same time and meet us there - definitely one of the highlights of our week! Here Analise and Zachy are checking out snow packed against the window and then chasing around the post. For all that Analise loves dollies, princesses and mommies - she really know how to hold her own and Zachy is often the brunt of her affections!

Hello Li Li

Finger painting . . . is that a mustache? - man the girl has her father's facial hair!Elijah is getting ready for dinner! He kicks so hard in that little wooden high chair that I sometimes think it might go right over!

pants are totally optional when you have thighs that squishy . . . and you're under 1 year old.
Eli is crawling all over now and pulling up on everything . .. which means two baby gates and we've permanently moved Grady's food.

Analise's favorite saying is "Li Li you puttser puttser" and we'll be standing in the bathroom hearing Eli come crawling down the haul and she says "Here comes trouble!"

Lazy Days . . .

With the snow accumulating outside, we're finding new ways to pass the time inside . . . bathing is one of them. Playing in the tub with is fun - but playing the tub with a friend is even better! And this spiky haired bad boy is living it up.

Then there's the ol' empty the book basket trick . . . also more fun with a friend. Analise's favorite phrase now is "Oh, no! Li Li eating my books!"

and sleeping! The blanket on the bottom is from his Great Grandma Johnson and the blanket on top is from his God mother Megan Johnson! PS - he just had a haircut over Christmas break and is in desperate need of another.

PSS - I did a horrible job of taking pictures over our trip back to MN, if anyone wants to send some my way I'd be happy to post!

November highlights

Hi everyone - hope that your Christmas celebrations were all delightful. Here is a recap of November since I've been so delinquent at blogging!

This is the view of the city from atop the Empire State building . . . pretty awesome!

We spent Thanksgiving in New York with the Muellers and Warrens. It was a fast couple of days but lots of fun to see the city together. Daniel was surprised at how quickly I was won over to the city - but it may be a case of still missing Paris and finding the American equivalent . . .
Thanksgiving dinner was all the traditional dishes - but served on a boat cruising the NY harbor
A view of Lady Liberty. I was struck at how much smaller she is in real life - from "American Tale" I thought it had to be enormous! Of course, that from a mouse's point of view . . .
Watching the Macy's Day parade. We actually couldn't see much, but the atmosphere was very festive and fun!

"Hey Eli - gimme back my glasses!"

After New York, we drove back to New Hampshire for a few days. This was Eli's first gift opening so we called it Christmas and took a few pictures. He very shortly went to bed following this picture . . .

"Yummy . . . box - num, num, num"

Analise received recorded stories from Grandpa and Grandma - one of the Nativity and one of Frosty the Snow Man. She has taken to Christmas carols with gusto this year belting out Away in the Manger, Jingle Bells, Frosty and Silent Night like nothing. It kills me! Especially when she cut and pastes verses so that the song never really has an ending - it just keeps going and going and going and going . . .

Reading with Grandpa and Grandma . . .

and modeling the new Christmas dress from Grandma. Besides singing, Analise loves dressing up like a princess and has been known to make appearances at the grocery store dressed as snow white. She walks around the house going - "where my crown mommy?"

It was a quick but fun trip and the highlight of November!

After Thanksgiving it was a whirlwind of Christmas parties, finals, skiing, shopping and packing to get ready for our trip back to MN in December. More pictures of that to come . . .