Christmas Part I

Yes, it has been a while since a post and it is February and we are posting Christmas pictures.  A lot has happened in the past couple months.  Jen has been busy at work with an upcoming deadline, and Scott started a new full-time job at the beginning of January.  So adjustments have been necessary for lots of people.

Zoe watching patiently as Uncle Ken opens his gift, a scarf.

Uncle Steve trying to get Max's computer out of the box, as he plays with it and Zoe wants to try too.

The computer is finally out.  Max just wants to push the buttons and Zoe wants him to follow the instructions.  Max won.

Who would have thought the light up aquarium would be such a hit for the boy who loves cars.  He just lays down in front of it and just watches.  He points out Nemo fish and Dory fish.  Even he needs some slow down time, which doesn't seem possible at times.

Zoe made a "log" for Papa, complete with fuzzy, pastel mushrooms and a few car stickers by Max.

Zoe got a new baby doll.  Her name is Rose, after Aurora Rose (aka Sleeping Beauty).  She cries, she laughs, she says Mama, and her face moves when she is eating from her bottle, and if you feed her the whole bottle she snores.

 

Zoe picked out a nutgrinder for Gramma because she was tired of using the knife and being the nut chopper.  Now she has a new kitchen gadget to use at Gramma's and she has.

 Patiently waiting for Uncle Dave to open his gift.

Check back soon for more photos, Christmas Part 2.

It's been awhile

Yeah I know we've been a little lax in updating so we'll add some of the highlights.  Max turned 2 in November. Max got his haircut.  Zoe has been reading more and more on her own.  She went to the Ballet's open house for the nutcracker with a friend from school.  Now for the pictures and video, I think you'll be quite impressed with our little singer.
Playing with scarves at the ballet.  Zoe is standing next to her friend, striped shirt.

 Max relaxing with the toy shoves that came at Thanksgiving.  Gotta check out all of those deals.

Zoe reading to Daddy. 

He does now sing the whole alphabet from the beginning.  And sometimes incessantly.

And he loves to sing Jingle Bells, there is usually lots of jumping around while singing.  I was told to turn up the volume last night while singing.  (He does have the hiccups in the following video.)

We'll be back with updates sooner next time.

Friday Night Lights

Uncle Jeff came out for a visit a few weeks ago, and so we thought we would take him back in time to a UA football game. Zoe, Jen, Ken, Jeff and I walked down to the high school to watch the first half. It was a great night and Zoe really likes to watch the marching band. Plus when we left a half, UA was up 41 to 0.

SpaghettiOs

And you thought SpaghettiOs wasn't a finger food...

Ocean City Vacation 2010 Part 2

Just a short little video from our last day at the beach (hint - be sure to watch the foreground).

Ocean City Vacation 2010

The fam went to Ocean City, Maryland, last week.  We stayed just outside of Ocean City in Ocean Pines.  A much better pace for a family and some actual rest and relaxation.  This was Zoe's second trip to the ocean and she was much more outgoing and Max's first trip to the beach, that he could see.  He wasn't too sure about the water, but he had his moments and he loved the sand.  It only took a few minutes for sand to cover him literally from the top of his head to the bottom of his feet.

The first day at the beach.  Zoe is showing off the sand, and Max is playing cars, a reoccuring theme, along with smashing sandcastles. 

See more cars, still sitting on the boogie board, and you can't see the sand all over his face.

The beach bunny playing in the sand.  In one of her moments of not running through the water.

Happy boy at the pool, no sand, but there were cars, you just can't see them.

Max and Daddy playing in the water.  There were almost twins.

The whole gang, minus Scott, in our little space on the beach.  A couple umbrellas for a little shade.

Aunt Stephanie came to visit for a few days and we took a walk down the boardwalk and saw the big kites in front of the kite shop.  Max's phrase after this trip was "ByeBye Boardwalk" for about 20 minutes until we go home.

Max and Aunt Stephanie playing in the sand.  This time almost twins with Aunt Stephanie.

There were play structures on the boardwalk.  We were able to capture Max in one of the windows long enough to get a smile, and not an empty window.

And Zoe climbed to the top of the castle and watched her Dad swing on the rope.  Everyone has to play.

The last day there were huge waves.  The night before a storm came through and left a ridge of sand about 18" high.  It made for great jumping into the waves.

And Mommy joined in too.

And the last thing on our vacation was a stop at a rest area just east of Zanesville.  We had the left over donuts for dinner and Zoe said "There's a chicken."  And yes there was a chicken. 

The next big events are Zoe's birthday and starting Kindergarten next week. 

Firefly Hunting

Zoe had a busy day last Friday.  First was the park in the morning and then the pool in the afternoon, and then a night of firefly hunting and chasing.

Zoe got her bug box out and had it ready for the fireflies.

She held the box over her head waiting for fireflies to go in, but also to let the ones in the box out.  We're humane with our firefly catching.  Unlike when I was a kid and we put them in a peanut butter jar with holes and grass and left them in there all night. 

She had fun watching them crawl around in the bug box.  It was a great way to get up close to them and not touch them. 

Real close.

There were lots of giggling and running across the yard like a crazy girl trying to scoop up fireflies.  She was actually successful once.  It was a fun night.