Winter Wonderland

The snow began falling on Saturday but then it was mainly slush. My Mom got an extra day on her vacation as her flight was not able to leave Medford. On Sunday the snow really began to fall. I didn't really notice since I was so involved with my football games. However, when we woke up Monday morning there was a blanket of snow on the ground. Of course this would be the morning that I have to be up bright and early for an ultrasound appointment. Thankfully it was just snow and not ice so the roads were not too bad. I have to admit it looks really pretty outside.

front of our house

Backyard

snow covered picnic table

more snow covered trees

around the cul-de-sac

on the way to the doctor's office

still on the way to the doctor's office

White-Orange Belt

Ethan tested for a new belt today. Not only did he have to learn the stances, kicks, and punches, they were also looking to see if the kids displayed respect and focus. I would have to say the focus part is Ethan's biggest struggle. A couple of times I saw a little hand go up and that familiar voice say "Excuse me". I would have to look away because I was scared to death to find out what random question Ethan was going to ask next. But when it came time for the current white yellow belts to actually test he focused. He completed all the necessary steps to move to the next level. Although I think he was more impressed with the certificate.


Front Kick


Practicing punches


Upper Block

removing the white-yellow belt

receiving the white-orange

Ethan was so proud

He could not stop talking about the certificate

The Karate Kid

First Christmas Play

Last night Mom and I attended Ethan's first Christmas Play. It was very cute. It was standing room only as all the parents, grandparents, and other relatives piled in to hear the Kindergartners and Pre-schoolers sing Christmas Carols. Earlier in the week Ethan had refused to practice the songs. When I questioned him about it he replied "It's boring." I tried really hard not to laugh. Then two days later we had a discussion about even though it was boring he needed to listen to the teacher and practice singing. He replied "Well, I just don't like that song WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS. Not sure how I kept a straight face because I have to admit that is one of my least favorite songs too. Thankfully he sang when it counted most at the actual performance. Like most boys he couldn't sit still and lost focus a couple of times. But he put is whole heart into the last song called the Reindeer Pokey. Here are a few pictures from the play.


Reindeer Pokey

You put your antlers in......

And you shake them all about.......

Do the reindeer pokey and turn yourself around, that's what it's all about.

uno,dos, tres Santas

one of those losing focus moments

singing Rudolph the Red nose reindeer

notice his motions are different from the rest of the class

still different than the class but at least he is singing!

Awwwwww!

It is a rare occasion that I can get both boys to stand still long enough to take a picture. I am shocked that Hudson let Ethan put his arm around him. You know how that brotherly love can be. Ha ha! So here they are sporting their Eskimo Joe's sweatshirts in front of our Christmas tree. For those of you that don't know Eskimo Joe's is popular hangout/restaurant near the Oklahoma State University campus in Stillwater, OK.

Three Kings Day

This is normally celebrated on Jan 6th. But we chose to do it early since Mom was here visiting this week. In Puerto Rico, it is traditional that children collect hay, straw or grass and place it in boxes or containers under their beds. This gesture is a gift of food for the Kings' camels while they rest in between deliveries. If a child is good for the past year he will receive candies, sweets or toys. If the child was misbehaved or naughty he would instead find a lump of dirt or charcoal in his box. Ethan was very interested in the story but he thought it was really sad that Santa did not go to the island. The boys had fun filling up the boxes with leaves(we didn't have any grass but had MORE than enough leaves). The Three Kings left presents and Ethan thought that was really cool.


Hudson kept dumping out the leaves and we would have to start over


Looking for the perfect leaves....

Ethan was so proud that he filled up his box.

of course they love to play in the box

I have no idea what Hudson is doing

that would be a Kung Fu Panda movie

Hudson will not put down the Backyardign movie

Deck the Halls

As I mentioned in the last post our Christmas tree was rather large once we got it home. Matt quickly put the tree in the stand and oops.... It tipped over. So with a little creativity and power tools of course Matt was able to make a better tree stand. I was not willing to just start putting decorations on it for fear it would tip again. But never fear the tree did not fall all day and so we spent the evening putting up all the ornaments. I was quite surprised that Ethan and Hudson both wanted to help. I mean I expected them to be interested for like five minutes but they were really focused. It was so cute to watch. Hudson thought it was just as much fun to take the ornaments OFF the tree. Each year Christmas is more fun. There is nothing better than watching it through a child's eyes. Tonight my Mom told the story of Three Kings Day, which is what they did in Puerto Rico. Growing up on the island she did not know about Santa Claus. So as a new fun tradition we will be celebrating Three Kings Day with the boys while she is here visiting. That will be a new post for tomorrow.


Ethan was excited to put up the lights

Hudson of course was pulling them down

Hanging ornaments

Hudson was that mischievous look

The boys having fun!

O Christmas Tree

Today we picked out our Christmas tree. Our original plan was to get a tree permit and cut down our own tree. But we ran out of time because Matt has training in Cleveland. So we did the next best thing. We went down the street to Hillcrest Orchard and purchased a tree. We drove up and immediately all of us had our eye on the same tree. It was meant to be. The price was right too. Once we got the tree home we quickly realized that it looked smaller outside and in the living room it was huge!!!!!


All Bundled up

Ethan found this tree!

Can you notice the baby bump?

Too bad Ethan didn't keep his eye on the camera!