Our Thanksgiving was absolutely delightful. As wonderful as hustling to family celebrations is, it was so great to have a quiet day with all four of us together to really just relax. Chores went out the window, schedules were gone, and we had fun and ate lots of delicious food.
The day started off with us all participating in the 5k at the YMCA. When we registered, the plan was for Natalie to be able to run/walk about half of it (that was my guess) and for the rest we could alternate between piggy back rides or buddying up on the stroller with Ben. And then Thanksgiving morning rolled around and it was a balmy 19 degrees at the start of the race. It was so cold. Not bad weather really to be running in, but we were doing mostly walking, and snow pants really slowed down little legs. So, Natalie did almost no walking and instead was kind of a stink about the whole deal. Who can blame her? It was cold. The kids were really bundled, and 54 minutes later we all crossed the finish line together!
pre-race fueling
start of the race
somewhere around mile 1
Ben has been having a really hard time lately letting me out of his sight. I had sort of forgotten that Natalie went through a phase like that, because she was really always sort of a mama's girl. But there was a time when no one else would do for her, and now is the same for Ben. It's great to be wanted, but it is exhausting, and my heart aches for him and how much it upsets him when I spend a little time away. To be fair, all I see is his desperation when I leave. Generally, he settles down after I'm gone with a little distraction. But he's smart, and if he knows I'm still in the house, forget it. No settling down. Above is how I found him after he cried and cried sitting outside the shower door. I saw him lay down, and then he didn't move, so when I got dried off...sure enough, he was sound asleep!
We've been doing lots of holiday baking!
rolling out fancy peanut butter roll out cookies
Ben. Oh Ben. I can't remember how much I talked about Ben's reluctance to ever take a bottle on here. But there was a time when he was smaller, and I'd be gone at work for 16 hours, and it was a fight to get 2-3 bottles in him that entire time. Now I'm ready to pull the plug on bottles and transition to cups, and my lord is he fighting it. He can drink out of a cup, and will drink water out of a cup with no hesitation. Put milk in the same cup and you'd think it was battery acid. He takes a big swig, then opens his mouth and lets it all run out. It's a good thing he's so handsome, or I'd be a lot more mad at him!
Last week, we got invited to Mimi's house for a lady's lunch and tree decorating. Lunch was delicious, and putting ornaments on the tree held the kids' attention for about 3.7 seconds. Then it was a free for all. 1 ornament on, 3 off.
Also last week....we got snow! They were predicting it. Blah blah blah. I half tuned in; usually they aren't spot on with snow predictions around these parts. But darned if we didn't get 6 big inches! Maybe not a lot in some places, but around here, it created lots of problems.
Except for us. As kids, the rare big snow falls we got we had a tradition of taking night hikes in the stuff once it seemed likely that school would be canceled. Once again, we bundled up and headed out the door. And then we found some friends! Mimi, Pa, Uncle Adam, Aunt Beth, and Jack were out too and ready for some fun.
Ben wasn't digging the snow. It started out all wrong for him. Eric was feeling a little under the weather, and elected not to join us. I got the kids ready and loaded onto the sled for the walk across the pond levee and and through the field to Mimi and Pa's house. I took 3 steps, and the sled turned over, dumping Ben face first into the snow. After that he wouldn't sit still, and that made it hard for Natalie to hold him, and the sled turned over again. So I was forced to carry him. With my snow gear and his, it was really hard to hold on to him, trudge through the snow, and pull the sled with Nat still on it. PLUS, I was wearing a headlamp instead of carrying a flashlight, and carrying Ben, he kept getting flashed right in the eyes with my light. Needless to say, he much preferred this spot in the bed of the rhino with Pa.
Mimi and Jack throwing snow
hat twins!
Nat is a snow champ. She loves it. She was so cold and wet, but just wanted to stay out and play.
3 cousins
making snow angels
We have a few more big plans before Christmas is here...heading to the zoo probably this weekend to visit Santa and see the Festival of Lights, and then maybe a day next week I want to take my two "choo-choo" enthusiasts to see a model train exhibit at the museum. Plus we've been trying to do holiday crafts, we've been wrapping, and baking. Who's worn out?!
Wait, where's Adam in that snow picture, haha, I can't see him!? And the inventor of high visibility smiles proudly at his achievements.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe that Ben fell asleep on the bathroom floor waiting you out! That boy, he just loves his mama.