Monday, December 14, 2009

Quick Update

I haven't had a chance to update and probably won't have one in the next week, so I wanted to do a really quick update and let everyone know our latest news. Nick has 2 very loose teeth! Looks like it won't be long and he'll be missing his 2 front lower teeth.

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Countdown to Christmas - 22 Days

Lego Advent Calendar day 5:
Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket
The lego project is growing. The big grin is because Nick was giving me a hard time trying to take his picture and thought that was pretty funny.

A fun package arrived for Nick this afternoon from Nana:



More to come to this post later tonight

Friday, December 4, 2009

Countdown to Christmas - 22 Days

Opening the Lego Advent Calendar:
Photobucket

Photobucket
Building the new lego guy

Photobucket
Adding the new lego minifigure - an ice skater, to the collection.

This evening we went to Barnes and Noble for their pajama story time telling of Polar Express. It was cute, they had a woman dressed up as a conductor to tell the story, and gave the kids cookies, cocoa, and little bells with ribbon through them after the story. The lady telling it did a fantastic job too.

Photobucket
Nick with his ticket for the Polar Express.

Photobucket
Listening to the story.

Photobucket
Nick with his cookie and his bell.


Then it was home for dinner and then opening the icicle box for tonight.
Photobucket

Countdown To Christmas - 23 Days

Lego Advent Calendar day 3, a sled:
Photobucket

Photobucket



Opening the icicle box, and the lego build keeps growing (the picture is without day 3's parts added on.
Photobucket



Photobucket

Tonight's story: Olive The Other Reindeer

Nick Can Read!

Nick can read, and he finally let me video tape him reading a book. He's read this book a few times and it's an easier book for him, but I'm still really proud of where his reading ability is, especially considering it's only December of his Kindergarten year!



This afternoon Nick curled up on my lap and fell asleep. I managed to sneak out, but when I came back a few minutes later, this is what I found (notice the cat too!):

Photobucket

Countdown To Christmas - 24 Days Until Christmas!

The countdown continued on Wednesday.

This time we did the lego advent calendar in the morning. Nick got a lego snowman! So cool.
Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket
Here's what the set looks like now.

Then at night we did the icicle advent box, and read How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Nick's big lego set is slowly growing, and he's pretty much figured out what we did with the icicles this year.

Photobucket

Nick has a thing about never wearing these pajamas bottoms with the shirt that matches them, he always has to wear them with a shirt that doesn't go at all! Oh well, at least their just pajamas :)

Field Trip: Christmas Tree Farm

Wednesday was Christmas Tree Farm day! Okay, the Christmas Tree farm turned out to not really be a Christmas Tree Farm so much as a tree farm. I guess the man usually does landscaping trees, but because the economy is so bad right now, no one is building, so no one is buying trees, so the owner is selling some of their trees as Christmas trees. That said, I think it was a great field trip. The man was very nice, and didn't seem disturbed at all by the fact that these little kids were being little kids. He even took pictures as we walked through the farm. Lots of fun! We got there on time, but everyone else was super late (the place was a little farther out than we expected). So, by the time the field trip was underway, Nick was starting to get a bit tired, and by the end of it he was downright grouchy. Seems to be a trend... he just still hasn't gotten to where he can make it through the day without a nap and keep his composure, but if he naps, he gets too much sleep and can't sleep at night. Here are some of the highlights of the trip, plus a few photos.

1. While we were waiting for everyone else, the owner showed us his root cellar, that was interesting, especially for the kids. Nick was astounded at how many potatoes they had in there.

2. We got to sit in the office while we were waiting and experience the wonderful wood burning stove. The office smelled wonderful from the fire. Here's a picture of in the office (taken later in the trip):
Photobucket


3. While we were still waiting Nick got to see an arrowhead the owner collected from one of his fields. I guess there are a ton out there.

4. The first family besides ours arrived and we all walked down by the river. His house/farm is right on the side of the river and absolutely beautiful! He even has a small island that is home to some deer and what not, and they can watch it all from their backyard. Beautiful, beautiful area, and just outside of town too.

5. Everyone else arrived. The kids got to go in the chicken coop and gather eggs, which of course was a huge hit. Nick wasn't sure he wanted to go in at first, but he warmed up to it in time to go in and get an egg. I think he was afraid of the chickens because the farmer had told the kids not to stick their fingers in the fence or they might get bit.

Photobucket

6. Then it was off to see the newly planted trees. He explained to the kids how he buys them as small trees and grows them into large trees. They got to see baby Colorado Blue Spruces, Choke Cherry trees, and some deciduous conifers. The adults found the deciduous conifers fascinating, none of us had ever heard of them. They were beautiful though, all of the needles were bright, bright yellow right now.

7. The kids got a quick stop to see the pond where they hold their water during the summer (it was dry now for the winter), and got to learn about how they water the plants, although I'm not sure they heard much of the story.

8. Then it was on to the big trees, but not before we stopped to say hello to their mule and horse. Beautiful, gentle animals, that Nick wouldn't even consider getting near. Aaargh, I don't know what his deal is. Here he is, not seeing the animals :)

Photobucket

9. By the time we got to the large Blue Spruces, the kids had pretty much stopped paying attention and instead were being fascinated by the huge holes left in the ground when they had removed some trees for landscaping.

It was a super cold day, about 25 out, and bitter cold, but still, everyone seemed to enjoy themselves, and there is nothing like getting out into a setting like that!