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...The stockings all hung on the banister with care.

I'm delighted with Stuart's and Alison's new first stockings. We happened upon these at Home Depot of all places for less than $5.00. I came home and stitched their names on. We don't have a fireplace in this house so they are on the banister. Next year, I'm going to get a magic key to put out for Santa, like our friend Abby does, since we don't have a chimney. This year, we'll just leave the door unlocked.

Best Birthday Present

...is a little green piano shaped like a crocodile. It had a bazillion electronic demo songs, no automatic turn off even after a decade of playing, volume that defaults to insanely LOUD, batteries that last an amazingly long time and still have enough juice to make growling noises indefintely when running low (RRrawww, rrrwaaaawwrr, rrrwwarrr), buttons that make sounds similar to animals, and an uncanny ability to make Mama verifiably insane. Alison and Stuart LOVE it. They march over and push the one button of a hundred that starts the demos and then leave. It's positioned in the most remote corner of our playroom to discourage this behavior but they still think it is well worth the trek to turn on the ghastly noise. That is not all the amazing crocpiano does though, he very BEST thing the crocodile piano does is double as a bench. For all of those ready to run out and purchase croccraziness for your little one for Christmas see here! Happy Holidays!

(Thank you again, Lindsey and Stacie)

Yah!

This morning I was in the kitchen making waffles.

Ryan: Aurelie why did you take off Alison's jammies?

Me: I didn't.

Ryan: You didn't take off Alison's jammies?

Me: Nope.

Ryan: Did Alison take off her own jammies?

I now present the evidence.

Ryan: Alison, where are your jammies?

Stuey followed her around pulling at his own jammies trying to get her to take his off with her new special powers. Finally, Mama just gave in and helped him out. Stuart played the fish for Alison in the portofcrib as his special way of saying, "Thankyou Bird, good trick."

I'm half delighted. She was so pleased with herself and I'm so proud of her new abilities (plus I count this as one check closer to toilet learning). Other half, pure dread. Its hard enough getting two toddlers dressed once a day. I was really hoping she would wait until summer so I could just leave her naked.

In consolation, at least she remembered to put her necklace back on.

It seems a little counterintuitive...

...but I give my kiddos fruity cheerios to play with on the ground while I clean the kitchen. I'll admit it is a two steps forward one step back way of doing things but as of yet, it's the only way I've discovered that works at all.

They were in a little bowl for about 2.3 seconds.

Stuart was eating them.

Alison was taking them over one by one and stacking them on the garbage can.

"Hmmm.... Where you taking my cheerios Bird?" After a bit he got up and waited next to the can. It was so funny to watch. She'd fastidiously bring them over, place them carefully on the lid, and turn around to get more. Stuart would wait and pop them in his mouth as she left.

This is the back of our neighborhood library. It has a basement but it is still pretty small. I love the quaintness of it all and it does the job. The children's area isn't as nice as our local library was in Vegas--so I'm sortof missing it. It doesn't have little nooks and corners to sit with your kids and read or tickle and it is next to the non-fiction adult section without even a door to seperate the two areas. So I accidentally lost Alison for a few minutes when she slipped out (my heart was pounding) and I'm very conscience about how much ruckus my kids are causing which makes the trip a bit stressful.

Advent Calendar

Why do I do these things to myself?

Alison is such a smart little thing. I bought the kids advent calendars to count down to Christmas--the ones with a little chocolate candy behind each door. We had them every year when we were little. I remember negotiating which calendar each child used each year. (My mom actually refilled our calendars with melted down chocolate so our arguments included, "..but you got the angel LAST year!" and "...but that one is missing door #4 and door #12.")

I couldn't resist purchasing them when I saw them at the grocery store a few months ago. I forgot about them until the 2nd so they got two pieces of chocolate each. I just took the chocolates out for them and gave it as dessert to dinner so they really didn't know where they came from. Then I forgot the 3rd and that brings us to today.

I got them down and opened the appropriate flaps but didn't take the chocolate out. Stuart came barreling over and I showed him the flap. He looked at it and started to walk away, too busy doing his 'wanderings' to bother with little flaps. Then I pointed to the chocolate. "Wwhhhhee! A chocolate!" He stuffed it in his mouth and went back to barreling on his merry little way. Gone. Won't probably think about it again until another chocolate magically appears tomorrow.

Now Alison, her personality is so different. She is very logical. She thinks though her problems and then reacts intentionally to solve them. I gave her the advent calendar and she immediately keyed onto the slightly open flaps, just like on her books. This time there was chocolate behind the flaps. Pure DELIGHT. Immediately, I saw the wheels turning in her head. Before her tiny little chocolate had even been swallowed she pointed to the next flap, you know day number 23 or something, and wanted it opened. I tell her, "No Alison. One chocolate per day except on days where Mama forgot, then maybe two." She picks up her calendar, runs, plops down in the corner and tries desperately to scratch her way in. Finally, I have to take it away. I discreetly put it back on top of the fridge. I don't think she saw me put it back up there but that is where she originally saw me get them down. She spends the next 4 hours systematically pointing at the top of the fridge, whining, and "ahh, ahh, AHHHing". I think she's finally forgotten. After dinner, she thinks it might be okay to have another and that possibly I'll get it down again. She resumes her act. Smart I tell you, AND persistent.

I love the holiday season. What a beautiful time of year. We're excited to celebrate and start new traditions for Christmas with our kids this year. (Last year they existed but it hardly counts because Christmas was sandwiched within that vague fog I fondly remember as their half year of life .)

This is my 101st posting. (I can't believe I wasted my 100th post on a pigrat! EDITED: I couldn't remember what my last post was. I'm happy to see that I didn't waste number 100 on a pigrat, just a monkey, which in this case in infinitely better.) To celebrate I'm asking the audience their very first question. Yah! What traditions have you participated in during the holidays or traditions you would like to implement? What things bring Christ into Christmas? Alright, two questions. Please don't disappoint me audience. You can leave responses in the comments or post on your own blog and leave a little note and link or email me (for the shy variety of audience). Can't wait to hear.

Other business. Stuey has been very busy today with two new activities.
Stacking Chef Boyordee and vacuuming. He's such a delight.

Last thought of the day. I can't help myself from falling in love with winter here. On Saturday we went to Sam's Club. Same old thing. Paid, came outside. Breathtaking beauty.

See, here are the two little tykes patiently waiting for Mama to quit taking pictures and get them out of the freezing.

Banana Boy

Nothing like a banana to keep a baby monkey occupied while cleaning the kitchen.