A Good Friend

Zachary has two new friends in his preschool class this week.  They are Russian twins who, between the two of them, do not speak a word of English.  Zachary has been very welcoming to them, and even sat with them at lunch on Tuesday.  He tried to carry on a conversation with them, but reported that he couldn't understand anything they said. 
This morning I reminded him that they would be in class again today.  He was thoughtful for a moment and said, "Mom, the girl one (he has a hard time with their names) can't sleep at nap time without crying a lot.  So, maybe today if she is crying again, I will give her one of my stuffed animals to sleep with."
My son has such an amazing heart.  I'm so proud of him.

Nana's House

Nana's house has been getting a little make over between tenants this month. Last week I got to drop by and see it. It never ceases to amaze me that it still smells like Nana's house. And it's nice to know that the record of all the growing Amy and I did there is still intact.

A lot of growing was done in this house

Lexi at the fireplace - hand built by Nanoe.

Martin Luther King Jr Day

Both Lexi and Zachary have been very interested in Martin Luther King Jr. this year. Last night Lexi told me her favorite MLK quote from a book she read last Friday was, "Hate cannot drive out hate. Only love can do that." She quoted it perfectly. I had to look it up three times to remember it correctly to post it here.
In preschool, Zachary drew this picture of his dream.

"I have a dream that I could help sick people."  ~Zach

Snow Days!!

My kids love to play in the snow. We didn't get much last year, so when we got a few inches of the really great sticky kind, they were out until after dark playing around in it. They had a blast!!



Zachary, proud of his snowman.

Lexi with her happy snowman

Zach takes a face plant into the snow.

Lexi made a fort by sticking tree branches into the snow.

People Aren't Like Cats

Zachary has been going through a "killing the bad guys" phase lately, and talks a lot about the different ways he would kill a bad guy if he needed to.  This evening, on our way home from swimming, he had gone on long enough.  I needed him to understand what all of this meant.  So I said to him, "You know, Zachary, we don't ever want to kill someone.  If you kill someone it means you make them die, and once someone is dead, that's permanent.  They will never be able to come back.  Once you're dead you're dead for good."  Lexi, always one to want to help explain the concepts, chimes in, "Yea, because people are not like cats."  Confused I said, "What do you mean, Lexi?  Once cats are dead, they are dead too.  They don't come back."  She replied, "Really??  Well then why do they say that cats have nine lives?"

I am SO glad we had this conversation before one of our cats dies!!

He Gets It...

Zach: "Mom, I'm going to help you, because I notice that when we listen we get more chocolate and Mommy hugs, and less time outs." The kid is catching on!!

This was after both kids helped me by emptying all of the wastebaskets around the house, and bringing the recycling to the bin outside.  Proud Mama.

Merry Christmas

Once again the Christmas rush has come and gone.  Each year the celebrations seem to fly by faster and faster.  It seems as though we're just putting up the tree, and suddenly Christmas is over and everything is coming down.  While it's nice for life to go back to "normal", I'm always a little sad to say goodbye to the magical feeling of the Christmas season. 

Christmas 2012 was fantastic as always.  We started the morning decorating our sugar cookies, and saying our last goodbye to our friend Twinkle.

Lexi and Zach work hard on the cookies.

It's so much fun!

 

Twinkle says goodbye.

The cousins arrived to town a bit later than normal, unfortunately, due to a virus that Auntie Amy and Ben were fighting.  But once they arrived the festivities began and it really felt like Christmas!  We started with church, and then did our annual photo shoot before the party began.

Poppy's Angels

 

The cousins

Licciardello Family Christmas

Gigi and Poppy with their grandchildren

Zach photo bombed the Father/Daughter shot!

Lexi is very annoyed

It takes us all a minute to recover

Ahhh...perfect.  :)

This one cracked me up so much I had to include it.  :)

 Sadly, I managed to lose my camera right before the party, and missed out on getting pictures of all the fun.  And fun it was!!  Santa once again made a quick stop at the party to hand out some gifts.  The kids loved it, and Lexi actually accepted her gift right from his hand, for the first time ever!  I was so proud.  :)  We had non-stop fun until midnight when Daddy dragged our exhausted little angels home and put them to bed, while I stayed to help clean up.

Daddy and I must have been exhausted too, because Santa stopped by and left quite a set-up for the kids right in our bedroom!!

Lexi with her bean bag chair, pillow and blanket from Santa!

Zachary got a bean bag, pillow and blanket too!

Both kids inside the wonderful canopy tent Santa left!

 But we couldn't hang around for too long, because Santa had left quite a load at Gigi and Poppy's and we needed to get over there to check it out!

Stockings!!

Lexi opens her stocking.

The kids check out the tree with Gigi.

Gigi gave everyone clown noses!

The Daddys - the real clowns.

Zach is very excited about his dream lite!

Lexi was very excited to get her own iPhone!!  (It is really an iTouch and does not call/text or browse.)

Zach was so excited about the headphones, he forgot to open the rest of the gift!

WOW!!!  An iPad!!  ;)

Did you see what I got???

Trying it out.

Lexi and Cassie checking out the new apps.

It was a marathon gift opening extravaganza.  We were all pooped when it was over, but had to get showered and dressed and ready for the afternoon!  It was another lovely celebration.

Cheers to Westy XII

Cousinly love

My happy girl

Sweet Sophie Rose

Ben and Poppy

Uncle Jay loved his gift.  :)

The foam roller remains the best toy in the house.

By the end of the wonderful day, we were all very happy to climb into our beds.  There was more celebrating to be had in the morning!  Off to Boxing Day in Rhode Island!  It was a great celebration this year with the entire Lippman clan, including Jen's parents and sister, Marta.

Craig and Ahren relax on Boxing Day.

Zach and Lexi play with the light tower.

Zach loves his new tinker toys!

Zach and Daddy are happy in Rhode Island

Eva does not want to share her ice cream with Grampa!

As always there were far too many gifts, and even more food.  But it was a wonderful three day celebration with our entire family.  We feel so blessed to be able to share the holidays with so much of our family each year.  But most especially, Ahren and I are overjoyed watching the children enjoy the magic of the season.  There is nothing more wonderful than watching the kids eyes light up with excitement during the holidays.