First Sled

Today we got some unexpected snow, so the boys (Alex, Noah and Opa) and I headed to "The Butler Hill" to go sledding. The first victory was actually FINDING the hill....and we did!! I was not sure how the little men would react to sledding this year (last year they were not into it too much). WELL, they were little sledding maniacs this year! After several runs with Mommy or Opa, the boys decided it was time to go it alone....and boy did they! By the time we left (after two hours...yes....TWO HOURS....), they were little sledding pros--I'm thinking we have the making of a Guatemalan bobsledding team!!!

Mommy and the boys...

The boys climbed the hill MANY times with gusto!

Our amigos were there too! The Willis clan came out to play, here is a boatload of boys!

Alex on one of his MANY solo runs~

Christmas at the Zoo

Don't ask.....actually, he was just catching snowflakes on his tongue!

Bundled up!!

Alex and the walrus

The Prince rides in style

Listening to carollers

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY: Baking Christmas Cookies

Saying Goodbye to a "Greyt" Family Member

Two weeks ago, our family said Goodbye to a beloved family pet...our "Gracie Girl." She had been sick for several months and losing weight rapidly due to hemangiosarcoma--an extremely aggressive and lethal cancer. Instead of letting her frail body suffer any longer, I decided to let her go. Dr. Ealing and his staff at Broad Ripple Animal Clinic were absolutely amazing during the whole process. These photos are of Gracie's last days eating her all-time favorite food: Peanut butter sandwhiches! We love you, Gracie and miss you with all our hearts.

Gracie Elizabeth Geppert 2001-2009

Alex's First Holiday Show

Each year the children at Montessori Centres put on a lavish production for the holiday season complete with songs and poetry. A true cultural experience. The evening started off a little shaky as Alex announced he did NOT want to go on stage. As curtain time approached, however, I had high hopes that his stage fright had subsided as he looked happy and relaxed:



If you are looking for Alex in the opening number of "What a Wonderful World," you will have to look...um...down...on the floor. Yes, stage fright overtook our little thespian, and one of his teachers just sat him on the stage. Instead of proudly holding the "Seas of blue" sign (as he had practiced all week at home!), he sat on stage praying that all these people would disappear!

Finally, there were some numbers that involved sitting--he did great! Honestly, I have to say I was proud of the little man. He went from yelling, "I want my mommy!" to sitting calmly with his class.

I know we are not supposed to laugh at our children, but this next picture had me rolling in the aisle. Not only did he NOT stand up to get off of stage, he WALKED ON HIS KNEES all the way off stage!!!!!!

So...um....what's wrong with this picture below?? Why is my kid the ONLY one standing here??? WELLL.....we got a special visit from Santa Claus, and suddenly Alex was Mr. MC of the evening. He stood there talking nonstop to us (out in the audience) about Santa and what he was doing.

It was a tremendously adorable evening, and certainly an evening to remember. At least I don't think I have to worry about Alex dropping out of college and heading to Broadway!!!

Gettin' High With Mr. Dan!!!

It's now how it sounds....

Mr. Dan "borrowed" a cherry picker to put lights on his tall pine tree, and lucky Noah got to take a ride above the world with Mr. Dan. I was not going to watch this whole escapade, but somehow I felt it was my duty as his mother to document these things.

Schnappi

Thanks to Oma, the boys have a new obsession with a little crocodile named Schnappi. Whenever Oma comes to visit, they pretty much demand to see it the moment she hits the door. Ah....ya gotta love YOUTUBE! (ok...so it really is a catchy little tune.....)



Another favorite is Papa Pinguine. Again, it can get a wee bit annoying after listening to it 32 times in a row (try it....I dare ya!!), but also kinda cute and endearing in small doses:

Yard Work

Well, the boys were once again "helpful" with the Annual Mulching of the dog yard. If they were not busy moving mulch with Opa, they were helping Oma plant bulbs!

Monkey Joe's

Our lovely neighbors, The Follmans, clued us in to a local establishment in which children can bounce off the walls (literally) until they pass out from exhaustion (or the parents carry them out kicking and screaming...whichever comes first)....MONKEY JOES!

On Oma and Opa's last visit, we decided to go see what this place was all about---it was a BLAST!!! (We have since been back with the Follmans, and it is even more fun bouncing with your buddies--we closed the joint!!!)

Here are some pics from our first trip:

When Toddlers Dress Themselves.....

Have I mentioned that Noah and Alex are totally different when it comes to almost anything??? Here is a great example:

Noah=The Naked Boy:

I swear if I let him, the child would be naked in the dead of winter. "I be the naked boy" he always tells me!!!

Alex=The Fashionista

This is Alex's "seed-plantin'-hockey-playin'-hammer-wieldin'-fix-anything" look. Like it???

Arbor Day in October????

It's been HOW long since I last posted!!?? Wow...where does the time go?? I have some serious catching up to do. So, let's get going:

Here are some pics of Opa and his helpers moving a tree from the backyard to the front. Good thing Opa had all this help digging....otherwise it would have only taken him half as long to get the job done!! (Not sure why each boy is only wearing one glove....some sort of weird Michael Jackson tribute????)

Sometimes you just have to....DANCE

Noah requested that we listen to the Mamma Mia sountrack during lunch today. He was happily eating his ziti when all of a sudden....he stopped....stared right at me.....and jumped down onto the floor. I asked him where he was going, and he said, "I just have to dance now." He hit the most beautiful "stayin alive" pose and yelled, "Mommy, it's boogie time!!!!!!" Oy

Stoney Creek Farm with Oma and Opa

Hayride to the pumpkin patch

Gotta find just the right one.....

This one is nice and light.

Cowboys!

The PUMPKIN TRAIN!! .....smokin'!!!!