Bean Box

Max playing with his bean box. 

What I didn't get a picture of was the 3 boys playing together in the beans.  Sean was his usual creative self- using a funnel and making up a story for the scene.  Max loved that his older brothers were playing with the beans, since they came down right when he was getting a little bored playing with just Mommy.  He greeted Jack at the bottom of the stairs and brought him over the see the exciting new toy (I had just created the bean box that morning).

Having fun pushing the beans around with a spoon. 

(Hey, where did the pumpkin go???)

Happy Birthday Chris (and Bronson)

Chris and Bronson have birthday 4 days apart and they were both born in 1970.  So here we celebrated their 42nd birthdays with a cake, some good wine, and a few neighbors.   

Snow day

Last Saturday we woke to a little bit of snow on the ground.  Max noticed that things looked different and pointed at the big window in the kitchen.  So, Chris went out and brought some snow in for Max to play with.  He was mildly interested in it- mostly wanting to eat it. 

Later that morning he went through the basket of hats and gloves and put this hat on himself.  Here he is proudly posing for his picture.

Good friends

The Peifer family came over for a visit and the kids were so kind and caring towards Max.  Dylan immediately put Max in his lap and read to him.  They carried him around and brought him toys to play with.  It was a great evening, since we had a house full of little babysitters! 

Max checks out Nanny's camera

Sheet Games

Jack and Max like to play when I change the sheets on our bed.  Jack gets under the fitted sheet and Max chases him around on the bed.  Both of them laugh a lot.  It's a happy scene! 

Full Moon Morning

Beautiful full moon about to set behind the West Virginia Mountains- this was the first thing I saw when I looked out our bedroom window that morning.

Hawk sighting

The boys and I saw this hawk sitting in our tree on this snowy afternoon.  He was so patient and confident, waiting to prey on songbirds who dine at my feeders.  I didn't see him get any birds, which was nice. 

Max likes bananas

Max is learning how to peel and eat a banana. 

(This may not be blog worthy news, but I love this camera and am taking pictures of the darndest things.)

New camera

The new camera is here!  I took a quick look at the manual, while Jack jumped right in and learned by using it.  He figured more out than me, of course!   

 It was a beautiful day, so we all headed out to the cemetery

(what we consider our neighborhood dog park).

 This was Max's first time walking outside- a big milestone!  He wasn't too excited about walking on the grass.  Jack said he was like a little robot, who was programmed to walk on the pavement.  He stood still on the grass, but as soon as we moved him to the pavement he started walking as usual. 

 We all had a *ball* that afternoon. ;)

Solstice wreath/ Suncatcher

I made this as a centerpiece for our Winter Solstice dinner.  We put a candle inside a jar in the center to celebrate the return of the sun.  Then I waited 2 weeks for the weather to be cold enough so that I could put it outside to be enjoyed as a suncatcher.  I'm glad to see the cold, just so that it feels a bit like winter.  And now that I've hung my wreath, I'm ready for spring to come. ;D

Bibliophilia

Max is really into having books read to him right now.  Chris and I are enjoying how he brings us a book, with an eager look on his face.  When asked if he wants the book read to him he nods his head in an exaggerated way, then settles himself into a lap to enjoy the book. 

Deconstructing Christmas

Not a pretty sight yet, but I love the sense of order that comes from putting all the Christmas decorations away.  It really feels like wiping the slate clean. 

Happy New Year 2012

After a fun night of playing board games, pinot noir tasting, Thai food eating and fireworks watching- and few hours of sleep- everyone gathered for a New Year's Day brunch.  This was one of the few (maybe only!) times we had our entire bunch together.  After eating, we were able to get the youngest of us together for a picture.  They are all so wonderful!  

New Year's Eve Day

Jodi, Danny, Zoe and Darcy came to visit for the New Year's weekend.  Several of us walked downtown to check out the Harrisonburg Children's Museum and were disappointed to find it closed.  But, we made the best of the morning, going to a fun, independent store and the corner bakery. Here are Danny and Darcy enjoying coffee and cupcakes in the bakery. 

 And here is Max with his new favorite *toy*- a child-size broom that he discovered at the toy store (how cool that this toy store carries brooms for kids!!).  He has been very curious about our broom at home, so I decided to get him one of his own.  He put it right to work, sweeping the floor of the bakery.

A bit of Christmas

We didn't take many pictures this Christmas, but I did get this short video that gives you a glimpse into our Christmas morning.  Sean is in the background looking at his treehouse calendar and Jack is helping Max unwrap a book.  It was a nice moment.