Ringing in the new year with style

Christmas!

Christmas Eve

Notice through the front window there is no snow outside.   That's right!   As of today, we have only had a dusting of snow.     Today is cool,  in the low 40's and sunny.   I will admit that I would have enjoyed seeing at least a little snow!

Here Matthew and Ryan are stringing cranberries.   We decided that we could hang them out on the front tree and wish the birds and other animals a Merry Christmas.    While the boys were hard at work, I was getting ready for family to come over tomorrow for Christmas at our house!

We went to Nana's house for dinner and exchanged Christmas presents.   Nana over did herself as usually and the boys received some fun and amazing gifts!    Connor got a fold up play mat; Ryan a guitar, and Matthew a telescope.    The food was great as usual.    The boys had a great time playing with there new toys before we headed home to get ready for Santa!

Sean happy as a little calm on his 1st Christmas Eve

Oh what a beautiful site.....Matthew giving Nana a thank you hug!

Once we got home, we put out the reindeer food that Ryan made in preschool (oats with glitter), carrots, milk, and cookies.    Off to bed we went to ensure we were asleep before Santa's arrival.

Clean Room

Today I asked Matthew if he had cleaned his room.
His response was "Yup!  My room is a clean is a new shoe!"
Gosh, I love this kid!

Connor turns 2!

I decided to try to make it a tradition and take a picture of Connor the night before his birthday sitting in front of the Christmas tree (since I did it last year).

Connor requested dondons (donuts) for this birthday breakfast.   So, by 7am, Connor and I drove down to Dunkin Donuts to get Boston Cream filled donuts and coffee for Mommy and Daddy.  

A few days after his birthday we had his party.    It was only suiting that his birthday cake was a donut.    It was a busy, fun afternoon, and I didn't take as many pictures as I would have liked.   Connor love his cake and especially being sung to!

Connor also went for his 2 year check up.   His stats are:

Height:: 35 1/2 inches (50-75%)

Weight: 28lbs 5ozs (50%)

Sean 3 months old

 Sean is pushing up with his arms when he is on his tummy, rolling over (tummy to back), sleeping through the night, and is full of smiles!  

Christmas Tree Hunt



Our family tradition has been to cut down a Christmas tree the weekend after Thanksgiving.  Last year we found a local Christmas tree farm less than 1 mile from our house, which is great with having little ones.   We were a little disappointed that there wasn't any snow on the ground, but decided not to delay the trip because they weren't showing any snow in the 7 day forcast.   The boys had a great time runnung around.  Aaron found a great tree shortly after we got there, but Matthew inisted that we walk around the whole farm!   After running over mud puddles and Connor tripping several times over tree stumps we finally made it back to the front of the farm where Matthew shouted that he found the perfect tree (it was the first tree that Aaron had found!)!   Until next year!

The most beautiful Thanksgiving center piece!

Ryan was very proud of his Thanksgiving centerpiece that he made at preschool.  He was excited to bring it to Nana's house.    Although, I did have to look away and smile when he said under this breath,  It's just dead flowers!"

Sean 2 months old

Sean went for his 2 month check up on November 4th.   He received 3 shot (1  in one thigh and 2 in the other) as well as an oral vaccine.   He did great, with just mild red bumps from the shot.

His stats are:
Height: 21 1/2 inches (10%)
Weight: 10 lbs 10ozs (10-25%)
Head Circumference: 37.6 cm (10%)

The man of the house

Matthew has become quite the little helper.   He enjoys vacuuming, dusting, and washing windows.   More recently Matthew has enjoyed spending time outside helping Dad.   He is learning about mowing the lawn, watering, and planting bulbs.   Here he is raking leaves, per his own request!

As I watched from the window, it was amusing to watch Matthew try to handle the big wheelbarrow, but he did a great job!   I am so proud of you Matthew, you are becoming quite an amazing young man!

Happy Halloween

I find that Halloween gets more exciting every year now that Matthew and Ryan understand it more.   Mile Tree school had a costume parade the Friday before Halloween.    This year Matthew decided that he wanted to be a zombie this year, but since you were not allowed to wear masks or face paint for the school parade, he borrowed Connor's fire fighter costume.   

We had a great time carving pumpkins and toasting pumpkin seeds!

Sean with a smile on his first Halloween

Happy Halloween from fire fighter Connor, our little pumpkin Sean, vampire Ryan, and zombie Matthew

Brotherly Love

Smiles by Baby Sean!

Sean stated smiling around 6 weeks old. He has a little dimple on right cheek, that is so cute!

Sunday afternoon crafts

Matthew and Ryan are having a great time expressing their artistic ability painting foam airplanes that Matthew got for his birthday

Sean 5 weeks old

Sean went for his 1 month check up on October 14th.....
Here are his stats:

Height: 21 inches    10th percentile
weight: 9lbs 6ozs    10th to 25th percentile
Head Circumference: 36cm           5th percentile

This being said he gained over 3 pounds in 5 weeks!

Matthew's 6th birthday!

The weekend before Matthew's birthday, we invited some of his friends to celebrate with us at a bowling alley.  This was both Matthew and Ryan's first time bowling and they had a wonderful time!   Matthew was very impressed that as a gift, the bowling alley gave him a bowling pin.   Unfortunately, we had difficulties with our camera and lost all of the bowling party pictures.  However, we had a family party on the 14th and Papa fly in from Chicago to attend.     Here Matthew and Ryan are looking at some of the present matthew recieved.   He was excited about getting a solar system kit for his room.   He also received a remote control race car from Grandma Tillberry.

 

Matthew was very kind and even let Rayn left his blow out the candles on his birthday cake!

Since Matthew was turning 6, we thought that he was old enough to get his first pet...hermit crabs.   Matthew has been very responsible in making sure that they get daily exercise (walking around out kitchen floor), and clean food and water.   

 

Matthew was also excited that he got to bring cupcakes with chocolate frosting with sprinkles to kindergarten.    Matthew told me that his friends said they were the best cupcakes that they have ever had... pretty impressive since I made them!

Pumpkin picking with cousin Hannah

We had a wonderful time pumpkin picking with Nana and Hannah at Randall Farms.    Unfortunaly we lost all the pictures we took related to camera problems.   All the kids had a great time running around, playing in the hay, and climbing on the pumpkin playground.   We had fun riding the hayride out to the patch to find our pumpkins.   To end the perfect trip, Nana bought us fresh out to the oven, apple cider donuts!  

Fire Safey Day

Aaron worked with the Ludlow Fire Department related to a project for Liberty Mutual.   The boys had a great time visiting Daddy working with the fire fighters and seeing a fire truck up close!