Puppet show

Decorating cinnamon holiday decorations

...even though Hanukah is over 

Max and Kira went to a puppet show at the farm, and thankfully it was inside because it was the first very cold day in a while.

Basketball hat...

Front row at the puppet show

"Get away from my [first] hot chocolate!" said Max, but hardly drank any!

Bundled 

Morning concert by Christmas light

Playing gingerbread house 

It's beginning to sound a lot like Christmas

Max woke up at 5am demanding to make a gingerbread house.  Eventually he settled for crashing Kira's house and she was happy to welcome her guest.

We told Max that Santa is not a real person, but he still believes that the bearded guy brings him presents.  Last year he begged for the "green Target bike" for months and it was a thrill to see him find it by the tree on Christmas morning.  This year there has not been one particular thing that Max has asked for, until yesterday.  Daddy came home with a new Oakton Basketball sweatshirt and Max went crazy.  He is dying for the same sweatshirt.  Santa called the embroidery shop the very next morning, but the elves are slammed...

While he is eager to receive, Max clearly does not feel responsibility to get gifts for his loved ones, after all that is Santa's job.

What do you want to get Sadie and Tessa?

"Ummmmm...[huge smile grin laugh] a nothing"

What do you want to get daddy?

"An Oakton sweatshirt"

What do you want to get Pa?

"Hmmmmm....a hug!!!"

Max decided that a hug from yours truly was the best gift idea ever, so nevermind long lines and Amazon Prime, a hug it is.  Try to act surprised.  

Construction began immediately after school.  A real child-rearing expert must have designed these gingerbread house kits, because it is absolutely no problem at all to wait 1-3 hours between building and decorating the house.  Kids are oh so patient, especially the General.

We figured out a way to safely decorate the house with minimal (zero) wait time between steps.  "These look like Tums!" Max remarked of the candy, half of which he understandably ate.  

Playtime

Fish tacos and peanut butter and jelly

Mickey!

Kira loves Minnie, but she is OBSESSED with Micky!  

Max made matching bracelets for Kira and him 

...but she just loves to putting necklaces on and off 

Santa Cow

Ho Ho Ho moo moo moo

Kira was not feeling well and Max was not sure how he felt about the Kris Kringle clad cow 

Ice cream: The best part of Max's dinner and the only part of Kira's dinner

"I'm a strong, strong boy!" said Max on his Target run 

Ready for school!

Dance party

These two go wild with excitement when they hear Baby Love.  An automatic dance party is a must!

Sesame Street Sunday!

Max and Kira had a great time at Sesame Street Live!  Max was in the zone throughout the whole thing; Kira could not stop bopping and clapping.  Considering she is only a year old, it was impressive how engaged she was for the whole show.

Huggies during the show

Max and the girls 

After he got home late from the show, Max had to do his first homework assignment.  He had to make a poster showing his family's holiday traditions.  He really made it by himself!  He stuck the letters on and drew pretty much everything by looking at images he wanted to copy.

Max was so artistic today!  He made a captepillar board game with mommy and then he made another one all by himself. He traced the circles and drew the eyes and little feet- it came out great!

This was the original version of the game.   We are trying to teach Max how to play a game, with an emphasis on taking turns and being gracious when he does not win.  So far- so so.

Max crashed Kira's Punims class.  He was a big help in making this banana and pretzel menorah.  

Flipping his "latka in the frying pan"

Kira ate her paper plate before she finished making hers.

My little Punim!

Mac made the most delicious smelling cinnamon holiday decorations 

Happy bambino!

Max found a stash of his old diapers so when he saw Kira wearing a "monkey diaper" this morning he had to put one on to match.

Max is always the first one awake in the morning.  "Look I drew you a heart.  It's a balloon!"  It is the best.

Basketball besties

"Let's get Kira!!!!!" Every. Single. Morning. 

Max was excited to go to basketball practice with daddy and the boys 

The girls ran errands at Home Depot

Eating all get favorite toys, just like her brother

Somersault madness

These two take pizza making very seriously 

Max said he is wearing real glasses like daddy

The sweatshirt that keeps on giving

Max has had this grey sweatshirt since he was 7 months old.  It is size 12 months so we passed it down to Kira, but apparently it still fits Max.  He wore it all day.

A sweatshirt through the ages:

Max at 10 months, Kira at 13 months, Max at almost 4 years old! 

Ben taught Kira how to play the dreidel game

While mommy put Kira to bed, Max put on his diaper and got dressed in these "pajamas".  "Can I wear this for pjs tonight so I look handsome?!"  he asked.  Yes, but who knows how he got his non-pull-up diaper on?!

Grocery bus

Morning smooches!

Kira loves her dolly!

Crib invasion