Backyard Sledding Fun

Before the deep freeze....

And then there's old man Harlan.

December Miscellany

Sometimes... when the ass clown running the country compels the CDC to omit words from their vocabulary in order to get funded... some people commit to using said words in every report and presentation they give from that point on in their public health career.  It's the little things.

Grandpa Ed has adopted Grandma's blankie.

These two little peas in a pod.

Sully heaven: ball pit.

I love mornings off with these guys.

Gingerbread Houses

Asher & Grandma Jo made a pretty amazing gingerbread house last weekend.  We made egg-free gingerbread from scratch, it was delicious!

Making the different frosting colors

Brainstorming

These two were a little less interested in decorating... surprise surprise.

And then sometimes, your house collapses... and you just roll with it.

Delivering Trees

Asher wanted a little boy to have a tree who wouldn't have one at home, so we opted for a kid who has to spend Christmas in the hospital.

We delivered a Christmas tree with lights and ornaments to Children's on Wednesday.  

Unfortunately, there was a tiny bit of a paternity dispute out front that ended in a fist fight and me having to call the police... but maybe next year we will get away with spreading holiday cheer without having to navigate a psychosocial crisis.

What the Boys would give Jesus for his Birthday

Santa Wrote Back :)

A couple weeks ago we wrote letters to Santa...

...this week Asher got a letter from the mailman, it was from the North Pole!

Happy Holidays Everyone!

Writing Letters to Santa

Tonight the boys wrote letters to Santa.  Sully's was of course illegible and Asher used a personal transcription service for his (me).  Santa is a pretty lucky dude to get these adorable letters. 

My little lefty.

Word for word.

Day Trip to Mankato

I love being able to hop in the car once everyone is up and moving and run down to Mankato for a few hours... just for fun.

I know a couple other people who love that we can do that too :)

Visiting Great Grandma Laverda -- an apparently Dad didn't get the memo about cool kids rolling up their right pant leg.

Back to Sibley Park (so Ash could see the lights).

Back to Sibley Park (so Sully could ride the tractor).

Back to Sibley Park (so I could plot how to free and snuggle the reindeer).

Countdown to Christmas

Asher saw an advent calendar at Target and wanted it.  I made a deal.  If we could pass on the $10 calendar, we could go home and make one with glitter.  It was an easy sell.

Making unicorn poop (our favorite kind of glitter).

Grandma Hilary's Visit

Hilary was in the cities last weekend and we were lucky to get to spend a good chunk of time visiting and exploring Saint Paul.  

The boys loved spending time with her, especially the tree picking out and decorating part :)  

Come back, we miss you :)

The time Asher's little heart grew five sizes in front of our eyes...

If you know Asher, you know nothing makes him more excited than decorating.  And one of his favorite decorating items is lights.   Naturally, the kid loves Christmas.  Between the Christmas lights, tinsel, sparkly ornaments, and garlands... really nothing is more perfect.  He gets excited when he sees one Christmas tree.  One string of lights.  One wreath.  One peppermint striped bow.  

So imagine:  Standing in the middle of a pitch black park.  The street lights are purposefully out.  The only lights are the stars and cell phones as hundreds of people flood the park and wait for the countdown.  Asher doesn't know what is coming and is impatient, confused about why we are standing in the dark.  Then from about a football field distance away you hear "5...4....3....2....1" and suddenly, the pitch blackness around you is gone, and this is happening, all at once, instead.

Thank you Mankato Kiwanis for making Asher's face do the thing it did tonight, and Grandma Jo for surprising him with such a fun idea.   I don't think he has ever been so in awe,  it was amazing to watch.

Hanging out waiting for the parade to start (the parade was ahead of the lights being turned on).

While Asher loved the lights, Sully was smitten with a huge tractor that appeared in the parade.   We found it in the park, and he was baffled at why he couldn't go up in it, and asked for the rest of the night, "Grandpa?  Tractor?", completely ignoring the lights and the music around him.  Sounds about right.