Devin -- December 2016

This little guy is growing so much. He loves the Christmas tree and has been doing so well at school. Before his Christmas break he even stayed for lunch and did so well. He still loves to nap and had a great time going to visit Princeton for all the family fun. We love him so much and here are a few of the highlights from this holiday season.

• Did a great job putting sprinkles on cookies and even said "me" on camera!
• Has been working on "kicking" a soccer ball but often just steps on them
• He loves to snuggle with mommy but not with Daddy, poor Daddy
• When Kyler was upset for some reason, Devin felt bad for him and went and leaned into him which is basically Devin giving him a hug!
• Devin laughs and claps when he give the Guinea Pigs a treat, it is pretty cute. 
• At the Biology Christmas party just loved to open and close the doors over and over again. 
• Went for IEP and had a good time talking with his teachers
• When we tried to decorate the Christmas cookies with frosting, just wanted to eat the cookies rather than put decorations on them. 
• At the Van Dyke Christmas party started to explore on his own, but then took me over to the stairs and had me walk up and down them over and over again
• Whenever we go anywhere, Devin HATES when his food is too hot and screams until it cools down
• On the 12th Devin had his first snow day! We had a lot of fun just getting to spend that time together and made a cardboard ramp for cars which he loved doing
• Saying "no" by shaking his head when I asked if he wanted to go to school
• Will often take all the pillows off all the bed and put them in a pile so that he can just sit in them
• Had a great time just watching an hour glass timer in a game
• Did well with the alphabet train puzzle and could pick out the letters even by the sounds
• Took his Bilibo chair into the bathroom and tried to add it to the tub for bath time
• We have been working on Devin helping us with dressing him and he is doing much better with getting pants on and off
• For Devin's first experience sledding he was not too happy but soon wanted to do it more and more and giggled the whole time. 
• When younger cousins would take his toys, he did really well not getting upset. 
• Kyler picked out a piano that made music for Devin and he loved it, so sweet
• Traveled very well to Princeton and smiled anytime songs from They Might Be Giants came on. 
• While staying with Ryan's family, Dev would often wake us up at 7 by opening and closing doors
• Devin loved the spinning top that his cousin received from us. 
• Did fish motion at the store when he saw fish! So cute
• Finally tried an ice cream cone form McDonald's but just sticking his tongue at it.
• Was sad when we took the tree down, but so cute sitting in the box and not wanting to get out.  

This kid loves looking at the Christmas tree

He loves looking at the photo books and his magnatiles

Books - Devin loves them.

This kid actually decorated cookies!

...and eating the dough too

Devin loves too sit by his brother

Boxes are the best toys

Another book!

All gone! He loved his fries

Kyler -- December 2016

I love the holidays and it is so special when you get to share it with a kid like Kyler who just sees the wonder in everything. I was able to witness his excitement but also his giving heart too. We had a great time decorating cookies and he loved getting to pick out gifts and make special things for those he loves. Here are a few highlights of the holiday season with this sweet 5 year old! 

• Has a hard time when people to not want to sit with him or when Devin does not want to hug him when he is picked up from school
• Had a great time shopping at the school Love Bazaar with Grandma and he showed off how talkative he is to all that he meet.
• Was a huge help decorating spritz cookies
• Daddy had a great helper this year putting up outdoor lights
• Not good choices up front at church, looked almost like he had pushed a kid down
• Kyler loves to help prep candy and cookies, did a great job helping me to unwrap and set up the HUGS and pretzles
• At open gym at church did well playing with others and pretending to play "bear cave"
• When it was just Kyler and I we had a great time doing a snowball fight. Kyler kept asking how you win and I said "whoever has the most fun!" so he tried to put snow in my pants
• Kyler loves to play "real" basketball with Daddy
• In school, Kyler is learning about Christmas around the world, including Sinter Claus!
• Loves to dance in his car seat to Sleigh ride!
• Had so much fun playing with "Nunchucks of Lightening" that I made out of pool noodles
• At the Van Dyke party he brought me a plate of treats and did really well picking them out
• Kyler loved making star ornaments for his special girls on the Volleyball team
• His favorite Holiday Treat is Banket!
• Woke up one morning with a green shirt and red pants on saying "Look mom I am Christmas"
• Loves to play Alphabetty with Daddy, lots of spelling
• One conversation we had, "tripods have three legs but we only have two." When we asked what Duncan had he said, "He only has two the other are his arms."
• With the winter weather, Kyler was VERY excited to get to wear his storm-trooper slippers in school
• Woke up at 5am with a scary dream about going down the drain in the tub
• Did very well at the church and school Christmas concerts
• We went to see a very big light show and he loved it! So cool!
• Had a great time visiting with Great Grandma and brought her a poinsettia. You also played with a game she had and the ceramic tree that I used to play with too. 
• Sledding in the backyard is a lot of fun, but once we did go too fast and broke one of our neighbors lights
• Santa Tracker was a huge hit and constant excitement for Kyler. 
• At Christmas he wanted us to open our presents from him first, he really wanted to give!
• He bought me a pink yoga mat so that we could do yoga together
• Kyler bought Ryan some bungee cords for putting lights up outside (he must have loved doing it)
• For Devin, Kyler thought that since he loves music that he would like a musical toy
• Kyler was thrilled to get his OWN TABLET! 
• We made some Ninjabread cookies and they looked pretty cool
• Kyler loved getting to play Catan Jr over the holiday break
• Had a great time vising in Prineton, seeing Grammy at the library, visiting with Great Grandma Hodge and snuggling with Aunt Britani
• Sleep was not easy for Kyler, who said that Devin would wake up and just stare at him while he tried to sleep
• Kyler has very good hearing and overheard an adult conversation about a disagreement. Kyler said, "if you hurt someone you really need to say that your sorry."
• When Grammy asked Kyler is she should redecorate, he said that she should move her kitchen to the front of the house. 
• Kyler was pretty excited when I came home from shopping with a tie, he loves to be "spiffy"

This kiddo is really proud of his own tree!

He loved getting to do his Star Wars Advent calendar

This is about as good as it gets for these two cuties

Having fun showing Keira his new game

Playing ticket to ride, he loved it

We do love to read together

He likes to show everyone his new tablet

Hanging out with Great Grandma Hodge

Spending time with Great Grandpa Bebej

My little cookie helper!

He loves to lick the beaters!

Its messy but someone has to do it!

My little Ninja!

Look Mom! I look like Christmas

Sharing a snack with the guinea pigs

Playing games with Great Grandma Van Dyke

Snuggling with Great Grandma Van Dyke

Having some yummy food at Steak n' Shake

He is such a helper! Daddy loves it

Figuring out another puzzle