In Daddy's Shoes

All Tied Up

This is Ruby's latest obsession that is starting to get on our nerves. She loves to tie things up:


Any shoelace or spare bit of string, Bobby's ties or any belt that is lying around is not safe. She twists and ties them up so well that it'll take us a good 5 minutes to unwind them. The shoes are especially annoying because we usually don't realize she's done it until we need to put them on when we're leaving.

Sledding

We got quite a bit of snow last week and invited some friends to go sledding with us on Saturday. We had so much fun. This was Ruby's first time really sledding and she loved it, she even went down by herself. There were a few tears shed when she hit a ramp and flew off her sled and face planted in the snow. But other than that she had a blast. Jack, on the other hand, did not have fun at all. He spent most of his time in some stage of an emotional breakdown. He cried when snow got in his face going down. He cried when we were pulling him back up the hill in the sled and he fell over. He cried when we put him down on the ground so we could help Ruby. You get the idea.

This picture may document his only halfway happy moment. We buried all the kids in the snow and he was quite content moving the snow around with his hands.


Needless to say, we didn't stay too long at the sledding hill. But we did come home to doughnuts and hot cocoa.


And that made Jack one very happy boy.

Snuggles in the morning...

Ruby often asks to climb into the crib with Jack when he wakes up. There's usually sweet snuggles and lots of cuteness.

A little snow fun...

We woke up to snow last weekend and Ruby was thrilled. Our last few snows have been on days she couldn't play outside for different reasons and she was getting annoyed at being thwarted out of snow-playing. And since it was Saturday Bobby was home and was able to play with the kiddos.

We think we have to get a real sled to play with.

Making Doughnuts

I've made a few batches of doughnuts from recipes I've found online and they all originated from the Top Pot Hand Forged Doughnuts cookbook. So I made a little mental note and dropped a few hints that I wanted the cookbook for Christmas. My sister pulled through for me! And so far I've made blueberry cake:


And apple fritters:


We all loved them. Especially Ruby and Jack. We had the apple fritters for dessert last night and there was one left. Bobby and I were cleaning up the kitchen and I heard some commotion from the kiddos in the family room. I turned to see Jack running like mad around the sofa, apple fritter in hand....Ruby chasing after him screaming, "I want a bite! Can I have a bite?!"

Our next recipe to try is Boston Creams. Yum!

He just can't wait...

Nearly every time I make dinner Jack has a meltdown. He just loves to eat and can't stand that there is something food related going on that he's not a part of. So on Christmas Eve when I was getting dinner ready he took matters into his own hands. He busted into one of the suckers that a friend had given us. And he was content.

Our Christmas

We had such a beautiful little a Christmas this year, just our family, and it was wonderful. The festivities started on Christmas Eve with a couple last minute grocery and Santa shopping trips. Bobby wanted prime rib for our big dinner, so we had that and it was delicious! First time I had made it and I was a little proud of myself that it turned out so good.

And of course we had cream puffs for dessert. Ruby helped make them and was very excited to eat them....


With her sucker too....


And there was one little boy who couldn't get enough of his.





We ended our evening by reading about Jesus' birth in Luke and singing carols. Then we had a round of finding the pickle on the tree. (A German tradition my family's been doing for awhile.). The kids went to bed eagerly awaiting Santa....he made it safely, probably due to the fact that Ruby made sure Bobby asked for his safe arrival during our dinner prayer.

Bobby and I heard Ruby creeping down the stairs in the morning and find her stash. A trumpet!








And Jack had fun too.





But then the kids saw that Santa left a note that he left them something in the basement.

Opening presents from family came a little while later.











We had such a great time and the rest of the day was spent playing and being together. Ruby was right, it was the best day ever.

Watching Shows

The kids have started watching a show together in the afternoon. And it's just so cute. There's usually hand-holding, hugs and kisses involved.





Until Jack starts messing with the IPad, and then he gets kicked off.

Ruby's special ornament...

I decided this year to start a tradition to have each kid pick out their own ornament every year. Then they'll have a little collection to take with them when they're grown up. So I took Ruby to Hobby Lobby and said she could pick out whichever one she wanted. I thought the poor girl would never be able to choose. There was so much sparkle and glitter and pink that she was in heaven.

And she finally chose....this:


Ummm...what is it? Why it's a Jellyfish Ballerina Princess, of course.