Two Peas

Joseph loves to help me cook. He still doesn't ask to take the lead or complete many cooking projects, but is content to help measure and pour ingredients into the mixing bowl, stir, scoop, etc. It occurred to me a few weeks ago that the reason Maddie would fuss, grab my legs and scream to be picked up as soon as I would try to cook dinner or bake something is that she wants to help out too. Sure enough, giving her a full measuring cup or spoon to pour is right up her alley!

The other day I was making scrambled eggs for breakfast and Maddie wanted to help. I didn't want her sitting on the counter next to the stove, so I put her on the barstool across from the stove. Joseph hopped up to watch and they were quickly kicking their legs and giggling hysterically. They are just so cute together!

Additional Santa Visit Pictures

Here are a few more Santa pictures from Nana's camera that didn't make it into the last blog post. Joseph was just so excited, and Maddie wanted no part of Santa at all!

Seeing Santa

We were lucky enough to visit Santa twice this past Christmas season. Joseph was super excited, Maddie less so. The first time we headed to Cabela's with Jill while Joe and Gary were busy working on building the kids' play kitchen. We didn't know if we would make it in time, and the worker told us not to expect it. I let the kids wander around and check out the huge aquariums while Jill waited in line. 

They were amazed at the size of the fish and would have been happy to play there for hours! Jill moved closer and closer to the front of the line, so we went back to join her. At this point we had been waiting almost half an hour and has just a few families ahead of us, with just a few minutes left before Santa had to leave. 

 We were so lucky, and ended up being the very last family to see Santa! Unfortunately we had told joe and Gary that we probably would be out of luck, so they missed out. Maddie did not want any part of Santa until he offered her a candy cane, then he was tolerable. 

A week or so later, Joe and I took Joseph  to see a Christmas special performance at the Symphony. Joseph seemed to enjoy it, but you couldn't tell from this picture:

Afterward, we headed down to Union Station to see Santa's train with Jill, Gary and Maddie. Luckily the bad weather kept the crowds away so we didn't have a long wait. 

At first it seemed that Maddie was going to be ok with seeing Santa. She was an old pro now, right?  

Nope! 

This was probably the best picture we got. Oh well. Maybe next year she will learn that the big man isn't really all that creepy. 

Little Picassos

Tonight after dinner we decided to let the kids do something fun. Mason and Maddie hadn't really experienced finger painting before and I have a hard time finding the time to let Joseph do it, so it was a special treat tonight when I broke out the paints. 

Ashley was a little apprehensive but helped to strip the kids down to their undies/diapers. Mason must only get naked when he has a dirty diaper because he was very concerned that Joseph was stinky when he saw him in just undies! 

 

The kids has a blast and did great. Maddie was really serious about the whole thing and preferred the double fisted paintbrush technique. Joseph wanted to cover his entire palm with paint and then apply it to the paper. Mason thought the paint looked just as good on the paper as it did on his head. :)

Bubbles are fun!

Santa brought lots of bathtime excitement, in the form of bubble bath, bath paints and little boy shaving kit. These two love bubble bath time!

Sledding

I realized today how many pictures I have on my phone that need to be added so I'm going to so my best to update the blog bit by bit. Earlier this winter we has a few inches of snow, so we took the kids out to play. Joseph obviously remembered what it was like to play in the snow, but it was Maddie's first time. She loved it! She was totally fine slipping and sliding around and giggled all the time when joe pulled her around on the sled. Joseph wanted to throw snowballs at Joe but the snow wasn't cooperating.  I wish with all the cold weather we have had lately we would get some snow again for the kids to play!

Daddy's helper

I needed a few minutes away from the kids so I could get the final coat of urethane on the guest room vanity, so Joe took Maddie outside with him. She is turning into quite the helper, so he put her to work wiping down the back seat of his car. Service with a smile!