Hallelujah

We have turned a corner!!  I know some of you have heard me comment on the endless fighting between my two lovely boys....it really wasn't horrible, but I had to supervise their playing 90% of the time to avoid one of them getting upset and biting/hitting/screaming or all three.  And by "one of them" I mean "Parker".  Mostly.

Well, last week something changed.  I don't know what it was, but it has been a GLORIOUS change: they play nicely!  They will play together - in fact, prefer to play together - for hours.  HOURS!!  No fighting, no arguing, no biting/hitting/screaming.  All I hear during their play times are things like:

L: Hey Parker, I don't want to play that game.

P: Ok Landon!

or

P: I'm Buzz Lightyear!

L: Well, I'm Zurg!  I'm going to get you buzz lightyear!

P: AAAAGGHHHH!  (ensue running, chasing, giggling)

or

L: Let's go on vacation Parker.  Do you have your suitcase?

P: Oh!  I'll go get it!  (runs and grabs an empty garbage can....which he then fills with his favorite toys)

L: Great!  We're going to New Mexico today.  Let's load our stuff onto the plane.

P: Ok!  I all ready.  Are we seeing Brad and Lisa and Eden?

L: Yep!  Let's go!  (they go into the closet, shut the door, open it and they are now in New Mexico)

P: Oh, hi New Mexico!

L: Ok, let's go to the aquarium....

I've covertly videotaped these exchanges, but Landon is too smart - he always sees the camera about 5 seconds into it.  There have been a few days where I've finished all my cleaning, etc. and they're still playing happily!  The first time it happened I just wandered around the house...it was totally surreal.  Anyway, it does my heart good to see them so happy together and playing so well.  They even put their arms around each other when we're walking sometimes...sigh.  I just hope this lasts for more than a week!!

One more funny quote (to show how organized my son is):

M: Guys, guess what we're having for dinner tonight?  Blueberry pancakes!

P: YEEEAAAHHH!!!

L: What!?  Is that for breakfast?

M: Yep, we're having breakfast for dinner!

P: YEEEEAAAAAHHH!!!!

L: What!?  And then we're having our regular dinner for breakfast tomorrow?

M: (laughing) No, we're just having breakfast tonight instead of our regular dinner.  It's special!

L: Oh.  Well, I like pancakes, but maybe next time you should just make supper.

I love my boys :)

Christmas, etc.

Ryan, Danna and Grant came over on Christmas morning to open presents.  Landon was really excited to help them open their quiet book:

We thought we were going to be able to stretch out the present opening (ie: play with one gift for awhile, then open another) but they were not having any of that!  They both just ran for gift after gift - they had so much fun!  We LOVE these Pook Toques from Grandma and Grandpa:

As you can see, we were playing Wii all morning!

In the afternoon we went over to Ryan and Danna's for Christmas dinner with the Ockey's.  Landon and Scotty (Danna's nephew) are great friends - they are always excited to get a chance to play!

The next day was my birthday and it was wonderful!  Scott sent me out shopping in the morning with my girlfriends (I couldn't believe the sales at GAP and Banana before noon!!).  After grabbing sales all morning we went and got pedicures and then sushi for lunch.  Later that night Scott made me a yummy peach cobbler for dessert:

Of course we had to play some dance, dance revolution (Disney - the kids love it!).  

We celebrated New Year's Eve with Ryan, Danna and Danna's parents.  They have a tradition of hors d'ouevres for dinner and we loved it!  I think we'll continue that one in our house as well.  Grant was already asleep in this picture, but he's there in spirit :)

Our little family.

Christmas Eve

We had a wonderful Christmas Eve - I think it might have been the perfect day!  We woke up to TONS of snow outside, so the boys and Daddy went out to play:

Then we all warmed up with hot chocolate....and kisses:

That night we had our good friends Rachel, Jeff and Brandon over for dinner and they brought along a few of their traditions.  This is Landon sprinkling the "Reindeer Dust" on our deck.  It's made with oats (so the reindeer don't get hungry), glitter (so they can see our house) and salt (so Santa won't slip and fall on his bottom).  They really loved it! 

Then of course we had to do our traditions.  Telling the Nativity story (the boys acted it out with their Little People nativity set), singing Christmas carols and putting out milk and cookies for Santa:

And you can't forget the Reindeer:

The aftermath:

Those darn Reindeer always drink out of the toilet...

(Landon was very concerned about this in the morning - he said "Mom, I think it's ok.  We can probably just flush it").

Haircut

Before:

After:

It feels so short!!!