the holidayzzzz

Holding on to the same balloon string.

Car Nap Hair.

Possibly Faking.

For Real Asleep.

BONUS:

Cousin Quinlynn can take a fall and keep on snoozin'.

Your 5th & 3rd Christmas on Earth

There were THINGS in our stockings.

Santa was here!

And look what he left us!  He knows what we like.

The "good" picture on our way to Christmas dinner.

"Did Jack just. ...?"

Falling down.

Daddy's turn!

Christmas Day Car Nap because you were
too excited to sleep in your beds at home.

They love their Emma.

First Christmas with facial hair.

Oma/Grandma, Emma, Gray, Jack, Jack's belly.

BB & Grandpa Mike

A sparkly slim tree, a couch of love, a magical Christmas night!

our Christmas monkeys

just dancing

When you were four and two, mommy remembered we have some dancing games. 

Guess what: you turned out to be good at them. And extremely entertaining to your parents.

whoops daisy tree decorating

Tonight we decorated our beloved Christmas tree for the second time.

It was pretty confusing to you to have hung the ornaments on it last night (the lights have been on for a couple of weeks) only to come down the stairs to a completely bare tree in the living room this morning. 

Grayson ruled out the Grinch because there were still packages underneath the tree, but was questioning our family's holiday traditions. Mommy tried to explain the fun that is non-LED lights (which has resulted in you somehow thinking our tree should be turned off even when we are looking at it).

So today Daddy picked up some new lights, and tonight we re-experienced the magic of decorating a Christmas tree, with lots of discussion about your favorite baubles (and your favorite colors and how to use a stool and please put that snow shovel away, we do not need it right now), and only three [more] broken ornaments. 

Jack says "Whoopsy daisy" every time, Gray goes with "Oh barnacles!" Mommy says, "Oh man..." and Daddy just asks for the handheld vacuum, which he eventually has to go get himself because no one else can reach it although you can 100% reach those snow shovels. 

kiss my ear

mom, will you please kiss my ear because it's very cold and breakable. 

-jack, half asleep

Happy Birthday, Oma!

Oma's Stubborn Fellows.

happy birthday, oma!

when you say.

when you (Grayson) say:

secret department store 

you mean

the attic 

happy veternarian's day, daddy!

you mean

happy veteran's day, daddy!

mommy, you're a GENIUS

it means

she untangled your slinky

mom, can we please drive by grandmom's house and see if she has any rice krispie treats?

it means

you love rice krispie treats almost as much as your mom.

howdy, partner

To discuss when you are older: "shameless flirting"

One time your grandparents in Pulaski had their annual yard sale. Lots of neighborhood folks stopped by, including a wonderful friend of the family who is also a police officer. She was wearing her very cool uniform. She is also quite pretty. At first you ducked under a table when you saw her, but a little while later you executed an elaborate route to get closer which took you through your great grandmother's apartment, through the laundry room and back outside. Then you asked me, your mom, to please ask her (sitting next to me) to watch you do a trick with your stomp rocket. Of course we all complied.  

Your stomp rocket skills were impressive but after ten minutes of that, you felt like you needed to up your game. And maybe also get closer. So naturally you began trying to balance objects on your head. (Mommy had actually never seen you do this before!) We could not believe our eyes and our police officer friend was delighted. Mission accomplished!  

By then you were comfortable enough to speak with her yourself.  But when it was soon after time to go inside for a nap and she asked for a hug goodbye, you blushed and started rubbing your face and said it was too, too itchy. And you ran inside saying maybe after your face stopped itching you could come back and hug.
I think you are my favorite four year old!
In the world.