Christmas Fun

The past few weeks have been jam packed with Christmas fun. First up Zane's big holiday choir performance at the mall. Zane has been looking forward to being in choir since our neighbor was in it last year. Zane is my little performer and choir is right up his alley. They only got to practice for three weeks so I wasn't sure what to expect. The music teacher at Zane's school is phenomenal and they kids sounded amazing. I am not sure how people listen to children's choir and not sing. I can barely keep it together every time I hear them. Zane was standing in the back row, which should have been the top of the risers, but they didn't have enough for Deer Creeks huge choir. It was apparently choir day at the mall and DC's choir was the biggest and, in my unbiased opinion, the best!

 The whole Blakley crew came to hear him sing as well.

Zane with his amazing principle Mrs. Anderson. Zane loves her and was so excited that she came out to watch them sing.

 The following day, last Thursday, was the Kinder lunch at school. The kindergarteners sang Merry Hula then we got to eat lunch with them afterwards. If you tell Rowan he's singing a Hawaiian song he is for sure going to dress the part. This inspired Zane to also wear a Hawaiian shirt on what ended up being the day Santa come to school for pictures. So it's a very Hawaiian Christmas feel all around. Rowan was front and center and took his singing very seriously, paying extremely close attention to teacher at all times, while trying to smile.

 Zach was out of town for both of these performances so they were some crazy days of running around, followed by single parenting in the evening, but I am so glad I got to be a part of all the Christmas fun.

 Rowan and our favorite music teacher Ms. Cochlin. Rowan got to go to all the choir practices before school with Zane because Ms. Cochlin loves my kiddos and we love her as well.

 While Zach was out of town the big boys also had a Cub Scout pack meeting which meant I got to pretend to be a Lion Den leader while he was gone as well. Lot's of silly fun with our two little Lions.

Then I was back at school Friday morning to hear the choir sing again at Antler Alert. My favorite song they sung was All I Want For Christmas is You because the boys got to sing the "and I" harmony. I will forever think of Zane singing his little heart out, proud of his harmonizing ability.

 Sweet baby Worth has been working through tummy issues, like you do when you're one month old. Which means his exhausted parents sometimes let me hold him for hours at a time. I can handle a crying baby for long periods of time, during the day, so I'm happy to help hold this darling boy. My boys are also a huge fans of having a baby around and frequently request another brother. I would if I could kiddos.

 Absolutely nothing I love more than a tiny baby head on my shoulder. He's trying to lift his head up, at which point babies become slightly to big for me so I soaked up every second of this amazing cuddle.

 Thatcher loves the baby and continually acts very surprised at his existence. "AHH BABY!" So stinking cute.

 During our baby sitting day Rowan might have been the person who made him the happiest. This was true at family dinner on Sunday was well. I think he might have inherited my baby whispering gene.

 Last Saturday we woke up to Gary's annual candy cane hunt, where I might have let slip that I hid the candy canes. I managed to save face by saying I had just bought the candy canes for Gary. I've been waiting for Zane to ask me about Gary or Santa being real this year, but so far he's blissfully enjoyed all the magic of the season, whether he is questioning it or not I'm not sure. I am just happy to have one more magical Christmas with my boys.



 Thatcher was very enthusiastic about finding candy canes, as he is about everything Christmas these days. He also turns out really likes eating them and leaving pieces of candy cane all over the house.

 Last Saturday afternoon we went to Aunt Abbey's annual Holiday open house. She had an amazing spread of food, which was all delicious, and we had a great time catching up with lot so friends and family.

 On Sunday we all came to my house to finally get a picture of all eight of the Blakley Grandchildren in their buffalo plaid outfits. Mom has been collecting buffalo plaid jackets for all the kiddos this winter in hopes of getting all the Grandkids in one picture. Needless to say getting eight kids, three of which are under two, to sit still for a picture is no small feet. So we took what we could get, sadly Thatcher was losing his mind before the grown up made it into the picture.

Yes, those are all real smiles thanks to the adults spewing potty words at the crowd of children.

This week the Christmas fun continued with all sorts of Gary fun. One day while the boys were at school he put mustaches on all their animals. Personally I think Woody looks pretty great with a mustache. I spent all day Wednesday wrapping and sorting presents getting done just in time to join the big boys in their classrooms for winter parties.

 Zach was out of town Wednesday and Thursday again this week. I took the boys out for celebratory dinner since Wednesday was their last day of school this year. I cannot believe the school year is halfway over. I am pretty sure they started school last week. This picture is also to document Zane's half birthday which he thought we were also celebrating.



 Thursday morning the holiday choir had two more senior centers to go sing at, but Zane wasn't feeling the best. He and Rowan both have been battling colds/coughs all week which meant by the time we got to the second center Zane was fully done with singing. He's exhausted and not feeling great, which meant we got to spend yesterday at getting both big boys antibiotics for ear infections (Rowan) and a sinus infection for Zane. I'm hoping everyone is healthy by Christmas.

 Thursday after we attempted to sing I did get to take Zane and his best buddy out for pizza. This girl has never been in his class, but they found each other early in kindergarten and truly are kindred spirits. They have the exact same personality and I had so much fun taking them to lunch. I love that they have found each other and that we live in the same neighborhood so they frequently get to play together.



 This year we have been using our advent wreath/candles. When I was a child my sister won a wreath like this in some sort of drawing at church (or at least that's how I remember it). It looked just like this but was purple. I remember we never could find candles small enough to fit into the tiny candle holes. A few years ago while Mom and I were at Hope Outreach, searching for Christmas village buildings, we found this advent wreath. It looked just like the one we had when we were growing up, probably given away because the people could find tiny purple and pink candles. This year I ordered candles and Zach cut them down to fit into the tiny holes. I have loved having it on the table and lightening the candles during dinner each night. It's a great way to calm the Christmas crazy whirling around us. It's a great reminder to re-center, remember what the season is all about, take in all the memories, soak up every minute, because before I know it another Christmas will be over.





Ten on Tueday

1. December is flying by as I expected it would. Gary arrived shortly after Thanksgiving with this note encouraging the boys to find ways to be kind this holiday season. So far we have bought presents for angels off the angel tree at church, bought toiletries for Christmas bags B's service group was making for the homeless, wrote our teachers thank you notes, and was able to give our old TV and TV stand to a Deer Creek family who lost their home to a fire earlier this month.

 He is also up to his normal shenanigans,

 playing with the Potato Heads,

 and he brought a a little puppy friend for Thatcher, who T named Sammy.

 Gary is a huge spice fan!

 2. Thatcher and I had the absolute pleasure of going over to Able's and holding a sweet baby boy while he and Kari got some sleep last week. Thatcher was wonderful with the baby, minus his desire to tickle him towards the end of our visit. Thatcher read Worth a book and gave him lots of sweet little pats.

 3. Last Friday we braved a literal tornado watch to try to fit in some holiday fun. We went to the botanical gardens to see their gorgeous lights and the big boys tried their hands at ice skating. Zane and I had tried to ice skate a couple years ago and it did not go well. This was Rowans' first attempt, and as expected he was amazing. Zane is just too big to be very graceful on the ice and it ended up being less than fun for Zane.

 

 We made a quick stop at the new carousel before it started raining. Strangely enough this carousel has no music, which just seemed wrong.

 Look at this big boy riding his own nah nah.

 4. It's very festive at our house now a days as well. This little reindeer friend who is on our porch this year gets hugs from Thatcher every time we leave or come back home. "Huggies!!" Christmas is just more fun with a toddler.

 5. We decorated gingerbread houses one day after school. For the sake of full disclosure these happy pictures of my boys having lovely Christmas fun together lasted about as long as it took me to take them. They decorated their house by themselves this year, which was lots of fun, but the moment they were done meltdowns began from all of them. Turns out the Christmas season doesn't prevent the normal every day fight about things like putting away your clothes.

 Thatcher was really just there for the candy. He can get his brothers to give him whatever he wants when ever he wants it, including bowls of candy upon his request. There are perks to be the ignored third child when your brothers are so kind.

 6. This weekend was the first weekend that I was off both days in awhile. There had been predicted a massive snow/ice storm, which of course never materialized. The boys had plans for an epic blanket fort and movie watching while it snowed. We still had an amazing fort, complete with pizza on the floor, but no snow.

7. The big boys and I got a last minute invite to the Oklahoma City University college of dance winter performance Saturday afternoon. We were happy to spend a few hours with Aunt Anna watching all forms of dance and performance. I was surprised by how much Rowan loved it and Zane is my little theater kid so of course he had a great time. Zane apparently had been to this auditorium before to see Pinocchio last spring with Mrs. Austin. Zane is very cultured.  

 Aunt Anna with three of her nieces, he Godson, and little Rowan. We love Aunt Anna, thanks for the invite!

 

 8. I introduced the boys to the beauty of a choco taco this weekend. I think this is going to be a new holiday tradition. The boys were amazed by this delicious chocolaty taco. Yes, Thatcher got his own and ate most of it by himself.

 9. Sunday we spread some holiday cheer at a senior living center in town. Pack 348 came and sang Christmas carols for the residents. It was beyond adorable and I think Thatcher may have stolen the show. Thatcher walked around, waving at all the little old ladies, saying hi, dancing, and boisterously clapping after every song, "Yaaahh Bobo!!!"

 Thatcher's cuteness might have been second only to the little old man who was playing the piano when the cub scouts arrived to begin their practice. The Cub Scout leaders asked if he would like to accompany them while they sang and he jumped right in. He was the sweetest guy and I am sure getting to play the piano for a group of adorable cub scouts just made his day. All the boys went around and shook every one in the audience, and their piano player's, hands when they were done singing. It was just the sweetest thing ever.

 10. As I mentioned above Christmas is just more fun with a toddler. Zane read Thatcher the pop up book version of The Night Before Christmas last night. This excitement seen below, complete with squeals of delight, happened with every new page. Not to mention his excitement in seeing Santa "Tanta." How can I make time stop right now??

Side note: I cannot begin to describe how wonderful my boys relationship with Thatcher is. Thatcher adores them both, can say their names, but refers to them lovingly as Ro Ro and Bo bo. He requests a bath with Rowan every evening and frequently brings Zane books to read to him. Currently their age difference seems perfect. I pray it stays that way and that as they grow old Thatcher doesn't feel terribly left out.