Christmas

Capturing Isaac and Emma

If a series of photos has ever captured the interests of both of my kids better, I can't remember. Isaac the inventor, and Emma the baby-loving book reader.

She sits for long stretches with books, paging through them quietly. Studying them. Though she has an abundance of board books and other children's books available, she is not partial to them; you are just as likely to find her paging through her daddy's Jeep manual or her mama's current read as a kids' book. As far as I can tell, right now she has no favorite story, unlike her feelings about baby dolls (only the one baby of the ten available will do, thank you). Instead, her curiosity for books spreads far and wide, and she will listen to almost any story (so long as it isn't "scay-dey"). I hope this never changes.

Ever the creative, Isaac's inventive spirit has kicked into overdrive again recently. Here he is making a house for his beloved Wolfie. (And then it became a Minecraft costume for him when he colored it green and stuck Wolfie's head out the previously named window.) 

One morning last week I snuck out early to grab a couple groceries at the store. While there I saw a number of art supplies on clearance, and grabbed one drawing pad and a couple sets of colored pencils and crayons. When I returned home, I gave the kids the supplies, and Isaac went right to work, drawing Christmas scenes and wish lists endlessly. And he didn't quit that day or the next--not until he'd used the entire drawing pad, filling page after page with the scenes in his head. My boy. 

Christmas Baking

A much-loved holiday tradition in our family. And this year, Emma participated for the first time. Mostly in the eating department, but a little in the creating, too.

I love looking back at past years' baking photos. So many sweet memories already! And many more to come.

Isaac the Inventor

Isaac's imagination is in high gear again. His drawing skills have improved, with so much detail and creativity in each picture. He is beginning to ask how more than just his name is spelled, and practices writing words like 'love' or his friends' names. His stories and questions are complex; the questions sometimes difficult to answer. He is certainly an almost-five-year-old, as he tells people.

Today he was building with his Tinker Toys and invented a few different magical machines, including a floweranater (which is short for naturater, he tells me), a dragonanater, and the sunanater. Each had its own purpose--most of which can be deduced from the names. He can describe how each works in great detail, and he is very proud of his designs. As he should be.

She Colors

Colors her brother's Christmas wish list, that is. Always wants to be like big brother.

Another one of Em's favorite activities.

She Builds

Emma has been into stacking blocks, lately, and recently discovered the Duplos. She will sit and stack and connect for long stretches, talking all the while ("Baby! Oh, no! She cwying!"). I so enjoy watching the way her mind works in comparison to her big brother at her age. She builds ice cream cones and muffins with the Duplos, which is completely different from the buildings and ships of Isaac's days. So fun!

Also, this is our brand-new (and already well-loved) basement toy room! We hosted Thanksgiving dinner recently, which gave Ben and I the push to finally sort through the final boxes taking up all the room in this great finished space. Only took us five years. Yikes. The space will make for a great rec room when it is complete. For now, it works perfectly for the kids. 

The Finishing Touches

This boy decorated the majority of the tree by himself. When did he get so big?

And the one who undresses the tree.