Merry @ 4 preview

Merry is turning 4 this week. I took a few pictures of her after school yesterday. This is one of my favorites.

Christmas Eve and Christmas day

So I think I had some small fingers fidgeting with the switches on my camera because I just noticed after I loaded these images that are really blurry that a couple of switches were not in my usual settings.

Note to self: put camera out of Merry's reach.

Christmas Eve we performed our annual nativity play.  Jacob played Joseph.  Merry played Mary.  Grace was a sheep, angel, and wise man.  Brian played the donkey, shepherd and wise man.  I was the narrator and King Herod.  

A picture of Grace holding still, which doesn't happen often these days.

I do brush her hair sometimes.

Merry checking out the treat we were providing for Santa and company.  You would think she was interested in the cookies, but she actually ate the carrots.  Then we had to replenish the plate before the reindeer came.  

Jacob's gourds he grew this year are in the background.

Christmas day our kids slept in late.  Apparently fabric stores here do not see the need to stock Christmas flannel.  Merry had to make do with lambs and Jacob with moose.  The red blur is Grace in her Christmas PJ's from last year that finally fit.  

Merry makes gift giving easy because she gets excited about everything.  She got a jump rope in her stocking and she started jumping up and down screaming I got a jump rope, I always wanted a jump rope, now I have 3.  She also took a victory lap around the living room every time she opened a gift.

Grace was excited about her new "mamie" (what she calls her baby dolls).  She also got a little high chair to put her in.  She was convinced that the high chair is big enough for her.  She kept trying to sit in it and pull the lid down.  After that didn't work she tried to climb through the top.  Several topples later, she finally realized that her doll fit better.

Jacob was very excited about a bird identification book.  I will have to brush up on my ornithology because he wants me to read it to him at night and tell him about all the birds.  Brian and I also have sore thumbs from trying to help him conquer Mario Bros.

Kids make the holidays so much better.

A little late- Merry Christmas

Visit with Santa, parties and other December stuff

We made the obligatory visit to Santa, the conversation went something like this.
Santa: What would you like for Christmas
Jacob: I would like a sponge bob game
Merry: The one where sponge bob's eyeballs bounce

Santa: What would you like for Christmas
Merry: Some tools
Santa: Some toys
Merry: No, some tools
Santa: Okay I'll bring you some toys, do you want a candy cane?
(Gotta make a mother proud)

Grace was wise enough to stay away from Santa- instead she happily downed a sugar cookie the size of her face.

Next a brief summary of the Christmas parties that I remembered to take my camera to.

Merry and the rest of her 3-4 year old preschool class sang Feliz Navidad and Decorate the Tree.
Merry's version goes Feliz Nanida. It also says "on the bottom of my heart" somewhere in there.

Merry and Grace went to a cookie decorating party. Grace mostly ate the decorations

We had a grand time at Jacob's class party. Who wouldn't when popcorn, cupcakes and Hi-C are involved.
Sometime in December the kids bathroom looked like this.
Fortunately it doesn't anymore.
I had to open my Christmas present slightly early to finish up the project.

More about December

Funny story, we went to the kids party at USAA last weekend which was really, really fun. But the funny part came after the party when we went to leave. We decided to take one of the escalators down to the parking lot. Now USAA has the skinniest 1 person escalators that move at super speedy turbo pace. We also had our sit and stand stroller with us that Brian carried down the escalator. Funny part still coming. We got down to the next floor and realized that we couldn't get out of the turnstile and there was no up escalator. Brian's worst nightmare had come true he was stuck at work. So we decided to run back up the super, turbo speed escalators. I took Grace and went up and then Brian got his thigh work out bringing Jacob and Merry up. the problem was the stroller. He couldn't fit back up with it even folded up. Finally Brian had to run back up and go find a security guy and let him out the security door. We were the last to leave the party but we didn't have to abandon the stroller.

On the 1st of December

On the 1st of december we decorated rice crispy houses.

Or rather Merry ate frosting.
Jacob decorated his house.
And Gracie ate all the jujy fruits.

November Recap

Jacob's soccer is finally over so I am finally posting some pictures.
I don't know where he learned to throw elbows.

Check out the yoga pose in front of the goal.

Nice port-o-potty shot

We went to Kingsville to visit the Cabasmellios (Caballeros) and to attend the King Ranch Ranch hand breakfast.

Here are the cousins checking out the longhorns.

Racing with the cousins.

Gracie, boogers and all.

Merry loved the donkeys and kept asking if she could get in the pen and hug and kiss them.
I am pretty sure she would have had an asthma attack.

Merry's new best friend.

The Cabasmellios in downtown Kingsville.

Unfortunately I never take pictures at Thanksgiving. Brother Dan came to cook. So all I had to do was set the table and mash the potatoes. Sister Emilie and fam came to eat Dan's good cooking too. Then the Cabasmellios came to visit for the weekend. We had a smashing good time. We played Ticket to Ride and Tangos and ate lots and lots. Dan brought his P90X workout, which is definately not for fat, out of shape pregnant ladies.