Logan's Glow-in-the-dark birthday party - December 8

For his birthday party, we had a Glow-in-the-dark party.  We put Christmas lights, black lights, and gave the kids LED lights and glow sticks.  The party consisted of all the people on the block with kids, Aunties Hope and Phil, and the Daniher family (or as Shane calls them, the red heads).

The kids loved jumping on the trampoline in the dark (Bapa and Gram held back the floodgates).  They also had fun playing statues, a little glow tag, and just running around like crazy people.

We had taken our pool down, borrowed some chairs from a neighbor, and put a firepit in the middle.  It was there that we had Logan blow out his candle (he picked out a big number 5).  Here he's flanked by Sadie and her friend, Dakota.

Daddy brings out the cake.

More glowy pictures...

Because of the slow shudder speed, you can see the streaks of the kids running around the backyard.

More streaks!

Julie holds Baby Bethany Sterner.

Cory Hoffman claimed to be the best marshmallow roaster.  Of course, if you are going to make such grandiose statements, you have to be ready for a little light ribbing.  Some one took glowsticks and made Cory a crown for the "King of the Marshmallows".

Thank goodness Mama and Daddy were down - Bapa manned the grill, and allowed us to mingle and get other things done at the party.  Mom washed dishes and made clean up so much easier!  I'm thinking this would be a great service to provide - cook and clean for people's parties so they can worry about their guests and not the actual party.

Logan had a great time at his first official birthday party.  Thanks to the Sterners, Hoffmans, Fontinopouluses, Settle-Simmons, Martins, Danihers, and of course, Bapa and Gram, for making it so much fun, and such a success!

Model Trains at the Train museum - December 8

While Shane and I were getting ready for Logan's birthday party, Gram and Bapa took the kids to the Train Museum just up the road (that I'm sorry to say, we've never even been to, though we pass it every time we go to Kroger).  Once a year, around Christmastime, they have a model train exhibit.

Bapa and Logan watch some of the trains outside.

Kayleigh actually climbed on to Santa's lap and told him she wanted markers for Christmas.  I think Santa just wanted cooler weather - Gram said, since it was in the 80s, this Santa took lots of breaks!

The kids also enjoyed the bounce house.

"Cheese!" Kayleigh and Logan pet one of the reindeer.

There was a "train" out back for the kids to actually ride in.

Having fun hanging out with Bapa!

Playing presents with Bapa and Gram

So I didn't know where to put this beautiful picture of Mom - it's her in action - with her amazing smile!  Anyway, I just love it.

Before Logan's birthday party, we let him open a few presents.  He got a Lego "trash truck" from Kayleigh (that he had picked out at Kroger and asked us several times if we had gone to Kroger to get), and the game Perfection from Bapa and Gram.

 Bapa and Logan work to put the trash truck together.

In fact, Mommy got in on the Lego action.  It was a team effort.

While we were working on the Lego truck, Kayleigh and Gram were working on Perfection.  They weren't perfect every time, but they had fun, and were surprised every time.

It made them laugh that they were surprised every time!

When Perfection had been played enough, Kayleigh colored some wooden ornaments.  Coloring is one of her favorite pastimes, and she is very proud when she stays in the lines.

Claymation Christmas - December 7

The grandparents and grandkids bonded over Claymation Christmas.  The kids were transfixed, and both fell in LOVE with the "Angels we have heard on high" and the skating walruses and scared penguins.  I thought Kayleigh was going to pee in her pants she was laughing so hard (of course, that wouldn't be anything new - the whole peeing in the pants thing).  She was a giggle factory!  It was so funny!

The kids are part Callicott - Claymation Christmas junkies!  Yay!

Dickinson Christmas Parade - December 6

Bapa and Gram came down to our house for a few days the afternoon of Wednesday, December 5.  It was great to have them down - on Thursday at lunch, while the kids were at school and Shane was at work, Mom, Dad, and I went to Panera (where Shane never wants to go).  It was so nice to have adult conversation with them.  It was seriously one of the highlights of the week for me!

On Thursday night, we went to the Dickinson Christmas Lights.  The kids loved it - they got a lot of candy!  Well, all they could pick up from what the floats threw at us...

Kayleigh really got the hang of it - even when her pants drooped down (and she had a little plumber butt - we couldn't get our cameras out fast enough for that picture).

The Dickinson Middle School float...

Don't know whose float this was, but it was pretty!

The parade started with all the fire engines and policemen with their sirens going.  It was crazy loud!  The marching band played, and we saw the JROTC march.  It was a nice small town parade.  Fun!

First Years Christmas Program - December 4

On December 4, the kids had their preschool Christmas concert.  The marched onstage, with bubbles in their mouths.

Both Kayleigh and Logan had big bubbles in their mouths.

 Our friend, Josie, was ready to sing, and Lucia next to her had a big bubble in her mouth!

Ms Kari stands behind the 4 year old class. 

Ms Karen helps keep order behind the 4 year olds (and Kayleigh - she was moved to be next to Logan.  I guess they were the only sibling pair this year).

Logan and Kayleigh crack up with their friend, Matthew, who was in Kayleigh's class last year, and who they see at the gym a lot.  They really enjoy Matthew and talk about him whenever they see him.

Before dropping Logan off at his class, Shane asked Logan to tuck in his shirt.  Ms Karen looked at Shane and said, "Do you really think that's going to happen?"  And she was right...

Even with his shirt untucked, he still looks pretty sharp!  And Kayleigh loves to sing "Jingle Bells".

 Santa came to the "after party" (aka cookies and punch).

And of course, there was the cookie buffet.  I told the kids to get 3 cookies.  After taking the first 3 cookies they saw, Shane had pity on them, and told them they could have more.

I took pictures of the Hoffman kids sitting with Santa.  Brock and Josie had no problem with Santa.

But when Joanie asked Gabe if he wanted to sit with Santa, he made a face and started walking away.  Yeah, he was NOT sitting with Santa.

The Hoffman family (our neighbors) - Josie, Joanie, Gabe, Cory, and Brock.

We had fun watching the kids recite their verse for the month (Matthew 2:1 - Jesus was born in Bethlehem.), sing songs (I love that they swished their arms on we WISH you a Merry Christmas), and watched a fabulous slide show of all the things the kids had done so far this year.  First Years is a fun and safe place for our kids!

Safety first! - December 5

One day, Logan decided to make popcorn.  The little guy never takes off his bike helmet once he puts it on, so he'll walk around for hours with it on!  I guess he puts safety first...

I had Logan spell popcorn by spelling it out and then find the button on the microwave.  He did!  So he made his own popcorn.  Good job, Loges!