Monsters, snow, and playdough

SNOW!

Silas playing with his playdoh movie snacks set.

Thanks, Uncle Denny and Aunt Karen!

Phin working on his

"No monsters allowed" sign.

It's now hanging on the door to the boys' room.

Caleb drew the monster.

Phin and LEGOS: a match made in heaven

Not sure what he's building here, but he's following the instructions

(he calls them "constructions") intently.

I think this is General Grievous's ship.

Thanks, Grandma and Grandpa Sawyer!

He built the droid factory from one of the Star Wars movies.

Random fun and snuggles

Cool cookies we made using Phin's new

Star Wars cookie cutter (and my first

attempt at Royal icing. The verdict? Royal icing doesn't

taste good enough to bother with.)

Phin dressed as Indiana Jones.

Watching TV: probably either

Diego or Backyardigans.

Phin as General Grievous.

We've had lots of epic light saber battles

with all Phin's new electronic lights and sounds

light sabers!

New Years

New Years' Eve brought another visit from Great Aunt Nancy, and we all spent the night at Grandma Jane's.

New Years' Day, Phin reading with Great Aunt Nancy.
Great cousin Miriam and Donnie came up, and we had Christmas #3!

Winter (?) at the Zoo

Since we had free passes that were going to expire and it was supposed to be unseasonably warm, we headed to the zoo on New Years' Eve.

Christmas #2

Grandma and Grandpa Sawyer stopped in Pittsburgh on their way home from Colorado to have Christmas with us!

"Christmastime, not Christmas day."

I spent a lot of time this holiday season explaining that we got to do a lot of fun stuff because it was Christmastime, but not necessarily Christmas day. So this was a theme for us. Here's some cool stuff we did because it was Christmastime, but not Christmas day.

Early December: decorating the tree with

Grandma and Grandpa Heasley.

They got the boys a battery operated Polar Express

train to go under our tree!

December 18: cookie day with Bovards!

Max and Phin (especially Max) were champion

cookie decorators this year!

December 23: making a gingerbread house

at Great Grandma Jane's.

December 27: checking out the train display with

Great Aunt Nancy and Great cousin Willie.