Let it snow!

Two days after Christmas, Vermont got a big storm which dumped almost a foot of snow at my parent's house.  I would have loved to take both kids out on sleds, but we didn't bring our sleds with us, and no one had snow pants.  Luckily, Grammy and Grampy bought Connor new winter boots for Christmas, so he at least had those.  Later in the afternoon, while Maeve was sleeping, I took Connor out while Grampy used the new plow on the lawnmower.  I put Connor to work cleaning the cars.  He loved it!  Good to know for future storms.

Christmas in Vermont

I didn't get very many pictures of the kids opening up their presents on Christmas morning.  I usually steal borrow pictures from my Dad, but with 7 adults, 1 five-year-old, 2 babies, and 3 dogs, things got a little crazy, so I think there are minimal pictures of Christmas morning.  It was fun to see Connor actually get into opening presents this year.  What a difference a year makes.  Last Christmas we had to force him to open up his gifts, and this year we had to slow him down!  He actually needed a little break because it was still overwhelming to him, and he was just throwing his new presents around, eager for the next gift.  So we took a breather and that seemed to help a lot.  Maeve just wanted to eat the paper, and there was plenty to choose from, so she was happy.  She did like her stocking stuffers, though!

My mom made a(nother) delicious Prime Rib dinner with twice baked potatoes, broccoli with cheese sauce, and chocolate cherry flan cake for dessert.  YUM.  She did have a little time to cuddle with Maeve, in one of the rare moments when she took a nap.  The power of a Grammy cuddle can get any baby to sleep!

Christmas Eve... Eve

The annual Bouvier Family Christmas was held on Christmas Eve Eve at Brett and Erin's house this year.  We decided to have it a day early so that people weren't rushing around in between the Children's mass and "midnight" mass at 9 p.m.  It was much more relaxed and low key since we didn't have to hurry up and get everything done in a short period of time.  It was a lot of fun, especially since Santa made a guest appearance!  Even during his busy season, he found the time to pop by and give the kids an early Christmas present.  It was great to watch Connor as Santa entered the room.  He was fascinated.  He even sat on his lap (which he hasn't wanted to do in a few years).  He didn't say much, and was Mr. Serious, but he was taking it all in.

Connor spent most of the day playing with his cousins in the playroom that was adjacent to the living room.  All of the kids stayed in that room most of the day which left plenty of room for all of the adults.  And there are a lot of adults.  A lot.    

Maeve and her cousin, James, showed up with similar outfits on.  They were dubbed "Mr. and Mrs. Claus".

But, with 70 people in one house, it got a little warm, so off came the velour dress...

The day ended with a visit from some carolers and a viewing of Christmas Vacation.  We hope everyone else had a wonderful Christmas!

Fun Stuff

What did we do before the days of cell phone cameras?  I always keep my phone close by so I don't miss a thing!  I feel like I'm constantly snapping pictures of even the smallest little things that the kids do.  I want to remember everything about them because they change so quickly!

We put up our tree the other day, and Miss Maeve was all too curious about it.  She crawled right up to the tree and started grabbing the branches and pulling the tree skirt off.  She's also started pulling herself up on the furniture.  I'm so not ready for her to be "independent".  She always seems to have a mischievous look on her face like she's planning something.  I'm keeping my eye on that one.  I'm going to turn around one day and she'll be walking!

Oh... Hi Mommy!  I'm not up to anything...

This tree skirt's not for me?

Hammertime!

Connor has been quite the character lately.  He'll put on his Angry Birds blanket and just walk around with it on his head.  He's very much into playing with Daddy - especially lightsabers and hot wheels.  I can't believe how fast he's growing up and changing.  He talks our ears off, even if sometimes I'm not quite sure what he's talking about.  He's actually excited for Christmas this year, but he told me he doesn't have to like Santa.  He wants presents, but I think Santa still creeps him out a little bit.  I don't blame him.  It's a little scary to think about a man coming into your house in the middle of the night!  He also seems to be having fun with our Elf on the Shelf, Chip.  Chip has actually helped Connor get started in the morning.  He'll wake up just to look for Chip!  

Tuckered out from a long day at school

Connor's first gingerbread house!

Fun with Gummy Worms

My little Angry Bird!

Oh, Chip!

Obi Wan Connor

Work it Girl! And Boy... and Dog...

As Christmas is fast approaching, I was determined to get a good picture for a Christmas card.  I had the style of card picked out, I just needed some good pictures to go with it.  Luckily, I had three littles who didn't mind having their pictures taken at all.  Bailey knew exactly what was going on, and he was first on the couch with hardly a wince at having to wear a Santa hat!  Maeve was just happy to be next to Bailey.  She absolutely adores him.  They are BFFs.  Connor needed a little bribing, so we told him he could play his video game if he took some pictures.  It worked!  Now, this is not to say that there weren't some bad pictures.  Three very active little people make for some blurry pictures, but sometimes seeing the outtakes are just as much fun as getting the perfect picture!

We hope everyone is enjoying their holiday season!

I'll just chew on my foot while I wait.

This one is a little R rated, thanks to Bailey!

Seven Months!

It's hard to believe Maeve is already seven months.  She's growing so fast and desperately trying to keep up with her big brother.  She's been crawling for over a month and just this past week she started sitting up on her own.  She even got up on her knees to play with a toy on her vibrating chair.  I have a feeling she's going to be walking early.  You can just tell she wants to do whatever the "big people" are doing.  I love watching her grow and learn, but I wish she'd slow down.  She doesn't have to grow up quite so fast!

We are so blessed to have this happy girl in our lives.  Happy seven months, little girl!

The Best Decisions

It's been two and a half months since Connor started Kindergarten.  And I have to admit, when he first started, I kept wondering if we had made the right decision.  In Stoughton, he wouldn't have been eligible for Kindergarten until next year, but I really felt he needed it - not only the structure, but the socialization.  I knew it would be difficult for him, especially when the months preceding his start of Kindergarten his behavior at daycare was less than perfect.  But Joey and I both felt that he needed a challenge, and that meant sending him to Kindergarten in Brockton (because I work for the school system, we're allowed to send our students to Brockton schools).

The first few weeks of school were rough.  His teacher told me that he would wander, just leaving the classroom, or the line, or the lunch table, whenever he felt the urge.  He ended up at a peanut-free table at lunch and he most likely had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with him.  In class, he wouldn't respond to his name, and when he spoke it was barely audible.  Connor wasn't following directions very well, and this had his teacher concerned.  I was concerned, too.  I had knots in my chest every day that I dropped him off, hoping that he would be alright, and they wouldn't go away until I picked him up at 3.  I questioned whether we made the right choice, but always knew that because of his younger age that all of these things were going to be an issue.

Skip to November and parent-teacher conferences.  His teacher said in her twelve years of teaching, she's never seen a kid start where Connor started and be where he is now in such a short period of time.  He's actively involved in his learning, he raises his hand, participates in class, stays in line, stays at the lunch table, listens to his teachers, and follows directions.  He's great at Math and ELA, and always does his work.  It's amazing.  To say it was a relief is an understatement, but I'm also extremely proud of him.  We've worked very hard at all of these skills, and to see him flourish makes me one proud Momma!

Since I pick Connor up every day, I get to see how he is socially.  He's gone from being "very shy" (as he would say), to giving kids hugs and waving goodbye.  I pick him up from extended day and everyone is saying "bye, Connor Estee!"  Teachers and custodians know him by name, and I hear him talking their ear off as they walk him to the cafeteria to start his day.  He makes it a point to chase a kid down at dismissal JUST to say goodbye.  Yesterday he was dismissed at the same time as a girl who had an eye patch.  She gave him a big hug goodbye and said "I love you", and Connor said "I love you, too".  My heart melted.

Joey has even said that he's noticed a difference in how Connor plays at home.  He's more apt to try new ways to play and involve others, rather than just focus on one way to do something and continue to do that over and over.  Needless to say, we feel that even though it was tough at first, that we absolutely made the right decision.  Connor has blossomed.  Even though there are still plenty of things to work on, he has come so far in such a short amount of time.  I'm so very proud of him and how hard he works each and every day!