New Developments

• We were reading about the lynx in a National Geographic Little Kids, and Max kept saying 'not a lynx, Mommy, a LINK.'  We tried to explain it was an X like in Max, but that didn't register.
• But Max HAS been working on his name with Miss Reinalda.  He was able to pick the word 'Max' off of each page in Where the Wild Things Are.  He can also identify M and X on the page.  We're working on A now....
• Evelyn went to her 4-month checkup yesterday.  She is 60% height, 68% head, and 30% weight, continuing the tradition of skinny babies with big heads in this house.
• Everyone comments on how happy and laid back Evelyn is.  During her checkup, she smiled and was happy the entire time.  The doctor kept saying 'they're NEVER like this!'
• Evelyn is quite the talker.  She coos and chats all. day. long.  It's a little scary, seeing as Max was never a coo-er and now he talks all the time.  I can't imagine TWO talky-talkers!
• Max's favorite part of church is the parades, which happen during Communion and when the choir comes down at the end.  On Christmas Eve, he called Communion a 'really, really big parade of families,' and kept saying 'we're in the really big parade' as we walked back to our seats.  He was quite excited about it!

Carrot Nose

The morning after Christmas, it was REALLY snowing - and sticking!  Max asked me for a carrot for his snowman's nose, so I took that as a sign that we needed to get outside and make one.  Check out our first snow man.

We also worked on the idea of snow balls.  Mommy was getting pretty good at tossing them on Max, until Steve showed Max how to throw them back!

Santa Claus Came to Town

It was a very exciting Christmas morning around here!  Evelyn was up early and supervised the adults finishing their chores.

 The tree was literally swimming in presents.

 And the stockings were laid by the chimney with care.

 Before coming downstairs, Max insisted that Daddy stop and read him 'Twas the Night Before Christmas one last time.

 Max was VERY excited to see that Santa had left half a cookie for him to eat!

 Santa is apparently a big Vandy fan.

 Max had his first bagel that morning.  He liked licking the cream cheese off!

 Evelyn watched all of the present unwrapping from the couch... until she fell asleep!

 We had lots and lots of fun playing with all the new toys!

 And Miss Liz came over for Christmas dinner (Daddy cooked lamb and it was yumm-o!).

Christmas Church

We all headed to the 5:30 Christmas service in two batches - the girls (with Miss Liz) went early to get a row, and the boys came right before it started.  The kids did great with church (though Max thought it was funny we went at night).  Evelyn wore the dress I wore for my first Christmas (thanks, Aunt Susan, 31 years later!)