Phone Pix

Santa at Wings and Strings

Ares making his gingerbread house at Lowe's.



Ares making cookies at Grandma Venus' house.

He was very meticulous - he had to use the sprinkles in the same order that they appeared in the sprinkle container (5 or 6 different kinds of sprinkles) even though most of the sprinkles actually landed next to the cookies.



"Mom, I Love You But....

... I'm not going to get the mail with you today."    On Friday it was "...I didn't want to put paint on my foot."   (I guess it was a classroom project.)

Anytime he knows he's going to say something that might hurt my feelings, he either starts with "Mom, I love you but" or he ends with "but I still love you.".   It's nice to hear.  OK, I lie, it's the best thing EVER to hear - my kid telling me he loves me.

He's Write!

Ares and I went to watch Adam play soccer yesterday, and during the second half, he asked if he could write my name.  Fortunately, he happens to know how to write every letter in my name.  He knows about 8 or 9 letters, but all 5 in my name.  So here's his rendition of "ATHENA".   Remember, he's only 3.  The whole spacial-recognition isn't there yet.   (The A with the circle around it in the center of the page was drawn earlier, it's not a part of my name.)

He started on the left, the "T" is above the first "A" and went down toward the right, ending with "Super-A" as he called it, that happens to be above the "E" and "N".   Not bad for a three year old.  He's left handed, so it might never get better. haha

Fun Christmas Stuff

Ares let us do a half hour photo shoot with him last night.  At 8:30PM.  I'm not sure what I was thinking (lies - I wanted to get some Christmas-sy photos for the photo books I'm making for our Grandparents.  And you all know how I am, I want to do something - I want to do it NOW.)  I'm very lucky that Ares was cooperating with us.  If he hadn't, it would have been my fault. I mean, I typically put him in bed at 8:00, so starting a photo shoot around 8:30, not one of my brightest moments.  At least it worked out for us.  This time.

Adam got some really cute pictures - and I'll post after our grandparents get the books, no point in ruining the gift ahead of time.  But here's a general idea.  Note:  The candycane isn't in the final picture, nor are the fingers in the mouth.  haha. 

He thought it was the coolest thing, to be wrapped up in Christmas lights.  Seriously.  Since Adam was shooting with the flash off, Ares had to be SUPER still for up to 5 full seconds at a time.  That's an eternity in 3 year old time.  Actually, I lie, there was one little subdued flash that was focused on one spot.  So not only could Ares not move after Adam clicked the shutter, but he had to keep his head in a specific spot before that, so his face is lit up.    Therefore, the candycane at 8PM was a bribe, as was a half hour of cartoons.   Food and TV as bribery, again, mother of the year.   But we got some good pics - I promise, better than the one above.  I'll be sure to post it after Christmas for all to see.

We do participate in Elf on a Shelf.  Ares totally does not understand the premise.  I might as well threaten no yogurt for breakfast or no book before bed because the Santa-not-coming to him is like an idle threat.  Maybe next year?  Meanwhile, Adam has fun with it.

Hey baby, I'm an elf and you're a fairy....

... let's make a gnome!

Nap Time

Ares is pretty much an every other day nap taker now.   We put him down for his nap today, and when he woke up an hour later, (we know he went to the bathroom twice), he told us he only read five books when he was up there.  I asked if he slept at all, and he shook his head yes.  I wondered how long, and he looks me straight in the eye, and with the most serious look/voice he says "I slept like, 8 hours!" Then flashed that Ares-smile that makes everyone giggle and went on his merry way.

At least when we put him down for a nap, if he doesn't sleep, he does stay up there quietly reading books for a long time.

Today we also got to see Uncle Justice and Aunt Katie.  He runs in the house and yells to them "I saw Santa TWICE today!  I'd never seen him TWICE before!"    Thank goodness he decided to NOT be as observant as he is for other things, because the Santa's (one at Lowe's and one at Strings and Wings) did not look anything alike.  It was an exciting day for him though.  Tonight we get to see Cassie and Anna - he is so excited I can't get him to sit still for anything.  Guess the haircut must wait until tomorrow.

Where's the Reindeer?

We're driving home, and see a house down a street that has a lot of Christmas yard tack out.  So we drive by the see everything out, and Ares notices there's an inflatable sleigh, with Santa, presents and lights, but no reindeer.  Here's our Conversation:

Ares: Mom, where's the reindeer?
Me: I don't know, there's some over there *pointing*
Ares: No, there's a sleigh behind those deer, but there's no reindeer by that big sleigh.
Me: Well, maybe they got hungry and went to get some water and food.
Ares: What?  Why?
Me:  Because they can get tired from flying all of the time.
Ares:  They don't fly mom!  *said in a 'your-crazy' tone of voice*
Me: Yes, they do, reindeer fly, that's how Santa gets around, isn't it?
Ares: Yes, but those are just ornaments! They can't fly!

Do all teenagers start to get their attitude at the age of three?   It wasn't a bad attitude, just a "mom, you know nothing, I know everything" attitude.   *sigh*

The Perfect Little Boy Advent Calendar

My mom doesn't use Pinterest (yet).  It's my ultimate goal to get her on there.  She's so crafty, and has great ideas, we can all benefit from her being on Pinterest.  This year, she put together an advent calendar for my son.

My 3 year old wakes up every morning, and asks if it's "December xx".   He actually knows the date each morning, because he knows which number car he gets next.  He slept over Grandmas last night, so we brought him home this evening, and he asks us "Is it December 6th?"  I told him it was, and he responds "Then I can open the #6 advent car!?!"   (Not even realizing that St.Nicholas visited last night.)

For the third year in a row, wants 'cars' for Christmas.  Sure, he loves the Hulk and the Ninja Turtles, but he still asks for cars.  So each day in December, his wish comes true...

...using a micro-machine type of car, stretchy ribbon and Christmas labels.   It was so simple for her to do.  She tied a knot around the center of the car, tight enough that it won't go anywhere. Since it's a stretchy material, when it comes time to take it off, all I need to do is pull a little to get it out from around the wheels - and I have the happiest kid - EVER.  Genius, my mother is a genius.  Ares even thinks that this calendar is better than the chocolate one.  I know - my kid said that!

I might have to do something like this next year too.  If you have a girl, maybe some Polly Pockets or little doll house furniture?  You could probably furnish an entire house with 24 days!  

Ares' Christmas Concert

It was pretty fun.  For the first fifteen minutes we were there, Ares and Lukas ran around like crazy men.  Later, Davis and Ares started talking into the microphone.  They were hilarious!  Ares did very well the first couple of songs.  I wish he would have kept his fingers out of his mouth, but I can't complain.

The next few songs though, he just stood there with his fingers in his mouth.  At first, it was driving me nuts, but then, I looked around.  There were a total of 4 boys that were just standing there - not singing.  Ares, Davis, Lukas and Colt.  Our four inseparable boys.   I think Darah and I laughed so hard we were crying.  the ONLY four not singing - ours.  lol. 

Mom, Adam and I all got there early, and tried to take pictures of him.  He was happy to see us, and happy to be there, but not happy to take pictures - that is, until I told him that Grandma and Grandpa Doug weren't going to make it, and they want to see him smile.  He smiled huge - but refused to look at the camera.  I think Adam got one good picture
After the concert, Ares was ALL hugs and kisses.  He was SO happy!  Mom and I got a HUGE 'squeezie' hug that lasted a couple of minutes, and Aunt Cindy, Kassi and Mike all got giant 'squeezie' hugs as well, for a long time.  He was so happy.  It. Was. Awesome.   The day ended with cookies and juice (although, Ares wanted water) and a sleepover for Ares at Grandma's.  That worked out well for Adam and I.  He had work to finish at home and wasn't feeling well, and I got to upload video and go to bed early.   Love my family!

Peanut Butter Cup Cookie

Sounds good, right?  Well, that is, unless you're a little 3 year old with a peanut allergy.  I was at work. Ares with family.  It was a homemade cookie that no one in the room knew what was in it.  The kid took a bite, and started coughing, and then complained that something was in his throat.  Then, his stomach was hurting him.  My aunt took a bite of the cookie, and (apparently) has no taste buds, (haha!!).  She gives him some sort of allergy medication and calls me.  She determines that it wasn't nuts, and that he's just freaking out because they were worried.  He's doing better (aside from a tummy ache) and calls me crying.  I tell him his stomach hurts because he was coughing so much, and he'll feel better after he gets some water in him.  Auntie calls him a drama queen - I agree (since she said there wasn't any PB in the cookie). 
Fast forward another 10 minutes - Ares is projectile puking in the car, and then in a parking lot.  
Fast forward 8 hours (he's fine, by the way), Kassi and I take a bite of a similar cookie, there is no doubt peanut butter in there (for the record, the cookie was yummy!).  It seems like each time he has PB, the symptoms get worse and worse.

I guess I need to get another EPI pen prescription for him.  =(  Poor kid.    He was telling his mousie last night that he 'throwed up'. 

Wait, we had a Weekend?

I'm not sure I remember it, or can recall relaxing - once.   It started with Ares and his friends (never, EVER relaxing) at Lowe's to put together Sandman's Plane.  They all had a good time, and LOVED 'flying' their planes around the store.  It was cute. for a bit. 

Katie's birthday was this weekend, so we all went out to a nice lunch after the Lowe's trip.  It was pretty relaxing, except they made Ares the wrong thing, and then only brought half of his food out roughly 10 minutes after everyone else started eating.  Luckily, Adam got two mini burgers and gave Ares one to hold him over.     I think this kid is going to grow 5" next week.  He has been eating non-stop.  I mean, two breakfasts, two lunches, two dinners... last night, he had his second dinner at 8:30PM and then woke up at 3AM asking for more food.    Adam didn't let him have any, but Ares woke up this morning "starving".

After lunch we managed to get a 45 minute nap in before we left to meet his friends (again) in Kent to see Santa come in on a train.  The line to actually sit on Santa's lap was about 2 hours long, so we got some free hot chocolate, let the boys play with the stones on the path and headed home to watch football and clean. 

Sunday I had all the girls over (mom, and her side of the family, aunts, grandma, cousins, and Aunt Jeannette's daughters and granddaughters) for our Krajcer Christmas party.  It was fun, but I think I stood for about 10 hours straight.  After cleaning, cooking, and the party, mom had people over for a Tupperware party, and then we had to clean... oh wow did we have to clean.  What a mess my house was!  Thank goodness for my mother!  We were all in bed by 9:30.  Of course, I couldn't sleep at all.  I think I was beyond the exhausted stage that my body wouldn't settle down.   Bummer.  I'll sleep well tonight though!

Happy Monday everyone!