Impromptu Skating Party

The Gilbrides stopped over today for an impromptu skating party! It was great fun and, as all good parties do, it ended in a guest throwing up in the backyard! So sorry for Erin - looks like the beginning of a little bug that is sure to make its way around her household :( Hope Annie is feeling better soon! Here are some pics, also some missing Christmas pictures and other skating pictures that I forgot about from the other camera!

Skating lessons with dad

Taking a break

Finn decorating Christmas cookies

The boys on Christmas Eve

Finn teaching Mitch how to crawl

Mitchie learning to crawl

An evening match between Finn and dad

Jack getting a feel for the ice

Annie explaining the rules of hockey to Finn

Mallie's first time on skates

Hot chocolate and popcorn by the fire!

Mitch and mom

A New Year's Crawler!

Just wanted to quickly document (since I've been horrible about keeping baby books/scrapbooks for the boys) that Mitch is an official crawler! Well, more of an army crawler/scooter. But still, the man knows what he wants and now he can get it - namely the lamp and humidifier electrical cords. Very safe. I will try to post video of our little creepy crawler sometime soon.

Christmas 2010

What a great Christmas! We were so lucky to have everyone healthy this year! We kicked everything off on the 23rd with a great Heffron Christmas at Grandma's house where the kids were spoiled rotten by Grandma, Paul, Mitch, and Megan! They had the best time opening everything and were literally tripping over the hundreds of toys laying around the living room! :) Then, we were all off to the Martins for a nice Christmas Eve party the next night.

On Christmas Day, we made our rounds. We stopped to see the Gilbrides in the morning for a wonderful brunch, where the kids continued to get spoiled :) Then, home for much needed naps before stopping in to see the Ferry clan over at Dan's. Finally, on to Papa and Yaya's to see the Chisholms, and for a special treat...Grandma Heffron came too! It was a whirlwind, but all very fun. Here are the pics!

Grandma and Mitch in his new jammies

Opening a new submarine with Grandma

Dylan and Finn showing off their new airplanes

Finn and Gavin watching the fish

Mitchie getting a kick out of Aunt Megan

Waiting for the Fairview Park "Santa Patrol" on Christmas Eve (Santa on a fire truck, what could be better?)

A Christmas Eve skating lesson from dad

The boys in Mitch's bed on Christmas Eve. This is their favorite time of day - right before baths, we put them in there together and they have the time of their lives. It is hilarious to watch and listen to them in there shrieking with delight! :)

Mitch loves "open shut them"!

Faith reading to the kids on Christmas Eve

Leaving cookies, milk, and reindeer food for Santa (I wonder how Santa will get over that gate in the fireplace?)

Finn must have been really good this year...

Santa was here!

Finn checking out his new train set

Sleepy kids on Christmas morning. Mitch in his usual position, halfway under the couch.

Faith and Mitchell

Jack and Finnie

There's always one party pooper in the kids' Christmas picture. Guess who it was this year...

The Heffrons and Gilbrides with Papa and Yaya

Dooda, Drew, Crab, and Paul sporting their special gifts from Mark and Kak - YIKES!

Kiki, Finn, and Doug

Uncle Paul and Mitch

Daddy and Grandma getting Finn's ears. There are "guys" living in Finn's ears, but this is another story. Ask him and he'll tell you all about it.

A huddle/tickle fest with Dooda, Annnie, Finn, and Mallie

Dooda wearing the dinosaur hat that Finn picked out for him for Christmas

Funny Finn-isms

I wanted to write these down before I forget. I know it will be fun someday to look back on some of the funny things coming out of Finn's mouth at 2 years old, so I'm trying to write them down whenever I can and then record them on the blog. Some of my favorites lately:

"youchother" = each other (e.g. "the trains are running into youchother!")

"the battery" = the valley (e.g. "let's go down in the battery to see the horses.")

"oyoma" = oatmeal

"radido" = radio

"grunch" = brunch and also "the grunch who stole Christmas"

Favorite Christmas songs (still singing these daily): "Feed the World" and "We Love Him" from White Christmas about the general in the army. He is also starting to get into The Sound of Music, especially "Sixteen Going on Seventeen" because he loves to count.

The other day, we were playing "Get You, Get You, Get You" where I crawl around, chasing him around the house. When I caught him, I said in my scary monster voice, "I'm going to eat you! I'm hungry!" He got right in my face and, in his scary monster voice said, "Well then go make some crackers!" I was dying.

That's it for now, but he's constantly coming up with new ones, so stay tuned for more! :)