Dude, Where's My Gift?

Pete and I took the kids to see Santa on Saturday. I am happy to report that they both hopped up on the jolly old guy's lap and no tears were shed!



Here they are waiting in line. Drew wasn't so sure as first.


Both were more interested in ornaments. Why do they have to put the breakable ornaments by the line for Santa? I know they want you to buy them but come on...




The best way to keep them still and out of trouble was to feed them


Getting closer...and more excited


Here I am trying to make sure I get in some pictures every now and again.



Izzy is well aware of how the Santa gig works. This was the first year that she sat on his lap without any bribery from us. We did see a Santa at another mall last weekend but she did not sit on his lap. I didn't push the issue either. I knew she would eventually...and this visit she did. She was so serious! She got up on his lap (he actually lifted her up, which was HUGE for her as in the past this would have brought tears) and told him what she wanted all the while smiling ear to ear. She asked for: a baby that pees on the potty, a barbie castle, and one other thing? I will have to ask her what it was. Up until yesterday she was only requesting a baby doll that pees on the potty.




Onto Drew. While in line I explained to him that he needed to sit on Santa's lap and tell him what he wanted for Christmas. This made no sense to him. I said, "Do you want to tell Santa you want some Batman stuff?" and he said, "yeah, and how bout Joker stuff too!" Okay, so he was quick to catch on.

Drew did not cry, but was not as confident sitting on the big guys lap. If it weren't for Izzy being with him I suppose he would have cried.

Santa asked Drew what he wanted and he said a Batman Castle (I think Izzy had just asked for a Barbie Castle). So when Drew got off Santa's lap he looked at us and said "Where Batman Castle go?" with his arms in the air. He walked away and kept asking where his castle was? Poor kid thought for sure he would get it immediately. Ask and you shall receive IMMEDIATELY is how Drew would like it to be.

Once we came home we broke out the Christmas tree. Izzy desperately wanted to be involved in every aspect of decorating. I let Drew and Izzy put on some ornaments, and they all ended up on one small section.





Then Izzy had the honor of putting on the tree topper.





Now we just need to get the rest of the house decorated.

Mommy You're My Friend

A while back I posted this in one of my blog entries:

Setting: Izzy is in bed already. Pete is on one couch while Drew runs around "nakey". When I came downstairs from putting Izzy to bed, Drew had stripped himself naked so I grabbed the video camera and started taping. At one point our conversation went like this:

Me: Drew, are you a boy or girl?
Drew: I a girl.
Me: No, you are a boy. Izzy is a girl.
...Hey Drew, what are you?
Drew: I is a girl.
Me: What is Daddy?
Drew: Daddy is a guy.
Me: What is Mommy?
(long pause by Drew)
Drew: You are my friend. I wub you Mama. I really wub you.

Sweet sweet Drew. I am his friend and he wubs me. He really really wubs me. I am so glad I got it all on video.

This morning Pete uploaded the video for me. Here it is...

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Really, how stinkin cute was that? Really :)

Thanksgiving Day

Happy Thanksgiving!

We had such a wonderful day here at the Swyt house. My brothers, Wes and Andy came to visit for the holiday and we are so happy that they joined us!

Our day started off nicely with Izzy sleeping in until 8 and Drew until just after 9. Pete and Izzy made a special holiday run to Starbucks for mochas and a newspaper. While they were gone I got started on the turkey. Everyone else enjoyed coffee while watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.





And Drew enjoyed the "top" of his pumpkin scone.


Izzy was my little sidekick all day long. She really got into the holiday spirit. Here she is making place cards for everyone. Each person got a card with their name and a pumpkin on it.



While the guys watched football, and Izzy helped me in the kitchen, Drew entertained himself.

He read books


Played in the cupboards (Drew and his yogurt got in a fight earlier and the yogurt won...hence Drew has a different shirt on)


And was just his cute self


Izzy helped me with everything from setting the table, to making the gravy. The guys joked that next year she would be making the entire meal.







Here is the gang (minus Pete) settling down for our feast. Izzy even said our Thanksgiving blessing. It was cute because she gave me the choice of three to choose from. At school, whoever is the leader for the day gets to choose the blessing and I guess there are three to choose from.



Izzy and Uncle Wes


Uncle Andy


After a great meal we all have very full bellies ;) The guys watched some football and the kids and I headed outside to ride bikes. Once back inside it was time for dessert and bedtime. The kids snuggled up with me and we read some books.

...with the Thanksgiving meal over, it was only right that we broke out some Christmas stories.


We hope everyone had a very Happy Thanksgiving...we certainly did.

Wordless Wednesday

How I wish I could remain "wordless" but I can't. I feel that I need to explain this picture. ...guess it defeats the purpose, huh?

First full night with both brothers in town.

They went out drinking.

Heard a loud thud and I felt the house shake.

Woke up this morning to find this hole at the bottom of my stairs.

Both boys deny doing it.

Great.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Singing at the Feast

Izzy sang this video for me a few weeks ago in preparation for her performance. We just so happened to luck out and be seated almost directly in front of Izzy.

Earlier this week Izzy told that she was going to have to sing really loud because the music teacher was losing her voice. She doesn't disappoint - I am just surprised that in playing back the video we hear her as clearly as we do.

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Izzy's Thanksgiving Feast

I decided to keep with my new routine and get up at 5:30 and head to the gym. This was especially hard on me due to the fact that I had been up twice the night before with Drew. Once I got home it was time to get moving.

Izzy had her Thanksgiving Feast at school today. The kids got dropped off at 9 and then the parents were to come at 11:30 to see the program and enjoy some yummy food. I was to take a vegetable, and while getting Drew out of the car my dish fell out and it spilled all over the parking lot. Rats. ...thank goodness it wasn't a dessert.

Here she comes...


Standing with her class getting ready to sing


Drew was so happy to see Izzy when she finished up


We tried to get a family picture


This was the best we got


I had to leave the feast a few minutes early so that I could take Drew to the doctor. Since it is highly unusual for Drew to wake up once he got to sleep, let alone twice, I suspected he may have an ear infection. My mad mom skills led me to believe this after he fianlly slept through with a dose of motrin :)

Sure enough the poor guy has a double ear infection. You wouldn't know from the way he acts though...


Drew and I came back home and because of his 30 minute snooze in the doctor's waiting room he was not going to take a nap. Darn! So the kids and I played before we headed out to pick up Uncle Wes. Both kids were super excited to see him.

Uncle Wes treated us to a very nice steak dinner before it was home to get the kids ready for bed.

First Snow

Well, it's not quite the lake effect snow from Cleveland, but for a 3 year old snow is snow. This morning we woke up to a light dusting of snow in our yard. And I do mean light. Here is a shot out our front door.



As soon as Izzy saw it she needed to play in it. So, at 7:20, outside Izzy and I went while the boys were still snoozing.

Here she is noticing the mark her shoes leave on the steps.


We aren't really prepared for snow down in these parts so she wore her pj's, her warm fuzzy jacket (which thankfully still fits from last year), some too small mittens and her tennis shoes. I actually looked for her rain boots, but I couldn't find them. I think they are in the back of my car. I figured we wouldn't be out there long.

Checking out the snow


Tasting the snow


And then she just plopped down to make a snow angel


After about 7 minutes we came in for some hot chocolate. She loves to work the new coffee pot which also make hot chocolate.

...now that she knows it does I am sure she will ask for it daily!

Delish!


Another difference between here, Cleveland, and Denver is that Izzy's school was on a 2 hour delay today! Refer to the first picture to see how much snow we got. It wasn't too cold for the kids to be outside waiting for the bus, nor were the roads icy? So, I have no idea why we were on a delay. All I know is that it messed up my morning errand plans.

After school Izzy and I made and frosted some cookies. I will share those pictures later as photobucket is not cooperating with me!

"I" Week at School

Izzy has been waiting for this week since the second week of school. You see, each week there is a letter of the week and this week we have finally reached the letter "I". In preparation for this week a could of very special outfits have been chosen.

Monday's festive "I" ensemble:


This is one of the twirliest twirl skirts Izzy owns.




Today, Wednesday, not only did she wear another "I" shirt, but it was also Show and Share day. She took an iguana (from her little people set). On a sidenote...Izzy seems to have a knack for taking the smallest, cheapest toys for Show and Share. One week she took a happy meal toy and last week she took a mermaid from the dollar store that we have had for 2 years!


Do you see the antlers on her head? Guess who we saw yesterday...SANTA! I think it is a little early for Santa, but I couldn't very well tell Izzy she couldn't talk to him yesterday at the mall, could I? If I would have known he was there then I would have steered clear of him.

Izzy asked me to put these pictures on the computer (she isn't aware that what I do is "blog"). She is sitting here next to me for quiet time while I do this. These are her new poses.

We call this one "statue"


And this one is called "robot"


I have no idea what she will wear on Friday. She will insist on something with and "I" on it or else a color that begins with the letter "I". I am not sure if she owns anything indigo?

Monday is her school feast. Today she told me that I was invited, as well as Drew and Daddy. She also said Grandma and Grandpa's are invited and could I call them and see if they could come. So...if you are reading please let us know if you will be able to make it for 45 min. that day. You don't mind the 8 hour drive, do you?

I am going to snuggle (or smuggle as Drew says) up with my girlie girl and watch a show before Drew-man decides to wake up.

Izzy's First Movie

Although both Izzy and Drew can watch 20 min. shows over and over again, neither one care to sit through an entire movie. We have tried to rent a few in the past and 30 minutes seems to be the limit. I think the only reason we've made it through any at home is because we can stop and start whenever needed.

The Madagascar Happy Meal toy sparked interest for Izzy. So much so that we borrowed a copy of Madagascar from a friend and all watched it Friday night. Pete and I wanted to view it and see what Izzy's interest level was and then determine whether or not to take her to see Madagascar 2 in the theater. Well, she didn't have a huge interest in the movie at home, but was very excited at the idea of seeing a movie in the theater. She originally wanted to go with me, but then changed her mind and wanted to go see it with Pete. I was sad to not view her first theater movie with her (although we attempted one movie with Drew when he was about 5 months) but knew she would have a great time with her dad. She is a huge daddy's girl and Pete eats up every bit of love she throws at him - what father wouldn't? Not to mention that I had lots of stuff that I could get done with Drew that I couldn't do with Izzy - Christmas stuff.

I had an initial hesitation when I saw it was PG, but after watching Madagascar I was a bit more comfortable with what the content would be. Izzy's nature is that of a people pleaser. She is just like I was as a child and doesn't like it if she feels you are mad or upset with her. So if we were to explain why language or a situation were inappropriate then she would try to not say or act that way. I was more concerned with violence and since I didn't really see any in the first one I felt okay.

Here she is ready for her date with Daddy.


She was so cute that morning and wanted to wear her hair in pigtails because Pete had made a comment how he hadn't seen her hair that way in a while.

Pete sent me a couple pictures from his phone while they were at the movies. He said she did great! She talked a couple times but didn't squirm around. When she came home she told me a few bits and pieces from the movie, but then went about her day.

All I know is that I get to take Drew to his first movie :) ...it's only fair.

Tidbits...

Oh, I feel like it has been so long since I have done a real blog entry...and I am not yet ready to start today. I have been so busy getting stuff together for both Thanksgiving and Christmas. I recently found out that both my brothers, and possibly my dad, will be here for a week at Thanksgiving. Then for Christmas my mom and stepdad will be here, and possibly my brothers again! I am BEYOND excited to have visitors for both of these holidays.

BUT...being the planner that I am, I've been making lists, buying entirely too much stuff (including a sleeper sofa), and trying to get organized. I've also been hanging curtains, making a picture wall, and donating an obscene amount of clothing and baby items to charity.

Add to it some secret stuff I can't talk about yet...and let's just say that I have been busy. I am happy to report that all the holiday shopping for the kids has been done, as well as 90% of Pete's...and about 75% of the remaining folk.

So, today I have just a few random pictures that I came across from the past couple of weeks that I wanted to share.

Izzy and I have been very busy making lots of crafts. Some for fun and others as gifts for the holidays. Izzy and Drew will be making all of their gifts and I am really excited to see how they turn out. Unfortunately I won't be able to show pictures as we make them for fear of ruining some holiday gifts...

Here we are just doing some festive fall foamies.




Izzy has developed my love for baking. Here she is trying a new apple cinnamon muffin recipe (it is supposed to be really healthy).


We had one really fun day when Jen, Delaney and Mia decided to surprise us with a long afternoon visit. We all had so much fun! Drew and Mia both napped and the girls spent the majority of the time playing with one another which allowed Jen and I to visit. Jen and I were even able to enjoy lunch - sitting down!

The girls got creative and used these couch cushions as "horsey rides".




All that playing can make girls hungry. What better snack then homemade (from a bag) chocolate chip cookies. The chefs...




And finally, one day while I was attempting to clean out our guest room (ie: room for all things I need quickly out of sight, old clothes, toys for rotation, ...you get the point) I left the kids downstairs to play. Typically our tv is on in the family room and the kids will bounce between our playroom and family room. I could hear them downstairs playing, laughing and just having a really good time. No wonder...


The little stinkers had put the chairs on top of the coffee table, gotten a snack of cereal and were watching tv! Thank goodness Izzy isn't too daring...

To be coming soon: Izzy and Pete's date, and "I" week at school.