Holiday Fun

We've had a busy few days, enjoying some of the holiday events in Indy.

On Saturday morning, we checked out Jolly Days at the Children's Museum. The boys had fun during the indoor snowball fight.

Cole peaking out of the ice castle's window

Caden ice-fishing

Cole brushing Comet, the reindeer

The Yule Slide was definitely the favorite activity!

Curt and Cole

Caden winning the race against me

Caden...again...

Oops!

On Saturday evening, we went to see the Christmas lights at the zoo.

The boys and their new "lightsabers"

My photos do not show how amazing the zoo looked. So many lights!

On Monday, we met friends at the Indiana State Museum. It was a first visit for us. Many of the exhibits are very similar to the Illinois State Museum.

Brock, Lauren (fellow kindergartener), Cole, and Caden

The boys on the train at Celebration Crossing, a special exhibit for the holiday season


Whew! Now, we are busy preparing for Christmas...cleaning, baking, wrapping, trying to stay off the naughty list. ;)

Classroom Christmas Parties

As a room mom for both Caden's and Cole's classrooms, I was very involved in their Christmas parties at school. After Cole's Christmas program, the rest of his last morning before break was spent partying. During Cole' s party, he made two crafts, played two games, and exchanged Christmas gifts.

Having a birthday party for Baby Jesus

An indoor snowball fight with cotton balls was probably the highlight of the morning for the preschoolers. Lots of laughs!

Cole giving a gift to his teacher, Mrs. Longworth

Caden's party was on Friday afternoon. During the party, the kindergarteners made two crafts and played two games.

Caden making a snowman magnet

Making a wreath ornament

Playing pin-the-nose on Rudolph

Caden giving a gift to his teacher, Mrs. Cronauer
The parties were huge successes! It was a great way to start Christmas break.

Christmas Programs

Last Wednesday evening, we attended Caden's Christmas program. The program involved students in grades kindergarten through fourth. Caden and the rest of the kindergarteners had to memorize several lines, which were recited as a group, and sing a few songs. At certain points in the verses, each kindergartener held up a special sign. They did an excellent job! Unfortunately, we were not allowed to use flash photography (a rule of this -and maybe all?- Lutheran churches) during the program, so it was difficult to get good photos.

The kindergarteners rocking Baby Jesus (Caden is in the front row, third from the right.)

Cole's preschool Christmas program was the next morning. They recited two finger plays and sang four songs. This was Cole's first public performance. He did an excellent job, minus attempting to eat his jingle bell.

Rocking Baby Jesus

"Five Little Christmas Trees..."

We were so proud of both boys!

Just a few random Christmas-y photos...

We spent a fun weekend in Springfield earlier in the month while Curt worked a couple shifts at the hospital. On the way back to Indy, we stopped in Rankin to celebrate my birthday. Here are the boys in front of one of Nana and Papa's Christmas trees.

Christmas crafts with Nana...


The official Christmas card photo

Breakfast with Santa at the Zoo

Just a couple photos of the boys decorating our trees. This year, we have a character tree in the playroom and our main tree in one of the front rooms. I'll put full photos of the boys with the Christmas trees in another blog post.


This morning, we enjoyed Santa's breakfast at the zoo. Both boys were a little shy with Santa. He remarked on how much they had grown over the last year.

Santa thought both boys put some really great ideas on their wish lists, so we'll see what he decides to deliver on Christmas.

Cole would NOT look at the camera. He wouldn't stop looking at Santa's glove.

The White River Garden Conservatory was decorated beautifully. I'll take more pictures when we return for Chistmas at the Zoo, the evening Christmas lights event. Here are the boys warming up by the "bonfire."

After visiting with Santa, the boys made some crafts and colored some Christmas pages.

They also decorated and ate Christmas cookies before enjoying a late (second) breakfast.


An attempt to get the boys' picture in front of the huge Christmas tree, but they were shouting out Christmas greetings and dancing around

We are looking forward to lots of fun Christmas activities and events in Indy!

Thanksgiving

Here are Caden and Cole modeling Caden's Pilgrim and Native American gear that he made at school. On the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, Caden's kindergarten class acted out the story of Thanksgiving--the Pilgrims' boat ride to America, building houses, the difficult winter, and the Thanksgiving feast with the Native Americans. Caden looked forward to this school day for all of November, and he was thrilled with the day's activities.

We spent a great Thanksgiving, plus two days after, in Benton with Grammy, Grandpa, and Aunt Mariah. The boys enjoyed their chocolate turkeys after dinner.

Cole checking out the after-Thanksgiving toy deals

Caden and Cole had a great time playing with the three dogs--Louis, Bella, and Betsy. This morning (a week after our visit), Cole spent several minutes whining about how much he wanted a puppy. Mia voted NO.


Reading a silly Christmas story with Aunt Mariah

Grammy and the boys

So much to be thankful for, including the upcoming activities of Christmas season!

Happy Halloween!

The big night FINALLY arrived! I did not get the best photo of our Spiderman and Darth Vader because they were very ready to go trick-or-treating.


Cole decided the mask and gloves were not necessary and would get in the way of his candy mission.

Away we go...

Nana, Papa, & Aunt Shannon were visiting this weekend, so Nana & Papa stayed at the house to hand out candy while the rest of us went trick-or-treating.

Trick or Treat!

When we returned from trick-or-treating around our block, the boys alternated between stuffing candy in their mouths and handing out candy at our door.

Caden already experiencing a sugar high

I couldn't resist posting another picture of Caden reading to Cole because of the smile on Cole's face.

Hope everyone had a happy Halloween!