33 weeks: Carolers and lights

We love doing Christmasy things around town. This week we went to see the Dickens carolers while we ate dessert at McMenamins.

Also, Miles is still coughing, but he is starting to move around a lot more... mobile baby coming soon! Yikes!

 Me and Reidsy at McMenamins

 Ruby and Andy enjoying the carolers

 They asked what Ruby's favorite Christmas song was, and she said "Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat." They were shocked and said that no one has ever requested that one, but it's one of their favorites! Haha. Then Reid requested "blue tractor," but I told him that's not an actual song, just one mom made up. So they sang Jingle Bells for him and this year he actually rang the bells.

 They were behind Miles and he kept trying to look back to see what in the world was going on.

 Ringing their bells.

 Mmmm... bread pudding and berry crumble.

 We stopped by a house that has a Christmas light walk through afterward. It was super cold! But really fun.

 They had fake snow coming down and Ruby loved it.

 Christmas baby!

 Scooting over to Reid's cars and tractors...

 We built a boat and a crane.

 I was cooking dinner, Miles was fussy, and Andy wasn't home yet. The kids were being so quiet... When I went to see what they were doing I found this. Ruby was taking a bath in Miles's tub and Reid was stark naked. Hahaha! They're so crazy.

 Ruby came up with some kind of science experiment.

 Miles likes to peek through his crib when he wakes up from a nap.

 Laundry basket buddies

 We've started working on some letters. He gets frustrated though and wants me to do it for him.

 I have lots of fun doing her hair.

 The boys and I met some friends at an indoor play park on Friday. Reid loved the bikes!

 Reid and William on the double bike.

 Miles is sitting up SO well!! He had fun playing with the baby toys.

 Reid found this convertible car he loved.

 Miles likes standing up (with help).

 Ruby was so tired at bedtime that she fell asleep during stories.

 We went out on a date to Star Wars! Patty watched all three kids again for us and they did great. Our mileage on our Accord turned to 111111 while we were out. :)

 And... nap time. He sure loves Mommy.

 The kids' cousin Penelope turned 2! We went to a little family party at their house on Saturday.

 They all loved the ball pit.

 Andy puts the big kids to bed every night while I put Miles to bed. It works out pretty well.

 We taught Sunday School for Ruby's class again. She's pretty good at Foos Ball! We put Miles in the nursery instead of bringing him in with us for the first time, and he did really well.

 Miles and his cousin Frances! They're so cute and about 8 weeks apart. He's quite a bit heavier than her.

 Kissing sister.

Reid tied his cars so they couldn't drive away apparently.

32 weeks: Zoo lights and a sick day

We're getting all ready for Christmas. We love doing different Christmas activities around the city like the Zoo lights, tree lighting, driving around to look at lights, etc. 

 Miles LOVES the bath and just splashes and splashes.

 Naked time!

 Oh Reid... he really loves playing with the laundry basket, unfortunately this time there was clothes in it.

 Sleepy guy. His breathing was getting pretty raspy.

 So I took him in to the doctor's office. They did albuterol, but it didn't really help. They said to come back if it gets worse. He did okay with the mask at first, but then he kept trying to chew on it and got frustrated.

 We bundled all up and headed to the Zoo lights on Tuesday night. It was cold, and we kind of got a late start so parking was terrible. But we rode the train, which was fun!

 When we first got on it, Reid was plugging his ears and said, "I'm just tewified." He thought it was going to be loud I guess, but once we got started he was fine.

 Ruby enjoying the lights.

 Going through the blue tunnel.

 Hanging out in the gift shop to get warm while Andy and Reid went to get the car in the overflow parking lot.

 Megan came over on Wednesday and we played hide and seek. Reid showed her his favorite place to hide. Hahaha!!

 Ruby came home from school and read the little ones a story.

 He really started to sit up well this week all on his own and hardly ever falls over anymore.

 Best brothers.

 Reid did great coloring the manger of our little Advent thing. He's getting good at coloring but also gets frustrated when he can't do it. He usually just wants us to do it for him, but we're trying to teach him that practicing will help him get better at it.

 Mr. Flexible.

 Reid is so creative! He came up with this...

 ...and this. He called it his "triple gun".

 They really love each other.

We bundled up and went on a nice walk in the afternoon before Ruby got home.

 

 It was cold, but nice and clear. Reid started coughing part way through so he rode in the stroller for a while and that helped. Poor sick kids.

 Cutie baby with the Christmas tree. The kids have been pretty good about leaving the presents alone.

 Playing some music for Miles.

 We elevated his crib mattress on one end with a rolled up towel, but it doesn't seem to help all that much. He naps in his crib pretty well, although he still takes about 4 short naps a day. I'm not sure how to get him to sleep longer. Then he's been sleeping in our bed at night since he's been sick.

 Reid always makes this and says, "It's like Jesus died on the cross!'

 Helping with bath time. I've had to start wearing an apron so I don't get soaked from all of his splashing.

 Morning couch snuggle time. I think it turned into a feet fight.

 He loves looking in the mirror. We have it set up in his bedroom, which is fun.

 Sunday evening we were supposed to go to Andy's work party, but Ruby got a fever in the afternoon (I discovered it after she put herself down for a nap). Andy still went, but I stayed home. She was mostly better the next morning, but we kept her home from school. No idea what caused the fever, she didn't have any other symptoms.

 We had a fun play at home day instead. She's so cute.

 Playing doctor.

 We watched White Christmas, which Ruby LOVED!

 And then we did some painting. Miles did his in a ziplock.

 These guys had fun too! 

 Andy and the big kids like to play this game where they each take turns putting this ring on Miles's head and see who can get it to stay on the longest! Hahaha I think the record was like 14 seconds or something.

Getting the kids ready for bed is a struggle most nights, but once they have their jammies on, teeth brushed, and we read and pray, they settle right down and read for a while in their beds. It's so sweet.