Snow Days!

If you ever have to enter a snow contest and you live in Maryland, the weekend of December 6th is a very good guess for the first measurable snowfall.  Heather's birthday (my roommate from years past) is that day and I remember her telling me it always snows for her birthday.  It has snowed pretty darn close to that date almost every year I have lived here.

Sunday, December 8th was our first snow this winter.  Braylen and I stayed home from church since he was too sick for the nursery (and needed a nap) while Jason took Evie to Sunday School.  The snow started just as Sunday School was letting out.  As soon as Evie got home, we changed into snow gear and went outside.  I putz around with A LOT of things right now (I blame my mommy brain), but when it comes to snow, you better get out there when the kids are up because it might not be around for long.  

Home from Sunday school and ready to get out in the snow.
She gladly put on her hat and gloves this year!!!

New year, new bibs.

Looking adorable in her coordinated Columbia snow gear.

Yep, no boy snow suit.  Our baby boy is in Evie's 12 month
Hazmat suit from last year.  At least I dug out a blue hat.

My wish came true, two girls!

He could pass for a girl.  It's all about how you dress them
when they are young.  He's a beautiful dude, what I can say?

Sledding with Daddy!

Don't be fooled, he liked it.  Watch the videos and you'll see...

I'm not sure the name of the person who took these videos, but they won't be hired again.  Sorry about the annoying voice and huffing & puffing.
  

After naps, Emily and Lisa joined us for more playing in the snow.  The snow transitioned to freezing rain, but no day but today!

Snow buddies

I couldn't get out of the picture fast enough :)

You think my photobomb is good there... wait until I figure out how to upload Lisa's video.  

Another round came in on Tuesday.  It started at 7 AM right as Jason was pulling out his dress pants for work.  The heavy falling snow made him reconsider- he worked from home :)

In preparation for Tuesday's snow day, I made a huge list of things I wanted to accomplish.  Newsflash!  I am not a 26 year old teacher anymore with the luxury of a surprise day at home.  I am home every day and nothing gets accomplished.  I was still excited for the snow since my best bud in the 'hood, Lisa, was home both Monday AND Tuesday.  I do a little dance when I see Baltimore County Schools are off.  Having Lisa come over and sip coffee with me while the girls play is a luxury.  

Tuesday's snow was beautiful.  It snowed big flakes most of the morning.  I pulled the girls around in our sled and we giggled at how cute they are together.  I am SO happy to have Lisa and Emily.  Friends within walking distance is the best thing EVER.  Another thing that is so great is finally having the energy to play in the snow!  I feel like I've been pregnant or recovering for years.  I flew down that hill on my belly.  I'm back!

Thanksgiving Week-end

The Stefany clan congregated at G and Poppop's house this Thanksgiving.  The 10 of us spent Thursday-Saturday together.  The weather was frigid, so there was a lot of togetherness in the house.  G and Poppop gladly took residence at a traveling friend's house at night to enjoy the quiet avoid early wake ups allow an open bedroom.  I am pulling some strings to be the ones to stay at the "friend's house" next year!  :)

The minutes, hours, and days are exhausting in these little years; however, I am so thankful for healthy kids that run, sing, scream, eat, jump, hug, say "I love you", ask to be held, want an extra snuggle at bedtime, laugh at simple things, love their grandparents, and enjoy playing together.  These little years don't last forever and neither do some of the sweet things they say and do.

Here's a snapshot of the shenanigans special times this Thanksgiving:

In case you didn't know (or forgot), my grandfather was a professional trumpet player.  My mom, Laura, and I all play the piano.  Laura, Jason, and I were all in the marching band in high school.  Jason and I met in the marching band in college (played trumpet and clarinet).  None of us are as good and as dedicated as Poppop, but we were all pretty decent in our prime.  Musical talent is hopefully in our kids' genes.

The baby grand piano was one of the favorite toys of the holiday.  At 7:02 AM while we were all still brushing our teeth, we would hear Cole bang back the cover over the keys and start playing.  Cole took the most interest in the piano and actually played gently.  Evie, on the other hand, liked to bang the keys and sing along.  Braylen took part in the music making as well.

Our budding musicians

This piano is way better than the 4
keyed toy at home

His hands are moving so fast they disappeared!

I think Evie will be more into singing than instrumental music.  She broke out in song throughout the day with her top performance being at Thanksgiving dinner.  While most of the adults conversed, Evie sat in her chair belting out Jesus Loves Me.  Hysterical.  You really had to be there to get the full effect of her sweet voice hitting the high note for Bible.

In addition to her serenading, Evie was a big helper setting the table for Thanksgiving dinner.

Getting a lesson in utensil etiquette from G

Uncle Sam and Auntie L seem to be the only ones aware
this picture was being taken

The three big cousins literally ran circles around G and Poppop's first floor.  Parker got in on the action too.

When things got too rowdy, we put one of them in the crate :)

These three pictures tell the story pretty well.

Riding the "train" (AKA Uncle Jason)

Just being squirrels together

And Braylen being so adorable and sweet.  He sat and
watched the show zoom past him most of the time. 

We took the kids to an indoor bounce house on Friday morning.  We were waiting with other vans full of amped up kids at 9:55 AM for the doors to open at 10 AM.  It wasn't nearly as nice as the one by MeMa's house, but the kids enjoyed it

Not one picture in the bounce house, just pretending to drive cars

Our plan weeks ago was to attend the Christmas tree lighting and tuba Christmas in downtown Lancaster on Friday night.  The 20 degree temps made us reconsider.  We went up to Elizabeth Farms instead.  It was a perfect outing for us.  The 25 minute drive through Lititz and other small towns put me in the holiday spirit.  The houses were festively decorated, the Christmas music was pumping in the van, and my soul was at peace looking over the little bit of farm land that still remains.

While at Elizabeth Farms, we braved the elements for about 5 minutes total walking to and from the van.  We said "hi" to a few donkeys, walked through the barn, looked at the train display, Cole & Hannah got a candy cane from Santa, took a few pictures, then piled all 10 of us illegally in the van to drive through the outdoor light display.  Again, the holiday music was pumping, the windows were steaming up from all the hot bodies in one vehicle, Braylen was pounding on the window and squealing with delight at all the lights... it was perfect.

Inside the barn

No one was there at closing so Hannah walked right up to Santa

Cole Bug says hi too

This was Evie's reaction to Santa

BRRRR!  Braylen had the warmest spot in the group

Love

Piled in the van for the light show

As with most Stefany gatherings, we played cards, ate snacks galore, laughed at the silly things the kids do, spread cosmetics all over one bathroom sink, used more towels than needed (with all our type A personalities, how can't we get a system down so we don't use a new bath towel every time?!), and reflected back on the good times we had at Nana and Poppop's house.  I think Hannah, Evie, Cole, and Braylen will talk about holidays at G and Poppop's house for year to come.  I am so thankful for my family.

Month of Being Thankful: Wrap Up

We wrote 30 leaves of things my family is thankful for.  We even took our baggie of supplies with us to North Carolina and Lancaster and hung those leaves there, not to miss one day.  Most of the leaves were sayings encouraged by me.  Evie had a few of her own- "Milk", "Turkey", and "Pizza" were three of them.  Funny how food came up multiple times from our darling with a weight gain issue.  

Our 30 leaves fit perfectly!

We were also thankful for "sweatpants!" (! included), "books to read", "a voice to SING", and grandparents (visits to and from).

Another leaf said "making crafts with Mommy".  Lisa, Emily, Evie, and I made turkeys one afternoon before Thanksgiving.  

I traced Evie's hands, Evie colored the plate, and I assembled
our turkey-lurky

I am so thankful that Lisa and I motivated each other to do a craft since Evie didn't bring anything home from preschool (she's still on the wait list), like this gem

Please note the clothespin used for a leg

Yes friends, that turkey has been around close to three decades.  I don't know the exact year it was constructed, but my Nana kept that fine masterpiece of mine for many years before passing it to me when I moved to Maryland.  

Gobble-gobble

I, however, will not keep Evie's crafts to pass on to her.  BOTH turkeys made an exit stage left after this picture into the trash.  Thank you modern technology for allowing me to document the wonderful crafts I make with my children (and thus making me feel less guilty when I put them into the trash).

Evie will find the Elf on a Shelf tomorrow morning!  It's time to switch gears to Christmas crafts and traditions!

Extended Shopping Cart

Once you figure out how to change your newborn's diaper and feed them, the next big challenge is how to go shopping with them.  Do you move them from their cozy car seat to a carrier or do you somehow put the infant car seat on the shopping cart?  Some places have big carts and you can put the whole thing in the cart (much safer), some others you are balancing the darn thing on top of the cart (totally not safe, but have done many of times).  A few months later, your sitting baby moves to the front of the cart and everyone is happy.

Then you have a second child.

It starts all over again. 

I had it down when B was in the Ergo or infant car seat, but now that both kids want to sit in the cart, I am in a pickle at some stores.  Evie has been sitting in the back of the car, being a helper putting the groceries in and out of the cart, but I have to keep my shopping to a minimum (probably a good thing).  

Costco is definitely my favorite place to shop with both kids.  Both kids are up front, buckled in, and close to me.

Clearly this was months ago and yes, I didn't
have shoes on Braylen

I like the products in Trader Joes, but they have the worst shopping cart situation.  I have bruised bananas and crushed pasta from my last trip there.

I know other grocery stores have those carts with a car-like thing on the front.  I don't like Evie being that close to the ground.  She is really good in stores and I want to keep her buckled in and not tempt her to get in and out.  I can hear it now "Ebie walk, Ebie WALK!"

I love Target.  And I might love it a little more now.  Look what we discovered tonight.

Both kids near me, buckled in, and super happy

However, look at this thing!  Daddy was with us to steer that beast.
Check out the shelf to put your diaper bag.  It's kind of like a bar
that has hooks for your purse... it makes a woman happy.

I will give the extended shopping cart a try by myself.  Daddy had some trouble handling that monstrosity so I'm not sure if it will be a good thing or not.  Luckily the isles at Target are wide; however, I can see maneuvering this double wide cart becoming a stressful, sweaty situation during the holiday season.  For now, we had some good laughs at Target on our Saturday evening family expedition.

Another Trip to NC

Another girl cousin is expected in our family in January!  After her arrival there will be limited space for my family of four, so we thought we would make an early Thanksgiving trip and sleep in the guest room before it is converted to another kid room.

We made one big outing on Saturday to the Museum of Life and Science in Durham.  The museum was awesome for all the kids, big and small.

Making a sand storm

She's ready for the big wheel on the Price is Right!

Can you guess who won?  :)

What kid doesn't love the phone?

Some kind of physics thing... I really should like this stuff
as a math major, but I don't.

Buttons and phones.  Do they need
anything else in a museum?

The boys played here for a long time while
Evie and I checked out the outer space area

Building and destructing

Totally kid friendly there.  Braylen is on a stool checking
out this exhibit.  He loved it

Launching paper cups

Everyone would have been content after all the inside exhibits, but wait, there are acres of exhibits outside!

We strolled through the petty farm while the little ones snacked

You don't realize how big a cow is until you are this close to it.
Evie was thankful to be in the stroller.  Look at her face, poor girl.

The butterfly house

Aunt Jen and Uncle Matt hit the jackpot with this museum!

The rest of the time was spent closer to Aunt Jen and Uncle Matt's house.  The weather was iffy, but we did get in some stroller rides, a playground visit, and time putzing around the front yard on bikes.  Shockingly the kiddos all napped at the same time in the afternoon allowing ample cousin play time during the morning and late afternoon (and much needed down time for the adults)

Evie and Braylen thoroughly enjoyed a house full of new toys.

The trucks and other moving vehicles kept Braylen engaged for days.
He doesn't have many... yet

Some of the best "toys" are dogs.
Evie gave Guin commands all weekend.  

We gave them baths together two nights

Braylen- 11 months, Luke- 23 months, Evie- 29 months

Were three adults really necessary?  

Uncle Matt fried up a turkey for our Thanksgiving feast.

Could these two look any different?

After three nights of Braylen waking up the whole house multiple times a night, I was ready to get back to our own beds.  Daddy decided to sugar up Evie for the flight home

 We were almost those people on the plane ride back to Baltimore.  Braylen did not nap in the morning and was melting down very loudly as boarding began.  Everyone lined up was staring at me with my screaming child mentally noting to put on his/head headphones asap.  Jason and Evie boarded and I worked my magic in the terminal.  I was literally the last one on the plane... but with a sleeping baby in the Ergo.  Crisis averted.

Good-bye Raleigh!  Next time this
guy won't be the youngest one!