First Time On Skis

Momentous day in the Aho household... first day on skis for little boys! Very exciting. Grandma and Grandpa Aho bought the boys ski lessons for Christmas, and today was the big day. We discovered that the boys aren't big into snowplowing, or going slow, or stopping for that matter. What they DO like is zooming fast, until someone or something stops them. Figures. They both thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Dad, on the other hand, didn't have as much fun. He decided to dazzle us with a backward flip, followed by a trip down the mountain on a ski patrol sled. Bruises only, thankfully, but his ski day was cut short after 2 runs. That means an average of $12.50 per run. Sucks. I at least got a few more solo runs in. First time I'd been skiing since we moved here! Yeah!!! The "mountains" in Michigan would be classified as "hills" in the Northwest, but... still fun.

Out of Sequence

Due to technical difficulties (I forgot my camera and had to borrow my father-n-law's), we have a delayed entry regarding a certain Sunday School Performance from last weekend. I present it now for your approval. Bottom line: Quinn and Colby are NOT performers. Geez, wonder where they got their stage-fright from???? Rob and I obviously passed on our "deer in the headlights" gene. Colby took coaxing just to BE up front, and refused to stand the entire time. Quinn stood up and sat down on cue, but that was about it. No singing, although he did do a little toe-tapping and off-rythym clapping on one occasion. At least they weren't running around like banshees, so I guess I can't complain too much :). Still, there's something just inherently cute about seeing your child "on stage". Singing or not.

The boys with their Sunday School Teacher, Ms. Gaddes

Ice Skating

Quinn and Colby got ice skates from Grandpa Jim and Grandma Betty for Christmas, and we put them to use right away. I thought they did pretty good for their first time ever! Talking to another mother at the park rink, I realized, at age 4, we're already "behind the curve". Most kids around here start skating at 2 years old. TWO??? Quinn even started jumping on his skates... he seems like a natural! Both boys got a little frustrated with all the falling, but with some practice, I think they'll do just fine. For the record, this does NOT mean the boys will be hockey players. Hockey players get injured entirely too much, and the hockey season is entirely too intense and long in these parts. I insist on NO HOCKEY (we'll see how much pull I have as the boys get older).

Christmas Morning

Don't need to say much - the pictures say it all...

Look! Santa Came!

Santa was here! Found us in all that snow....

Preparing for the Big Guy's Visit

Quinn and Colby, writing a letter to Santa on Christmas Eve. This is the first year they can actually write their own names at the bottom! The actual text was dictated. They're both very concerned about Santa being burned, and asked Dad to put the fire out tonight for safety's sake.

Santa Filled my Stocking

The best Christmas Present Ever....

Field Trip

Quinn and Colby's preschool class visited a nursing home on Thursday, to sing songs and give the residents stockings they made for them. The boys demonstrated only SLIGHTLY more showmanship than their parent program the day before... Colby still hid in the back and sat on the floor half the time, but at least both boys attempted the motions somewhat this time. Still almost no singing. Still gusto with the noise-making instruments. Afterwards, the incredibly brave teachers took all 18 kids to McDonalds for chicken nuggets. Chaotic, but a truly impressive effort. Teacher Rosemary and Teacher Karen have my utmost respect for getting 18 kids in snowclothes twice a day, AND keeping control of 18 kids at McDonalds. I can barely manage the same things with the two I've got

Preschool Christmas Program

Quinn and Colby had their first of what I'm sure will be MANY Christmas programs at school today. They'd been talking it up for days, practicing the songs at home, tantalizing me with sneak previews of "Jingle Bells" and "S-A-N-T-A". So today was the big day. Show time. The classroom was packed with parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings. The kids were lined up "on stage" (aka against a brick wall). The introductions were made, and..... no singing. At least by my children. Colby ran to the back of the crowd to hide. Quinn stood there with a deer-in-the-headlights expression. The stage mother in me wanted to stand up and shout "Get your finger out of your nose! Get your hands out of your pants! Tuck in your shirt! Sing! Smile! Be cute and adorable!" But I didn't. I smiled with the rest, took my pictures, and was just as proud of their lack of performance as the rest of the parents were :). I guess that's not entirely fair. When the bells were brought out during Jingle Bells, Colby returned to the front row, and both boys made noise with gusto. So..... maybe they won't be choir boys. Maybe band instruments will be more their thing....











Meanwhile, Reagan slept soundly through the chaos. We tucked her in a "safe" corner with another baby... who incidently was born a week and a half before she was. Look at the size difference!! Holy cow!

An Early Christmas Among Friends

Despite the blizzard and frigid temperatures outside, our friends the Sommerville's stopped by for a visit this afternoon. It took all of 30 seconds from their arrival for both sets of boys to divulge the secret contents of their respective gifts. Remind me to never entrust National Secrets to a four year old boy. Especially at Christmas time.

An Old Fashioned Christmas

The children (I can't say just "boys" anymore!) went to visit Santa today at the local Heritage center. After talking non-stop about Santa for weeks, they were surprisingly shy to sit on the big-man's lap when actually meeting him in person. It took a little coaxing, but they did it! Then it was cookie decorating and consuming, followed by a frantic sugar-high, and an afternoon at Grandpa's house for pancakes. Mom, Reagan and Grandma LaVerne went on a Christmas home tour - how fun! It ALMOST made me want to come home and clean my house, seeing all those pristinely decorated houses:).