Christmas Cookie Making

While still in Michigan, we made cookies the day after. Fun activity for Kristen and Gilbert. Little Man is a hands on type of child, so he loved cutting the shapes and being eye level with the action!

The Best Surprise Gift for Christmas!

For sleeping arrangements, we bought an inflatable mattress for Gilbert. He loved it in Houston and thought this was the easiest way to bring a bed for him. Turns out it makes a great wrestling and jumping mat. Ryan and I powered it up the first night and the boys immediately took to running and jumping on it.

In fact, throughout the weekend, Gilbert would inform me it was time to play on the bed!

Christmas Day

That morning he woke up at his usual time and all sharing a room, had us up wanting to go see what Santa brought. We used all of our diversion techniques as we waited for the rest of the house to wake up!

The gift opening took hours! He'd open a present and speed off playing with it. Doubly so for Jasper! He got a play kitchen and Gilbert wanted to play with it too in a bad way!

Then he saw and realized the shiny Radio Flyer tricycle was for him! He spent the rest of the weekend on it!

I've posted how Gilbert is enamored with the vacuum cleaner. Well, when we started asking him what he wanted for Christmas, you can imagine what was at the top of the list. So, Santa brought Little Man his own 2-in-1 Dirt Devil. I'm disappointed it is not functional so he can clean up after himself, but Gilbert sure doesn't know the difference! He vacuumed the house all weekend and does a daily sweep of the condo as well!

Little Man also was the recipient of a lot of family love with new additions to his growing Thomas the Train train set and some remote control cars along with a treasure trove of books and other fun stuff. It is safe to say, Gilbert was a 'good little boy' in 2009!

Christmas Eve

We were in MI for the holidays. Spending it at my brother-in-law's kick-ass farmhouse, good times were had by all! Gilbert was excited to chase the 'big dawgs' around and to see Aunt Shannon and Uncle Ryan and cuzin Jasper! Not to mention Gram!

This year Little Man 'got' Christmas. On the Eve he was excited about going to bed knowing Santa was coming to visit! We read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas and remained riveted throughout the entire story!

Settled in after reconnoitering the house, he wanted to play 'choo choos'. Jasper was right there to play. Seven months younger, it was fun to observe how Gilbert interacted with his cousin. He immediately took on the senior role and would 'advise' Jasper on not to put the train in his mouth or where to sit to play with the trains with him. It was quite fun to watch. Of course, that lovingly approach wore off quickly when Jasper started to take the track apart. Then it was "JASPER, NO." Followed by, "Dada. Japser break the track." Funny!

The two were quite good together. Gilbert would take Jasper's hand and walk around with him. Especially if we were going up or down stairs. He'd tell Jasper that they would play with 'choo choos' for 'four minutes' (this is new and must have picked it up from school). Everything is now "four more minutes". Of course, I wait one minute and then say it is time to clean up and he's a little obedient soldier!

Anyway, back at the house, there were two rocking chairs by the tree and the two enjoyed just rocking back and forth. Almost like foreshadowing to two grumpy old men in the sunset of their lives just chilling!

For The First Time In Ten Years...

Yeah, yeah. First post since last week and you were expecting pictures and videos of the holidays. Soon.

Today I am pleased to announce that for the first time in ten years (or since the damn league was started) I am the Super Bowl Champion!

Yep, today was the finals and I persevered. However, as the owner of the winning team I must recognize those that helped bring home the trophy. Foremost, I need to recognize the coach. The man who made the tough decisions of who to start and who to sit. When to make pick up a player from waivers, and assisted me with trade decisions. So without me to help me, I might not have come out on top. High five to myself!

Elephant & Butterflies

Gilbert received a Christmas gift from our friends the Niepomnik's. He loves it. You have probably seen this one. A motorized fan in the shell of an elephant fabric butterflies come out through the trunk and then you can catch each with a net.

Little Man enjoys to simply watch them float and fall to the ground, though. Let the eye-hand corridation!

More Baking...

Some videos from our baking weekend...

Sing-a-long

Recently, Kristen and Gilbert attended a church program for Kristen's godson. A good time, from the pictures it seemed to be a all-you-can-eat get together!

Back at the house, the kids got in their jammies and enjoyed lounging by the tree!

You May Have Noticed...

Gilbert seems to be wearing the same clothes in all of his pictures. Well, in part that is correct. The past week he has not been feeling at his best. He has two pairs of really comfy, fleece jammies and these are by far his favorites.

In fact, Team Johnson has been pummeled by virus, inflammation, and all other sorts of nasties. Kristen has had some sort of viral bug since before Thanksgiving. And in the past week, Little Man has not been himself. A visit to the doctor confirmed a double ear infection. And despite my metal mettle, I succumbed to all the crud floating around the condo and had what seems like the flu over the weekend. Better today, I feel like I have those green creatures from the Musinex commercials camping out in my head and chest!

Holiday Cookie Making

Little Man LOVES to help out in the kitchen. Well, it was time to make and bake cookies so Gilbert insisted on being a part of the action. He is quite a good little helper. He likes to scoop and dump the ingredients into the bowl and work the mixer.

Patience can sometimes be a challenge, but overall he's a great help and it is nice that he wants to be involved!

Tribal

Gilbert loves to make necklaces at school. Wear them all at one time and he looks like a tribal warlord!

Chillin'

Just a fun picture of mom and son chilling on the sofa watching The Polar Express.

Thank You Grandma/Grandpa!

Gilbert received an early Christmas present...a Thomas the Train tree ornament. We were able to get him to say thanks. So for Grandma and Grandpa, this is for you!

Big Day

Today could be an impactful day. We finally have our appointment with a children's orthopedist to investigate Gibert's legs. Early on we noticed that his ankles roll in and that his achilles tilt as a result. Additionally, he is knock kneed. Add to it his feet point out (the left is the one of concern) and his arches are flat or collapsed so we are just covering our bases by seeing a doctor. Many of these conditions are normal individually and over time a child's gait corrects itself. However, all combined has caused me concern and probably some unnecessary agnst, but as a parent how do you not be concerned for your child's development?

We've voice our concern at various doctor's visits and done some reading and really these issues are addressed at the earliest after two years. At Gilbert's two year visit, his doctor shifted thought and suggested it was time to see a specialist. Hopefully it will be nothing and the prognosis good. Stay tuned...

Comfy Reading

I have the enviable task of making the bed each morning. My way of being a good hubby, yes?

Well, Gilbert likes to make the process difficult. He'll plop down on the pile of blankets, sheets and pillows and fight with me as I attempt to free them for the bed making. On this particular day, he attempted a new tactic, embedment. I turn around after smoothing the fitted sheet (cool, I know!) to find him entrenched reading a book. Little stinker!

Child Labor

The wine we won at an auction last year for the Montessori Academy of Chicago has now been whittled down where the last remaining bottles can be removed from over the cabinetry in the kitchen to our wine fridge.

Being the fantastic little helper, Gilbert insisted on carrying bottles. A bit unnerving, Kristen had the idea of him transporting the bottles via his little wagon. As the folks in the Guiness commercials yell, "BRILLIANT!"

Photo Bloopers

We were sorting through Gilbert's two year photos to include in holiday cards and realized we have some funny outtakes that deserve sharing. Enjoy!

Color Coordinated

The coldest day of the year and Gilbert refused to put on pants this morning! He was insistent on wearing his 'meesh shoorts'. To keep his legs somewhat warm, Kristen made Gilbert wear his favorite socks knowing they would go up to his knees. The result? Not a good one. At least he's color coordinated. Looks more like a throwback basketball player in the NBA!

Bundle Up!

You've probably seen the weather in the Midwest and know it is cold, freakin' cold! No to be deterred, we still atempt to get outside for at least a few minutes!

Electronic Repairman

Or more appropriate...demolition man! I took apart the no longer functioning DVD player with Gilbert. He loved it. As I unscrewed the unit, he collected all the screws and was counting them in piles. But when I removed the shell and all the electronic guts were available to play with, time stood still. Little Man was mesmerized!

Colors

Gilbert loves his colors. That was something we enjoyed doing with him early and now he loves to tell us the color of everything. Oh yeah, today for fun we rode on the L, because we loves trains. And when we got home, Kristen asked him what he did and his response..."Rode the Green Line." Got to love it.

While disassembling the DVD player, he wanted to tell me the colors of the connections on the back of the box. He got everyone!

Roughhousing

Gilbert is starting to enjoy rough playing. He likes it when I roll up his blankets and toss 'em at him or big pillows that knock him over.

This is the latest. He covers up with a blanket and I throw his stuffed dino at him. He giggles incessantly!

Zoo Lights

The Lincoln Park Zoo lights up the entire grounds for the holiday season. This was the first weekend and we thought it would be a fun evening. The zoo was packed! We had a blast. Gilbert was more interested in watching the airplanes fly over as the craft lit up the night.

Then he wanted to push the stroller. We enjoyed just walking around and being out and about. I highly recommend spending an evening at the park with your kids and just enjoy the festive atmosphere!

Too Dark, Too Early

As we approach the shortest day of the year, it is dark as we pick Gilbert up from school. Often, he is still wired from his day and needs to burn off some energy. When the sun was still up, we would go to the park before dinner. We soon stopped after daylights savings time, but then asked why?

So, one night last week after picking up Little Man from school we bundled up and went to the park. It was only 5:30pm, yet the park was empty! Gilbert had the run of the place!

Thankful For...

Kristen wanted to start a tradition with the family for Thanksgiving. She came up with the great idea of creating a tree with leaves in the shape of hands. All of us traced our hands, she cut them out and then we wrote on the leave hands what we are thankful for. Gilbert's first answer? "Peanuts!" Followed by "Yellow Blankie!"

Post-Thanksgiving Pump It Up

Friday after Thanksgiving, we needed to get out and burn off all that great food! The local Pump It Up had an open family time. We got their shortly after the place opened, and the place was already pumping!



Gilbert loves the 'indoor gym'. He was everywhere! We switched between the junior and full-sized as Little Man wanted to go back and forth. The full-sized equipment had just been waxed/cleaned and it was slippery for even us. The result? We sped down the slides. It was awesome!

Thanksgiving Recap

Thanksgiving was fantastic. We hosted family and friends in our cozy condo. I got to cook (and keep the leftovers!), Gilbert was able to stay in familiar surroundings and Kristen was able to flex her party hosting muscles.

Little Man got to see and play 'choo-choos' with Grma/Granpa and Aunt Katee. He loved it! After a great dinner, we decided to burn a few calories and Wii! Boxing was a big hit for the newbies to the game and Gilbert enjoyed watching everyone play.