Merry (Belated) Christmas!

Christmas here was GREAT! My Mom and Frank came out to visit on the 23rd. We got to hang out at the house that night, eat pizza and just relax. The boys got a ridiculous amount of clothes and toys--even from people who have never met them. Boy, are they loved! Christmas Eve Rob and Frank did some last minute running around and then Mom, Frank and I went to church. We came back, grabbed Rob and the boys and headed up to Adam and Nancy's. We stayed there for a bit, visiting with then, Nancy's parents and the neighbors. We came home and got the kids into bed--after putting out cookies and milk, reindeer food and some carrots. Once the boys were in bed, the elves began their work of putting the playhouse together (in my office!), putting the presents under the tree, etc. After that, Rob and I opened our presents from Mom and Frank. Then we went to bed.

Christmas morning Eric woke up at 5 a.m. asking for presents. I got him back to sleep, but Evan was up at 6:15! Everyone was up and ready to start Christmas at 7--except for Frank who was up in bed because he had come down with the horrible stomach bug in the middle of the night.

The boys absolutely loved Christmas. They took time opening each present and wanted to play with it before moving onto the next. It took about two hours to do presents--partly because of them, partly because so many toys required an engineering degree to assemble! Really, it was GREAT!

Mom and Frank left to head back to the W-B. Rob's Mom came over later on Wednesday to do gifts with us--more toys (and clothes) for the boys! We then had Christmas dinner here. It was a really, really nice Christmas.

Friday was a normal day for us--TSS, therapy, Rob had work, etc. Friday night I went to the mall to exchange a few things when Rob called and told me Evan had thrown up in the car--GREAT! I headed home, helped get Evan settled...and then got sick. Yep, I had it. We all get to sleep--finally, around 12 or so, then Eric woke up at 3...sick. What a fun freakin' night it was here, let me tell ya.

Saturday was kind of a lazy day--for obvious reasons--which stinks because the temperature here was almost 70!

The boys are much, much better. I'm still slowly getting there. I keep telling myself kids are more resilient, but maybe I'm just being a big baby. Rob had managed not to get sick--I don't know how since he had to take care of all three of us Friday night.

We made it through Christmas morning. That was all I wanted. I've posted a few photos below.

This is Eric in clothes from his Great-Grandma. He wore them all night and then asked for them first thing the following morning. He's too funny!

Just a really freakin' cute photo!

Eric the Rock Star...and Other Stuff

Eric grabbed his guitar tonight before bed and put on this little "show" for us. Too cute!

When I downloaded the video I saw that I did manage to grab a few photos from the Christmas shows.

Here is my little King...sitting with me, of course.

Here is Evan and his friend Alicia. The face he is making is his "I'm pretending to burp" face. There is a noise that goes along with it. Wow, someday he is really going to impress the ladies!

(Bilger's) Christmas Vacation

OK, so our weekend can't really rival this, but....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSHno5oZhpE

Friday afternoon--after the Christmas program mishaps (I take full responsibility for screwing them up)--things started to get worse.

I was in my office doing work, the boys were in the living room watching TV--very quietly. That should have been my first clue. A few minutes go by...all seems good. A few more...everything is fine. A few more...and Eric starts telling me "gum"--he had been chewing some gum. I yelled in for him to keep it in his mouth and not to play with it (he does that--don't all kids?). A few minutes again..."gum." So I go into see what's going on. He is pointing at the TV saying "gum." I look...he has smeared chewing gum all over the screen of the plasma TV. Yeah. Can't use any chemicals or cleaners. UGH. I got it off 40 minutes later with my finger nails, a microfiber cloth and a hell of a lot of luck. I still can't believe the TV wasn't ruined.

One major catastrophe fixed.

We woke up Saturday morning. Eric and Rob go downstairs, I'm still in bed. Evan comes in to lay with me and I hear the vacuum. I think, "what in the hell could have happened in the first two minutes of the house being awake?" Evan and I come downstairs...Rob is vacuuming up broken glass from the ornaments that broke when THE TREE FELL OVER. Yeah. The freakin' tree fell over. Water all over the carpet, ornaments everywhere, etc. Rob wouldn't let me take a picture. He said it's only funny when it happens to other people.

Second catastrophe fixed.

Saturday night we took the boys to go and see the lights again. We got about three miles away and stopped dead in traffic. Traffic for the lights. Apparently everyone within a 100-mile radius had the same idea. Two hours later we were able to see the entrance to the light display. Evan fell asleep and stayed asleep until Sunday morning. Eric sat patiently and occasionally would say "going to see the lights." It only took us about four hours to see the lights--it's usually an hour and a half at worst!

OK, not a catastrophe, but it was super annoying nonetheless!

Christmas Programs

Both of the boys had their Christmas programs last week at school. Eric's was on Wednesday. His 5-year-old class along with the 4-year-old class put on the nativity scene. Eric was chosen to be one of the three wise men. In rehearsals (including the one the morning of the program), Eric did great. He walked up the aisle, waited for his turn to take his present to Baby Jesus, etc. Participated in some of the singing. His teachers, therapists and the director were thoroughly impressed.

I went to the show Wednesday afternoon. He looked so cute all dressed up like a king. He walked past me down the aisle, saw me standing on the end of the pew filming him, stopped, turned around, said "hi mommy" and waved and then...came to sit with me. No singing, no present delivery, nothing! Poor Jesus only got two presents. Hopefully Eric wasn't carrying the gold. I mean, no one knows what frankincense and myrrh are anyway!

It was super funny (and cute--Eric independently said "hi mommy!), but once we left the church he seemed very upset that he didn't do his part. He kept asking for the "purple present" (the one he was supposed to take to the manger). When I showed it to him, he just kept saying purple present and looking back toward the church.

Lesson--Hide from kids at school programs.

Evan's recital was on Thursday afternoon. Again, his teachers, therapists and the director said he was doing awesome during all of the rehearsals. He sang along, did the song movements, shook jingle bells, wore angel wings and a halo (ahh, the irony in that one!). I learned my lesson from the day with Eric so I hid. I sat on the floor, behind a pew and waited for him to proceed down the aisle with his classmates. Then I crept into my seat and started filming. His first three songs, he did great. He was singing, doing the movements, etc. Then, he saw me. He sat through the next song completely mad at the world. When the song was over, he graciously clapped and then got up to come down to see me. When the teacher told him that it wasn't over yet and that he needed to sit back in his chair...the waterworks began. He cried through the next song and then I signaled for his teachers just to let him come and sit with me. No sense in ruining everyone else's videos with my kid screaming.

Lesson --Simply forgo the kids recitals and send someone in my place who can just videotape the entire thing for me.

I do have video of both of the boys, but it is on the actual video camera and I don't know how to transfer that to the computer. I don't really have any photos from the events because I was so busy trying to film them!

Not Much New, But Lots of Photos

Not much has happened around here in a few weeks--that is a GREAT thing. Thanksgiving was nice. The boys (mainly Evan--Eric's too shy) did Grace for the Thanksgiving meal--super cute.

Eric and Evan are starting to have conversations with each other. Granted it is usually an argument, but funny nonetheless. Eric will say "I want to watch Bee Movie please, Mommy." Evan will respond with "No, Eric. Watch Bee Movie tomorrow." Eric will ask again. Evan will say no again. Evan's mouth instigates Eric and Eric's brawn overpowers Evan. Inevitably it ends in a brawl...and Evan cries. I'd say pretty normal for two little boys!

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We made some gluten-free sugar cookies the other day. The boys had a good time baking and decorating the cookies. Eric's more of a chocolate kind of guy, so he went for the chocolate chip cookies I had made the day before. Evan likes anything sweet--or pretty much anything at all!

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I got a package from UPS today and the box was filled with packing peanuts. We pretended it was snow and were playing. Yeah, really should have thought the clean-up through on that one!

Evan can spell his name and has just started trying to write it. You can easily see the E and v from Evan and the i in Bilger. Not too bad.

Eric had a field trip today to the Depreciation Lands Museum. It sounded just as boring to me, but it was actually interesting. It is all original buildings from the late 17 and 1800's. A barn, house, one-room school, etc. Eric had a good time.