Thanksgiving

Grandma and Grandpa Ma, Great Crandma Chen, and Aunt Shirley were all here for Thanksgiving this year. We enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner together.

Not to be left out of the feast, Mathew enjoyed Turkey and Rice (compliments of Gerber) and homemade sweet potatoes and squash.

After eating all that food, everyone was tired. Grandpa and Mathew took naps.

Nathan and Aunt Shirley made brownies, which we enjoyed later with vanilla ice cream.

Oh Christmas Tree

Chris put up the Christmas tree while I worked on Thanksgiving dinner. While the turkey was in the oven, Nathan helped me decorate the tree with strands of beads (which are fun to run around the house with, they make the most pleasing sound when pulled across linoleum and wood furniture).

Nathan also helped put up tons of ornaments. The tree was a little bottom heavy with ornaments, so I relocated a bunch of them under Nathan's watchful supervision ("No mommy, not there, put it here!").

I couldn't resist snapping a picture of one of my favorite ornaments.

The next morning, I put Mathew in front of the tree and ran to the kitchen to grab his bottle. I came back to find Nathan sitting next to his brother, both boys admiring the tree.

Mathew's Baptism

Grandma and Grandpa Crossley, Grandma Ma, Great Grandma Chen, and Aunt Shirley all traveled to Minnesota for Mathew's baptism. Mathew was very well behaved. When he saw the water, he wanted to dive in headfirst. The congregation got a chuckle out of that.

Four generations!!!

Book Scratch

Nathan got a papercut at school today while "reading" a book. He came home with a band-aid on his finger. When I asked him what happened to his finger he replied, "I got a book scratch".

Hide-n-Seek

Nathan likes to play hide-n-seek now. Here's how it usually works:

Nathan: Let's play hide-n-seek! You count and I'll hide.
Mom/Dad: Okay! 1, 2, 3...
Nathan: You have to cover your eyes.
Mom/Dad: Oh, I see (with eyes covered), 1, 2, 3, 4...
Nathan: And when you're done counting, come to my room and find me.
Mom/Dad: You're not supposed to tell me where you're hiding!
Nathan: Oh, yeah.
Mom/Dad: 1, 2...
Nathan: Cover your eyes!
Mom/Dad: Okay. 1, 2, 3...
Nathan: When you get to 10, come to my room and find me in the closet!

Xmas Preview

I know it's way too early, but I couldn't resist when I found Nathan's old Santa hat in a drawer. I think I'm going to have to get another one!

Leaf Piles

Nathan helped Dad rake up all the leaves in the backyard. Then he came inside and invited his brother to jump into the piles with him. I had to snap a few pictures!

Brother vs. Mother

Nathan does not like to get up in the mornings. I try and try to get him out of bed in the mornings so we have a chance of making it to school on time. It's nearly impossible some mornings. But I've discovered that Nathan will jump out of bed on his own if I bring Mathew into his room. He hurries over to give his brother hugs and kisses. He'll even throw in a little song and dance. It can't be that easy... can it?

Pumpkin Carving

We did our annual pumpkin carving with Bryan and Joan. The weather was great!

Here's a pic of our little pumpkin...

Nathan takes after his Dad. Both are reluctant to stick their hands inside a pumpkin. There's all that goo inside!!!