Isaac's First Time On The Ice

Isaac and the ice rink

I have been hoping Michael would take Isaac on the ice, so he can learn how to skate. 

We still had Ian's old skates kicking around the house. 

We had them sharpened, we bundled him up, strapped on his helmet for rollerblading, and he was ready to go. 

(I wish I had an entire roll of bubble wrap)

I sat on the sidelines, since I am terrible at skating. 

I didn't want to fall and scare him, so I decided it would better serve me to sit it out.

 Plus, I was able to get some really great pictures that way!

Isaac was a little bit nervous about wearing the skates, but he felt better when he saw that Dada and Ian were going to wear them too. 

He got a little more nervous when they all stepped out onto the ice, and started to get a little upset,

 until Michael started skating around, holding him, and then the REAL fun began!

Almost instantly, Isaac was having the time of his life! He didn't want to leave. I have a strong feeling that we'll be going to many, many more of those open skate times at the ice arena! 

The Woods Hole Aquarium

A few days ago, we packed up the boys, gathered a few friends and took the ferry to Woods Hole. 

Just a few short blocks away is the Woods Hole Science Aquarium, 

http://aquarium.nefsc.noaa.gov/

It was a nice day, for late December anyway, so the walk was nice. 

I hadn't been there in years, but I knew the boys would love it! It's small, but has plenty to look at. There is an outdoor seal tank, 

which is a great way to distract some kids in case you get there before they're open, 

a bunch of local sea life, and even a touch tank 

where you can explore sea creatures you may not see everyday. 

We got to explore sea anemones, sea urchins, hermit crabs, a flounder, a few conks, star fish, and all different kinds of sea shells. 

I had so much fun, and I know they did too! I can't wait to go back in the spring!

It's Chriiiissssssssstmassssssss!!

Thanks to our fluffiest family member, Alexander, we had a very, VERY early start to Christmas morning this year. He was up helping Santa and somehow managed to knock something over, causing a huge crash.

Luckily Isaac fell back to sleep (for a couple more hours)

Santa brought a really great wagon for Isaac and Alexander to share. Alex took the first turn, he was pretty wiped out from being up all night helping the big guy.

Ian and Alecia came over around lunch time, and that's when the fun really started! My parents, sister and nephew came too, and we all had a really nice time.

The boys made out like bandits, Ian got a bunch of new books, which he had been hoping for, some Star Wars Lego sets, and a new jacket, which he wore for the rest of the day. Isaac got a really fun tool bench (watch out Bob the Builder!), some puzzles, which he asked Santa for, a magnetic wooden dress up doll named Joey, and books, books, books!

Even Alex and Fluffen had stockings hung by the fire this year! I think Santa knew that this was Alex's first Christmas with us.

Later in the day, my brother and sister in law came over and brought a fantastic present. . . A puppet theater! Melissa had made it herself, and it was far better than the one I had started to make : )

The boys love it! I see hours of fun in their future with it! Let the puppet shows begin!!

We had Christmas dinner at my parents house this year, which was really great. My father revamped my old rocking horse, he made it for me when I was three. Isaac was a little hesitant, but after a little while, he was riding it like a natural!

Merry Christmas to all!

Christmas Eve

This year, I hosted our family Christmas Eve dinner.

I'd been thinking of recipes to try, and trying to keep it all relatively simple for myself.

I had managed to make a very quick batch of sugar cookies during one of Isaac's naps, because I knew trying to make them with him under foot would serve disastrous.

For the past few years, I've gone a little bit overboard with the cookie making,

but since I don't really like cookies that much,

I decided less is more : )

I attempted to make holiday wreaths, out of rice krispies. . .

They looked and tasted fantastic, but I couldn't for the life of me figure out how to tie bows on them with licorice whips! I got way too frustrated and decided to focus on something else.

Well, in the meantime, the wreaths sort of joined themselves into one giant, green pile or blob. Still tasty, just not as appealing to look at.

For the dinner portion of the night, I made a butternut squash bisque, which I've made before. (I forgot that someONE accidentally broke my blender over the summer.

It's certainly not very easy to blend a huge pot of bisque with a hand mixer,

so it was a bit more lumpy than I would have liked)

I cooked a ham in the crock pot, with brown sugar and sliced apples,

my mom made a gluten free eggplant lasagna, which was delicious,

and my sister brought a huge salad.

I had just finished reading The Kitchen House, in it was this yummy sounding molasses cake. While it was in the oven, it filled the whole house with this amazing warm, sweet, buttery Christmas smell.

I wish I could have bottled up that smell and turned it into a Christmas candle!

Isaac came into the kitchen as I was grinding some cloves and said

"Mmm mama, this smells like Christmas Eve!"

He was certainly right!

A friend of mine decorated her tree very early this year, and as a thank you,

Santa visited her house extra early.

He knew that she would be able to bring Isaac a present,

so he left her Elf on the Shelf.

Isaac named him Prince, and every morning he finds him, says good morning, and then spends the rest of the day on his best behavior,

because Prince flies to Santa every night and lets him know if he should stay on the nice list,

or if he has to be put on the naughty list.

(It's a very cute new tradition)

Isaac worked VERY hard on a special picture just for Santa,

he put it with the three best cookies from the batch.

(One of each color)

I love all the magic that Christmas eve holds.

The Christmas Crafts Continue

Isaac loves to trace his hands and his enormous feet,

so I try and think of crafts that involve doing that.

This fun one needed both!

It was such a super easy design, we ended up making a few for gifts!

I think they turned out very cute, and we may make them every year,

at least until he's old enough to say he doesn't want to anymore.

Which I hope isn't for a very, very long time.

A few more holiday portraits

Here are a few more of Isaac's holiday portraits.

I just can't decide which ones I should have blown up to 8x10s! Or poster size even!!

They're all so good!

Thank you again to my BFF Ariel Thomas,

Ariel Thomas Photography for taking such gorgeous photographs of our little guy!

Christmas Crafts

Today, Isaac and I decided that we'd spend the day at home.

It turned out to be very nice, we took a nap,

well he napped while I lay next to him trying to will myself asleep.

We watched the Little Mermaid, a first for him.

And for the most creative part of the day, we created a little holiday magic

in the form of felt (my favorite medium) ornaments.

I started by cutting out a bunch of felt trees,

then let Isaac choose a handful of buttons, pom poms, and sparkles.

After I dotted his tree with glue,

I let him go to town!

He did a really fantastic job, I'm very proud of him : )

When they're 100% dry,

I'll punch a hole in them and tie some string through it,

so that it can hang on the tree,

or be used as a gift tag!

Move over Martha!

Decking the Halls

As it turns out,

I cut down a pretty nice tree after all!

I thought it wouldn't work but it actually looks really nice!

The boys had a really nice time decorating it together.

I think it's the perfect little tree, for little house.

It's all for the birds!

Isaac and I worked very hard decorating his tree for the birds. Unfortunately we don't have a single pine cone in our backyard. Lucky for us, it's only a short way to the State Forest, which is chalk full of them!

We collected them and slathered them with peanut butter then rolled them in bird seed. Yum! I made garland with cranberries and popcorn which hasn't been a very big hit with the birds, I think because it has my blood all over it. (lesson learned, don't use fresh popcorn, and wear a thimble!)

We set the whole thing up on our back porch so we can watch the birds while we eat breakfast. It turns out the squirrels are enjoying it more than the birds!