Grissom Family Visit

Sally, Sarah, Matt and Lindsey came to Nashville for a couple days just after Christmas this year.  We had one day of great weather, and took advantage of it touring our neighborhood, including popping into the new chocolate factory.  Edie enjoyed having her family here so very much.  She had at least three different guests read her The Lorax.  Will and Sarah toured Vanderbilt, Grandma, Sarah and Edie played lots of board games together, and we all ate good food and caught up on our goings-ons.

2013 Recap

Here is a sweet montage of some photos and videos that sums up what a fun and fast-paced year we have had.  I'm not quite ready to say goodbye to this year.  Good thing I still have a few more days...

http://youtu.be/msn7exc6OwE

Christmas 2013

After over a week of a rather nasty stomach virus, we finally found ourselves almost totally healed this Christmas.  And it was a really special, quiet but fun, day.  Santa brought Edie a wooden doll bed, and Eli a train set.  Edie decided that Santa should get four whole cookies, and she was on to something because he ate all four!  From mom and dad, Edie received a puzzle that explains human anatomy and her first big kid board game: Candy Land.  Eli got a sorting game that mom made out of needle felted acorns and painted bowls, a set of Duplos and also a rain stick type musical instrument. Dad made us fluffy pancakes, though Edie wasn't too hungry because Santa has started the potentially brilliant tradition of including a breakfast in Edie's stocking so she can be tided over while she plays with her stocking treasures - and just maybe not wake mom and dad up at 6 am.  After nap time, we went over to our friends house and had a casual dinner, enjoying the calm as best as you can with four kids under four running around.  Will and I have been married almost a decade, and have had a lot of nice Christmases.  But they just keep getting better.

Thanksgiving

We had Thanksgiving here in Nashville this year.  And though we missed our families dearly, we were so grateful to have friends to spend it with.  We had a pot luck style meal with two other families.  The kids played together, reasonably well even!  And the adults stole a couple of moments to catch up.

SNOW!!

We've been lucky enough to have snow more than once this winter in Nashville.  One day, we had enough to go sledding at our neighborhood golf course.  The kids stayed on the hill all morning! It was so much fun.  Makes me nostalgic for those midwest winters.  But then on a sunny, 50 deg December day in Tennessee, I'm not so nostalgic anymore...

Eli's baby

Eli has taken an interest in baby dolls lately, no doubt encouraged by his very maternal big sis.  He pats his babies, gives them sloppy kisses, and even nurses them.  Most recently, he brings me the toy baby carrier I made for Edie awhile back.  So stinking cute.

Rainy Day Fun

Cabin fever is our nemesis.  These kids need to get out!  We had one of those days when the rain wouldn't stop, and noses were too drippy to meet up with friends.  So we made do with some shaving cream and paint brushes.

Halloween 2013

Edie chose all of our costumes this year.  And so, we were four purple sparkly kitty cats.  Since dad is a good sport, brother is indifferent, and mom loves to make Edie happy, I was happy to oblige her request.  We trick or treated for about 3 blocks this year - much more than the 4 houses last year!  Edie ran like the wind to keep up with her friends, but then dawdled endlessly at each house, hypnotized by adults dressed up and spooky decorations.  So then she had to run all over again.  Eli stayed in the baby carrier with dad for most of it.  Turns out, Eli does not enjoy spooky that much at all! But he greatly enjoyed the before and after partying with friends.  Holidays with the kids make for hectic times, but, man, is it fun.

While Sister is Away.....

Mr. Eli loooooves his sister.  First thing in the morning, he asks for her.  When we are about to leave to pick her up from school, and I say "let's go get Edie!" he shrieks with delight.  But, that said, he does get into some fun during her three days a week at preschool...

His very favorite? Sister's stuff! He puts on her purse and struts around with the proudest grin you've ever seen. 

Eli and I hit a playground most days together, and he loves the 100% mom attention.  Even me just sitting on the ground, letting him body slam and hug me can entertain him for quite awhile. 

And of course, the climbing.  Eli is a big climber.  He actually moves chairs around the house to use as ladders.  This is when I miss sister a lot, because she keeps a close eye on his shenanigans.  This sitting on the kitchen table wouldn't have happened under her watchful gaze.

Pumpkin Patch

Last weekend we went to a pumpkin patch.  Our first time, I think! It was a lot of fun.  Goats to feed, face painting, straw mazes, and banjo playing.  The country side outside of Nashville is so beautiful, too.