Winter Play Activities

The kids have both had fun with some of our winter/Christmas activities.  What I have really enjoyed was how easy it is to pull these out when they both start asking to do an activity. 

 There is a tree matching game (I found this here).

I think Hannah enjoyed cleaning up the little trees into the pocket the most.

Ethan loves sticking the little gingerbread men and snowmen into the peg spots.

I briefly took the rice box and put some Christmas erasers in it for them to find.  However,  Ethan thought it would be fun to make it rain rice.

We switched from rice to cotton balls and it began to snow.

For the record it is my sister Teresa talking in the background not me.

From Little Tree to Big Tree

So we finally got around to putting up the Christmas Tree.  Andrew and I were both a little hesitant with Destructo boy on the loose.  It went up without a hitch and so far Ethan has been very gentle with it.  I have to say that Hannah is by far the most taken by the tree.  All day long she comments about how much she likes the tree and how pretty the ornaments are hanging on each of the branches.

Decorating her body with a string of beads.

Putting the star on top.

"Fixing" the ornaments.

Captivated.

Admiring the tree.

Christmas Tree Decorating

For the past week this has been the kids favorite activity; Mini Christmas tree decorating.  Big thanks to my sister Amanda for letting me "borrow" it from her.  It came complete with lights, mini decorations, and a star.  Hannah and Ethan will sit there for a long time and hang and rehanging the little ornaments. 

Wordless Wednesday

Christmas Parade

I have been trying to write this post since Saturday.  I almost gave up entirely.  Unfortunately, we have taking turns not feeling well the last few days.  Andrew is taking the brunt of it and the kids both have icky noses.  Hopefully, we will all be back to our normal selves quickly.  Saturday evening we decided to take the kids to see the Santa Parade.  It was very chilly, so I put the kids in their snow suits and we braved the elements.

Waiting for the parade to start.

Andrew found us a great spot at the start of the parade with lots of room.

Fire trucks were first and the noisiest.

Poor Ethan did not like the sound.  Sorry Uncle Chris (he's a fireman).

Hehehehhe, while Hannah probably didn't like the noise, she was more concerned with holding onto her candy.

The Grinch.

Rocking Horse.

I love the caption- God bless all little boys with sling shots. (It was a glass company float).

The nativity float.

Dancing Christmas Tree.

Hahahaha- Ladies on horseback.

Santa was going so fast I could not get a picture.

Activities: Daddy Style

 It has been 3 years since we got back from teaching in Korea but Andrew must have enjoyed putting his "Andrew Teacher" hat back on when doing activities with Hannah last week because he was back at it again.  Andrew put together the cutest activity for Hannah.

He scattered various items all over the table while Hannah watched.

He was showing Hannah that she could use the straw to blow things across the table/

Some items were easier than others and she enjoyed testing them all out.

Here Andrew is trying to explain that if you suck on the straw you can pick up objects too.

I think maybe he just enjoying playing with Hannah.  I love watching them together.

Wordless Wednesday