Moss Garden

Mattie was very excited about making a moss garden at preschool.  (In fact, when we went over to Lakshmi's house for a quick visit, he took it along to show her!)

In the bottom picture, James is saying "shhh" because he is about to hide from the wolf.  :)

Back to the Coal Mines

 ...that is, preschool.  :)

Trains, Big and Small

 We went to the science museum on Saturday -- Baby Cousin Seth's first time!  (Of course, we ended up going exactly at what was normally his naptime, so he only had a quick catnap in the car instead.  He hung in there pretty well anyhow, though the train ride almost put him to sleep.)

They had the Winter Wonderland model train exhibit.  Matthew and James were mostly just interested in finding Thomas.  (It turned out that he had derailed in a tunnel, and some museum staff had to go fish him out.  One of the boys commented that it was just like their book, in which Thomas also goes off the tracks.)

Mike and I were not as impressed as last year -- they seemed to have it in a smaller space, so it wasn't as amazing. 

The toddler play area was a big hit, as usual -- I think the letters that James was playing with were a new addition.  James also really liked the rocket videos (blastoff and splashdown). 

It's so much fun to ride the big train with Mattie -- he knows most of the stuff along the route, and announces it with great enthusiasm!

We skipped the dinosaurs this time, but went to the butterflies.  We just missed the release, but one big butterfly was still walking on people's hands, and James was determined to hold it.  Fortunately he was able to do so -- he waited patiently while a couple of other people had a turn!

Family Photos

 "Let's get a picture with all the kids in their matching shirts, playing in the leaves" was a great plan, until young Master James decided he didn't want to cooperate!  Uncle Isaac managed to get some pretty good family photos anyhow.  :)

Everyone is back home now.  We miss them!

More Thanksgiving Pictures

 The boys had a great time riding trikes on the cul-de-sac on Thanksgiving afternoon.  James would take his trike a little way up the hill, and then come speeding down -- the look on his face was pure joy!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We have so much to be thankful for -- we had a wonderful family Thanksgiving, and hope you did, too!! 


Mattie and Jamesie especially enjoyed making their first pumpkin pie with Uncle Adrian.  :)  They also liked that they were allowed to play with the ice before dinner.

(Jamesie refused again to go for a haircut yesterday, but it worked out for the best, because Grandma
did it at home, and we think it looks great!)