Day 1549 | Holiday Baking

/
FullSizeRender.jpg

My mom and I spent a good chunk of today checking holiday baking off our list. We made three different types of cookies and a chocolate/pretzel favorite of mine. The boys *helped* a bit but mostly kept themselves entertained...which, let’s be honest, is an even better arrangement.  

Now we just have to have enough self-control not to eat them all before the weekend. Fingers crossed! 

Day 1548 | A Busy Day

/
FullSizeRender.jpg

We left the house at 8:15 this morning and returned to our house at 7:15 tonight. It was a day. A good day.  

We met my parents in Strum for some krumkake baking and catching up. Then we jumped in the car for a quick lunch on our way to a nursing home for a piano recital where Chase played Jingle Bells. After the concert, we spent the rest of the afternoon and evening with some of our favorite people. We even played a new dice game!  

We are all exhausted but happy. What a nice day.  

Day 1545 | Advent Calendar

/
IMG_3065.JPG

We’re about half way through the original advent calendar Chris and I have been working on (ok, mostly Chris). Instead of buying two of these crazy expensive ones (like this or this) with 25 little tiny “prizes” every day, I thought it would be a great idea to make our own advent calendar out of a regular lego kit. We got a smokin’ hot deal on a big set (like, “we thought we were going to get our identity stolen” type of hot deal) with 1400+ pieces and almost 250 steps in the instruction manual. Chris worked his magic and figured out the best way to divide up the 1400 pieces into 40 bags (20 days for each kid…we leave for Christmas on the 22 so we wanted it to wrap up before that). I did help *a bit* with this process, for the record.

Now, every morning, the boys wake up, collect their bags, and work together to build the giant set bit by bit. Some days they get Lego Minifigures that they spend the rest of the day playing with. But most days, it’s just normal pieces used to add another layer to the set.

I know this is crazy. I’m grateful to Chris for agreeing to this time-intensive and insane idea. It’s working out even better than I expected, though. The boys are really enjoying playing with the set in the under-construction phase. They find fun + interesting ways to play with the set after every addition—this type of interaction would have never happened if they were just building the set outright. They would have just kept building their way through it.

Plus, at the end, they have this super sweet Ninjago set that they’ll play with for hours (which is what they do). I stand by my crazy idea. And I’d do it again next year…assuming Chris is still on board and assuming we can find another good deal.

Day 1540 | Paint

/
FullSizeRender.jpg

Yep. The paint project continues around here. We started just before Halloween and it’s looking like we’ll wrap up after Christmas (because of a bit of a break—not constant painting). So far, we’ve had someone here nearly every day, though. For a stay-at-home/work-from-home mom, this provides its share of challenges. Luckily, the painters that have been here have been the best possible folks to have in our home for two months. And the house is looking amazing (so far) even after WAY too much paint deliberation. 

The photo above shows my paint selections as options versus Robbe’s suggested paint choices. I bet you can tell which side is which without me telling you. 

Day 1537 | A Winter Parade

/
IMG_2983.JPG

We busted out of the house after dinner (crazy, I know) for the downtown Eau Claire winter parade. It was a bit chilly and a bit long (45 minutes for a winter parade would be plenty), but super fun. And it was nice to take the walk over to the parade route and—in the boys’ opinion—collect more candy (obviously). 

Side note: I promise Chase wasn’t as terrified as he looks in the photo. :) 

Day 1536 | Students as Teachers

/
IMG_2968.JPG

Chase and Robbe welcomed us into their classrooms tonight for the Students as Teachers event. The boys showed us around their rooms and gave us some of the presentations they’ve had. It’s one of my favorite events. 

Robbe got really into explaining his symmetry work, easel work, and scavenger hunt in a bottle work. Chase was mostly high-tech and wanted to show off his iPad and coding skills. But he also squeezed in some old-fashioned math work, too.  

The boys seemed to be so proud as they led us around. Such sweet little nuggets.