Most wonderful time...

With Thanksgiving leftovers slowly dwindling in the refrigerator, and the calender officially flipped over to December this week brought on the first major rush of Christmas season activities.  Jen had been diligently decorating the house all week, turning it into it's usual wonderland of Christmas cheer, and on Friday we acquired the Christmas decoration to end all Christmas decorations: the tree.

Though Aiden didn't participate in tree acquisition morning since he was at school, when he came home his enthusiasm was through the roof about the new and improved state of our living room!  We were eager to get the tree looking festive so we threw some Christmas music on the record player, cracked open the boxes of ornaments and got going!

He was a very  active participant in the tree decoration though, as he (almost) literally dove headlong into his assignment of placing the shiny silver ball decorations.  At times Jen and I had to hold our tongue as his tendency to place multiple ornaments on a single branch grated against our more refined tree-decorating sensibilities.  Aiden was having so much fun that we just let him do his thing (knowing, of course, that nap time would provide the opportunity for much ornament rearrangement.)

Aiden was focused.  Very, very focused.

Teamwork.

Another year, another fine looking coniferous specimen decked out in our living room.  Now we just have to get some presents under that thing.  Also, I just realized that this a Brady free picture post.  I'll have to take some pictures of him with the tree soon so that we can rectify that gross oversight!

Fall Phone Fun

Just a quick post to share some of the fun pictures I've been taking recentley with our swanky new iPhones!

Treat or Treat

On Monday we had the opportunity to experience a Halloween night of truly epic proportions.  One of the parents from Aiden's pre-school volunteered their home (with little thought for their own sanity, or potential property damage) for a chaotic but fun pre-trick-or-treat party.  Packing that many costumed 3 year olds under one roof may not be advisable, but it certainly did make for a memorable evening.

After fueling up with some pizza and juice the gang struck out into the night to collect some tasty Halloween loot.  The kids had a great time running up to a door, grabbing as much candy as they thought they could get away with, and then moving onto the next one.  The parents mostly just tried to half-heartedly wrangle the chaos into some semblance of an organized group, all the while making jokes about stealing their kid's candy.  Everyone was happy.

Brady (sock-monkey hat included) looked pretty much like this all night. He too, was happy.

A very happy superhero and cowgirl.

Bros

The brotherly relationship between son A and son B is still (very literally) in it's infant stages.  Given that though, it's been interesting to watch over these initial months how the first essential brotherly bonds have already begun to form.

Aiden is pretty into Brady.  He likes to look at him, talk to him, pat and/or poke him, and above all- keep a watchful older-brother eye on him at all times.  Brady typically spends his waking hours in one of the many baby specific devices that we have scattered about the house.  These include (but are not limited to) a bassinet, swing, highchair, and more often than not- the arms of Mom & Dad.

So, when recentley we started letting Brady spend some time daily laying loose and free on the living room floor (he loves this) Aiden has taken full advantage of this new opportunity for brother snuggle time.

Aiden clearly thinks that this is the best thing that has ever happened in the world.  Brady, while not easily convinced, certainly tolerates Aiden's antics.  As far as Jen and I are concerned, we think it's pretty darn cute.

Pre-School Parade

It's that time again!  Another year, another Halloween costume.  This year Aiden opted for a somewhat generic (but still super-cool) superhero costume.  Very dark and mysterious...

Even Superheros need a little motherly attention now and then.

Ready for action!

Showing off that million dollar smile.

Parading!

Quite a menagerie of costumes. Sharks, cowgirls, princessess, puppies and superheroes (of course)- you name it and we saw it!

All warmed up for the real deal on Monday night.  He can't wait!

1 Month

Perfect

While we were at the hospital there was a professional photographer that came around to take pictures of the babies and their families.  We just got the pictures back and they look great!  Here are a couple of my favorites...