Where's Bode?

Maggie loves sporting events, mainly the popcorn and freedom to run around in the hallways, so tonight Steve took her to the girls basketball game.  Since they were planning to stay for part of the varsity event, which didn't start until 7:30 and our second vehicle is in the shop, I decided to stay back with Bode.  Besides, it might give me some time to work on Christmas cards...with a 13-month-old...right.

Well, bathtime was uneventful.  I did manage to fit in some card addressing while Bode was happily splashing in the tub.  When he was nice and pruney, we ventured downstairs to the basement to print some letters.  I was going back and forth between putting a load of laundry in the wash and checking on the printer while my little guy was contentedly toddling here and there in the playroom, not far from me, when I suddenly realized it was strangely quiet.  Where did he go?  I didn't see him anywhere in the basement.  Thinking it would be odd for him to have made it upstairs so quickly, much less up two flights of stairs to the bathroom, I nevertheless rushed up to make sure he was not playing in the water that had spilled onto the floor.  Nope.  Not in the bedrooms, kitchen, or living room either, so I scurried back downstairs.

Then behind a curtain in the crawl space, I saw him.  He was playing in the cat's litterbox.  I don't just mean his hands were in the litter.  I mean my freshly-bathed boy was INSIDE the litterbox. His curly little head was just visible over the top entrance while he was plopped down inside grabbing handfuls of...stuff.  Oh. Gross.

Yes, it did cross my mind for a nanosecond to grab my phone and take a photo, but I quickly thought better of it, snatched him out, and whisked him back up to the tub, still full of water.  Never mind that it had been peed in during the first round.  Ugh.

Thinking about it now is making me chuckle a little. But still gross.

All I could see was the top of his head. 

Santa and Snow

We are in full Christmas mode here at the Gibbs household. Love this time of year!  Last weekend, we took the kids to see Santa at the Stewartville Civic Center.  I haven’t received the picture yet, but after waiting around and keeping busy with other festive activities, the kids were pretty well spent by the time our turn for Santa came.  Maggie actually did very well speaking to Santa but neither child cared to sit on his lap, so it ended up being a family picture.  

Later that day, Steve’s parents came down and joined us for the Winterfest parade and activities at the park afterwards.  We bailed before the fireworks – way past bedtime- but we enjoyed seeing Santa again and admiring all of the giant Christmas cards on display at the park.

This weekend, we did a little Christmas shopping and woke up to the first snow of the season this morning.  After church, lunch, and nap, Maggie was more than ready to get out and enjoy it.  We all had a blast, and it was fun seeing Bode really experience snow for the first time.  He wasn't into it so much when he was a three-month-old obviously.  Homemade pizza, caramel popcorn, Christmas tree ice cream cone decorating, and Wii sports rounded out our evening of family fun. 

And in other news, we made an offer on a house here in Stewartville, and it was accepted!  Plans to close in January.  :)

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We had the privilege of puppy sitting for Asia's clone again last week.  Seriously, these two.

Maggie wanted to help me vacuum and wanted her own, so I improvised with a cardboard box.  Well, it amused her for awhile.

Christmas decor.

I always wondered about those pictures I would see with baby's faces covered in marker.  Where were their moms? Well, yeah, here's my addition.  It's easier to keep markers away from young toddlers when there's not a 3-year-old also at home.

Family snow fun.

Fun!

Can you see the speck that is Asia?

Fun to decorate (Pinterest idea), easier to make than gingerbread houses, but even more fun to eat!

Asia was hoping for some stray M&Ms.

Giving Thanks

We kicked off Thanksgiving morning by participating in the Turkey Day 5K here in Stewartville.  Steve and I took turns pushing Maggie and Bode in a borrowed double jogging stroller.  Maggie spent the first mile or so crying because she wanted to run with Jack, a 10-year-old, who was waaaay ahead of us, and Bode took a nap.

After we showered and packed up the car, we drove north to spend a couple days with Steve's parents and brothers.  We left 60 degree weather in Stewartville, and arrived in Princeton to 30 degree weather.  We witnessed a beautiful snowfall, and enjoyed delicious food and great company.

 We came home Saturday evening to have dinner with my parents at Red Lobster (yum!) and sent Asia back with them so she can go hunting in South Dakota with my dad.
Following church this morning, we visited a tree farm in Rochester and cut our chosen Fraser Fir after just five minutes of searching! The afternoon was spent decorating, cleaning, doing laundry, getting ready for the week, and trying to explain to Maggie that it's not Christmas quite yet and Santa will not be coming tonight.  It might be a long month.

Bode was tuckered out after church and fell asleep on the living room floor.  A first!

Lower ceilings make for a shorter tree this year.

"I Want Bode to Talk"

"I want Bode to talk."  Maggie just woke up this morning and was looking for a playmate.  Then she continued, "And I want him to walk."
Me: "He walks."
"Yeah, but he falls when he walks.  I want him to talk real like Minnie." (She likes to give herself and everyone around her names from her favorite show.  Recently it has been Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.)

Well, although Bode's vocabulary of about four words and animal sounds isn't entirely up to Maggie's standards just yet, they have been enjoying each other's company a lot more.  I didn't worry quite as much today while I was making food for Thanksgiving with Maggie and Bode playing alone up in her room.  Oh yes, there are plenty of shrieks to be heard when the other has a coveted toy, but it's so sweet to see the times they play and laugh together peacefully.  Ahhh.

My "puppy" decided to get herself a drink.

Love for Grammy.

Taking Maggie, Bode, Asia, and Belle to the park while puppy sitting.

 

Some crafty new wall decor. 

Taking a break while geocaching.

This boy.

Stuck in the bar.

Tight squeeze for these two.

Early morning story with Daddy.

Halloween and November's Here

I know I'm a little behind with the Halloween photos, but better late than never!

The Saturday before Halloween, we took part in some kids Halloween festivities at the High School.  Games, candy, and cookie decorating were the highlights for Maggie and Bode.  

 

Puppy costume by Grammy.

Last minute costume for Bode.  Cape from Maggie's Snow White costume, socks from Aunt Aimee, tights from Maggie, and Speedo regifted back to us from cousin Eli.

Cookie decorating.

My little super hero.

Tuesday and Wednesday of that week, I worked from Fairmont for a couple days so my mom could watch Maggie and Bode.  We visited Grandma and Grandpa Evelsizer on Tuesday to show off my adorable babies in costume.  Wednesday after I was done with work, we hurried back to Stewartville in time for a little trick-or-treating and then quickly washed off the puppy make-up so Maggie could get to Cubbies for PJ night.  Whew!

Chair ride at Great Grandma and Grandpa's apartment.

Great to see them!

Is that not the cutest little super hero tush?

Maggie practiced her make-up artist skills.

A walk in Rochester one day.

As November has come, we’ve seen the end of 1^st Quarter for both Steve and I.  And this past weekend, I left Thursday evening for a professional development day in Plymouth on Friday and then attended the Hearts at Home conference in Rochester on Friday evening and all day Saturday.  In those 48 hours, I saw Maggie and Bode only while they were sleeping Friday and Saturday nights and just briefly Saturday morning.  Boy, I missed them!  And Steve, too, of course.  I think all three of them were happy to see me back in my Mommy role when all was said and done. 

 But boy, was the Hearts at Home conference so refreshing!  I learned a lot, was reminded of a lot, and especially enjoyed hearing from Michelle Duggar.  I just wanted to give her a hug.  She is the most genuine and encouraging woman. Now I just need to remember all I learned about child training and husband prioritizing.  To top it off, I was able to spend some time with my dear childhood friend, Becky!  

And with Thanksgiving just around the corner, I'm starting to get in a festive mood!