Daddy gets a last ride of 2011 in

Nanc was nice enough to watch Ethan and Emma for two hours so that I could meet a friend and get in a last ride of 2011.

Thanks guys!

Playing outside today on grandma's swing

Group shot of kids from Aunt Bev's house on Xmas night

Big thanks out to Aunt Bev and Uncle Andy and their family for the great food and company on Xmas night. It's so nice of you to do this for us each year, it's one of our favorite things for Xmas. 

Thanks for painting my nails Aunt Polly

Emma got her nails painted at her Aunt Polly's in home salon on Xmas day. Thanks for your patience while i picked a color for each nail and giving me the coolest nails around Aunt Polly!

Emma and Ethan with Santa

 

Well, call us crazy but we waited the two hours in line to see Santa at Woodfield Mall. Ethan and Emma were little angels in line, really I'm not kidding. Was fun to see Ethan ask for a guitar and Emma ask for a Itsy Bitsy Spider (don't know where that request came from other than she likes that page in one of her books). Here's hoping you and yours have the happiest of holidays.

J,N,E&E

p.s. - we know Ethan's shoes don't match but he wanted to wear his "guitar" shoes and after 2 hours of waiting I didn't have the heart to make him wear his nice black dress shoes.

 

Daddy's got the best helper shoveling

Believe it or not Ethan did all this shoveling himself with no interaction or supervision while we unpacked the car.

Emma and Ethan posing for Xmas pictures

Hamming it up with a mouth full of Tootsie Roll.

Emma being Emma!

That's enough Dad.

Ethan in his Jingle Rock mode

Ethan Rocks Out

Ethan loves to "Rock Out" with his cardboard guitar I made him. Even though he has 3 store bought guitars it is his favorite. Also check out his shoe choice, think there's a little Steven Tyler in the boy.

As he was watching the video of himself Ethan stated "John Lennon was a Beatle." Glad to see Ethan is sharing Mommy and Daddy's love` of music. Now for his first like concert.

Emma at the library listening station

We were at the library for my Stay At Home Dads group and Emma crawled up in the chair and put the headphones on by herself. Looked so cute in those big headphones.

Emma and Ethan playing outside in PJ's

Ethan always wants to play outside when he gets up and we are making breakfast. Today Emma joined him. They seem oblivious to the cold temps, just makes it a little easier to get them to come in when it's time.

Got to love the fashion statement.

Emma and Ethan go horseback riding and take along their friend Priya

We were headed out to the local Park District Stables when the neighbor girl Priya that likes to play with Emma and Ethan came over, so we checked with her Mom and took her along. All three had a great time riding "Baby" the miniature horse.Here's some pics.

 

Video of Ethan and Emma getting ready to Trick or Treat

Emma and Ethan go Trick or Treating

This was the first year that Emma and Ethan got to tell us what they wanted to be for Halloween. Emma took it easy on us and wanted to be a kitty-kat. Ethan wasn't too hard either.Emma tried to tell us that "her Ethan" (yes she thinks she owns him :-)) wanted to be a leopard, but Ethan was having none of it. He wanted to be Jeff Wiggles from the Wiggles TV show which is his favorites show. Nanc and I died a turtleneck purple, I downloaded a Wiggles logo, made the background transparent and printed it out on iron-on-transfer paper. Nanc ironed it on the shirt and we ironed another logo on cardboard for a belt buckle. It worked out well and both wanted to wear their costumes for several days.

Emma was so cute and when we would go to head home she would say "I want to go to another Halloween Party". I didn't get it till Nanc told me she thought going to each house was going to a party. Got to love the way their little minds are wired. Both had a great time and were very polite and only took one piece of candy at each house and said Trick or Treat ... Thank-you.

Emma decided to use her blankie as a bib

Ethan wanted to play outside when he got up

Still in our jammies.

Ethan does his best "little girl" imitation

I guess Ethan got tired of Emma doing this pose and imitated her while sitting at the dinner table waiting for me to bring dinner.

Ethan and Emma go to Didier's Pumpkin Farm

The Stay At Home Dad's group I belong to went to this Pumkin Farm and Ethan and Emma had a blast. They were fearless and went on every ride they had. Lucky for me they had a one price pass for all rides till 1pm! Here's some pics so you can enjoy the fun.

Ethan and Emma go to Didier's Pumpkin Farm - continued

more pics....