3 years, 10 months/1 year, 8 months.

Bad news bears.  Graham was a little out-of-sorts on Sunday, worse yesterday, and officially very sick today.  He complained that his ear hurt last night, and at the doctor's office this morning, we learned that his left ear drum had ruptured.  He is consoling himself with juice boxes, dry cereal, and "Toy Story 2."

3 years, 10 months/1 year, 8 months.

Nana brought the boys miner's helmets when she came to visit yesterday.  They have worn them all day, including to and from the grocery store, gleaning their greatest-number-of-compliments-per-block score ever.

3 years, 10 months/1 year, 8 months.

Nana is feeling better and came to celebrate a slightly belated Christmas with us!  Graham had been really sad she couldn't come on the 25th and so was overjoyed she was feeling better and up for the drive a few days later.  Thank you so much for coming to visit and for all the wonderful presents, Nana!

3 years, 10 months/1 year, 8 months.

After doing some heavy lifting with Lily and Jacob at the park, we came back home and practiced taking selfies.  Connor was into it.

Thank you, Graham, for the beautiful necklace you made for my Christmas present!

3 years, 10 months/1 year, 8 months.

After a wonderful week of preparing for and celebrating Christmas, it was back to reality today: work for Will, playground for the rest of us.  The boys were very happy to stretch their legs (both by running and practicing the splits).

3 years, 10 months/1 year, 8 months.

Merry Christmas!  Graham was very happy that Santa (and all you wonderful relatives) came, and was impressed with the snowy footprints he left between the fireplace and the tree.  The biggest gift hits of the day were the transformers and duplo legos.  We were very sad that Nana was sick and couldn't visit for the day, but Lily, Jacob, Lauren, and Zach came over to spread good cheer.

Thank you all for the beautiful cards and thoughtful gifts.  We love and miss you!

3 years, 10 months/1 year, 8 months.

Christmas Eve!  Anticipation is high.  Graham was very concerned about getting in bed early enough that Santa would be able to come to our house and he didn't even want a goodnight story, but apparently he was not worried enough to stay in bed.  I don't think our cover was blown this year, but it was a close one.

One very special present came a day early--baby Finn was born this morning to Uncle Peter and Aunt Tiffany!  Congratulations!  The boys can't wait to meet their new cousin!

3 years, 10 months/1 year, 8 months.

Connor is a jolly old elf this Christmas season.  He says "Ho Ho Ho" whenever he sees a picture of Santa, loves cookies and the tree (especially his new squirrel ornament from Nana which he touches gently and giggles maniacally over--thank you!), has only broken one ornament so far, and is generally in an extremely silly, hammy mood.

Therese's e-mail of the week, entitled "Run run as fast as you can":

Dear parents,

This tiny week we read three versions of The Gingerbread Man. The children did a retelling which is hanging in the classroom. We made gingerbread men and hoped they wouldn't run off when we opened the oven door.

After quiet time Monday we read the book again and acted out the story. Mostly it involved lots of running around the big room and yelling, "Run, run, as fast as you can, you can't catch me I'm the gingerbread man!"

When we return in January we will begin our Space Unit by studying Earth.

Thanks for coming to cookies and milk. Have a peaceful holiday and thank you very much for the kind words and cards! We do appreciate it!!

3 years, 10 months/1 year, 8 months.

Connor and his playgroup friend Oliver put on tutus and arranged animals this morning.  It was a good morning.  The look in Connor's eye is the expression he makes whenever he's really concentrating on something.

3 years, 10 months/1 year, 8 months.

After decorating our gingerbread house, we headed into the city to take a look at the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree and look at Christmas windows.  After a few moderately successful selfies, Graham decided that the iPhone was more interesting than the 85-foot Norway spruce.

3 years, 10 months/1 year, 8 months.

Playgroup reunion!  We were very excited to have some of Graham's old playgroup friends who have since moved out of NYC over for a visit this morning.  L to R, Matilda, Eric, Ian, Connor, Graham, and Edie.

3 years, 10 months/1 year, 7 months, 4 weeks.

We baked peanut butter blossom cookies today.  Graham did a great job unwrapping the chocolate and putting it on the cookies.  Connor was also good at unwrapping, but none of his kisses made it to the cookies.  Maybe next year.

Therese's e-mail of the week, entitled "Hexagon Ditty Gone Gone Gone":

Hi all,

This week we read 'Twas The Night Before Christmas, Grandma's Latkes
and other holiday books. Everyone chose a small box to paint as a gift
for someone. Some chose oval boxes, others chose hexagons.  We added
sparkles and gems to them. We also used our fine motor skills to do
some beading. Everyone was focused and working. We asked, "To whom
will you give your gifts?"  Mamas, daddies, sisters, brothers,
cousins, and myself, were some of the answers. We also spent time
pinching, pulling and poking some model magic before adding color. The
children then created sculptures to give as gifts too.

We have been keeping an Acts Of Kindness log. It is filling up easily.
We read it to the class during circle, there was a little bit of
beaming going on.

Quiet time is sleepy. Mostly. On Friday we gave out QT Awards (quiet
time) because you could have heard a pin drop, though none did. A few
people slept through the awards ceremony so we had a re-enactment a
bit later.

Also on Friday, we created sculptures using apple pieces and
toothpicks. People made a man, a cake, a porcupine, a square and
various other shapes. Then we ate them for snacks.

We have been playing in the yard still, but running, climbing, and
swinging. And tricycling in the big room. Around and around we go.
Everyone continues to mostly laugh during the Hokey Pokey. That's what
it's all about.

This upcoming week we will read several versions of The Gingerbread
Man, and we will make gingerbread men. The children will serve cookies
and milk to family members who come Tuesday at 11:30am.

Have a happy weekend!

3 years, 10 months/1 year, 7 months, 3 weeks.

Today, we trekked into Manhattan to go to Daddy's Christmas party.  The highlight was the magic/variety show, which mesmerized both of them for the entire show.  Connor made a stuffed dog at Build-A-Bear which he has instantly become attached to.  Graham dubbed it "Dog Dog," after Lily's lovey, and Connor calls it "Woof Woof."

Also, Connor can suddenly drink from a cup without assistance!

3 years, 10 months/1 year, 7 months, 3 weeks.

Bearded bathing beauties.  Graham got wind of the concept of bubble baths about a month ago and hasn't looked back since.

We are preparing for the holidays.  I asked Graham what he thought Daddy would like for Christmas, and he said, "popcorn, a pacman game, and a light to go on the ceiling in your and Daddy's room."  Pretty good guesses.

3 years, 10 months/1 year, 7 months, 3 weeks.

The "Frosty the Snowman" Christmas special got us through this weekend's drop-off playdate/tree sale extravaganza.

3 years, 10 months/1 year, 7 months, 3 weeks.

More fine-motor-skill-practice/candy-eating courtesy of the advent calendar.

Therese's e-mail of the week, entitled "three little kids and the okay biscuits":

Hi mommies and daddies,

We started our week reading a fourth version of The Three Little Pigs. We have been thoroughly enjoying them and comparing each book. We looked at the pictures of the smart little pig's brick house to see what shapes we could find in the house. People found squares, rectangles, triangles and two circles. We then used some of those paper shapes to glue and create our own houses.

After reading Families Are Different, we  asked, "Who lives at your house?" We filled in a chart to show the visual answer. We also let everyone choose cutout people (paper dolls) to represent each person in their family. They decorated their next of kin using crayons, markers and water colors. You all look happy and colorful!

During yoga on Thursday as half the class chased their chi, the others glued their families into their home sweet homes.

Friday we baked buttermilk biscuits. We ate them warm with the butter we made for Thanksgiving. They were okay. One person said she didn't really like them while the rest of us gobbled them up.

Next week we will work on gift making. 'Tis the season.

Tuesday December 23 is a half day and the last day before our break. We will make cookies and are inviting you all for cookies and milk. They will be served at 11:30am on Tuesday December 23rd.

Have a lovely weekend,
Therese

3 years, 10 months/1 year, 7 months, 3 weeks.

Graham is at a funny age right now of both enjoying building and knocking down towers.  Needless to say, he only likes towers being knocked down when he does the knocking.  He likes repetition and designs the exact same tower over and over again.

3 years, 9 months/1 year, 7 months, 2 weeks.

St. Nicholas came!  Last night, Graham decided to put out his rain boots instead of his sneakers so that St. Nick would be able to "fit more candy."  I hope Graham wasn't too disappointed--St. Nicholas mostly brought the boys tree ornaments and little toys, though he did slip in some pez dispensers which went over very well.

In the afternoon, Lily and Jacob came over to play under my supervision while other three parents sold trees as a fundraiser for Graham and Lily's nursery school.  This photo was taken during the sole moment of calm this afternoon.

Therese's e-mail of the week, entitled "Let it snow":

Hi mommas and daddies,

This week we welcomed two new friends into our classroom. We read and reread Friends, and reviewed our list about how to be good friends.

We played Simon Says after reading I Can, Can You? We reached, hopped, balanced, tippy toed around the room, and ended with a game of Hokey Pokey. We also laughed, giggled, and smiled.

In the yard we gathered leaves and threw them on our new grass so they could fertilize our soul. I mean soil.

Tuesday we read Gaspard And Lisa, a story about friends. We also read I Am A Wrecking Ball and talked about feeling happy, sad, excited, and small. We ran and wheeled and climbed around the big room, before and after making snow in the classroom. We mixed two potions and drew circles in our snow. We tried to make snowballs and did save two of them in the freezer. Wednesday we made a snow blizzard using mural paper, paint, glue, and shaving cream. Everyone sprinkled snow dust and sparkles on it, then we added cotton snowballs. It is all one color, except for the sparkles, and it is hanging in the classroom.

We split the class into two groups for yoga. While one group posed, the other played with play dough and read books. Afterwards, outside, we climbed on the jungle gym and ran and swung.

Friday we began reading our Day Born stories much to the delight of the children. Each person drew a picture to add to the book we will create with the stories. If you have not written yours, please oh please do.

And have a rainy but not teary weekend,
Therese

3 years, 9 months/1 year, 7 months, 1 week.

It turns out that Connor is a complete sugar monster.  Hopefully the fine motor skills he is developing by learning how to open peppermint patty wrappers somewhat offsets the increase in his white sugar/corn syrup intake due to the advent calendar.

3 years, 9 months/1 year, 7 months, 1 week.

Graham walked across the balance beam at the Kids Club today!  He and Connor were walking across and I had to let go of Graham's hand to help Connor.  He was scared for a moment and then started yelling, "I'm balancing!  I'm balancing!"  He spent the next 30 minutes walking back and forth on the beam all by himself.  He and I are both very proud.

3 years, 9 months/1 year, 7 months, 1 week.

Connor created a menagerie before we headed out to the Old First Nursery School tree sale to pick out a Christmas tree.  Graham was a very enthusiastic tree-trimmer; Connor was not.

3 years, 9 months/1 year, 7 months, 1 week.

After a raucous game of Graham (Hazel/Connor)-in-the-box, Graham and Connor escorted Hazel on her first subway ride, to the Lower East Side for Sugar Sweet Sunshine cupcakes.  Perhaps not surprisingly, everyone was quiet and well-behaved in the bakery but had an instantaneous melt-down after leaving the warm hazy powdered sugar air and going outside into the cold.

3 years, 9 months/1 year, 7 months, 1 week.

Happy chaotic, baby-filled, delicious, wonderful Thanksgiving!  This year, we are thankful for dear friends who make us laugh and dear children who let us eat our food and drink our drinks.  Thank you children, and thank you friends. We love you.

3 years, 9 months/1 year, 7 months.

Graham invited us to school for a pre-Thanksgiving feast this morning.  Graham and his school friends made butter (which apparently took 8 minutes to shake from cream into butter and whey), corn muffins, and sweet potatoes, all of which were delicious, if a little heavy for 11:15 am.

Therese's e-mail of the week, entitled "Feast for six":

Hi all,

This week of Thanksgiving we made sweet potatoes. We washed the potatoes, boiled them, skinned them and mashed them with an electric mixer. Everyone took turns holding the mixer except one person who just wanted to watch. We have been playing One Potato, Two Potato just for fun.

The next day we read The Three Little Pigs again and talked about the butter churn in the story. We then set about making butter. Since we had no churn we had to shake, wiggle, and hop our heavy cream into butter. We sang the Hokey Butter song. It was kinda hokey. We shook it high, low, and around and around. Everyone predicted how long it would take the cream to turn to butter. One guess was thirty-four hours, it did not take that long. We also talked about the difference in a solid and a liquid. The children said the table and a stick of butter were solids but the cream was a liquid. We observed the liquid cream turn into a solid, butter. Then we tasted it. Mmmmmmm.

We read another version of the three little pigs called The True Story Of The Three Little Pigs and talked about the differences. We also made corn muffins to use as vehicles for our butter. We also read Feast For Ten and noticed that we did some of the same things when we prepared our meal.

Our feast was delightful and delicious. The children made a list of what they are thankful for and we read it to our families before our feast. We sang Way Down Yonder By The Plum Tree and put our fruit on our family tree. Then we feasted.

Next week we are looking forward to meeting and welcoming two new friends to our class. Monday after school Kiera and I will visit Niall and Bear at home and then they will be here on Tuesday morning. We have been talking to the children preparing them for two new students and looking at their names and birthday fish. We read a book about friends, reviewed our list of how to be a good friend, and counted our friends at school, adding two.

Have a thankful Thanksgiving and thanks to you all for all you do!

3 years, 9 months/1 year, 7 months.

Tunnel fun at the Kids Club.