Gone Fishin'

Phil was scheduled to work a bunch of hours in the week between Christmas and New Year's Day, so I took the opportunity to take the kids for a nice long visit with the grandparents.  It was really cold and rainy so we spent most of our time indoors, but there were a few opportunities for some outdoorsy fun with Grandpa.

Mostly it involved fishing.  And that was because Mikey fell in love with fishing in a major way.  Every waking moment he'd ask Grandpa if they could go fishing.

And because Grandpa is the grandpa he is, they went fishing every day.

And sometimes some of us joined them.

Poised and ready to become a fisher of... fish.

This little monkey was super happy to come along.

You talkin' 'bout me, mama?

My dad's dog Lily was super happy to come along, too.

You talkin' 'bout me, mama?

Jonah is our resident dog-lover.  No matter that Lily is eye-level with him and weighs four times more than he does.  More dog to love in his book.

Getting some pointers from Grandpa.

We were all afraid Jonah was going to go tumbling in to the freezing water so the warnings to him to stay back were plenty.

Being #4 means being good at keeping oneself occupied.  Also helps to have a high tolerance for dirt.

That's when Grandpa decided it was time for his first fishing lesson.

He's a natural!

And when the little big sister asked if it was her turn again?

Sometimes it's just plain hard to be the baby.

Thankfully this sweet big sister started playing fetch with Lily and decided to let her little brother keep the fishing pole.

Because being the baby sometimes (most of the time) totally works in your favor.

Especially when it comes to Grandpa.

And fishing.

Ooh, we got a big one.  (Just kidding, there were no bites that day.)

Love you, Grandpa.

And then he kicked Grandpa to the curb so he could fish all by himself.


Gotta go, more tomorrow!

making merry, part 4

finally, christmas day was upon us.  phil came home post-call and had me go get some sleep while he took over breakfast duties and holding down the fort for a couple hours.

which just might have been the sweetest present i've ever received.

and then these guys could wait no longer.

like i said before, jonah's become quite the pro at this present opening business.

and the baby never has long to wait when some assistance is required. 

this year, we had each of the kiddos draw names to buy a present for each other.  mikey drew allie's name and picked out a kit where dresses (that fit barbies) can be created from different tapes.  the girl loves tape and so mikey thought this was just the thing for her.  he couldn't wait for her to open it.  and when she didn't quite get it at first, he was happy to explain the wonders to be found within.

she caught on as soon as we made a dress together and it's been love ever since.

there was another surprise in store for the boy in addition to his one requested gift.

i think he liked it.

meanwhile, the baby brother kept at it.

and his slightly overeager assistants seemed just a bit too happy to step in and help him out.

as for the little sister?

and after the baby's nap (during which the daddy did all the assembling), came his big surprise!

a train table just for the jone bones.  i think he liked it.

merry christmas to all and to all a good night!

making merry, part 3

and then came the night before christmas eve.

my brother's family came to spend the night with us.

BEST IDEA EVER.

especially since phil had to work a 24-hour shift that day.  (a nice lady passing by offered to take a group picture for us.  thank you, nice lady!)

the company and the extra helping hands were most appreciated.

extended playing time with the cousins = suuuuper good fun.

we went to a nearby park when the kids needed a bit more outside play time.  where we found the parking lots had been closed off.  this will be an important fact in a little while.

jump, kids!  turns out it's next to impossible to get six kids to jump at exactly the same time.  who knew?

while the parking lots may have been closed, the playgrounds were still open.

thank goodness for that.

and then on the way back, the kids asked if they could throw leaves.  (this is where the empty parking lot becomes a key factor.)

and then if they could jump in them.

and then if they could throw them some more.

did i mention that it had been raining the night before and for most of the day?

so while our first inclination when they asked was to say NO to all of the above, we said YES instead.

thank goodness for that, too.

and after having dinner together and before they had to leave, my brother and his mad haircutting skills went to work.  assembly line style: boy #1.  (please take note of that small boy there on the right carefully observing.)

boy #2 (an old pro at this).

and after having carefully observed how it's done by his predecessors, boy #3 was ready for his turn!

see him sitting so still for the whole haircut?  see him?!  a MIRACLE is what that right there is.

a miraculous miracle, i tell you.

and he got all three boys' haircuts done in just one episode of curious george.  mad skills, man.

and then there was this.

finally, this.

THANK YOU uncle johnny and auntie joanna for coming and turning what would have been kind of a depressing day into a ton of fun day!  also for the new front door lock.  and for getting the bathroom door unlocked.  we love you guys!!  :)