Art's mazes.
Arthur has drawn a few mazes lately. Josh and I both used to do this lots when we were kids, perhaps it's in the Garvin blood.
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Christmas Eve, Christmas Morning.
This is how it looked around midnight Christmas Even in our house. Santa set up a cool electric car track (bottom left) for the boys to wake up to. Roller skates! Jessica found these for Lewis, something he's wanted for a long time. He waddles around the house awkwardly. We need to take him to an actual roller rink.
Christmas at the Longley's.
We had a raucous Chrismtas dinner at Nance and Brian's house tonight (Jessica's aunt and uncle). Many relatives were in town and many drinks were drunk. Here's everyone:
Santa, to be or not to be.
I am suffering a little Santa-Claus-is-real guilt. As Jessica noted, each year we talk about whether or not to encourage Santa belief with out kids. And then before I know it I'm going over the top talking about how we oughta leave something for Santa to eat or that maybe I saw something in the sky making a jingling sounds. Jessica especially enjoyed how Arthur advised to leave the cookies and carrot on the piano bench, not the table, since we'd have to wipe up the reindeer spit. Wonderful. Jessica: "This is a special time in their lives when they believe in magic. Without skepticism. And we ought to give them an opportunity to enjoy that. And perhaps that feeds their imagination for the rest of their lives." I agree.
Merry Christmas!
Last night we were all in the Walker Community Church Christmas Play. From Jessica's facebook post earlier: "Hippies try to remind Scrooge of his politically active and compassionate youth, deities from multiple religions drive his ghosts of past and future away in a final dance number all in the name of the living fully in the Christmas Present (get it?!). And Art and Lewis sing solos!" I didn't get a recording of them singing tonight but I did the other day during our rehearsal. It's at the bottom. So so cute. Love to everyone, Merry Christmas! [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45PKzHKNUow?rel=0&w=560&h=315]
Brotherly lovefest.
Arthur and Lewis, to our delight, have been having a love fest of late. Lots of dancing and wrestling and playing well together. Scattered throughout there's hitting and crying and complaining. But few things make me so happy as seeing those boys being generous and loving towards eachother. Just last night Arthur was tickling Lewis in his bed and Lewis said, "Arthur, one night do you want to sleep in my bed with me?" Awww. Basement wrestling.
A snippet of last night's bedtime conversation between Netta and Bailey.
This started earlier and went on longer. It's audio only. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dK7yBs4tEdY?rel=0&w=420&h=315]
Music class at Lewis' preschool
These are kids jumping up to dance during a lovely little music class Jessica, not pictured :(, teaches each week at Willow: This is Bailey or Netta in the swing
Here's a fun stop-motion video Jessica made the other night with her fancy new iPhone.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DqSqpg4VHI?rel=0&w=640&h=360]
Goodbye cribs.
Tonight Bailey and Netta will be sleeping in real beds for the first time. We built this thing from IKEA a couple days ago and it's hard to keep them off of it. Here they are whipping their heads up and down. sleeping...WAKE UP!...sleeping...WAKE UP!
Twin Parenting Milestone
Tonight I sat a girl on the changing table and said, "ready for a new diaper, Bailey?" "Netta," said Netta, staring back at me. I was corrected! Then later, as we were getting ready to read books: "Bailey, get that big book to read." "Netta," she said sternly. Corrected again! Ok, sorry Netta. I will try and do better...
Netta and Bailey playing in the bath.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFdJ2OaqzXA?rel=0&w=800&h=450]
Arthur's chaotic seventh birthday party.
This Saturday we had a fantastically chaotic dance party for Arthur's seventh birthday. We ended up with approximately twice as many kids as would be ideal for a dance party (we invited siblings of Art's friends...), so at times it was quite loud and a little out of control. I think all the kids had a pretty awesome time, but next year we will certainly adjust our approach. Here are some photos: Jessica made homemade pizza en masse.
Watch out! Arthur is in Kung Fu.
Jessica took this photo of his very first class Saturday. He's a taking four intro classes and then will likely join a group with his very good friend Archer.