Christmas Break... or not so much

Brett had a 2 week break from work that matched up perfectly with Nora's 2 week break from school... but there was no break in our activity level, as is the case with everyone throughout Christmas! We have had a great time these last few weeks, lots of fun with family and friends. The elves arrived a week and a half into December on their favorite mode of transportation: snowflakes. The shoes were out every night and Flizzby outdid himself -- he did not miss a single night! He wins for the gift most treasured by Nora this year: a red sparkly headband with a bow (you'll see it in many of our Christmas pictures!) We suspect he also had another elf-in-training along with him since John will be old enough to participate in the elf tradition next year. Nora participated in a Christmas pageant through Sunday school... the video is not on this computer, I'll try to put it up soon. We got a new computer and have been switching from one to the other, and we also got a new camera, so the early part of the season was on one camera, Christmas on was on the new camera! We met Santa for the first time this year. We traveled to the Kalamazoo area twice and had a great time with our families there and relatives (and friends!) who were in from out of town. The kids switched their typical in-car behavior: Nora slept on the way home and John stayed awake the entire ride! Brett's sister and husband were in town for the holidays as were my sister and her fiance, so we really felt like we got to spend time with so many people we loved. We are also all waiting on the arrival of Nora and John's new cousin, who is due in about 2 more weeks: we missed seeing his parents-in-waiting but understand you need to stay close to the hospital when you're in the home stretch!

For the first time in I-don't-know-how-long Brett and I went out for New Year's Eve to a party at our friends' home, complete with a live performance by Finderz Keeprz. Keep your eye on i-tunes, they should be popping up there any day now. So much fun! And we made it home safe and sound, in spite of my growing mistrust of other people on the road that night!

We're always reminded at this time of year of how well loved we are by so many generous souls -- here's hoping you all know you are as well-loved by us! Merry Christmas and wishing you a very happy, healthy, peace-full and love-filled New Year.

Love,

The Huffmans

PS: If you didn't see it, scroll down to the post right before this one for a video of Nora's super fantastic birthday wonder candle in action, a mini-video by Brett. It makes me laugh out loud every time, hopefully you'll at least get a smile from it!

PPS: No, there is no ultrasound picture if you go all the way to the end of our long Christmas post this year! :)

Christmas Morning

Nora's new stocking... John's should be done in time for Christmas 2010

Santa...

Santa comes through! This is the exact Lightning McQueen Race Track Nora asked Santa for (on behalf of herself and John) when we went to see him.

John = equally thrilled with Santa's gifts. He kept laying on the box.

Nora's Birthday Party

This is the best shot we have... hopefully someone else did better. Brett's cousin Jon stopped by with his wife Karen and their new baby boy Max... we tried to get a picture of all three kids but two were not cooperating. They were ours. Stinkers.

Something new... Brett asked John to smile for a photo and this is what we got. Just as Nora is starting to outgrow her forced smile a bit!

Flame On!!!

Pictures from Christmas and Birthday festivities are coming, but here is an funny video of Nora's crazy birthday candle...Enjoy!

Christmas is coming....

Doesn't every family have their version of this picture? At last, we have ours, and I am not the least surprised at the outcome.

Yahoooo! Halloooooween!

Halloween was as excellent as the kids were hoping! Nora got to wear her costume to school on Wednesday, where they had a little party and did a performance of three poems they memorized for the parents... very cute:


Halloween night we stuck to Brett's tradition of pizza for dinner, and then hustled the kids into their costumes to get their picture with the firewagon before it got too dark:

So there you have it, the most themed/ coordinated Halloween we might ever, ever have.

The day started rainy but it was clear for trick-or-treating, so they had a really good time. When they got back, both had chilly cheeks so we brought them in to warm up while we waited to see if we'd have any more trick-or-treaters... it was very slow this year.

The potato chips were a big hit... Nora keeps telling people she got her "own" potato chips!

John luckily loved his costume... he wore it the entire night.

Hope you all had a nice time last night too, and that November is off to a great start.

Love to all-

The Huffmans

READY FOR ACTION

The fire engine is ready for Halloween service. Next time we'll get a picture with the fire fighter (Nora) and dalmation (John). Nora is still looking for someone to dress up as a house on fire.

- Brett

Firefighters!

The much-anticipated trip to the Fire Station FINALLY happened today! We saw lots of great firefighting equipment (trucks) and gear, but skipped the live burn they were doing across the street (even though a firefighter assured me it wouldn't be scary) because both kids were kind of spent by the time they were starting the demonstration. Here are a few pics:

Fire Chief Nora in the back seat of the pumper truck

Hose target practice... with the only female fire fighter I saw there! So glad she was there, as Nora was seeming to not believe me when I told her women could be firefighters, too.

Tower Truck #1

Tower Truck #1 - that ladder is so tall... the thought of climbing it was making my knees wobbly! Thank goodness there are men and women brave enough to take on Fire and Rescue.

Here's hoping that the only times we're ever this close to these trucks is on open house day, but we're all glad to know that the firefighters are always ready to help our family if we ever did have an emergency.

Check your smoke and carbon monoxide detector batteries! :)

Adios, September

I still intend to post pictures from over the summer, but for now I'm just going to move on with current events! This week Nora had her first field trip to the apple orchard. It was also our first blustery fall day, so we snagged some hats and sweaters and hit the road (John was allowed to come along).

We started out in a barn w/ mini-benches where the kids learned about how an apple grows (incl. the role of the bees-- a little positive PR for bees), then went on a tractor ride out to the orchard where we picked 2 apples by twisting, not pulling them, from the branch (a lesson Nora really took to heart and has repeated anytime she talks about going to the orchard).

The rain held off while we came back, took a class picture outside and headed inside for apple cider and donuts. Check out the apple shirt she made with her class to wear to the orchard!

She had a blast, and John liked it too since we were either moving or eating.

The next day, Nora came with me to the dentist for her first visit. I went first, and our hygenist did an awesome job of explaining everything she was doing to Nora. They also had a very nice conversation, which I couldn't participate in while my teeth were being cleaned! By the time it was Nora's turn, she and Lilly were the best of friends and Nora hopped right up into the chair. She got her teeth counted (20!), then polished (w/ grape paste), then flossed, and then got the fluoride, which is now a really sticky paste that gets painted on the teeth. Lilly was impressed w/ Nora's swishing skills, Nora was impressed w/ Mr. Thirsty (the suction tube) and a great time was had by all. She got a sweet new toothbrush and even got to pick a prize out of a box at the end. And so we welcome Fergus to the family, her new little scottish terrier.

John is busy too, walking like a champion. He doesn't crawl any more, and is getting quicker on his feet every day. He also gained a little height and/ or a little extra arm strength and is now climbing up onto everything but the couches. He has absolutely no fear, so I have a little extra now as I've caught him standing on chairs and on the ottoman several times already.

They're still getting along well, in spite of John's ability to get into almost everything now. Nora has taken to putting toys she wants to keep from him up on shelves she can barely reach or behind the couch cushions, but otherwise does a good job of sharing... most days.

We'll post again soon!