Mid-December update

We have been busy with our December advent activities, our favorite tradition of the season, but I have been taking other pictures and recording funny stories too, so here is an update. Be sure to check out the video clips at the end.

First of all, Lucas has spent the past several weeks trying to decide what to ask for from Santa this year. I told the kids that they can each ask for one thing, so Lucas has taken this very seriously. For awhile, he wanted "a remote control airplane with a green button and when you push the button a bunny parachutes out with a rainbow parachute." Then he changed him mind to a "toilet plunger that is attached to a bow and arrow for grabbing stuff." He has been talking about this idea for a few weeks. In fact, his teacher at school pulled me aside to ask me what it was he wanted because someone else in the class has heard about it and wants the same thing, and that child's mother wanted to know what the toy was. I told his teacher, "good luck, it's not a real toy, it's just something he saw on Max & Ruby." Then last night, we had this conversation:

Lucas: Mom, I changed my mind. I know what I want for Christmas now.
Me: Oh yeah, what's that?
Lucas: It's a surprise.
Me: Okay.
Lucas: Ok, I will tell you. It's a remote control that has a button that makes me invisible.
Me: Well, that's a fun idea, but there's no such thing.
Lucas: Santa can make anything (Luc's response to all of my suggestions).
Me: It's true, he can make ANY toy, but he can't make something that doesn't exist.
Lucas: Fine, I want the plunger toy.

Sam on the other hand, doesn't seem to be picky and also doesn't really get the concept, but I think Santa will choose something great for him. However, Doug had a funny conversation with Sam, unrelated to Christmas:

Dad: Look at Mommy's belly.
Sam: Yeah, it's big.
Daddy: What's in there?
Sam: A baby. Mom, your bottom is big too.

Here is a picture of my belly at 24 weeks. This was right before Luc's big birthday party, which we decided to do at the beginning of December this year (more pics to follow on his actual birthday):


He got some cool new stuff for his birthday, like these:



The boys have new Christmas pajamas:



My little explorers have been busy:


Sam has been busy too (I think it's hilarious the way he eats a donut):


Lucas begged for a workout video that they do at school called "Stinky Shoe and Coach Laroo." I found one and the boys love to exercise to it:


But the best news I have to report is that we have had a lot of great time with Doug - something we all enjoy:





Sam is always looking out for Lucas and vice-versa. Whenever Lucas is at school and I get a treat for Sam, he says, "What about Lucas?" Also, Sam is very particular about what I call Lucas. If I call him Lucas, then Sam says, "No, say Bubba." And if I call him Bubba, then Sam says, "No, say Wucas (Lucas)." It's very cute. Sam loves his older brother and looks up to him so much. On that note...

Here are some video clips...

Lucas taught himself to hula hoop in about an hour. He is quite good:

The boys love to wrestle with Doug, but Sam is very protective of his older brother and he gets upset when he thinks Doug is hurting Lucas. These two videos show this. Of course, on the second one, we didn't catch the reason why Sam doesn't want Doug to "smash Lucas" and it's because (as Sam says), "because he is my friend." It was so precious! Sam loves his older brother!