Penn State Chics Dig Nerds

Natalee was fortunate to recieve two harmonicas for Christmas. (but unfortunate for Meg).  She got one harmonica from my Aunt Bev and one from her Uncle Todd.  The good thing about getting two harmonicas is that she can easily share one with Brady.  They have had a blast playing this instrument.

Natalee sang in the church Christmas program this year with the rest of the Children's Church.  She had two boys on both sides of her that were having a hard time paying attention (and they started to wrestle each other).  Somehow, she managed to mostly pay attention and do what she was supposed to do.  I'm so proud of her!  She was so excited to be wearing her new "beautiful" Christmas dress.  She proudly showed it off to quite a few people.   **Sorry, this is not the best quality video.  For some reason my better video did not want to upload :( **

 A number of years ago, we had started to hike to the Stone Valley Overlook on the Link/Standing Stone Trail on Christmas Eve day.  However, this "annual" hike has not occurred since the year before Natalee was born.  We've tried in the past-- only to be turned back by a two inch coating of ice, rain, or snow.  The weather looked to be good today, so we planned to take our hike.  Then, Jesse did not feel well this morning.  I decided that I would try to carry Brady in the backpack, but I wasn't really sure that I'd do that well.  I called Dad, and he couldn't go anymore either because I had started so late. (I was waiting for Jesse)  The kids and I turned around and Natalee chose to hike up to the top of Flag Pole Hill instead. That ended up being a good choice because both kids were able to hike the entire way by themselves (minus one fall because someone decided to run). I did not realize Natalee was hiding! Huntingdon All of us,...

I was going to forget about making ornaments this year.  We had already made and decorated gingerbread men two different times.  But, Natalee said, "Mom, when are we going to make the ornaments for this tree?"  Ugh, I guess we have to make them afterall! Jesse had the day off from work, so I decided it would be a good day for us all to do this together-- so I did not have to brave the chaos by myself! Rolling out the dough Rolling out and cutting shapes was Brady's absolute favorite part of the ornament making process.  He was really anxious to cut shapes! Cutting shapes  After they baked and cooled off, we finally got to decorate.  I braved  giving them "real" paint to decorate with (as in the kind of paint that is not waterproof).  Everyone got in on the painting. Concentrating so much that the tongue has to come out! Then, today we got to put the ornaments on the tree. In case you want to know....   Salt Dough O...

Last week, we invited some friends over to make gingerbread cookies with us.  The kids helped to roll out, cut, and decorate. The kids were all great at rolling and cutting the dough.  Brady really enjoyed this part, too. Natalee tended to put a LOT of M&M's on her cookies. Brady couldn't quite figure out how to get the icing out-- he just kept poking holes in the cookies. But mostly, the decorations-- especially the raisins-- went directly into Brady's mouth! . Ta da!

You all remember what Natalee says here when she is 16! Did you here the kids?  The other day, Brady picked up a pom-pom and started yelling, "Let's Go State!"  It made me laugh because I did not realize he had picked that up from recent basketball games that we have gone to.  So, today I gave them both pom-poms again and this was the result.  After the video, he went in the living room and expanded on the cheer with more of the chant.

Brady was really excited because he could eat something outside and not get in trouble for it.  And did he ever eat a lot of snow!   Last night at the dinner table.... Natalee:  "Mom, Will had his eyes open while we were praying!"

The other night before bed, Brady made his way into the kitchen cabinet (which is not odd).  He had quite a stack going on.  Before the picture, he had all of those bowls (seen on the floor) on top of the tower, too.  He was quite proud of it!

Like I've said before, Natalee's imagination has been going strong.  Her imagination incorporates both real life experiences and things we have read about.  Last night, she took the keyboard bag and used it as a canoe.  Then, she searched for an oar and decided upon the rolled-up aqua doodle mat.  Natalee rowed down the river to find a camping spot.  (Just like Bugs Bunny did in the book!)  Brady tried to get in too, but that did not turn out so well!

... Brady came into the world.  When Brady was born, Natalee was 20 months old.  So, that means that Brady is now as old as Natalee was when he was born.  YIKES!  Natalee is now double the age of Brady. Today: Brady 20 months old, Natalee 40 months old

This past (long) weekend, I made a last minute decision to drive to Nashville for Iona's birthday.  Jesse could not go because of work, so it was just me and the kids.  On the way down, we drove through Virginia and Tennessee to switch things up a bit.  The Shenandoah Valley was beautiful the day we went through.  We stayed overnight with my cousin in Bristol, VA, for one night.  When we got to Nashville, Natalee wondered where Grandma and Grandpa were-- the only other time we had visited in Nashville, they were there visiting at the same time.  I didn't realize I had to clarify that! One funny thing on the way down.  The music was playing, their video was playing, Brady was babbling and there was just a lot of general traffic noise.  A few different times Natalee would say, "Mom, Brady is trying to hand you his drink."  Then, I would listen more carefully-- Brady was elevating his voice because he thought I was ignoring him.  He yelled...

Here are some pictures from yesterday.  I also put on a video.  I had video from playing in the leaves last week , but this video was a lot easier to get on here.