christmas, new year, and back to school!

As the title suggests....we have so much to say! The holidays are over and we are very sad to see them go. We are honestly NOT happy to be back to work, NOT happy to be spending less time together, NOT happy to be far from our families and friends, etc...

Alas, we are happy to be healthy and to have so many fond memories to think back on. Thanks to everyone who made these last few weeks memorable and special.

We spent a full week in Birmingham with Granna, Grandad and Aunt Eli and loved every minute. There was just enough relaxing, playing, visiting, and eating - certainly a well balanced week! Here are some of the highlights --

QT with cousins Marilynn (3.5) and Charlotte (10 mos) and Lindsay and Clint. We loved seeing you guys and hate that it had been since July!! Hopefully we can see you again this spring...

MM - thanks for being so sweet with Alder. It was fun to see how different little boys and girls can be with these two. This picture is not representative of this sentiment considering that Alder likes to be rough and loud with wheeled objects and MM likes to be sweet and quiet with pink objects.
The generally warmer weather was suitable for playing in the backyard and several trips to the local park:
...and of course there were some new toys to play with...

Thanks SO much Granna, Grandad and Elizabeth for a very memorable holiday! We love you and miss you very much.
We headed home and then two days later went to WV to meet some friends we had not seen in a long time to celebrate the New Year. Benny, Cindy and kids Henry and Maria. We had a super time with them and our new friends we met through them. We did not take many pics, but the few here will hopefully give an idea of what we were up to...playing inside alot due to the very cold and snowy weather:

the brave ones venturing out to the hot-tub:and here's Alder getting suited up to 'play' in the snow. He lasted about 20 minutes in both ventures outside. The wind was very intense and the temps in the teens...

We really enjoyed staying cozy by the fire and having good conversations on this trip despite the frigid weather. We hope to do it again ... maybe next year! Thanks again guys for organizing!!

OK, so now we are back home, hanging out with local friends (Sylvia!! AKA "Ya-Ya")

...and heading off for his first day of Montessori school!! Alder has been visiting his new school for a month or so here and there for an hour and cries each time, albeit less and less, and then seems to settle in. We prepared this past weekend by labeling all of his 'gear' (i.e., a blanket for sleeping, a lunch box, a raincoat, cloth napkins, change of clothes, etc). We are very happy with this school and opportunity we have to send Alder here. The people are amazing and like-minded and we feel confident that Alder will do well...especially after a great first day! Despite the fact that mom and Alder separated in tears this morning, Alder had an amazing day. I was encouraged with hugs and kind words from other mothers and staff at the school./ One woman reminded me of a quote that I had heard from my mother once before that really hit the nail on the head - “Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.” ~Elizabeth Stone

So I headed on to work taking deep breaths the entire way and called to check on him a couple of hours later to find out that he had been laughing and playing outside and that he was eating a snack and doing very well. Amazingly he napped very well (considering that this was his first time sleeping on a floor mat with other children in the same room). The note that was sent home read that Alder practiced spooning, he worked with a friend building a wooden train track, he had a lesson on setting the table for lunch, and enjoyed cleaning the table with a sponge!

Phew...so that was a lot. Thanks for reading if you made it this far. Stay tuned for more exciting news soon!!!