Hide 'n Seek

This is what playing Hide 'n Seek looks like with Alex.

Brother pictures... sort of

This is what happens when I try to get my boys to stay still, smile and both look at the camera at the same time.



Oh well, maybe they'll sit still next year.

Snow Days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Being homeschooled growing up I didn't really get the full excitement of the snow day, but now that I am a teacher, I LOVE them. Some people told me that in order to ensure a snow day you have to sleep with a spoon under your pillow, someone else said you have to jump on your bed with a spoon in your shirt and if it doesn't fall out then you will have a snow day, and yet another person told me to sleep with my PJs inside out.

Alex with his and Matt's spoon. They did start off in the shirts, but that didn't last long... they make more noise when you steal your brother's and keep them in your hands. Both boys were nice enough to put their jammies on inside out, Matt thought it was funny that he could pull on the tags.

This is Alex's version of the Snow Day Dance. It's not exactly what I was told to do, but seeing as I'm at home posting this blog instead of at work, I think it was successful...
... and it's still snowing!

Seeing Santa

Saturday we went to The Somerset Collection to see Santa. A place that is so swanky they call it a "collection" instead of a "mall". When Macy's is on the less expensive side of the mall, you know you are in trouble... Lucky for our bank account, we don't go there for the stores, we go to visit the most wonderful Santa I've ever seen. They take your name and give you a time to come back, you may have to wait an hour to see him, but it's not in a line and they cheer for your kids when they call their names to see Santa. You get 3 coins per kid to spend at certain stores in the mall, sorry, in the collection while you wait for them to develop your film. It's a great time and I look forward to it every year.

Alex looks a little nervous, but he was so excited to see Santa and tell him that he wants a bug vacuum for Christmas.
Matthew, on the other hand, freaked out when I tried to put him on Santa's lap. He climbed right up my arm and Santa said "I've never seen a child move so fast. He's like a spider monkey." So we took a family picture with Santa peaking out from behind the tree instead.
Once we did the group shot Matt was calm enough to sit by himself on the block, he had no idea what was going on behind him. My mom was happy because even though my nephews and niece went to see this Santa until they moved and they had some unhappy shots when they were this age, this is the first behind the tree shot we've had in the family. Oh well, he was interested in getting closer when Alex was telling Santa what he wanted and managed to gave Santa a high five before we left. He'll love it next year.

I'm not sure she's a good influence

All I can say is that this is Ms. Lisa's fault.

Christmas Trees

Today Dennis and Dan went on their yearly trip to pick out a Christmas tree. This year Alex was old enough to go with them and was very happy to be added to the family tradition. He asked if Matt and I could go too, but it was cold and snowy and Matthew will not keep a hat or gloves on so he wasn't allowed to go. Besides Matt and I had a secret mission to go on while the men were out hunting for a tree, we called it, Operation Christmas Spirit. While the details of our mission are top secret, I can tell you it was a success. Dennis, Alex & Uncle Dan (the best Burdziak brother-in-law ever!) ready to go get my tree. Alex wanted no part of the picture until Uncle Dan said he would pick him up and suddenly a picture seemed like a good idea.
Alex in front of our tree... in the wild
Matthew inspecting the bottom of the tree... everything checked out okay.
Alex hanging ornaments on the tree.

The finished product. I think the Burdziak men did a great job picking out a tree this year.

Another Fashion statement by Alex

When he saw that I had brought him home a Madagascar toy in a Happy Meal box he said, "A McDonald's on a Farm food container. Thanks Mom, it can be a hat for me." This is how quickly fashion inspiration strikes him.