Tag Archives: Mom

Christmas 2016

December 25, 2016 shreffler

Christmas morning began at 6:47am. Des wasn’t quite ready to start the day, so he lounged in mom and dad’s bed for a while, then watched How the Grinch Stole Christmas for the third time this season while the lightning storm passed. About an hour later, he was ready to shuffle downstairs and see what Santa brought. Or go get a pretzel.

All things “rocket ship!”

Des balanced being very thankful with wonder and distraction. About right for a toddler.

Eleanor slept through most of the morning activities, but woke up in time for breakfast

Desmond was most enthralled by his new train set

Assembling and reassembling, then further reassembling

After waking up from his nap at ma and pa’s house, Des was ready for round two. Proudly holding the R2-D2 ornament from aunt Megan, Viv, and Liam’s recent trip to Disney World.

The rainstorms continued, with 25mph wind gusts

More swirly, light-up toys

Ella relaxing with aunt megan

Playing with Liam’s new race cars and trying to bump each other’s riders off. “OVERBOARD!”

Back home, Des shows off his train to grandma

Ella, before everyone was just tuckered out.

A wonderful Christmas together, the first as a foursome.

I want to be a dentist!

December 15, 2016 shreffler

Des took his first dentist appointment in stride.

He was cooperative, but certainly fidgety with all the new dental accessories

When the dentist came in to inspect his teeth, she put on her first glove and Des took the second one and immediately began putting it on himself. As if to say, “Ok, so apparently we’re gloving up- check!” When she took her gloves off at the end, he immediately took his off and handed it to her 🙂

Eleanor also had her first dentist visit, though atop mom while the boys were in the next room over.

Ella pointing at her #1 priority (tummy)

December 12th, 2016

December 12, 2016 shreffler

Ella is just as surprised as everyone else how quickly she’s growing. Also, modeling what was at time dad’s pajamas.

Still mostly staring at lights, but occasionally getting lost in mom’s eyes

Union Hall Christmas

December 10, 2016 shreffler

Everyone met at pa’s union hall to continue the tradition seeing Santa Claus. Desmond has only seen the classic Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer since last seeing Santa a few weeks ago, but we’ve been talking him up.

Des decides just one grandchild on grandma’s lap isn’t enough

Eagerly waiting, which was notably streamlined this year with family numbers and reduced line time

Des still shy. If you look closely, that thumbs-up appears to be sarcastic

Aunt Megan and Ella

Yup, mostly slept

Hamming it up for ma

After unwrapping his new set of cars, Viv and Des instinctively got down from the table and paraded them, hand-in-hand. The sheer cuteness was apparently a distraction, as the two rounded the corner before any parent thought best to go get them 😉

Des unwraps—and immediately bogarts—his sister’s present. To be fair, the blanket outsized him, let alone her.

It was also a frog blanket, possibly establishing an annual theme.

Newborn photos

December 6, 2016 shreffler

The second time around, mom and dad were on the ball scheduling newborn photos for Eleanor. Big brother had a cameo in a few…

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Durham Tree Lighting

November 25, 2016 shreffler

Mom was changing sister’s diaper and came downstairs to Des trying to make his own bowl of cereal… one little handful at a time. There was more on the floor than in the bowl, but he demonstrated initiative.

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Desmond’s new thing this week has been requesting, “snuggle.” So after nap, he wanted to snuggle with mom and baby sister.

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Each year Durham Western Heritage Museum has a lighting ceremony for the season’s tree. Going down a bit early on the toddler schedule avoided some of the crowd, a genuinely nice evening out.

Des wasn’t so certain about visiting Santa, but sat for a brief moment on dad’s lap before squirming out of frame. Maybe some animated Santa is in order to build up any endearment 🙂

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