Jingle Rails

One of our local museums gets in on the holiday action ($$) by putting up a display of model trains running through various model monuments loving crafted from bark and such. It expands every year so that keeps it interesting, but to be honest if you aren't three and obsessed with trains, it's really not worth the money, IMHO. However. One of us is three and obsessed with trains, and one other of us has a university ID badge that gets us into the museum for free. Thus, it is becoming a tradition to go see the 'Christmas trains'.

Don We Now Our Gay Apparel

Monkey decked himself out for Christmas with a mustache, scotch tape and mehndi. He's a very multicultural holiday celebrant.

Christmas Party

Grandpa T plays french horn for a local group that hosts an annual Christmas party. This year, they entertained the kids with a magic show and then played a Christmas concert while the kids got to sit on Santa's lap. Monkey was deeply suspicious of the magician, even leaving the theater at one point because it was too scary. As soon as we got into the lobby he wanted to turn around and go right back in, where he glared through the rest of the show and refused to clap. He was much more excited about seeing Santa, and was happily entertained by his red balloon while we waited. Once he got up on Santa's lap he whispered the whole time and told Santa that he wanted "a toy". Poor Santa tried to get some details but was unsuccessful - luckily for us Monkey told Mrs. Z earlier in the day what he was going to ask Santa for... "wheels and pistons". Mrs. Z asked if they should be attached to a train or not, and Monkey seemed okay with that idea.

First Snow

A few weeks back we had an evening snow that didn't last the night. Monkey had to head out and investigate, of course. He really loves his Frog hat and won't leave home without it.

Mr. Z's Birthday Decorations

Monkey was very excited about both Mr. and Mrs. Z's birthdays this year (they're two weeks apart). For Mr. Z's birthday (the later date) Monkey decided to go all out and decorate the house for our 'party'. First he covered the entire downstairs in blue sticky notes. Then he went back with a blue pen and embellished the blue sticky notes with pictures, presumably of trains. Monkey and Mrs. Z made a chocolate cake for Mr. Z and then he got to open his presents. It was a very festive day indeed.

Jingle Bells

We have several things to post, but this uploaded first and slightly out of chronological order:

Things Monkey Said Today

"I don't like you because I love Daddy."

"There's a monster in my mouth. My food is afraid of it. That's why the food comes back out of my mouth."

"And after the elephant is the North Pole."

Silly Songs

Monkey sings about sharks...

and if you're wondering exactly what He's got in His hands, Monkey lays it all out for you:

Happy Halloween!

Auntie L took this photo for us when we went to the Halloween festival in her historic neighborhood on Saturday. Truthfully, the giant leaf was probably the highlight for Monkey, but we all had fun anyway.

We are having some issues with our own photos so we'll defer to our fellow Monkey blogger, A Barrel of Monkeys to chronicle some of our Halloween fun last Friday. Thanks for the lovely post, Dr. F!

More spooky pictures to come as soon as we get our technical difficulties straightened out. Happy trick or treating to you!

Culinary Adventures

There's been a rash of fall baking happening in our house. Monkey is always a big supporter of any project that will make a huge mess, and has thus been highly involved. When Aunt M sent him a Halloween treat box that included sprinkles and cookie cutters, we had to make some spooky cookies. Behold, a spooky cat:

No more spooky cat.

Showing you his black lips:

Mr. Z is rather fond of making bread. It is a very very chewy bread, so he and Monkey are left to eat the entire loaf by themselves. Apparently some creativity is needed, because somehow someone invented the 'bread train'. Because we just don't have enough trains in our lives.

Pumpkin Patch

We bought season passes to the pumpkin patch this year, so we've been a few times this season. It wouldn't be Halloween without our annual trip with Uncle J and Aunt M though - so we headed out last weekend for our yearly pumpkin picking and lunch eating celebration. A very good time was had by all.

Retro Rewind

We've mostly been up to a whole lot of school and eating and sleeping and non-stop talking and singing and running in circles, which is riveting and yet, strangely repetitive. Mr. Z unearthed this old school gem from December 2009. I think it originally didn't get posted because Mrs. Z is just so... very present. But in retrospect, those adorable baby cheeks of yesteryear are a little hard to keep to ourselves.

Remember when he was awake and also silent? Yeah, us neither.

Apple Orchard Trip

This post is not titled 'Apple Picking' because the orchard that we went to would not allow us to pick any apples! Aside from that minor disappointment, we had some great fall fun with Grandma and Grandpa T and Aunt A and RHCR.

Ponies were ridden. Mr. Z escaped without injury.

Monkey really likes to ride in the green cars. No one knows why.

Monkey helped Mrs. Z make apple crisp.

August Trip

At the beginning of August we took a trip out east to visit our friends The Local Family. We had a wonderful time visiting with their two year old twin boys and new baby girl. Unfortunately our packing skills left something to be desired - and the something to be desired was our camera. Thankfully Local Dad hooked us up with some of his shots. In addition to the zoo, train ride and swings pictured below, we also did some quality hanging out at their Blueberry House (it's bright blue, they also have blueberry bushes in back), meeting their cool neighbors and swimming in a river. A very good time was had by all, and we are very blessed to have such generous and hospitable friends. Thanks, Local Family!