Taking pictures

I spent some time on Thanksgiving as a photographer's assistant, but the results weren't what we hoped for.  My mother-in-law wanted to get a picture of Michael and Sophie to send out with her Christmas cards, but things went the way these things sometimes do.  It looked a lot like this:

This was the day I tried to get Michael and Sophie's 17-month picture.   I don't normally take quite so many pictures in one attempt.  The idea for this video came to me after a few shots, so I tried to capture more of the acrobatics that often go into this ritual.  Picking out some photos for my in-laws to use in their Christmas cards just now I was reminded that I never posted this. 

The first picture is what I actually used. 

Thanksgiving

We celebrated Thanksgiving at Mike's parents' house yesterday and that alone is something to be thankful for this year.  His dad looks great and is getting around with little evidence of the physical challenges he's faced this year.  His mom made a delicious dinner and is in good health as well.  Our families get along great, so my parents and brother joined us there this year along with Michael and Sophie's Gigi and Papa (Mike's mom's parents) and some family friends.

We made some fantastic memories including:

 - continuing the tradition Mike started as a kid of putting black olives on his fingertips at the dinner table...Michael and Sophie fed their parents in this manner

 - the kids hiding in the hallway and entering on cue ("Where did Michael and Sophie go?") to be greeted with enthusiastic applause...all 27 times

 - Michael refusing to nap but conking out for all of five minutes on Grandpa's shoulder...only to be woken by Mama bumping his foot as she tried to transfer him to a Pack and Play

 - the kids high-fiving Papa again and again

 - Michael sharing pumpkin pie with Daddy and Sophie requesting bite after bite of just the crust (good work, Mom!)

And here are a few more moments:

The song is "Make Someone Happy" performed by Seal.

The Famliversary

It's officially a tradition.  On the day before Thanksgiving, Mike, the kids, and I fill ourselves with the kitchiest kitch around by going up to Frankenmuth, spending some time at Bronner's, and hitting a few stores in the outlet mall at Birch Run.  I considered skipping the trip this year, but I'm glad we didn't.  There's nothing like a couple of one-and-a-half year olds to bring a Christmas store to life.  Here's a little glimpse of our visit to Bronner's.

The song is "Merry Christmas Baby" performed by Otis Redding.

Here's last year's post that explains the tradition.

This past weekend we went downtown Detroit for Christmas Wonderfest.  Seeing my two favorite faces watching the ice skaters, looking up at the big Christmas tree, and even dancing in their high chairs at the Hard Rock Cafe made it clear to me that this year Christmas is going to be crazy fun. 

But first, let's eat some turkey! Happy Thanksgiving!

- Rockin' with Grandma -

While the kids were sitting in the rocking chair this afternoon, my mom started singing a new version of "Rock-a-Bye Baby" that involved a chair instead of a tree and no little ones falling to the ground.  Michael and Sophie rocked and clapped along.

I considered using this as their nineteen-month picture but went with one from yesterday instead.  I thought this one still deserved a little attention.

Lazy Monkeys

For weeks our Five Little Monkeys finger puppets have been miracle workers.  I pop them on my fingers, start bouncing my hand up and down, and let the kids take one at a time off as I sing the little song. Countless tears have turned into playful giggles.

Then Mike made things difficult.  He's been sharing Bruno Mars' video for "The Lazy Song" with the kids.  Not entirely toddler-appropriate, but it's available on demand, and Sophie and Michael have come to really like it.  Today Mike took it a step further and started singing that song complete with whistles while dancing the little puppets around.  It was clever, cute, and got Michael dancing (although that kid dances light classical).

Unfortunately when I tried to sing the original song, Michael would have none of it.  He even attempted to whistle to communicate my error.  Since I'm much more comfortable singing Five Little Monkies, I'm hoping a good nights' sleep wipes the finger puppets' most recent performance from the kids' little memories!