Christmas 2013

Merry Christmas from the Cali Family!  We have much to be thankful for.  Happy New Year!

Stationery Card

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Christmas is coming!

We are excited for Christmas around the house these days. Ben has been counting down the days for a few weeks, and Tommy screams with joy each time he sees the Christmas tree. It's very cool to relive Christmas through the eyes of your children. Can't wait for the big day!

Movie Night - Curious George Christmas Movie

Tommy trying on Daddy's new boots

Snack time!

We made popsicle stick snowflakes.  Ben is pumped...

Then we made a paper chain to hold our Christmas cars.  He really IS excited for this one!

Tommy loving the Christmas tree

View from the kitchen window on a snowy, grey morning

The boys and Daddy looking out at the falling snow

Update in Pictures

Ben got sick and slept a lot on the couch with Suzy

Suzy dog making sure Ben is OK

Ben likes costumes - capes and boots in particular

Tommy painted

We made cookies and Ben got to lick the bowl

Tommy came to work with mom for an adventure and got to eat snacks

Tommy keeps getting cuter : )

Raise your hand if you're 3 1/2...

Happy Halloween 2013

Last year we had this

The year before it was just us and Elmo

And now we have become a family of little monsters!  The boys had so much fun at Chrissy's Halloween party on Saturday afternoon that Ben decided he wants to wear his Sulley costume All.  The.  Time.  So, we said yes on weekends but had to hold off this morning when it was time go to back to school.  To be fair, he will get to wear it again on Thursday to school and after school for trick-or-treating.  : )

Sulley and Mike Wozowski

Monster "ROAR!"

DJ Wozowski

Donuts on a string at Chrissy's party.  I think Ben ate 4 and was trying to sneak more!

Cutest monster ever

Look what we found at Home Depot!  A Christmas Sulley monster.  Had to have it.

So exhausted from being Sulley he fell asleep in the car

And then Tommy stole the headpiece!  LOL!

Sulley on a slide

Toddlers and Tiaras

Well, not quite tiaras, but Tommy is a toddler and he loves to put things on his head.  Lately he has discovered Elmo (with the help of the PBS kids app and YouTube videos.  Not to mention the leftovers from Ben's Elmo obsessed days), and that brought back the Elmo earmuffs we got last year for Christmas.

Then it was the fedora hat that used to be Ben's, and of course the pots and pans that are so fun to play with in the kitchen.  Classic.  : )

Getting older means a little bit more freedom for mom and dad, but it also means a little more watchful eye since Big Bro loves to wrestle a little more now.

Fall brings a  TON of leaves to our yard since we basically live in a forest, so there have been leaf piles to jump in and lots of yard work to ignore.

Everyone is happy and healthy and growing up fast.  Catch them if you can!

Sunday Morning at the Farm

We went up to a farm and apple picking orchard today.  Everyone had a great time picking apples, feeding the animals and walking around.  We came home with a ton of apples once again. 

Ben did some finger painting to round out the morning.  : )

First Few weeks of School

The first two weeks of school have been busy and fun for the Cali Family.  The boys have transitioned to their new rooms at day care.  Tommy is learning all kinds of new "big boy" things like hand washing, and bike riding in the playroom.  Ben has moved upstairs to the preschool and a lot has changed for him.  His class size doubled, he is nearly 100% potty trained (only an accident here or there), he is learning new songs, books and games. 

Chaos is a given around here, but I have to say - they're off to a great start and that's all we can ask for : )

Back to school

We have been busy setting up our new routine. Back to school is a chaotic time of year!  The best I could do for a first day of school pic is the one of the boys wrestling on the floor at 6:30am...

We have been making the most of our free time and the awesome weather of early September. Lots of wagon rides, backyard playing, dog walks, playground and something new - soccer!