The Brown Brick Road

Capturing our adventures one photo at a time...

Elf on the Shelf

So, this year we had an elf come visit us for the Christmas season. I didn’t think we were going to get an elf but then Maxwell went to Lila’s house and learned all about her elf and kept asking why we didn’t have one. Wouldn’t you know it, an elf came to visit just a few days later! Funny how that works. Everyone, meet Gingerbread Elf…

elf

elf

This silly elf has been having some fun in our house.

elf

elf

elf

elf

gingerbread

I have to say, I’ve really loved having Gingerbread around because Maxwell gets SO excited about him. Each morning he has rushed downstairs to see where Gingerbread is and has usually come running back to me to say “Momma, you are NOT going to believe this!”  🙂

elf

Maxwell loved the morning Gingerbread was being chased by some of his animals.

elf

By the time we left for school, the boys had added a few more animals to the herd!

elf

elf

I think this day was Spencer’s favorite – throughout the morning he managed to eat all those marshmallows off the table!

elf

elf

This morning was my personal favorite!

elf

I mean…have you ever seen 3 cuter elves?!

elves

The boys have been really good to follow the rules and not touch Gingerbread so he won’t lose his magic.

elf

Of course, Gingerbread has been good to them too and even brought presents one morning!

elf

Gingerbread has been a welcome addition to the Christmas traditions!

elf

Can’t wait to see where this crazy elf is tomorrow!

Happenings

Robert was out of town for part of this week and we sure are glad to have him back! While he was gone, lots happened…

Brownies as a reward for good teacher reports!

brownies

brownies

A trip to our old friend, the tot lot! Complete with tiger mask!

tot lot

tot lot

New toys were explored by the little miss now that she can pull herself up to standing!

pulling up

A playdate with ninja Lila!

ninjas

Most importantly, someone got her first tooth!! It busted through on Monday and she’s been rubbing her tongue over it all week.

skb

Hasn’t bothered her one bit! My happy baby girl!

baby

Have a great weekend!

check mate

Maxwell is taking chess up at school on Monday mornings this year. He’s only had a few classes but is already loving it! He even got his own chess set and t-shirt to wear to every class. Our last two nights around here have looked like this…

chess

and this…

chess

Smarty pants! I’m so glad Robert knows how to play because I have no idea. Checkers is more my speed!  You gotta watch out for Spence though…last night we found the two extra queens stuck in his garbage truck.  😉

8 months old!

Samantha turned 8 months old on Sunday and she’s the sweetest, happiest little 8 month old girl ever!

8 months old

I remember LOVING this age with both boys too.

Maxwell at 8 months…

mbb 8 months

Spencer at 8 months…

spencer 8 months

8 months is just full of chubby, happy, sitting babies! 🙂

skb 8 months

Samantha has a very happy disposition and only cries when she wants to be picked up. Now, she does like to be picked up a LOT, but that’s ok! She’s nursing 4 times a day and getting some baby food at night. We’ve given her a few finger foods – mainly puffs and yogurt melts – and she’s loved that. She’s a great sleeper – takes a morning nap at 9:00, an afternoon nap at 1:00 and then goes to bed around 6:45pm. She sleeps all night long and when we go into get her around 6:45am, she’ll just be playing in her bed and greet you with the biggest smile!

skb 8 months

skb 8 months

I’ve said it before, but it’s true – no one makes her smile bigger than her brothers. She loves when they play and interact with her. Maxwell swears he’s heard her say “bruva”.  🙂

skb 8 months

This baby is also on the move! It may not be a pretty crawl yet, but this baby is crawling! She can get from one side of the room to the other with no issue at all doing her fancy army crawl using one elbow and sometimes even her head. She’s getting up on her hands and knees a lot and will be crawling like a big girl in no time. We really need to get out those baby gates! I can’t leave her alone for a second…especially not on a chair. She’s going….

8 months sob

going…

skb 8 months

and then gone. Yep, she busted on the floor before I could catch her and ended up with a red head.

8 months sob

Not to worry though, after a little love from Honey Bunny…

8 months sob

she was happy again!

skb 8 months

I could not love this baby more. She is special and she’s mine and I’m so grateful.

skb 8 months

Happy 8 months baby girl!!

8 months sob

We love you!

Back to school!

The boys started school this week and so far, so good! Maxwell was excited about his first day of 4K in Ms. Edwards’ class. He’s going 4 days a week this year Monday through Thursday – big stuff! Spencer was sure to give him a goodbye kiss – and slight choke hold! – on Monday morning before he left…

school

Maxwell was proud to be sporting his new orange shoes!

first day of school

He had a great first day – even if he told me he only played by himself all day. 🙁  I don’t think that was entirely true! It will be an adjustment this year not having Max or Lila in his class but I know he’ll make new good buddies in no time.

On Tuesday, Spencer got to have his first day of school! He’s in Ms. Betsy’s class this year and is only going Tuesday and Thursday. I really wanted him to go 3 days a week but the only option was Monday, Wednesday, Friday and I didn’t want Spencer to go Friday if Maxwell wasn’t going to go. So, Tu/Th it is and both boys will be home together on Fridays to play with each other.

first day spencer

Spencey wasn’t nervous or hesitant about school at all. And he was pretty proud of his new “geen” shoes!

spencer first day

Spencer had a good first day too – even if he told me he didn’t play with anyone, didn’t eat lunch, and didn’t go on the playground! ha! I’m thinking none of those things are true!  🙂  I did get the most awesome email from his teacher that night.  She said, “Spencer, as always, had a great day!  I have to tell you he has the BEST belly laugh I have ever heard.  He gets to giggling and just can’t stop!  Makes me crack up!  I love it!” That sure made me happy. My little buddy really does have the BEST laugh!

I sure do love these boys and am so grateful they have such a wonderful school to attend.

first day of school

Cheers to a great school year ahead! Have a great weekend!