Christmas 2015

The holidays were really fun this year! We made a paper chain in early December and I wrote a holiday-themed activity on each day. Some were small (e.g., wrap a present for a friend) and others were things like watching a holiday movie or making Christmas cookies. Oli got really excited about it and wanted to rip off the ring each morning when he woke up. They also really liked the tree (and the cocoa-flavored candy canes). 

We opened stockings first, ate cinnamon rolls, and then opened the presents under the tree. The opening went a little quicker this year compared to past years because Oli is much more adept at opening presents. They both had fun and were excited with all of the gifts. Thanks to all our family and friends who so generously sent them (and us) presents! 

Lots more photos to follow because I couldn't narrow them down.

Halloween '15

We had a super fun Halloween this year. We went to our friends' neighborhood and went trick-or-treating with them, then dropped by a few friends' and neighbor's houses on the way home, and ended the night by handing out some candy and of course surveying and eating candy. At the end of the night Oli said his favorite part was handing out candy to other kids. 

Oli and his friend James

Oli designed the front jack-o-lantern

Matching jammies at the holidays

Chris took some photos of the kids for our holiday card a month or so ago and I love them all. These two have their conflicts, but they really do love each other. Also dressing them in matching jammies is so cheesy and I totally love it (and luckily, for now, so do they).

A few photos from the holiday season

With the holidays and the end of the semester I am always super busy, but I wanted to post a few recent photos. Hope you are all enjoying the holiday season!

making grandma's fruit "salad"

sampling the marshmallows

group shot from Thanksgiving
thanks for coming Ayres-Wilhelms!

and one of the 4 of us

picking out a tree

trying to stay warm at the tree lot

candy canes are yummy

Oli requested red ribbons for the tree

Oli's face and pose kills me in this one

the above photo reminds me of this one
from last year!

on board the North Pole Express with friends

Oliver and his friend Julia
after our trip to the North Pole

Halloween 2014

We had such a fun Halloween. We got the kids ready and Chris and I threw on some last minute outfits (painter and nerd). We all went out trick-or-treating for about 30 minutes before Josie got tired and cold. I brought her back and Oliver and Chris continued for another hour or so. Once it got dark it was a little too spooky for Oli so they came back and Chris, Oli, and I handed out candy from the front porch for awhile (and ate some candy too of course). Oli has been slowly eating his candy - we let him have 1-2 pieces after a "good" meal - so it lasted a little over 2 weeks. Now on to Thanksgiving!

Christmas 2013

Oli (from 2 years ago) and Josie in the same sweater

We had a really nice Christmas this year. We got a beautiful big tree (a balsam fir) in early December and except for shedding some needles, it stayed looking and smelling good the whole month! We read Christmas books and watched Christmas movies with Oliver this year. Some favorites were The Grinch Who Stole Christmas and The Polar Express.

More photos to follow.

Happy Holidays 2013

Sending you all our love this holiday season. We are thankful for the family and friends that live nearby and miss all of you who live far away!

Snow & Tree

We got a dusting of snow the first week in December and then got our first snowstorm (the biggest one in the past two years) on December 9. We got over a foot of snow. We bundled Oliver up in his snowsuit and took him out while we shoveled. He was a little uncertain at first but eventually seemed to really enjoy it. One of these days we're going to get a sled for Oli. I never went sledding as a kid (not enough snow where we lived in Oregon), but Chris tells me it's fun.

Oliver, meet snow from Melanie Ayres on Vimeo.

We had been going back and forth about getting a tree this year since we are leaving town shortly after Christmas, but finally decided we wanted one. Last Thursday, December 13, we went and picked out a small balsam. It's a cutie and smells delicious. I love it!

Oli's Surprise from Chris Bock on Vimeo.