For a couple of weeks now, Jillian has been really into puzzles.
She has been doing a puzzle in the kitchen with me every night. She makes all these little clusters – not working in any way that makes sense to me. Then she can’t get them all to go together to form the 1 big puzzle. So we help her.
Until tonight. She worked all by herself on this puzzle. I did not help her at all. I encouraged her to figure it out and she kept at it.
Here she is with her completed puzzle.
She was so proud of herself and I was proud too!
She has with her in each picture her “purse”. She ran to get it before she would let me take pictures of her. She said “to make me look cuter.” 
This has been a week of firsts.
Wesley started his first gymnastics class through the city of Edmonds at the Anderson Center.
And Jillian had her first ballet class at a neighborhood dance studio, Fusion Dance Center.
Both of them are enjoying every minute of it.
For the next 11 weeks this is what Wesley will be doing late in the afternoon on Tuesdays.
Warming up.
Working on flips on the bar.
Using his balance.
Bouncing on the long trampoline.
And getting stamps after his 1 hour class.
Thursdays after lunch for the next 12 weeks will be a lot like this:
Warming up/Stretching
Walking with her arms out and toes pointed.
Leaping across the room.
Getting a sticker at the end.
Showing me how she puts her feet together - the sticker help her know what to do.
The energy in Wesley’s class is very wild/high and the energy in Jillian’s class is very calm and focused. I think each class is a good match for their personalities.
They can not wait for next week!
Tags: Ballet, Gymnastics, Jillian, Jillian: 3 years 4 months 24 days, Wesley, Wesley: 5 years 1 month 9 days
We got to Mom and Dave’s house around 1 and we wasted no time and straight to work…
He loves this mug!
Opening ballet outfit #1. She really wants to do ballet. We found a class for her that starts at the end of January.
In his batman cape/mask.
Then it was time for the adults to open their gifts – of course the kids had more too.
Jillian's pretty tutu.
A cool pretend mailbox and mail. Thanks Uncle Corey & Aunt Willow.
A knife sharpener from Mom and Dave - Thank you!
A very big counter-top griddle from Mom and Dave - Thank you!
Dave was surprised to find a gift from Santa under the tree.
Now it was time to play!
Aidan in the batman outfit & Jillian in ballet outfit #1.
Ballet outfit #1 - complete with gloves. Thank you Mom & Dave.
They are playing the quiet game to see who can stay quiet the longest. Jillian was out first, then Aidan. It was pretty much a tie between Corey and Wesley.
Then Aunt Lisa & Grandma and Grandpa Vert arrived just before dinner.
Opening their watches.
After dinner, it was more craziness.
Trying to wear the tutu on her head - but it is much too small.
It fit Aunt Dri.
Dancing in ballet outfit #2. Thanks again Yaya & Papa!
Jillian getting cuddles from Yaya.
And cuddles from Auntie Lisa.
We had a very wonderful Christmas day.
And Wesley is already talking about what he wants to ask Santa for next year…
Tags: Adrianne, Aidan, Amber, Christmas 2010, Corey, Grandma and Grandpa Vert, Jillian, Joshua, Lisa, PaPa, Wesley, Willow, YaYa
We wasted no time after the stockings…
Checking out their gifts from Santa.
Before we started making a mess the kids did pose for a picture in front of the tree.
We spent the next 50 minutes opening gifts from each other.
Wesley opening his gift from Jillian and Jillian opening one of her gifts from Wesley.
Thanking each other for their gifts.
Joshua opened the gorilla tape from Wesley.
They both got new water bottles "like mom's".
Joshua's woot shirt from me.
Opening Jillian's gift to me. Before I could unwrap it - she kept saying "it's a snow-globe".
Gifts from Grams
All the gifts are opened and they both want to play!
Playing with his batcave.
Building together.
We then had breakfast. Joshua made super yummy cinnamon rolls and we drank some cold apple cider juice!
We then got dressed and ready to celebrate Christmas in Sedro-Woolley. It was a great relaxing Christmas morning!
Tags: Amber, Christmas 2010, Jillian, Jillian: 3 years 4 months 12 days, Joshua, Wesley, Wesley: 5 years 0 months 29 days