Growing the Mott: 2017

We have gotten some real cute Christmas cards in the mail this week (looking at you, Joy and Megan!). Seeing how delightful they are makes me think we should have some made up, then I remember I only feel up to the challenge of taking a family picture once every 3 years. Eesh.

I just had a grand idea! I should have taken that illustrated art I had an Etsy artisit do of our family, slapped on a couple clip art santa and frosty hats and mailed that out! Noley could have had reindeer antlers with a red nose and the corn cob pipe could have gone to Jon.

This post is also going to be lacking pictures as (number one), I haven't taken hardly any lately, and (number two), I can't get them off my phone as dropbox and I are currently fighting. Then the blogger app went and gained up with dropbox and will now no longer work as well.

Mimi and Momo came a week ago, and we've been getting our Jingle Jam on. The first funny thing I need to report is that Nolan was very enamored with grandpa and grandma over Thanksgiving break, but I'm not sure he ever really said their names. Well, in walk Momo and Mimi and clear as day, Nolan yells, "gam-pa! gam-ma!-gam-ma! gam-ma!" It's taken him about 5 or 6 days, but he is now calling them Momo and Mimi. My big question: What will he call grandma and grandpa the next time we see them? To a one year old do all people in the 60's (or close to it) have the same name, like how everyone is friend at school? Anyway, it's really cracked me up because all the sudden Noey is talking up a storm and when he gets excited and wants to show Momo something, he must say "gam-ma" at least 8 times.

Ollie and I also went to the Nutcracker the first night Momo and Mimi were here. Jon was out of town, and Mimi had to get up at 3am to get to the airport, therefore not in Ballet mode, so Ollie was my stand in for date night. He really was the perfect stand in as he was very excited, had lots of questions and followed the plot closely, then about 12ish minutes after intermission in the second act he leaned over and whispered, "I just feel so tired. Do you think we should just go home and go to bed?" As it was after nine and I am old and tired, I heartily agreed. Maybe we will make it to the end next time.

Earlier this month the boys didn't have school because it was a professional development day for the teachers, so Ollie came to work with me to help teach preschool. I confess I was a little nervous, wondering if my kiddos would warm up to him in one short day. Of course this worry makes me laugh now. He was the absolute best helper and the kids loved him and have asked about him pretty much every day since. Watching Ollie interact with those little students made him grow up like 5 years in my eyes! He was so diplomatic, kind, and knew exactly what to do in every situation.

"Ollie will you be my best friend?"
"Of course! I'll be everyone's best friend!"

"Ollie will you sit by me?"
"I'm only going to sit by kids sitting quietly."

It makes me smile just thinking about it.

Nolan has learned so much in his little PDO class as well. Lately he has been half humming, half singing all sorts of songs and wanting me to figure out what he is singing. When I start singing along, he is so very excited and happy. So far it's been Lord's Army, Head and Shoulders, and of course the ABC's, which he calls AB. We haven't quite got the hang of that C yet.

He is also a major lover of all babies and puppies. Every time someone pushes a stroller or walks a dog past our house, Nolan is right there at the front window ready to report. We watched Boss Baby two nights ago on Netflix and I could not believe Nolan would sit and watch for so long! He was so cute singing and clapping to all the music, and of course yelling "baby!" and "puppy!" every 20 seconds. It really is the absolute perfect movie for a kid who just loves pointing out babies and puppies.

Seth, if possible, is even more into Star Wars than he was a month ago. I know the minute he is awake every morning, because he cannot get out of bed without humming the theme songs and Darth Vader's song. He absolutely can not wait to see the Last Jedi. I think we plan on going the day after Christmas. His count down to movie may be more exciting than the count down to open presents. He checks out all kinds of Star Wars books at the school library and enjoys pouring over them with light saber in hand. We even made the Wookie Cookies earlier this month from the Star Wars cookbook. (Just throw some cinnamon in with normal chocolate chip cookies, in case you are wondering.)

Noey, surprisingly, has mostly left the tree and packages alone after breaking an ornament on day one or two. Seth enjoys hovering and counting his presents, planning what order he should unwrap. Ollie has declared life would be complete and he would be the happiest kid in the world if only he could get a yo-yo.

It's also been great having the M&M's here. Of course we've been eating good food (I don't even have to tell you that). We've also been trying to get a few fix-it problems crossed off our list at the duplex and I'm planning on putting everyone to work on a home improvement project at our house this weekend. Throw in some fun movie nights, board games, and Christmas crafts, and I think that's about got me all caught up on life's happenings!