Birthday Boys

Two of our boys have January birthdays. Avery and Sidney, our bookend boys, are just seven days (and five years) apart. Avery wanted a pirate birthday party. Sidney wanted as much cheesecake as he could get his hands on. One benefit of two birthdays a week apart is that you can make one cake and freeze half for the following week/kid. This will likely work for several more years until Sidney has his own cake opinions. 

Everyone knows birthdays start just before 6 a.m.

We celebrated with six candles in the birthday ring.

Six years since that special day. I just can't believe how big he is.

Favorite gift: light up legos. Thank you, Emma!

Avery requested ribs and polenta. 

For his party, he made pirate goody bags for his 10 guests.

One week later, Sidney with his birthday guest, Faye. They love each other.

Zeal made this beautiful hand-stitched bear at school for Sid. 

The birthday boy in action:

No pictures were taken of the actual cake demolition, but here is what Sid's post-meal glee often looks like:

Christmas in the Capital City

We drove to D.C. for a 10-day slumber party with the Braunohler family. When we got there, we found this cousin cozying up alongside Sid. Only 4 months apart, Sid and Emmett are finally starting to play with each other. 

D.C. highlights are as follows: 

a staring contest with a 30-year old orangutan 

Sid wearing the traditional smocked holiday shortalls

Zeal spending hours coloring farm animals (dressed as an elf, of course)

the annual gingerbread house making (which stretched out over 4 days instead of the usual 2)

Christmas morning stripey craziness (missing Uncle Peter who has a matching set, too)

Zeal's fox mask (Avery gave him for Christmas)

The Smithsonian Museum's mammals exhibit (hard concept: real but dead)

Easy concept: I'm finally out of the baby carrier!

Mom and Dad at the Philips Collection 

Uncle Peter and Aunt Katie helping build an arch at the Building Museum

Zeal Henry and Bob Henry, just walking downtown

A whole month of anticipation

December was filled with many special events leading up to Christmas. The chocolate-filled advent calendar was just the beginning. The town lined Main Street with Christmas trees, and all the shops and organizations decorated them. Below is the Unitarian Universalist tree, which the boys helped beautify. 

The boys' youth group teacher, Leyah, is a much-loved figure in our household. 

We got a small tree and wreath for the house.

Zeal, our little guy who loves animals and detests loud sounds...

Avery, our bigger guy, who shares his love easily and lives for the extreme...

Town was bustling and festive in December.

And Sid, who does what he watches big brothers do.

We made lots of crafts for friends. I learned how to make dreamcatchers in a workshop. 

Zeal in the new sweater I made him in anticipation of colder days at school. (He wouldn't pose.)

We made the wrapping paper for all our presents this year. 

The school's fundraising festival is called The Yuletide Fair. Chris and I helped with set up and with some of the crafts sold at this event. Zeal and Avery also made ornaments and toys in class that were sold at Yuletide. It was a very magical weekend.

Zeal's class made these wool and ribbon "shooting stars." We bought two of them as baby presents. 

The weather helped get us in the mood for hot cocoa and indoor projects. 

The boys were in a performance with their classes. Avery can be seen in the background working on a boat as part of the show. Chris accompanied some of the classes with his guitar. 

And more December excitement: my dearest friend, Katie Groark, gave birth to a beautiful baby girl named Soleil. Here she is a one week. Welcome, baby Soleil!