Manners

Place: My parent's home, Ohio
Event: Gift opening with my family

Caden is eyeing a large gift at the back of the tree, which he has not yet received. He is starting to get agitated. Others are opening gifts. Not yet him. He is really trying to be patient. Finally he receives a gift from my sister. Thrilled, he tears it open. It is a shirt. His eyes get a little red. He puts it down, dejected.
I whisper to him that he needs to say thank you. Very close to tears, and very politely, he says with feeling, "No thank you!".

One of my prouder parenting moments. Luckily, my sister thought this was funny. Yikes.

New Excuse

I corrected Caden for something which I've now forgotten. I told him he needs to make a better choice next time. He said "It wasn't me! It was my brain!".

last Christmas picture

How long will it be before I look back at this one and say, "Look how little they were!"?

back and forth

the other day, alyssa was sliding back and forth in the tub on her back. as she wooshed along, she sang, "back and forf, back and forf". she pointed to her head, and said "this is my back"; then she pointed to her bottom... "and this is my forf".

a few cousin pics

This gift got a huge grin! Funny the things that make boys grin.

Thanks Caleb!

My pretty niece, Madelyn

Snow play

Caden and cousin Gwen Alyssa and cousin Madelyn

The kids figure out who gets to pull the sled. They haven't figured out that its more fun to ride!

Ah..now they did. Grandpa gets to pull!

Caden, Alyssa, Gwen.