Silas' New Favorite Game

I don't know how well you can see this picture, or how well you can interpret what's written on the page.  Silas has recently been learning his sums, and learning how to add using place values (i.e. the top right problem, 15 + 3 = 18, but instead of physically counting from 15 to 18 he uses the place value of each number to add them all together).  Well, it's his new favorite game to play.  I think he equates it to Tic-Tac-Toe.  The other morning he asked me, "Can we play that one game?  You know, with the sums?"  He's even gotten down the hundred place value (bottom problem, 95+6=101).  I don't know if

his interest will continue to grow as he gets older, but right now he is loving math.  

Usually each morning we do Phonics first and then math, but the other morning I switched it up and let him do math first.  He was so excited.  

Growing Up

Eli has now decided that he wants to feed himself (with a fork and a spoon when possible), and won't eat unless he gets to do so.  This is a picture of him feeding himself eggs and toast.  He does a pretty good job, although I think Silas is skeptical.  This is where we often eat in the cold winter months, in front of the wood stove and around a small desk.  I think the boys are pretty adorable sitting in their respective chairs, though. 

New Years Eve

As most of Christian's family was either working or out of town for Christmas, we decided to have a party together on New Years Eve.  Of course, a Dennett NYE party must have lots of white Christmas lights, lots of finger foods, lots of dancing, and plenty of silliness.  If measured by these standards, I would consider the night a success.

Christian enjoying some time with his little sis.

My attempt at a picture with both the boys.  Eli kept doing his cheesy grin, Silas kept (badly) imitating it, which caused Eli to turn around and look at him.  This was the best shot I got.

Silas insisted there be a picture of Daddy and Lynden boxing.  It's a pretty good one, too.

The spread.  Lots of cheese.  Jalapeno poppers (with cheese).  Smoked salmon and crackers (with cheese).  Chips (cheesy variety).  Cheese.  Pizza (extra cheese).  Hummus.  Cheese.  Do you see a theme?

Eli wasn't behaving so well, so we put him in his cage.  No, not really.  Christian was grilling on the porch and Eli played in the dog kennel.

Thirteen New Years together.

Silas fitting an entire chip in his mouth.

The dancing newlyweds.

Goofy dancing.

Silas showing off his '70s moves.

Doing the Eli dance.

The dancing troupe.

Crashed.

The Good and The Bad

It's easy to take Eli when he's in this kind of mood...

...when I know this one will follow soon after.

And this one?  He's always a delight.

Christmas 2011

We had a pretty small affair this year for Christmas.  My sister and her family stayed with us for the weekend, and my mother came up for a little while as well.  There were loads of presents and some amazingly delicious food, which I think makes for an excellent Christmas.  I'm just posting a few of the pictures.

Silas opening his stocking Christmas morning.  The candy and presents were a big hit.  The orange at the bottom?  Not so much.

Eli early Christmas morning.  Bedhead.

Our cute cat cuddling up under the tree.

Helping Eli open his presents.

Cousin Wyatt and Eli enjoying the suckers from his stocking.

It was warm that day, so we got outside and threw the football around some and let the kids throw rocks in the pond.

Uncle Lynden came over as well, while Charlotte worked.

Eli and I outside.

Impersonations

In the winter, the boys and I have a routine for after their bath.  I turn the heater on in Eli's room and let the room heat up, then get Eli out of the bath in his towel and dry him off in front of the heater.  A few minutes later, Silas gets out of the bath, wraps himself in a towel and comes running into Eli's room to sit in front of the heater shivering.  He gets as close to the heater as possible and does the whole thing - teeth chatter, body shakes, face screwed up tight, complaining about how cold it is - even when it's not that cold out.  Things went a little bit different the other night.  When I got Eli out of his bath, he wrapped himself in his towel and sat right in front of the heater.  He then proceeded to do an exact impersonation of Silas' exaggerated shiverings, stopping to make sure I was watching him do it.  He would shiver and screw his face up tight, stop and look at me, then start doing it again.  When Silas came in and started doing the same thing, Eli would stop and look at his big brother, making sure he was doing it right.  Meanwhile, I'm laughing so hard I've got tears.  Even Silas started laughing when he realized what Eli was doing.  So now we have a new bathtime routine.  Silas sits and shivers, and Eli does his best to copy him.  

Fish Cakes vs. Brussell Sprouts

I made fishcakes for lunch the other day.  Silas thought they were chicken nuggets up until the point when he actually took a bite.  He looked at me and said, "Uh...did you put tuna in these nuggets?"  I told him that he used to love fishcakes and he said, "Even when you put tune-up in them?"  Yes, even when I put tuna up in them.
I gave Silas an option.  If he ate two more brussel sprouts (for a total of three) then he wouldn't have to eat anymore fishcakes.  He took that option and promptly ate all three.  When he was finished I asked him if he was still hungry.  He said, "Yeah...I'll take another brussel sprout."
Oh, and Eli didn't like the fishcakes or the brussel sprouts.  We shoved a few in his mouth, but he was pretty intent on dipping his french fries in the BBQ sauce Daddy had given him.