Christmas highlights

There were so many people to celebrate with, the gift-opening went into days. We are overwhelmed by the great riches all of you have offered Rye. Thank you.

Here are some scenes from Christmaspalooza 2011.

Rye's cousins had an American Girl Christmas. Cupcakes, anyone?

Daddy made Rye a screw board.

Merry Christmas!

Do you hear what I hear?

Rye puts in a late-night call on his iPhone. Somehow he's able to get reception on the hill that the rest of us can't! I guess we're just not using our imaginations.

Ladder Fort

Rye has been very interested in little houses these days. Here's one he and Daddy built. He's also interested in little wood play houses for his wooden animals.

Second Haircut

Miss Cathy was on vacation during Thanksgiving week, and the situation was getting dire. We paid (a lot) extra for a local cut.

Rye was very patient throughout the 45-minute (!) cut-and-style, with blow-dry and "product."

No TV in this salon; that made it a little easier. Though a bar for him to play cars on would have helped.

Here's the "before." He's showing off a 12-piece puzzle he can assemble himself. As a matter of fact, he can knock off four of these in the time you could enjoy a cup of tea!

Thanksgiving Leftovers!

Rye got some play time with Jakob and Noah last week, and a bedtime story from Auntie Robin. He had a hard time falling asleep after all of that excitement, however! We had delicious Thanksgiving leftovers with May-may and the whole family.

Budding Studio Photographer

Rye learns how to hold a camera properly, and fake a studio with window light (and cruddy shadows) while photographing Mommy's crafty pillow covers. When I said he was making a shadow by standing in my light, he went and got an LED camp lantern, turned it on, and shined it on the pillows while I photographed. Good thing I wasn't shooting chrome.

Now that's what I'm talkin' about.

You think he's related?

Autumn Roundup

Big climber!

Maybe a little too much crafting this year, Mommy.

The birthday party had a scooter!

Cooking up a storm with pals Myra Jean and Helen at the Moms Club's New Member Tea.

Hmmmm....Not quite a perfect fit.

The classic birdfeeder. Seems sort of weird not to hang it on a snowy bush.

Playing cars at the plant store.

Baby, you're a star.

Lantern Walk

Rye made his own lantern with Mommy and then the family went on a lantern walk, singing songs with our art class friends. Martinmas is celebrated in Europe on November 11th; it's sort of a combination of Halloween and Christmas caroling. The children create paper maîche lanterns and they go door-t0-door for candy, which they have to sing for.

The lanterns are lit with tea candles. They are attached to a stick so your hand does not burn. Rye's lantern was too heavy to hold upright, however, so we replaced his with a battery candle and he was able to pick up the pace a bit. We sang, then returned to the classroom for "cloud cookies" (meringues) and hot cider.

First cover the jar with glue, then three layers of tissue paper. Or one layer of cotton cloth bits. Rye had three opportunities to make lanterns this year: two art classes and a home project.

Making another lantern at home.

More Halloween Highlights

J.K. Rowling, Ginny Weasley and Red Gnome

First lolly! He needed absolutely no instruction in how it worked.

Construction worker at the weekend festival.

A repeat winner! The eyes plink down into a skull at the bottom of the board.

Digging for bones.

Happy Halloween!

We have so many events throughout the weekend that Rye gets some costume choices. Mommy made the construction worker vest after he pined for one his cousin Taylor had. It's purposely a little oversized so there is room to grow.

Red Gnome creates some art

Red Gnome decided to visit the knitted Red Gnome at art class. He painted red apples...

He sat and listened with his ears to the story with his hands in his lap....

He follow, follow, follow, followed....

And he and the other kids discovered apples and autumn leaves in the garden with Miss Molly. These fall leaves traveled all the way from Michigan—Rye's Nana sent them!

The Family von Gnome

Rye decided he wanted to dress for Halloween like Miss Gnome and Red Gnome in his Waldorf art class stories. So Mommy and Daddy offered some family support.