Blue Bonnets

While I work on months of catching up...here's some from today!

I've never been into taking wildflower pictures even though they are a very big deal here in Texas and everyone talks about them. But I got talked into it today. Bergen and I went with 2 friends and some of their kids to a field full of them in Denton. Bergen had fun running around, surprise surprise! And I will say, even in flowers he's pretty cute.

One of my favorites of the day.

Another one of my favorites.

Love his eyelashes!

I just liked his chill, hands in the pockets pose :)

His pants are soaked but his face is happy!

I've never seen him sit this still for an actual 2 whole seconds! He's so serious about holding those flowers. Funny!

Jumping off the chair was probably his favorite part of the photo shoot.

This endless running around would explain his wet pant legs...oh and the puddles in the parking lot.

There. Now I've done it. Pictures in the Blue Bonnets. We're real Texans now.

Cards for Color Matching

On Sunday someone came out of Bergen's nursery class as I was walking by. They told me he had sorted his fruit loop snack into rows by color. So I peeked thru the window and sure enough, straight little rows. I didn't even know he knew how to do that. I made sure to ask if the teacher had done it. Nope.

I figured I should capitalize on his new skill and a moment of ambition. We made color cards together. Bergen helped with the paper cutter, glue, and sending the cards thru the laminator. The big cards are double sided with a solid color on one side and a pattern on the other. The little cards are also double sided, but the same on each side.

We put them to the test right away. Fishies were way more fun to sort than blocks...of course.

Today we worked on sorting all the cars. I might have to get a purple vehicle just so purple won't be left out :)

I was trying to steer him to the green card, but it was fun to see him make the decision to put the yellow and green car on the yellow card.

This was yet again, a grand idea of mine that really only held his attention for a matter of minutes. But a little bit each time adds up and I'm sure we'll find lots of fun use for them.

Holiday Props Photos

My Friend Shea is full of good ideas! I mentioned I wanted to have a nativity family home evening with some friends, and she came up with the idea to include doing holiday photos. She setup her camera and lights in our office, made all these cute props, and brought the fun frame. These are some of my favorites from the evening.

Diggers & Rice

Bergen got these diggers for Christmas. I thought to pull out the play bag of rice that's been sitting on top of the fridge for 10 or more months, to make a little dig site. Best. Idea. Ever! Most my creative ideas hold his attention for 3-5 minutes, if I'm lucky. But this one was a huge winner with over 2 hours of entertainment. Yes, I ended up with a fair amount of rice on the floor, but nothing a little vacuuming couldn't take care of. I'm sure we'll be doing it again soon, although I think I'll try dry beans when I get a chance to get some. Those might be easier to reuse what was spilt on the floor...or gets thrown, yes there was a little of that too. Boys! :)

Love this little wrinkled nose expression.

A Day in the Life

Just a few random, yet still cute, photos of Bergen.

Apparently this is the best way to eat a package of crackers. Or at least a few now, and save the rest for later.

FINALLY! I think he gets it now that there is in fact a reason to do something SLOW. After this he has been very hesitant to have the mixer going fast. When I tell him I need it to go fast he tells me, "no slow mommy" and pushes the lever to slow.

Some things never change. Boxes are still one of the best possible toys!

Painting is a new activity Bergen frequently asks to do. He likes to do paint, water, paper. We're still working on reversing that order to water, then paint, paper for more vibrant paintings :) I'm very thankful he's willing to wear his apron!

Cutest Mowers I Know

When I looked outside at my boys working in the yard, this little sight made me smile! And run for the camera! I guess Bergen helped mow most of the yard. I'm glad daddy had him wear "safety" sun glasses, which I think actually only added to the cuteness of the whole thing. Bergen sure loves being outside with his daddy!

Closets Make Good Beds

Bergen's closet has kind of been a storage place. I'm usually trying to keep Bergen out of it and from pulling messes from it. We decided to clean out the "no longer use items" from the linen closet and put the linens from Bergen's closet into the actual linen closet. What a concept, right?! We also put some of the infant items into boxes and put those in the attic. That made for empty shelves to put toys on and the most exciting part, an empty floor! The closet quickly became a little fort of sorts and Bergen thinks it's awesome to sit it there. So awesome Travis read Bergen stories in there the first day and Bergen stayed laying down there to take his nap. For about a week straight he took just about every nap and spent every night sleeping there. So funny! He's back to sleeping in his bed, but I'm sure he wouldn't refuse the offer to go back to the closet if we offered.

He was so cute I took my chances with the light just so I could get a picture. And notice the no shirt? That's VERY common, probably a little too common :) He frequently doesn't want to wear a shirt. I finally stopped worrying about it because I could put one on him after he was asleep. Except he kept taking it off in his sleep! I guess he's a super hot sleeper. I keep putting it back on because I don't want him to get cold, but only sometimes is it still on by morning. What can a momma do?

Such a sweet sleeping face.

Spiced Apple Cider Doughnuts

I thought it would be fun to make doughnuts all together. Turns out, making doughnuts while listening to Christmas music, plus a little "ha-bee do you", is in fact pretty fun. Bergen helped mix the dough, and was helping to cut them out...until he noticed the candle. Then for a little while it was all happy birthday business.

Blow it out!

Hooray! I did it! More candle? Yes!

These apple cider doughnuts were each rolled with love in sugar and pumpkin pie spice. Very yummy!..and a little messy :)

We gobbled up every doughnut and every doughnut hole. It's very rare that we actually eat every last morsel of baked good, but these were even better the day after and even several days after that. (I'm sorry to say most things don't end up getting finished before they are rock hard or moldy and the last bit gets thrown away. Unless we make half batches...or maybe I should be giving more away to someone having a bad day!)

I really want to try and make this holiday season feel like a real holiday season. This career path can be tricky which makes it easy to just skip things because daddy is away. This was a very good start to a season of holiday fun together.

Trunk or Treat

Last year at the trunk or treat Bergen could care less about collecting candy, he just liked running up and down the parking lot. His year he was much better about collecting candy, but don't think he didn't run in between each car. All 5 feet in between each car!

Bergen and mommy.

Collecting candy.

After he'd made the rounds, he was quite content to park it. I thought his park it spot was kind of funny. Once I took a picture I moved him to a safer location :)

Uncle Tyler was visiting us and got to help carry all Bergen's candy.

I was a pilot, Travis was a soccer player, Bergen an elephant, and Uncle Tyler a super "Y" hero of sorts. He was pretty confident about the costume...until we got there. Then not so much :) He didn't want to get out of the car, but kids kept tapping on the window asking if he had candy or not. They were confused. So he finally got out and joined the festivities!

Captain Gina and First Officer Cynthia.

The Egyptian dressed women is a Zumba teacher and normally just has lots of energy. After dinner she got all the kids dancing while the adults were cleaning up. It was pretty cute!

Go Bergen! Go Bergen! Go Bergen!