Swim Lessons

We have been meaning to sign up Elliot for swim lessons for a while. We have actually tried several times, but they fill up really fast. We finally got a spot and Elliot started swim lessons on Sunday. He is in a class with other 4 year old beginner swimmers, and will attend class for 6 weeks. Parents aren't allowed to watch pool side so most of these pictures were taken from the glass enclosed observation area (sorry for the haze). Elliot really enjoyed the class and can't wait to go back.

Christmastime

Its hard to believe that Christmas has come and gone. December was a whirlwind of decorating, shopping, festive outings, visitors, and lots of fun. Where to start?

I suppose we really got into the Christmas spirit when we picked out our Christmas tree. Both kids loved visiting the tree lot. Elliot felt and inspected every tree. He and Daddy found the perfect tree together. Beatrice was very happy running up and down the rows of trees. 

The following weekend, Elliot and I went to our second play together. We saw Knuffle Bunny the musical at the Kennedy Center. We LOVE the book and the play was very cute. I didn't take any pictures of us at the Kennedy Center, but Daddy took this picture of us before we left. Doesn't the Christmas tree look nice? Elliot helped me decorate it. 

Mimsey and Gramps came to visit us over the Christmas holiday. We had a great time seeing them.  They came a few days before Christmas which allowed for some long walks, nice meals, last minute shopping, and round or two of Scrabble and Quiddler. On Christmas Eve Mommy, Mimsey, Beatrice and Elliot went to church while Daddy and Gramps cooked spaghetti. Beatrice did not like church, or maybe she liked it too much. She wanted to follow the choir down the aisle and she made sure everyone could hear her during the quiet moments. About half way through the service, Beatrice and I left to hang out with a bunch of other toddlers in the hallway. 

By Christmas morning there was a mountain of presents under the tree. Christmas morning was a bit overwhelming for the kids. Beatrice didn't know what to do with all of the presents. Thankfully Lara was there to help her open all of her gifts. Beatrice's big gift from Santa was a rocking horse (that Mommy painted). Santa brought Elliot his Bat Mobile and a pint sized set of golf clubs.  

Daddy spent a good part of the morning opening toy packages. 

Beatrice loves her new stroller - thanks Grammy and Papa!

After opening our presents and eating a yummy breakfast we all went for a long wall. 

Our friend Frank Curcio joined us all for Christmas dinner. Unfortunately I didn't get any pictures of our visit with Frank. Mimsey and Gramps headed home to Williamsburg on the 26th, but our Christmas fun didn't stop when they left. That night we decided to check out the light display at our local botanical gardens. The lights were amazing. It was a little hard to take it all in with Beatrice - she wanted to RUN through the garden.

rainbow and clouds with rain. 

Bea on the run!

Amazing sea monster!

Although I didn't take any pictures, we ended our holidays with a fun New Years celebration that we think might become a tradition. The kids and I decorated the dinning room with some decorations I found in the attic, we made and ate shrimp and grits, then watched London ring in the New Year at 7 PM on BBC.

2011 Letter to Santa

The following is Elliot's letter to Santa. He dictated and I wrote.  He drew the picture (drew one of the present ribbons at his request) and signed his own name.

Dear Santa, 
I've been a good boy because today I was playing with monster trucks when Bea was napping and I didn't wake her up yet. I am very quiet. Santa I am a good boy. I always listen to Mommy, sometimes I clean up. 


Come bring presents to my house, please. Please can I have Christmas toys. I would like a bumble bee car, that is a transformer, blocks please and Legos. Can you please bring me the Bat Mobile with little pieces. I also want Christmas PJs. One more thing, I want goggles for swimming. 


Bea would like a cart for pushing baby around. Bea was a little bit bad, but mostly she isn't. Bring her toys please. If Bea is bad it doesn't matter. Bea will want toys, but if you don't bring her toys I will share them. 


Thank you Santa for bringing my toys. I have one questions for you. Are there any penguins there, and will they come with you? Thank you Santa. Here is a picture of Presents and a Christmas tree for you. 


Love, 
Elliot

Fall Flew By

Where did November go? I can't believe its been almost a month since my last post. The Farnum Family had a wonderful month. It started off with Mommy (Me) leaving my job in Richmond for a new job much closer to home. Although I won't be able to telecommute four days a week, I also won't have to make the 4 hour round trip to Richmond once a week. My new job is 15 minutes from home and everyone seems to have adjusted to the transition.

We spent all of our November weekends at home. The following is a little roundup of what we have been up to.

We have gone for lots of walks/bike rides. Elliot loves the bike that he got for his birthday and he is getting to be a great biker. One of our favorite places to ride is along the Sligo Creek Parkway. On Sundays the parkway closes and bikers, runners, and hikers hit the road. Elliot was a bit nervous to ride in the street, but quickly got over his fear and enjoyed the open road.

We have also been making lots of art. Beatrice recently discovered finger paints and play dough and is a fan of both. I'll be posting more of the kids' artwork soon. 

Another one of Bea's new favorite pastimes is being a big girl. She struts her big girl stuff by wearing Elliot's backpack and pretending to talk on her cell phone (one of my old phones). She takes her job VERY seriously. 

We ended the month with a visit from Mariana (all the way from San Francisco) over the Thanksgiving holiday. It was so nice of Marianna to come over to visit and play with the kids. She had a lot of people to see during her trip here and she made time for the Farnum kids three times! Bea was a little unsure of Marianna at first but was giving hugs in less than an hour. I am pretty sure she remembers her first au pair. 

As for Thanksgiving, we went to the Haugen's and I didn't take a single picture :(. We had a great time and enjoyed spending the day with our good friends.  I did manage to take a few pictures of some of fun we had during the long Thanksgiving weekend. 

I traced Elliot then he filled in the details. This is Rocket Boy.