The Kugler Family Adventures: the park, a haircut, elfie,& some birthdays sprinkled in

Although I'm SO very ready for some serious snow, we've been enjoying this spring-like weather for a while. December. 70's? So we've been taking advantage of it...outdoors. Here's a peek:

Griffin isn't quite 16 months yet. It's taken him all his life to grow the little hair (and cute curls) that he has...well, had. I couldn't take the mullet any longer, but I was SO worried the curls were gone forever. I'm thankful to report, that when it's humid, or he's sweaty, they are BACK! Yay! He was such a BIG boy, doing much better than his sister did (she was over the age of 2 for her first, and only, haircut, and had to sit on mommy's lap). Here's a glimpse...

Say goodbye to those curls!!!

...And, Here. We. Go.

Big Sissy, there for encouragement!

We needed him to look down. He was showing us his animal cracker, which he finally ate later.

Not that they were needed, but using clippers to get him used to them. He was cool with it.

All done, and handsome as ever :)

The kids were invited to a friend's daughter's first birthday party, for sweet Milani Crosby. It was nearby...in the neighborhood where I run each weekend. It was a gorgeous day!

A ball. Of course he found a ball.

He's electric!

Happy 1st Birthday, Milani!

On Sunday, December 2nd, it was Callie's 4th birthday. She got lots of love, treats, and this picture:

Happy birthday, Marley, er, Callie!

Payton wanted to "rest" in her room one afternoon. She was there for a while, being very quiet. When I sneeked for a peek, this is what I found. What a sweet girl!

When anyone mentions sushi, my mouth salivates. I managed to squeeze in another Girls' Night Out, which is always a good time:

I thought it would be fun to make a gingerbread house with Payton. I bought a kit. A super simple one. Simple for "most." I, however, don't fit into that category. After I finally got the roof on correctly, and stopped the house from falling in, we were finally able to decorate. Let's just say that Martha Stewart's job is quite safe, lol. We had fun, and we even had enough candy leftover to decorate the house! (We *may* have sampled a little)...

The finished product!

The kids are doing well. Payton is, occasionally, a handful. She likes to push Griffin over and take toys from him. I guess it's a typical 2 year old behavior, but we're doing our best to reinforce being nice to others, including her little brother. Most of the time they get along. Payton is doing really well with her pottying, and hasn't had an accident in quite a while. She's still in Pull-Ups for nap and bedtime, but she wakes up from her naps dry, and on some mornings. She does go potty, on her own, when she wakes up, before coming in our room...WHICH (knock on wood) she hasn't done in the past week (come in our room, that is). She has been sleeping in (until 8ish, on the weekends). YAY, and early Merry Christmas to Mommy and Daddy! Griffin is getting faster running, better at shooting his basketball, and is into everything. He is sweet and cuddly before bedtime, and in the mornings. I especially love our times together then. He gives the biggest, strongest hugs. Since Payton puts Callie in her crate before we leave each morning, Griffin has been wanting to help also. He gives Emma her treats before we walk out the door, and thinks it's the funniest thing. He's a great listener and is following directions, but when he wants something...watch out! He does have a quick, little temper, which thankfully we don't see very often. Here is G helping out in the mornings...

Payton loves art projects. I'm so glad her teachers do so much with the kids at school. She brings home all kinds of cute projects. When at home, she enjoys coloring, but loves to use the scissors. So, with close supervision, we let her cut paper from time to time. Here she is concentrating. Er, being silly?

Payton found Daddy's old ski goggles. She wore them around the house Sunday morning. She and I are very ready for some cold weather...ie-SNOW! Please, Santa. Please bring us SNOW after Christmas. We'd love to snowboard this winter, not wakeboard!

Our Elf on the Shelf, "Elfie," is back from the North Pole, to keep a close eye on the kids for Santa. Every night, he flies back to the North Pole and gives Santa the behavior report for the day. Payton wakes up every morning asking to go find him. Griffin LOVES to find him, points at him, and laughs. Here's a few things our Elfie has been up to:

Before heading to the North Pole for the night, Elfie was being a bad boy himself! Wonder if he told Santa? Hmmm.

And here the kids are having some fun together (some would call it big sis abusing little bro...)

And Payton has gotten into singing. She sings A LOT. Sometimes I have no idea what she's singing, but she's singing. Loudly. It's been a lot of Christmas songs lately. She LOVES LOVES LOVES Taylor Swift, and loves to sing "We Are Never, Ever, Ever Getting Back Together." Click this link for a video of her singing (or pretending to). She is usually way more animated. Griffin dances through some of it.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/7edfsj78ie33ux6/20121202_164202.mp4

Nana and Granddude came to stay with the kids on Thursday for us. They were also gracious enough to stay REALLY late so that Mommy and Daddy could go out with some friends to the Second String Santa Christmas party. The kids got to go to storytime at the library, and later they made home made pretzels!