Elvis the Elf

November is over and it is time to meet our elf.  Last year Liam wasn't really interested and didn't really understand the whole elf thing.  I knew this year would be different and more exciting for him.  We tried to stay on top of it but Ryan and I just weren't very good at it.  We started on December 1st.  I wrapped up the elf in its box and wrote a letter from Santa about who the elf is and what the elf does.  I also had found a chocolate calendar that I used to do when I was a little kid and I knew Liam would love it too!  Here he is finding his package at the front door!

He was so excited and couldn't wait to open it!

Liam is only 3 and so when I asked him what he wanted to name him his simple little mind immediately said "Elfie the Elf."  I talked him into "Elvis."  So Elvis it is!

The first night in the Barker house we found "Elvis" hanging from the ceiling fan in Liam's superhero room dressed as Spiderman.

We didn't do something silly every night.  There were nights where we just moved him.  Actually, there were lots of night that we just moved him.  We forgot about Elvis a lot!  

Here is Elvis and Jake sailing on Bucky!

One morning we found him hanging out in Liams' stocking!

We didn't do a very good job this year with this.  We were very forgetful and so was Liam.  We were always asking him if he had seen Elvis that morning.  Oh well, next year will be different I am sure!

Here is our adventure with our elf last year, here

Super Porridge, Mangos & Chicken

Super Porridge was next!!!  I took brown rice and threw it into the food processor and ground it up until it was powder form.  The powder stays good in the fridge and you only use what you need.  I make a weeks worth at a time.  You just boil some water and throw a couple of tablespoons of powder into the boiling water for about 10 minutes.  I then divide it out into separate containers.  I usually give it to them in the morning with yogurt or some fruit.

Mangos were next.  Mangos are expensive in the winter time.  I bought 4 mangos and they didn't even make a full 2 trays.  Like all the other fruit they have tried, they love mangos too!

Chicken is another story.  I boiled a couple chicken breasts and cut them up and threw them in the processor with some broth.  I thought I made the right consistency and put them in the trays.  Once I warm them up in the microwave they aren't the right consistency and are chunky and rubbery.  Needless to say, the boys loathe them!  I can mix them with things they love and its not a pretty sight!  They gag with every bite and it doesn't get any better.  I even waited a week and tried again and it was the same story.  They just don't like chicken (or pureed chicken). HAHA

Twin's 7 Months

7 MONTHS!!!! How time flies when we are having fun!  They boys are actively growing and getting harder to keep still for pictures.  You will be able to see that in their sticker pictures!  This month consisted of their 6 month check-up and Liam's 3 year check-up with Dr. Eastham.  

Reid

Height: 27 inches (38.59%)

Weight: 15 pounds 6 ounnces (5.69%)

Head Circumference:  44.25 cm

Kane

Height: 27 inches (38.59%)

Weight: 15 pounds 11 ounces (8.23%)

Head Circumference: 44 cm

Liam

Height: 3ft 1in (39.9%)

Weight: 29 pounds (21.47%)

Ryan wanted sushi after the appointment so we went to Fulin's.  This was Liam's first time using chopsticks.  It was pretty messy!

They are good sleepers for the most part.  They nap about 3-4 times a day and sometimes sleep through the night.  They usually wake up around 2ish for a bottle.

Bathtime is one of their favorite times.  I usually give them baths separate because it is hard to keep them from kicking each other and my biggest fear is my kids drowning.  As you can see there isn't much water in the tub but I still freak out.  I only give them a bath together when I have help available to watch one while I get the other out of the tub and dressed. 

We are sitting up!!! It is so crazy how fast everything is going!  Reid was the first to do it on his own.

Kane will sit up on his own for a little while but hasn't quite got the hang of getting up there by himself.  I still have to sit by him so that he doesn't fall back and hit his head.

Christmas is this month and here is the gift to the ladies and my holiday hunk!  Oh so happy sitting in their high chairs waiting on their next meal!

They get themselves stuck in the most difficult places.  

Look at this sweet boy sitting up!

Playing with Bella!

He might not be sitting up by himself yet but he can get where he wants to go!!!

And….. it has already started!  They fight and take things away from each other.  They love each others company and their faces light up when we put them together after they have been apart for a little while.  

Liam being silly and not wanting to get his picture taken.

These boys sure do love each other!  Here they are wrestling at nanas.

We LOVE the Avengers and any other super hero out there.  For his birthday he got all kinds of super hero dress up gear.  We seem to be a different character every day.

On December 13th we went to see The Avengers at Bridgestone Arena.  Liam was in heaven!  His Nana and Papa got him tickets for his birthday.  We drove down early and ate lunch downtown.  Our show was at 3pm so when we got done eating we made our way to the Arena and there we stood in line for a shirt, a Thor helmet and hammer!

We all got to take turns wearing Thor's helmet … after we figured out how his wings were supposed to go LOL!

Liam was too little to understand the story line but he didn't care.  He loved watching each Avenger do their thing!

After the Avengers we met up with some of my coworkers and their kids to eat at The Rainforest Cafe.  They all loved it and at the end they got to eat a VOLCANO!!!!!! 

Before we left the mall we decided to do a little shopping.  We stopped at the Lego store and I think Ryan wanted more Legos than Liam did.  We stopped at Build-a-Bear and Liam made the twins their Christmas present from him.  He made each their own bear.  He recorded his voice telling them he loved them and then got to make a wish and kiss the bears heart.  He helped stuff the bears too!  

Here is the blog from when Liam was 7 months old!