Happy Holidays!

Our cards went out in the mail much later than usual this year, which is why I opted for a Happy Holidays greeting. That means that technically they are not late. It was hard enough when I only had to get Tyler to pose for photos but trying to get both kids smiling and looking at the camera is definitely a challenge. Here are the outtakes.

Daphne thought it would be fun to play peek-a-boo.

Looks like the kids have had their fill of their fancy clothes!

Daphne hopped back up on the fireplace to pose
for more photos after I took her dress off.

Dear Santa

I helped Tyler write his first official letter to Santa now that he can write his own name. I mailed it for him in the special Santa mail box at Macy's. I would have had him mail it but I went to the mall without the kids after bedtime one night. We sealed the deal by making sugar cookies on Christmas Eve. We left out milk and cookies for Santa and carrots for the reindeer.

When I asked Tyler if we should check off that he has been
naughty or nice he thought about it for a while and said,
"Well, I have been a little naughty and a little nice."
We checked nice and opted to let Santa decide the verdict.

Tyler's letter is perched and ready to go in the box.

Tyler didn't want to wear his apron but was really
excited about wearing his chef hat and oven mitt.

Tyler did a great job adding flour while I operated the beaters.

From here on out it got really messy and there was flour
everywhere! The kids had a blast using all the various cookie
cutters and Tyler had fun rolling out the dough.

Frosting the cookies after Daphne went to bed reduced the
mess! Tyler never even ate a cookie- he just licked all the
frosting off of one of the bigger cookies. Santa seemed to enjoy
his cookies because there were only crumbs left in the morning!

Christmas Eve Dinner

Eating traditional menudo and tamales
with Abuelito and Abuelita on Christmas Eve

Michael and I worked really hard last weekend to clear out all the moving boxes from the downstairs in time for Christmas festivities at the house. The garage is a total disaster and about half of the upstairs still need a lot of work/unpacking but it has been nice having some order to the downstairs.

Shopping

For the most part the kids are a nightmare to take shopping these days, regardless of whether I am by myself or with Michael. I think they are even worse when I am by myself. Tyler and Daphne constantly squabble about what we should get, who gets to hold what, who gets to help push the cart, who gets to ride on the cart, etc... Daphne is a wild card- she hates being strapped into carts but won't stay close and obey me if I let her walk. So often I let Daphne walk until she misbehaves and then her punishment is being strapped into the cart, at which point she cries very loudly and we get lots of stares. On a recent trip to Target Daphne picked up a storage bin off the shelf, dragged it the length of an aisle, and then climbed inside and sat down. She screamed loudly when I retrieved her.

Sometimes Tyler and Daphne actually get along, like the photos below from a recent Home Depot trip. They still had their rowdy moments during this trip but for at least a little while they played inside the cart and giggled.

Slam!

The other night Daphne did not want to go to bed. She ran down the hallway screaming, went into the master bedroom, and slammed the door. I guess this is a preview of the dramatic tween/teen years!!!!

Trail of Lights

Last night we visited the Trail of Lights in Zilker Park. There were a few light tunnels, lots of trees wrapped in lights, and tons of other displays. Tyler most enjoyed seeing Santa displays. Daphne did lots of pointing and exclaimed, "Lights!" often. The kids were pretty wiped out by the end because it takes a while to do the whole loop, especially with all the slow-moving foot traffic. Daphne managed to stay awake for everything. We took turns carrying Tyler who fell asleep while being carried.

Entrance light tunnel

The light sticks were a big hit!

While waiting for the shuttle bus we finally
wised up and put Tyler in the stroller.
I can't believe he actually fit in it!

Ice

Abuelita and Daphne chomping on ice.
I'm not sure who loves this activity more!

Look Who is Pedaling

April 2011 Flashback: Tyler's first outing
on his Strider balance bike

Hurry up and take the picture Mom
so I can get back to riding!

On Sunday Tyler finally got the hang of his pedal bike. Thanks to 2-1/2 years on his Strider balance bike he skipped the training wheels and started pedaling after a few outings on his pedal bike. Tyler probably would have started pedaling earlier this year but it was so dang hot when we moved back to Texas this summer and then we spent most of the fall house hunting, doing house projects, and moving. We actually bought the pedal bike in summer 2012 because Tyler asked for it and he was balancing so well that we thought he was ready. But he decided to ride his Strider bike longer. Boy was Tyler disappointed on Monday when we got home from preschool and it was too dark to ride!

Here is a small sampling of the many "no"s we hear from Daphne throughout the day.

Climber

You never know where Daphne
is going to pop up next!

Semi-Nude

Daphne has started partially or fully taking off her PJs or clothes after she wakes up in the morning or after her nap. She is quite pleased with herself for being able to do this and especially loves unzipping her one-piece sleepers. Daphne loves the one-piece sleepers and calls the feet "shoes". She gets excited and exclaims "Shoes!" when we get her PJs out.

The Naughty List Continued

Tyler changed his mind. He decided he could use more toys. He did add that if Santa does put him on the naughty list and doesn't get him any toys that he will still get birthday gifts (February is right around the corner).

Christmas Tree

If it weren't for the kids we probably would have skipped the Christmas decorations this year since we still have lots of unpacking and settling in to do. But we got a live tree yesterday and had some fun decorating it. Daphne was really excited about the decorations and wanted to handle all the ornaments. We had to put all the delicate ornaments up high out of Daphne's reach. Tyler put maybe one or two ornaments on the tree and then he was done.

Wear the beads or put them on the tree?

This was a hard group to wrangle for a photo!

Unpacking

Why is it that unpacking takes 10x as long as packing???? Yesterday we tried to tame all the paper and empty boxes that we have accumulated in the unpacking process. Tyler was quite the good helper.

Tyler was more than excited when Michael
told him that he could throw all the paper
from upstairs over the banister so it landed
in the downstairs hallway.

Tyler in action

Michael and Tyler taming paper mountain

Daphne mostly plays with the items we take out of the boxes- especially any items that seem important to Tyler. Yesterday she did take all her shoes and line them up in a row on the bottom shelf of her closet. That's my girl!

Winter Animal Vests

Our Siberian husky and mouse

Michael's parents got the kids these fun animal vests. The kids love them and have been getting lots of compliments while we have been out and about. One older lady howled at Tyler like a wolf and squeaked at Daphne like a mouse. Another lady asked where Mama's vest was.

Christmas Puzzles

Christmas puzzles have long been a part of the Hulett holiday tradition. PawPaw got Tyler this fun Christmas puzzle to keep the tradition going. Tyler loves puzzles and has already worked it a few times.

The Naughty List

Attention Santa and grandparents: there is no need to buy Tyler anything for Christmas. When he was acting up yesterday we warned him that he didn't want to end up on Santa's naughty list. Tyler shrugged and said, "I don't need any toys. I don't have room for any more."

Minty Treat

Yesterday while flossing his teeth Tyler said, "Mmmm. This is a minty treat!" If only the kids were always so enthusiastic about oral hygiene!

Thanksgiving in Houston

We spent Thanksgiving at my dad's house in Houston. Bryce and his family live in Houston too. Brad and his family drove in from New Orleans. We had a lot of fun, but hanging out with 6 kids under the age of 5 is not the most relaxing!!!!

 

I got all the kids Indian headbands. Tyler was
excited for about 2 seconds and nobody else
seemed to care. Sonia, Megan, and I wore
them for Thanksgiving dinner.

Bryce and Micah, who is the sweetest
and most easy going baby

Hazel and Daphne wreaked the most havoc on
PawPaw's house because they are both at that age
where they are super curious and like to explore

Sonia and Bryce

Megan and Brad

Damon took Micah for a spin around
the kitchen and living room

Noah, Tyler, and Damon sacked out! Tyler spent one night
at his cousins' house and had a blast.

Brad, Daphne, and Michael watching football

Sonia and Micah

PawPaw with Hazel, Daphne, & Tyler

PawPaw Stole the Cookie!

Daphne loves it when I sing her the cookie jar song. I usually start off with Daphne: Daphne stole the cookie from the cookie jar, who me? yes you, couldn't be, then who? When I sing then who, her first culprit is always PawPaw and her second culprit is usually Daddy. My dad argues that PawPaw is easiest to say. Granted, I will acknowledge that she is just now learning Tyler and cannot yet articulate Abuelito or Abuelita. However, we all agree that PawPaw probably is the most likely suspect!

Ty-er

Daphne is getting closer to being able to say Tyler's name. She has trouble with the "l" and essentially just calls him "Ty-er". It's really cute! I told Tyler that I'm going to call him Tire from now on and I made a bunch of pun-ny jokes about it but he was not amused.