January Recap

Yes, I know I'm very, very late with a review of our January! Matt and then I had to get over a long-lasting cold, and we had a winter storm where we lost power for a few days (although our generator allowed us to keep heat and water going), so we were a little distracted.

We did have a few exciting outings this past month.

Matt went with me to an event at work.

Fortunately the amount of cookies and cupcakes made up for the lack of trains.

We went to our favorite open gym.

Matt made a new game for himself: matching colored blocks to the same colored squares on a mat.

We also tried out a few new to us places, including a trampoline park, which Matt enjoyed, and an indoor spray park or splash pad, which Matt did not enjoy.

Checking out the trampolines

Matt's favorite part: the pit of foam blocks.

Kicking a goal

Mostly, however, we went to a few playgroups and storytimes but spent a lot of time doing various activities at home.

Matt's new interests include "making a cave," or crawling under blankets, and "hiding," although he will readily call out "I'm ov' there," if asked, "Where is Matt?"

Hanging out in his blanket cave

Peeking out from the cabinets

Matt spent a lot of time doing crafts and other projects.

Sticking stickers everywhere

 Licking the beater

"Drilling" into his homemade wooden blocks

Painting

Intently working with "dough play" (aka Play-Doh)

Digging for dinosaur bones (a new favorite activity)

As always, Matt enjoyed doing puzzles. He started challenging himself by reaching for harder jigsaw puzzles, getting up to 12-piece puzzles this past month.

Assembling a number train puzzle

Solving his first 12-piece puzzle all by himself

Working on a 12-piece train puzzle

And sometimes Matt was just silly.

With Mama's sunglasses, his hat, and his gloves

With Mama's rainboots

"I Love Snow"

Earlier today Matt told me, "I love snow, mama!" He wanted to know when the snow would "come back." This evening he got his wish when our wintry mix turned out to be just over an inch of fluffy snow.

Watching the snow outside as he finishes a snack, and then deciding we needed to go check it out

Trying to catch snowflakes on his tongue

Exploring the backyard full of snow ("There's more snow over there. Let's go, mama!")

December Recap

I apologize for the very late post!

You have seen our Christmas activities, but here are some of our other December events.

Matt played fire fighter.

 

By himself and with a friend

And he created some art.

 

Painting

 Cleaning the chalkboard

Going to town with his new stickers

He build some structures out of his Legos.

His favorite thing to build is "Eeyore's house."

And played it cool.

Trying out Dada's sunglasses

Wearing Dada's shoes

Wearing his new dinosaur hat

We also made some mini cannoli for dessert.

Helping fill the shells and then tasting the end results.

Thanks to the unseasonably mild weather we spent a lot of time outside.

Blowing bubbles

Running through the yard

Climbing down

Tromping through the woods

Checking out mushrooms and lichen

The weather did turn colder by the end of the month, however.

 

All bundled up in the swing

Playing in some snow

We did venture out of the house, too.

We attended a music event at the library.

And did some puzzles at the library.

 

We went to the playground.

He and Jon went to the beach one Sunday while I worked.

Finally, at the end of the month Matt got a visit from his aunt and uncle. He was happy to have some extra attention and a few more presents.

Checking out a new book

And he played with his new toys and read his new books under the watchful eye of the cat.

Happy belated New Year!

We belatedly wish you a happy New Year and all the best in 2016.

I'm working on the overdue post of our December recap. I hope to post it later today, if not tomorrow. So stay tuned!