Drew and Dar

Ezra has come to love Drew and "Dar" (Darya). We walk from my parents' house over to the elementary school and pick them up and do piano lessons at my parents' house on Wednesday.

Drew was actually the first non-family-member name Ezra said and sometimes when we're standing in line for communion at church Ezra loudly points out Drew in the congregation.

Sometimes Ezra gets to watch "a show" so that he's not distracting during lessons, and last week Drew watched Veggie Tales with him.

Christmas Trees!

We went shopping for Christmas trees after church yesterday, on the first day of advent. Most years we've all gone the day after Thanksgiving, but there was an extra week in between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year, so...

Ezra of course always loves spending time with his grandparents and aunts and uncles, but throw in "trees" and "tractors" and he was supremely happy.

Holding all three aunt's hands.

Ezra and Daddy

Checking out tractors.

The whole family.

Tree decorating food.

Examining the lights.

Making animal sounds with Em.

I went back and found photos from last year's tree search and just had to compare the difference one year makes: 7 months vs. 19 months.

Thanksgiving

This year we celebrated Thanksgiving with the Andersons (my mom's family; parents, sister and two brothers) and Esther's parents. My parents hosted at their house. The cousins played Life, Ezra wore Esther's furry slipper boots, the guys threw the football around, we ate lots of food, etc.

Sarah and Allison

Ezra is completely head over heels in love with Sarah and Allison. For about the last month he's referred to the two of them as "Sarah" but we've been working to teach him "Ally" too.

Sarah plays with Ezra during Allison's lesson, and visa versa, but when I'm working with Katie and Elaina, they usually take Ezra outside to play. And we try to get together outside of lessons too, but that hasn't happened as frequently as it should this fall.

Daddy Date

Seth had the day off (we're entering the slower winter season for moving) so we went on a "date" with him to the Lakewood Library and then downtown Tacoma to ride the Link (or "choo choo") and eat dinner at the Harmon (while watching the 49ers beat the Bears).

Ezra Wearing High Heels

Memorial Day weekend Ezra learned to say "shoe" and I'm sure a day hasn't gone by (let alone an hour) that he hasn't said it since. He loves to wear his shoes (and he knows exactly where they're kept, as well as Mommy's closet of shoes), especially because that usually means we're headed outside, but he also loves other people to wear their shoes too. He finds it very upsetting when people take their shoes off and will often rush over and help you put them back on. Whenever we go out, we often see him looking at other people's shoes. He's obsessed.

But then. Ezra discovered high heels a couple of weeks ago. I have one pair of heels left over from a friend's wedding and Ezra has claimed them for his very own. And he's also learned where my sisters keep their heels and when we're at my parents' he will often go into their rooms and come out wearing a pair of heels. He usually requests to wear heels when he's dancing, but really any occasion will do.

Sherlock's Last Case

For my birthday Seth surprised me with tickets to see "Sherlock's Last Case" at the Lakewood Playhouse. He said it would be a shame for us to live a mere five minutes away from the Playhouse and never attend a show, and he knows I like the theater, so, off we went. My parents watched Ezra, which gave us a much needed break (especially after Ezra's latest all-consuming bout of sickness and teething).

We both agreed the play itself wasn't our favorite. The characters of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson both were changed, and not for the better. (To read a local critic's review, click here.)

But to be on a date and at the theater was wonderful.