#3

 Happy Birthday, Macon! We love you! And we're super-glad your head-shape has normalized.

2010, 5:38 a.m., 6.5 pounds, 19.5 inches

happy thanksgiving!

We have not made too much progress since last year's performance.

reindeers with grandma

Today's rain, cold, and wind (and a few snowflakes) kept us inside all day. Luckily, Grandma was armed with instructions for reindeer cookies. Macon did way more eating than making, but Jed was thrilled to use a real (not just a table knife) knife, and he was very proud to serve his handiwork to us after dinner. 

treats

After school on Friday, we headed to Pullen Park. No Christmas lights yet, but the decorations are up and ready for lighting, and the ostriches are ready for riding.

Then on Saturday, we visited Teddie in Chapel Hill and enjoyed an early birthday party for Macon. 

Teddie's recorder was a huge hit, even when played upside down.

Macon knocked out two candles easily, but number 3 gave him all kinds of trouble. 

Eventually, Jed and Teddie finished off the third candle and we got down to business. 

 Thanks, Teddie! 

masterpieces

Eric and I just returned from a two-day trip to New York where we saw masterpieces of Christmas decorating at Lord and Taylor . . . 

. . . and masterpieces of architecture everywhere.

Of course, we brought a couple of little gifts back for the boys including a small set of oil pastels for Jed. Here's his first work with them. Does it remind you of anything? Click here for a quick refresher from that art appreciation class you took because you thought it would be an easy A. 

it's great to be a demon deacon

Well, maybe it wasn't so great to be a Demon Deacon today, but don't tell the boys: Jed made his second visit to Groves Stadium and Macon made his first.  

Jed did not want to go down and meet the Deacon, but he didn't seem terrified of him and he kept asking when the Deacon would do something funny. (When was the last time a 19th century Baptist Deacon did anything funny?) Macon, however, was a bit more game and he went down to the cheerleader platform to say hi, but when push came to shove, he ducked his head into my neck and the Deacon made do with a high-five from me. 

Over supper tonight, we asked them about their favorite parts of the day today. The band scored high marks as did wearing Grandpa's ball cap, and Macon declared that "The Deacon my fav-rit perton." After lights-out at bedtime, they both began shout-whispering various things about the Deacon and Wake Forest. 

Here's a look at our chilly day . . . 

Shortly after arriving, I asked the boys to smile. Here's the result: fake grumpiness from Jed and an intentional look-away from Macon. 

But at least Macon warmed to the popcorn . . . 

which he consumed over a period of two hours, including during a trip to the potty. 

Florida State, possibly the team I most loath, drubbed the Deacs today, but there was one bright spot: we will be able to say we saw Jameis Winston play way back when. 

Thanks for a big day, Gampa-Gampa! 

first responders respond to halloween

Our police officer and paramedic set out for the EMS station in the afternoon . . . 

(the sign says "Help Wanted, Paramedics Needed") 

All the ambulances were out, but the District Chief seemed pretty excited to see a mini-me and the boys got to check out the big mobile command truck. 

He even let Jed turn the truck's lights on, and Macon got to turn them off. 

After a quick costume change for our policeman, we made the rounds for trick-or-treating. 

Back at home, our friends Kat and Jeremy helped dole out the goods: all 750 pieces were gone, one piece at a time, by 7:45!