Mica Wanted to Play in the Snow

• Mica wanted to play in the snow. He lasted 20 min. We just got him some snow boots, so he was excited to wear them.

Apel Side

• We got these taken in the fall. I didn't post them because they were Travis' parent's Christmas present. Payton is Travis' sister (Laura's) son. Isaak is 4 months, Mica is 3 years and Payton is 4 years almost 5 years. There's about 1 1/2 years apart from Payton and Mica. They seem to play pretty well together.

• Isaak was tired when we went to take the photo's, so I just got him to go to sleep.

• They are at such hard ages to get a good photo. I think they turned out well.

The Apel Family

• It's not the best photo of us, but it's not bad either. It's so hard getting both boys to smile. Isaak is 7 months and Mica turned 3 in Aug.

Christmas Magic

• Mica's favorite gift received was what he got from my mom and dad (Grandma and Grandpa Spiehs). The Polar Express train that fits with all his Thomas stuff. He was so excited! He got it Christmas Eve, and woke up at 2:30 AM crying, saying, "I want to play with my Polar Express train Daddy".

• Days before Mica found a ShopKo card (credit card size), and was caring it around saying that it was his magic ticket to get on the Polar Express train. He kept giving it to Travis to punch, and wanted to put it in his shoe for safe keeping. I went ahead and made him a "real looking" ticket. I realise that "Believe" wouldn't look like that backwards, but hay he's just a kid and won't know the difference.

• Christmas morning Mica was surprised the cookie we left for Santa was gone, the fire place doors were left ajar and the top of the tree lights were fixed. He was overwhelmed with all the presents!

• Mica is playing mostly with Isaak's gifts. They light up and have many sounds. He also plays with them a lot because many of them are left in the living room, and Mica's toys are kept in his room. I don't want Isaak putting small piece's in his mouth.

• It's funny that Mica tattles on Isaak for playing with his toys, but it's perfectly fine for Mica to play with Isaak's toys. Hummm...something wrong with that picture.

• Mica was scared of his peacock puppet at first, but now likes it. I thought that may be the case. That's how most kids are with puppets. Some of them look so real-and this one does!

• Isaak of course liked the tissue paper in the mouth. He does like sitting up and playing with toys too. The boy is rocking back and forth on all 4's. Soon he'll be crawling. I give it another month, then he really be into his toys. He rolls around to get to another location.

Christmas Blues

• Christmas went well, except that many more family members got Mica's stomach flew (Including Isaak and me). Daddy had it 3 or 4 days prior. I didn't eat as much junk as usual, which is good.

• Isaak had many poops up the back that smelled like B.O. He had a head cold on top of the tummy issues. He was pretty fussy. I felt for him.

• He's back to waking up a few times at night, but for good reason.

Dentist in 12 Months

• Mica wouldn't open his mouth up for the dentist. We have to go back in 12 months. I think I'll go buy a few books on going to the dentist. I have ones on going to school and all other kinds of books, but none on going to the dentist.

Preschool Program

• Mica did great at his Preschool Program! He sang and did the actions. They were up on stage for 20 min. It was fun seeing them, and hearing the songs that I've heard bits and pieces of in our house. I was really proud of him.

Team Geotrax - All Aboard!

Mica keeps pretending to be a train. The guys I work with warned me that boys are full of sound effects, and now I'm hearing them over and over again. His favorite movie right now is the Polar Express and he's been asking to watch Geotrax. He recites bits and pieces of them, then runs around the house going, "Chugga, chugga, choo, choo". I'm not quite sure how to spell his sound effects, but it sounds just like a train. He even makes the stopping sound.

Now when I ask him what he wants for Christmas, he tells me, "Geotrax Grand Central Station" - $55. I got him everything I'm going to get him, so I hope he's not too disappointed. He already has tons of Thomas stuff past down from my nephew. We got Mica a toy guitar, Isaak a baby guitar, Mica a peacock puppet, Isaak a toy peacock from Lamaze and other random stuff. He's getting more Thomas stuff from my mom as well.

Peacock?

• Mica's preschool teacher told my sister Terra that Mica tells everybody else to stop singing during their practice rehearsal. He's a star in the program, and tells everyone he's not a star, he's a peacock. What a strange child I have. I do have to admit, it's something we can laugh about later. I just hope he does fine in the program tonight.

Stomach Flu

• It turns out my mom threw up last night too. Mica must really have the stomach flu this time. Now we've exposed my sister's whole family. Wonderful! Not really! We've been hit hard with stomach issues this year!