Christmas... (I'll warn you now, it's LONG)

This year we had Randy's family join us at our home for Christmas Eve. It was so nice not to have to drag the kids around and rush home that night to get ready for Santa.

As is our tradition, we made cookies for Santa and then decorated them. Caden got his own rolling pin this year to help me out with the cookie making. He was pretty excited!


Fast forward an hour and here they are, ready to be decorated! Icing a cookie is not the easiest thing in the world for a 2 year old!

He only licked his fingers a few times, but that's okay... we've been told that Santa doesn't mind!

Then we topped them off with M&M's (or enimens, as the boy says it)! He did so well and did not eat them until the cookies were mostly decorated!


Tada... I think Santa will be quite impressed!

The next morning... the boy was a little hesitant to see what Santa had left him. I think that he thought Santa might still be in the living room... and that is a little much to take when you have just gotten out of bed!


And low and behold... Santa DID leave him a racetrack! Just like he had asked for! It is so nice when those things work out. The sister got a Jumperoo... and man does she love it!


Checking out his stocking...

After a yummy breakfast we opened the last of our gifts. The boy got dinosaurs...

The girl got a Sock Monkey-in-the-box...

Since then we have been trying to find a place for all the new toys... we may need a bigger house!

Merry Christmas!

From our family to yours,
Merry Christmas &
Happy New Year!

We will see you again next year!

A Christmas Miracle...

We took the kids to see Santa...

1) There was NO line! Sweet!!
2) Both kids actually smiled!

Caden was so excited to see Santa and tell him he wanted a racetrack for Christmas! After we got our pictures and were walking away the boy started yelling "Bye Santa!! Bye!!"

After our visit with Santa we went down to Hallmark to pick out this year's ornaments for the kids! I love Christmas traditions!

She's 7 months old...

Dear Carinna,
Today you are 7 months old. I can't believe that it has been 7 months since we spent 4 short hours in the hospital waiting for you to arrive. You were so tiny and sweet. You had already figured out how to make a pouty face... which you still use quite effectively, by the way!
You have the fattest and cutest little thighs I have ever seen! I have to squeeze them every time I change your diaper and I am pretty sure you roll your eyes at me when I do! But that's fine with me, I know I should get used to your eye rolling! And it is 100% worth it just to squeeze those sweet little fat rolls!

You have really started getting around with an inch-worm-like crawl. If there is something you want you will get it! Especially your brother's toys. He has a fit when you try to stick his cars in your mouth... I think it grosses him out! You especially love the Christmas tree. The other day I walked into the living room only to discover you had eaten all the glitter off of one ornament!

You have now pretty much mastered the art of sitting. You still fall over occasionally, but I am beginning to wonder if you do it on purpose! Because you can sit up now I let you take a bath in the big tub! You loved it and splashed and splashed the entire time!

When I lay you in your bed to sleep you immediately lay your head down and start to suck your thumb. While you are eating you also suck your thumb after each bite. Sometimes you even put both thumbs in your mouth at the same time! It's pretty cute!

You are so funny! The faces you make crack me up! You are so happy and easy going, which is wonderful since I drag you all over town every Tuesday and Thursday while your brother is in school! But you don't hesitate to let us know when you are not happy! You also love to talk... you are such a girl! You always have something to say and your faces match your tone!

I have tried and tried to slow this first year of your life, but it just isn't working! It won't be long until we are planning your first birthday party! I love you and am so grateful for you! You are a joy! I look forward to having our first Christmas with you!

Happy 7 month birthday sweet girl!

The 2 year old version of Christmas music...

The boy loves to sing along to any song he hears... even though he rarely knows the words! It was no different today during lunch while we were listening to Christmas music. He would mumble along trying his best to sing the correct words. Finally, exasperated.... he burst out singing...

"Bad boys, bad boys. Whatcha gonna dooooo..." (actually it was more like "fad foyz, fad foyz. Whaya donna doooo")

I, of course, died laughing. Which made him laugh.

Then he said, "Mommy, dat's fwom COPS." (As though I didn't know) "I yike dat song!"

His daddy was very proud.

My oh my... she's 6 months old...

The sign thing is getting harder and harder to do...

These days it seems to look like a super fun toy.

She... just... has... to... get... her... hands...on it.



So, anyway... she is 6 months old now. See... she is trying to show everyone.



Oh forget the sign..

Happy 6 month birthday!!!! I just can't believe it has been that long since she joined our family! As that old saying goes... these days are long, but the years are short!

Weekend Fun...

We started out the weekend by heading down to a local park that was built right next to the train station. As trains pass by they blow their horns over and over and occasionally the passengers (on the Amtrak trains) will wave. It is a great place for boys who love trains!

When we first got there... there was not one single train to be seen anywhere. None. I was probably as disappointed as the boy! But before we knew it there were three in a row. Someone was terribly excited!


Then we went on with the business of playing! The girl was not so crazy about the swings. If I would start to swing her she would suck in a huge gasp of air and her body would go stiff... but she didn't cry!


I am sure this is her telling me to get her the heck out of the swing. Oh and it was darn chilly that morning. It was supposed to be in the high 70's, but that did not happen until much later in the afternoon.


Before we left, an Amtrak went by. Oh the excitement!

On Saturday we hung out around the house. He has a rekindled love of his rocking horse. After he had ridden on it for a while I asked if the girl could have a turn. Surprisingly he said yes! Only after I put her on it did I find out that he intended to ride with her.

Look at her sweet little fat feet!




Eventually she was able to try it out on her own. She liked it!

At dinner that night we made tortilla faces... or should I say... the dad made them. By this time we only had one left, so we had to share.



We tried to get Chia to make a face, but she just ate it. Party pooper!

Caden sings The Wheels on the Bus

Halloween Happiness

This year's Halloween was so much more fun than last year! The boy still doesn't totally understand what it is about, but I think he had fun anyway!

We started off at Trunk-or-Treat at the church. It was packed this year!

He was Elmo.

Several people held out buckets for the kids to grab from... others just left their trunks open for a free-for-all!

For some reason the boy was crazy about suckers. If told to pick what he wanted out of the bucket of candy... he would always go for the suckers! He has maybe had one before in his whole life... apparently it made a good impression!

The girl just went as her cute self. And she was cute! At one point one of the teenage girls (dressed as a zombie) came up to talk to the girl... almost immediately the pouty lip came out as she prepared to go into meltdown mode. The poor teenager never did realize how her zombie make-up would be frightening to a baby. I quickly walked away yelling over my shoulder that we would see the teen girls later and to have fun... then ran... okay, walked briskly to join up with the dad and boy! All was well after that.

Then we headed home where I made them pose again for a sibling photo... I'm a mom... it's my job to make them suffer!

Then we set out in the neighborhood to trick-or -treat. The boy was so polite and said "Twick-or-tweat" at every house. And "thank you" when he got his goodies! I was glad he wasn't afraid... I guess that is a good thing.

The girl and I just stayed at the curb waiting on the boys.
Then we headed home to hand out candy... which the boy helped us with. He would give a review of all the costumes and let us know if they were "skawee!" Fun times! Now to find something to do with all this blasted candy!