CHRISTMAS: PART IV

Santa Claus came to our house today as we were finally able to celebrate Christmas with just the four of us. I wrapped our presents early in December, so the gift opening was just as much of a surprise for me as it was the kids! We had a great, relaxing, informal morning ... you know, the kind when you get to open your presents in only your underpants (I'm hopeful that these potty training days are reaching an end!)

Santa brought the kids a toy kitchen ...

and both AA and JP love it!

As soon as the kids went down for their naps we started tearing the Christmas stuff down! So all in one day we celebrated Christmas and rejoiced in a clean and decorations free home!

CHRISTMAS: PART III

We then drove to Grandpa A and Grandma K's house for Christmas ... and even Grandpa T joined in the fun! AA and JP were BUSY (meaning LOUD) throughout the entire church service. (We'll need to work on that!)JP was beyond excited to see Uncle J and Uncle M ... he's always telling me how much he loves his uncles!
JP was even more excited to open presents! He is clearly the first grandchild on my side of the family ... everyone let him help open their gifts!

AA wasn't very interested in the actual presents ...

she just wanted love and attention from her aunts and grandparents!

Santa Claus brought A and I the best gift ever ... SLEEP! For some miraculous reason, BOTH of my kids slept until 7:40 on Christmas morning! Hark the Herald! Glory to the new born King!

Despite several bigger gifts, JP's favorite present seemed to be a pack of Cars hotwheels.

And AA's was still the wrapping paper!

Daddy's favorite toy was the IPad ... JP taught us how to use it!

We are truly blessed to have such healthy and adorable kids ... and such loving family this Christmas season!

CHRISTMAS: PART II

We headed north for Christmas, stopping first for two nights at A's parents. The kids travelled really well ... of the 10+ hours we spent in the car over the holidays, the kids slept 95%! (Of course, we planned our routes during naptimes ... but this is definitely an improvement.)





We celebrated a brown Christmas this year as there was only a dusting of snow on the frozen ground! The weather was warm enough for AA to get some fresh air:

and for JP to get his tractor ride at Grandpa J's house!


Once again, the older kids were bribed into sitting nicely for a photo before opening presents while the youngest one thew a tantrum in front of the tree:

After the tears, AA opened one present. Much like her birthday, she was more impressed with the wrapping paper and bows than the present itself. Big brother JP was lucky to help open nearly every one of her presents!

JP's toy inventory has suddenly exploded ... this lucky guy received all kinds of boy stuff.

JP just adores his older cousins, Andrew and Evan. Evan is twice JP's age but is definitely the hero ... especially when he lets JP play with his new toys! JP keeps asking about his cousins.

We are thankful for family this Christmas season!

CHRISTMAS: PART I

Whew. After a 10+ day hiatus of holiday happenings ... including a two day getaway on an airplane sans kids (since we've had them!) for A and I; visitors from Washington DC, Boston, and Blaine; road trips to Long Prairie and Fergus Falls and St. Cloud ... we're finally getting back to normal routine. (Despite the fact that most of our Christmas gifts are still piled in the laundry room, Christmas tree needles are strewn throughout the house, and we are still hoping to find the time to celebrate our Christmas!).

Last week, we hosted our college friends, C & S and E & N ... and their two adorable little guys, EJ and Thatcher. Somehow N and I still find the time to chat on the phone most weekdays about our kids despite the thousands of miles between us, so it was super fun to finally see these boys ... I feel like I'm their aunt! EJ and JP still don't exactly play directly ... we're still crossing our fingers that they will look forward to our get togethers just as much as the moms! I guess two year olds still prefer parallel play ... or parallel baking! We decorated Christmas cookies (well, the boys decorated about two cookies, ate them, and we decorated the rest!).

The older kids were easily convinced to sit on the sofa and smile cute for a photo before we opened gifts ...
but the younger kids, well not so much:

Although FOUR kids under 2.5 years can create a sense of chaos at times, A and I really enjoyed visiting with our longtime friends. After the young ones were fast asleep, we actually could visit! We are thankful for friends this holiday season!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Merry Christmas!

SANTA

It's hard to know how much JP really understands about the whole Santa Claus thing. We talk about him daily (thanks to receiving The Elf of the Shelf storybook from Aunt M!). We decked the kids in their Christmas outfits and went to visit Santa. The kids waited patiently in line ... and even stood still behind the red carpet when it was almost our turn! Santa asked what JP wanted for Christmas. "A cawr," answered JP. "A cow?" asked Santa. "No, a cawr," answered JP. Santa looked at us to translate. Come on, Mr. Claus, I think you need to work on listening better to two year old vocabulary ... how many two year olds really want a COW for Christmas?
Last year AA snoozed away on Santa's lap while JP screamed. This year JP was just fine taking his picture with Santa ... but he didn't want to sit on his lap. I don't blame him.

When it was AA's turn ... well, let's just say that I need to invest in a much more sophisticated camera with nanosecond shutter speed because this is all I could capture with my current camera!:

Maybe next year I'll finally get that perfect picture with Santa and the kids!

FIVE

My good college friend, A, and her family came to visit this week. We piled our kids on the sofa in festive holiday hats. And then there were FIVE!

BIRTHDAY BASH

The balloons are still up. Streamers in place. Pink frosting smeared on the counter top. I'm still recovering from the Big Birthday Bash.
Lil' Miss AA was lucky enough to celebrate her actual birthday with all of her grandparents ... and most of her aunts, uncles, and cousins. Last December 10th, Minnesota was blasted with a "snowstorm of the decade" ... but this December 10th the skies were clear, and the winter temperatures balmy.

We wore party hats and dressed in pink.

I forgot how un-interested one year olds can be with presents! After two gifts, AA was content with walking in circles in the living room with a bow in her hand.

Her older brothers and cousins were drooling over her pile of gifts; they happily helped tear the paper back when finally given permission.

AA loved all of the attention as everyone sang Happy Birthday.

She was given her very own cake ...

AA enjoyed the company of her Godparents,

and all of the older boys.

But most of all, she loved celebrating the day with JP by her side!

LETTER

To my baby girl, Adeline Annalee, on your very first birthday:

At 8:52 a.m. just one year ago, I heard your very first cries. Your daddy squeezed my hand as we heard the doctor tell us I had just delivered a beautiful baby girl with a good set of lungs. Tears flowed from my eyes as my heart was bursting with joy. God was (and continues to be) so good to me! In those early moments I prayed and prayed that God would keep you safe and healthy all of the days of your life. I'll never forget when I first saw you! My hands were still strapped to the operating table, so daddy held you close to my face so I could feel your skin. You instantly kissed my lips and started sucking so strong! For nearly five minutes you latched on tight. Daddy and I were giggling!

From that day forward, you continue to amaze us. You are full of life in all that you do. You are strong willed, bold, and beautiful. I marvel at your contagious smile and adorable laugh. I love your morning cuddles, clapping hands, and wobbly gait. I adore the smell of your hair and your open mouthed kisses. You are inquisitive, smart and oh so sweet. You make our family complete.

God has blessed me in more ways than I will ever be able to articulate. Although I am nostalgic of your early days, I look forward to the many many more days ahead with you as my daughter.

God Bless You! Love, Mommy