Christmas Day 2010.wmv

Remember to pause the music down at the bottom of the blog. This is kind of a long video but its meant for Grandma's and Grandpa's who are far away and love the long videos of their grandkids. Merry Christmas!

Phoenix Zoo

Be sure to turn off the music at the bottom of the blog.

Our Two Crazy Kids

Lately Lilly and Barrett have been super hyper. I guess its just that time of year or the candy from the advent calender, licking the beaters after making cookies, eating extra frosting from the bowl, ya know stuff like that. There has been a lot of fighting over toys but occasionally they play nice together. They love to chase each other around the house. Its fun to watch but I am always ready for a major collision and someone getting hurt.

Preschool Christmas Program

We were so excited to get to go see Lilly sing in her preschool Christmas program. The week before, Miss Erin told me that Lilly was the only one who knew all the words and sang super loud. I told Miss Erin about Lilly's stage fright issues and that Lilly probably would not perform with all the parents there. The day of her program she seemed super excited and she really did know all the words to all the songs, but when we walked in her classroom she lost it. Huge alligator tears...really makes us parents feel great. I think she must feel pressure from us or something because she has done the same thing with all her dance class recitals. Miss Erin even said that they performed for the kindergarten classes and that Lilly danced and sang. Well anyway, she calmed down enough to at least stand with her class and sing a few words. It was still a super cute program.

Holiday Fancy

Here are the kids all dressed up for church in their fancy holiday clothes, as Lilly likes to call them.

Lots of cookies. This past week I had to make sugar cookies for mutual on Wednesday, Lilly's class on Thursday and 7 dozen for Jon's work party on Friday. All the while working and taking care of two kids. It was one heck of a week, glad it's over and I am officially sick of cookies! Lilly and Barrett got in the on the cookie action, check out the pics and video. I just love Lilly's facial expressions while she is concentrating.

Saint Nick Night

Our Family began some traditions while we lived in Wisconsin, one of them is celebrating Saint Nick Night. Saint Nick Night is the night of December 5th and kids wake on Dec. 6th to their shoes filled with goodies. This year Uncle Zach got to see the real St. Nick. he has been working a lot in Holland and he happened to be there on St. Nick Night. In Holland they call him Sinter Klause and Zach described him as a scary looking pope. The stories told to the children in Holland say that St. Nick would leave a chocolate letter (the letter of your name) in your shoes for the good children and take the naughty kids away in his bag. I thought that was pretty scary but there have been times I have thought about telling this story to Lilly. Anyway, here are some pictures of the kids opening their gifts from St. Nick that they found in their shoes. This is usually when I give the kids their ornament for the year and a couple of books about Christmas

One of the bosses at the bank Zach works at in Holland dressed up as Sinter Klause.

Is it Christmas yet?

I love this time of year, but for some reason it feels like Christmas should have already came and went. We are super antsy about it this year and I think we may have hyped it up to Lilly a little too early. we have been spending our days baking and our nights watching Christmas specials. Our favorites for the year include: Disney's Prep and Landing, Polar Express and Frosty The Snowman and Elf, of course. We are having just our little family of four for Christmas this year...I actually think I prefer it this way. We have our own little traditions and this year is especially fun because Lilly is learning about the real meaning of Christmas. She loves to tell stories and she loves babies so the story of Christmas is right up her alley.

Over the river and through the woods...

To grandmother's house we went. We flew out on Barrett's birthday and stayed for just over one week. Jon had a continueing education course that he took on Fri-Sun. My brother Zach flew in from Amsterdam on Friday. Colby drove up from Chicago and we even got to see Chad who had a little time off from his surgical rotation (organ transplants!!! crazy) We also got to see Puja, Colby's girlfriend and meet Gabby, Chad's girlfriend. The kids warmed up to everyone super fast this time. It was so great to be with the whole family and have chad and colby finally see their new nephew. I love my family more than anything and I am trying to instill in my children just how important it is to love your family. No matter the distance between us, or how long it has been since we have seen eachother, it always feels like we haven't even been apart at all. The love of your family is unconditional...that is the real lesson. A big huge thanks to Grandma and Grandpa for making it so easy to travel with kids. We had tons of toys to play with, car seats, high chairs, cribs and everything else you could possibly need. We just relaxed and enjoyed the week. Ate tons of Grandma's amazing cooking...probably gained 10lbs, but oh well! We celebrated Barrett's 1st birthday (see post below) and had a wonderful Thanksgiving feast too. Lilly really enjoyed going for walks in the woods, going for a ride in grandpa's jeep and seeing the movie Tangled with grandpa, listening to the Peter and The Wolf book on tape, cooking with grandma, playing candyland with all of her uncles, opening all of Barrett's presents and just being the center of attention. Barrett enjoyed playing with Charlie (the dog), playing with all the fun cars, listening to music with grandpa, running around the basement, yelling and pointing at everything, being constantly underfoot, eating yummy chocolate cake, taking tubbys in grandma's big tub. It was a great week. So happy that my kids got to know there uncles better and spend some quality time with Grandma and Gramps!! And once again, next time we will come when it's a little warmer and sunnier.

Sitting on the tired surgeon's lap...crazy eyes
Colby, Lilly and Puja
Playin trains
A better shot of Chad...b-man, not so much
Listening to the books on tape...her favorite Peter and The Wolf
cars, cars, cars
Barrett and Uncle Zach just back from a run

Grandpa and his girl
Making pumpkin pies with Grandma
Learning to crack an egg
A ride in Grandpa's jeep
Tangled
mmmmm Hot Chocolate!!!
Strong Uncle Colby
Listening to music with Gramps
...and he's out...
just a little lounging

Chad's famous sausage and egg muffins...a thanksgiving breakfast tradition
A quick photo shoot
" No Charlie, thats my lollipop!"

"I'm so over this..."
Playing hide and seek with Grandma
Barrett and Gramps
Love that smile
Squeezing bubba

Little man
This girl was always with her Uncle Colby
Enjoying his first thankgiving dinner.This silly dog watched these turkeys the whole time we ate.
Being silly with Grandma before we hit the road.