Monday Picture

Skiing

Mike's first try cross country skiing was a success!

Merry Christmas!

Monday Picture

Home early

My Christmas break started a little early due to the dreaded "your kid is sick" call from daycare. Let's hope it runs its course quickly

Daily dose of cute

In case you need a little cuteness:

Santa Fail 2012

I really thought it was going to happen this year. Mike seemed genuinely excited about sitting on Santa's lap (and getting the M&M's I promised him he would get if he was good and sat on Santa's lap).  He was really excited right up until it was his turn.  Then he froze.  He no longer cared about presents, M&M's or candy canes.  He wrapped his little arms around the line divider pole and wouldn't let go.  Ryan happily sat on Santa's lap for about 5 seconds before he took his older brother's cues and realized something was not right.  We finally managed to get Mike to let go of the divider but he wanted nothing to do with the Jolly Elf.  I actually got him to sit (without crying) on a little box by Santa's boots, but the photographer elf informed me they couldn't see him down there, so I scooped him up and smiled sweetly.  Ahhh - these are going to look so nice framed on our mantle when the boys are teenagers.

2012

2011

2010

Monday Picture

Tacky Christmas 2012

Some friends of ours hold a 'Tacky Christmas' party each year. This was our first year attending. Brad channeled "creepy guy at the office" and I went for "handmade goodness." He won the award for best accessory (the mistletoe) and I came out ahead in the white elephant gift exchange (with spongebob coloring pages and crayons). Already excited for next year!

Stuff on Ryan's head

Tuesday night fun

Monday Picture

And then he was 3

The Party

Today was Mike's third birthday party (his birthday is tomorrow).  We opted for the luxury of having someone else take care of everything this year and had his party at the local children's museum - The Magic House.  With 17 kids things were a bit hectic, but it seemed like everyone had a great time.  I picked the "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" theme and away we went.  The kids got to make conductor hats, decorate and fly airplanes and decorate cupcakes.  Afterwards the Magic House was open for play time.  While Mike and his friends ran off to play I found a nice bench and fed Ryan. He promptly fell asleep, so I served as a bench warmer for the next hour or so.  After lunch with the Gillmans (who made the trip up from Southern Illinois especially for the party) we headed home to open presents.  Mike is one spoiled kid.  He is lucky to have so many wonderful friends who love him.  

Mike modeling his conductor hat

Hugging his girlfriend goodbye



Hey look...we were all in one place at the same in, AND someone had the foresight to take a picture (thanks Margaret!!!)



The presents, which are now scattered ALL OVER the house

Last Weekend: AKA Staying Busy

Last week Brad flew to Toronto for an advanced trauma course.  He was gone Wednesday-Sunday which meant I got to play the role of single mom. My plan of attack for the weekend was to keep us so busy that we wouldn't have time to fret about the fact that daddy was gone (though as a side note Mike did keep saying "I just don't know what we are going to do without daddy" while throwing his little arms up in despair).  Luckily we made it through just fine.  Here is the rundown of what kept us occupied:

Friday night: Gingerbread house decorating and tree lighting/Santa sighting with the Lyons.

Saturday: Shoe shopping; a trip to the playground and a birthday party

Sunday: A hike, Christmas cookies, playing outside and Wild Lights at the Zoo

Busy enough for you?  This weekend isn't looking much more calm with Mike's birthday party on Saturday, potentially a trip to see Santa and Mike's actual birthday on Sunday.

Hats

Brad went to Toronto for a conference last week. The boys scored some sweet hats.

Monday Picture

Playground

After buying Mike new shoes we just had to go to the playground to try them out. Verdict: Mike can now run faster and jump higher. What amazing shoes.

Technology

It appears I have (finally) figured out how to post blog entries from my phone. This will either be wonderful or terrible. Time will tell. In other news, Ryan learned to clap just in time to applaud my new abilities.

Ryan the Mischief Maker

They tried to tell me.  Many friends and coworkers warned me that around 9-10 months their "sweet, sweet" babies turned into tiny, mischief makers.  I shrugged them off - thinking there was no way my adorable, laid-back baby would turn a corner.  It turns out they were all right and I was in denial.  He has been spending the last 10 months watching and taking it all in, plotting and planning his adventures.  The past few weeks I've had to turn on my eagle eye to watch him every.single.minute because if I turn my back for 3 seconds he is pouring out the dog's water; unraveling a roll of toilet paper; trying to eat magnets off of the refrigerator; or trying to climb into the fireplace - and he isn't even walking yet.

When I busted him unraveling this roll of toilet paper he didn't even have the decency to look guilty, he just gave me his biggest smile, dimple and all.  Oh goodness am I going to have my hands full.

Thanksgiving 2012

 We had a fantastic Thanksgiving this year. The only hiccup was that Brad's dad wasn't able to join us. We were quite disappointed, but made the best of the long weekend. Brad's sister (Erika), her husband (Derek)and their adorable daughter (Emily) flew in on Tuesday evening. Brad (amazingly) was off for the entire weekend. After they left Brad commented that his abs and ribs hurt and the only logical explanation was due to the ridiculous amount of laughing we all did.

Top Row: Baby cousins sharing at dinner at Bailey's Range; Afternoon walks with the wagon; Derek and Emily on Thanksgiving. 

Middle Row: Mike "thinking about elephants"; cousins; snuggles with Aunt Erika

Bottom Row: Photos by Mike; playground fun; date night!

Monday Picture - On Tuesday

Monday Picture - Delayed

Due to issues with blogger the Monday Picture this week will be delayed.  I hope to have everything back up and working tomorrow.

Thankful

These guys top the list of things I am thankful for

I'm sure most people will wait for tomorrow to talk about what they are thankful for, but I want to relish in family, friends and good food tomorrow.  So today you get a list of 10 things (big and small) that I am thankful for.

1) My family.  All of them.  Every last one.  From the people I live with to the ones who live states and countries away. 

2) Sammy.  Sweetest dog ever.

3) My job.  Some days I wish I didn't have to work, but I really do like my job, my coworks and my ability to support my family.

4) The gym at work.  Without it I would rarely (if ever) work out. 

5) Friends.  The kind who call me randomly; the kind who invite me to lunch; the kind who watch my kids; the kind who listen to anything I need to rant about and the kind who make me laugh.

6) Food. Eating it - cooking it.  Whatever.  I just like food.

7) My iphone.

8) Babies climbing into bed with me way too early in the morning to "cuddle me mommy"

9) Our house, with the kitchen I love, the backyard with the beautiful firely leaves and the garage that makes it so I don't have to scrape icy windows in the morning.

10) Jingle bell jam sessions.

Monday Picture

Elephant Rocks

Last weekend Brad actually had a day off (unbelievable I know) so he suggested we head down the Elephant Rocks State Park.  We came here a few years ago (pre-kids) with my parents and figured it would be a nice little day trip with the kids.  To say Mike loved it would be an understatement.  He was thrilled to climb on as many rocks as possible and run through the leaves.  He declared himself a "Mountain Tiger" and rawwwwrr-ed at everything.  Ryan had his maiden voyage in the backpack (Thanks Nicole!).  After a quick picnic lunch we decided to head over the Johnson's Shut-ins.  Hiked around a bit then headed home.   

Monday Picture

Christmas List

The other night I randomly started asking Mike about a Christmas list.  After he exhausted the list of things he wants (which included a lot of different stuffed animals, "TOYS!!!" and Lady and the Tramp), we moved onto what we should get other people for Christmas.  So if Mike were in charge of Christmas shopping here is what some of you would be getting:

Grandma Cami: Books, a Christmas tree, underwear

Grandpa Mike: a Christmas tree, a polka-dotted pocket knife 

Sarah: a Christmas tree (anyone sensing a theme here) with a BIG, HUGE star on top

Daddy: Work (when asked what daddy likes, this is what Mike shouted out), a playground with "a slide, and climbers, and a bridge and a big slide," a man (???) and a Christmas tree
Sammy: black dog toys
Ryan: "TOYS!!!"
Mommy: Diamonds

I don't know about you guys, but I think he really knows what he is talking about.

Standing

Look who is starting to stand on his own.

Monday Picture

It sure is a good thing he is so stinking cute.  The past few days he has been a teething monster.  Screaming, crying, writhing and biting.

Things Mike Says...

1) In St. Louis people expect kids to tell them a joke to get candy on Halloween.  It is a weird, quirky, St. Louis thing.  This year we tried to teach Mike a joke (last year he just said "BOO").  We had the following conversation while driving in the car on Wednesday:

Me: Ok Michael, you need to learn a joke to tell people when you go trick or treating.
Mike: Ok Mommy.
Me: Hmmmm....let's think, what about "What did the ghost say to it's mommy?"..."you're BOO-tiful"
Mike: OK.  I like that.
Me: Ok, say these words: "What did the ghost say to it's mommy?"
Mike: You're Booo-tiful
Me:  That's good, but you need to say the first part too.  So repeat after me "What did the ghost say to it's mommy?"
Mike: I don't know. 
Me: Ok, try to say these words "What did the ghost say to it's mommy"
Mike: Mommy, I can't.  I'm just a boy.

2) When picking Mike up from school the other day:
Me: Here buddy (holding out his coat), let's put your coat on.
Mike: Why?
Me: Because it is chilly outside and I don't want you to get cold.
Mike: No, I don't want to put my jacket on.
Me: Why not?
Mike: Because I like the way the cool air feels on my skin.

Halloween Tidbits

1) Mike won the pumpkin decorating contest at his daycare with his very cute "mummy" pumpkin.  While we were decorating it we had the following conversation:

Me: Ok Mike we are going to make your pumpkin look like a mummy

Mike: Mommy, why are we dressing up my pumpkin like a mommy?

Me: No sweetie, not a mOmmy, a mUmmy.

Mike: Mommy, why are we dressing up my pumpkin like a mommy?

Me: A mUUUUmmy, not a mommy.

Mike: No mommy, a mommy.

Then he walked away and we had to decorate our "mommy" pumpkin later.

2) Just like last year we went over to the Lyons' house to celebrate Halloween and go trick or treating.  Their neighborhood takes Halloween seriously.  



 3) This is our gang of misfits.  Batman, a 50s girl and a dragon (the little fish stayed with daddy in the front yard to hand out candy).  Scary stuff people.

4) Margaret may have had the best costume.  She had a little girl convinced she had really cut and dyed her hair orange.

 5) Ryan once again slept through the festivities.

6) How can it possibly be November already - and how can Ryan be 9 months old???

Happy Halloween!