Santa 2012!!

We went to see Santa this year with my parents, which seems to have become a tradition.  Typically my sisters are there with their family, but this year they weren't able to make it.  We always go to this carpet store in town that invites their customers to see Santa --- we continue to give them good business.  (they will be putting carpet in our new home!!)

 

Hiller's always does an awesome job :)

 

Ready to head out the door to see the 'big guy!'

While we were waiting for santa...they had entertainment: cookie decorating, face painting, lunch, coloring, crafts, etc!



Making a santa cookie with dad :)

 

Face painting!

Almost time to see him :)



 

I wasn't sure how the kids would do seeing Santa this year.  Addy was shy but went up to him and sat on his lap and told him what she wanted for Christmas this year (Barbies).  Blake usually follows Addy's lead, so he was willing to sit on his lap too.  I don't think he really knew what to think about everything, but he didn't cry.  Just sat there like the sweet shy guy that he sometimes is :)

Hiller's also provides a photo for each family and provides a gift for each kid.  It was pretty exciting this year because Addy had wanted a Barbie and that is what she got!  Soooo fun :)

Group Photo Time

Making "Meat - a - balls"!



In November, before Aaron went up to Michigan for a week of deer hunting with his dad, cousins, and uncles, etc - Papa Paul (Aaron's stepdad) came down to visit with Jean and made spaghetti and meatballs for Aaron to bring to camp.

 

Paul is 100% Italian, and a VERY good chef :)  He had a new little helper in the kitchen...too cute!

 

:: pumpkin carving, a butterfly, and a monster -- oh my! ::

We carved pumpkins at the end of Blake's birthday.  I think I mentioned in an earlier post that my parent's had a pumpkin patch this year...it was successful so we had plenty of pumpkins to pick from!  Addy was having fun digging out the guts!  This was the first time we've actually carved pumpkins so I was curious what she would do.

 

 

 

 

While Addy was working on the cleaning out her pumpkin - I got to cuddle with my little man (reference post on Blake at 2 years --- best cuddler ever!)

Aaron basically carved the entire pumpkin - she chose an "easy" (sarcasm) Minnie Mouse pattern.

How's my pumpkin coming dad?

The entire family carving pumpkins

After everyone left and the house was cleaned up from the party - and the kids were sleeping and the house was quiet - Aaron and I carved some pumpkins for ourselves as well.



Left to Right: Brynne's pumpkin she made for grandma, Aaron's Frankenstein, Marissa's stars & moon, Addy's Minnie mouse, Blaker's monkey and Grandpa Tim's bat :)

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The night before Halloween we went to a harvest party at the school.  They had tons of games - it was complete preschool chaos in there!  Loud & full of hyper kids :)  But, the kids enjoyed themselves.

Addy won a whistle (the reason for a super loud cafeteria - picture hundreds of preschoolers that won annoying whistles!)

Parties are fun!  The fun part -- Blake actually made the local paper from the party.  He was playing one of the games :)  Yep, we now live in a small town, where the preschool party at school makes the paper.  Fun stuff!

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Halloween night we went trick-or-treating with Ella and Hunter for a bit, and then we went around the block on what will be our neighborhood next year when our house is finished.  Addy decided to be a butterfly.  She was one a few years ago, but this was the first time she chose her costume, so I went with it :)

I was in love with the Monster costume, so I went with it -- even though I had just done a monster-themed birthday party!

Hunter, Ella, Addy & Blake ready to head out!

Addy was LOVING going around with her cousins.  Ella would run ahead and she'd encourage her to go ring the doorbell --- she was pretty cute!  It's crazy how big they get and how much more into things they get each year.  Fun times!

Running on to the next house!

Blake was adorable because he's say "trick-or-treat" with his cousins, let people put candy in his basket, and then he would just stare at them.  And stare and stare and stare while Addy, Ella and Hunter ran off to the next house.  The person at the door would be like "bye" and he would stare some more...and then eventually I'd have to grab him and leave.  It was pretty entertaining :)


This trick-or-treating thing is pretty fun!

Addy would peek in the windows of the houses after we rang the doorbell....

On to the next one!

Addy's antennas were on my head before we hit the first house...so she was a butterfly without the antennas :)

I can't wait until next year when we are in our home for Halloween -- it'll be fun to decorate a new house and know the kids in the neighborhood to go trick-or-treating with or see :)  And.....it'll be fun to see what costumes the kiddos pick next year.  Blake might be old enough next year.  Craziness.

Blaker Boy Turns 2

I can't believe that Blake is already 2.  Life is flying these days...just like how now it is almost 2 months since his birthday and I'm finally getting to blogging about it!  His actual birthday was on a Monday.  When we got home from preschool that night, my mom had made him a cake to celebrate!

Birthday cake from grandma Bonnie :)

We had a birthday party for him the weekend after --- Monster themed.  :)  I made a monster cake that I'm pretty proud of!  With the help of Aaron, we made eyeballs and the #2 out of rice-krispies earlier in the week.  It turned out pretty good I think!

Blake's birthday was a lot of fun - 2 is a fun age because they finally "get it".  He was pretty excited about his presents and singing Happy Birthday to him!  I loved how appreciative he was of his gifts and not rushing on to the next gift right away. 

I'm 2!



During cake when we sang him the song --- he was TOOO TOOO TOOO CUTE for words (at least in his mama's eyes!). He stared at everyone singing, was singing along with them, and cheered at himself really loud after he blew out his candles!!!  I was in charge of the camera, and I was distracted by his cuteness that I didn't get really good pictures.  Bummer!

Here's one though :)

*****

Where do I begin when I describe Blake at 2?  So many words!!  He's seriously the BEST cuddler ever, hands down.  He has the biggest blue eyes and long eyelashes that have wrapped his mama around his little finger since about day 2 of his life.  Ahh, he melts my heart! 

Look at those lashes!

This guy also has the most contagious giggle.  His laugh is from way deep in his belly!  I've been trying to get a good video of it, but he always stops when we turn on the camera!

He definitely lives up to the definition of "terrible 2" as well.  He's got quite the temper when he's mad - gets frustrated easy and still learning how to control that.  He is 2, what can I say.  Through and through - from the sweetness to the moodiness.  It's why I love him!!



A cute one of daddy & Blake in matching shirts this Labor Day

 Some of Blake's favorite things are his monkey (which he pronounces Mon-tee).  He sometimes also calls him Bear (basically because he copies almost EVERYTHING Addy does so since the animal she loves is "bear" so is his!).  He also love to swing --- a lot! 

He likes to dance and sing, watch things like Max and Ruby, Chuggington, and likes a good Dora episode also.  Blake also loves to play and do anything that his sister plays with - doesn't matter how girly it is!  If Addy's doing it, he wants to also.  They play really well together, which I love.  It's one thing that people would tell me about having kids so close...that they would be good buds, and that is SO SO true. 

Wearing some of Addy's sunglasses

Buds!



Blakes 2 year stats:
Length - 34 inches (39%)
Weight - 27 pounds, 2 ounces (38%)

Blake Aaron

I love this handsome dude!!





My "Three"-Teen

You hear about the 'pre-teen' years...but these days my 3 year old has got nothin' on them - so I like to call our stage the "three"-teen years :) 

Addy talks about a mile a minute if you let her, laughs and cries within 30 seconds, has an eye for fashion, and is too smart for her own good.  She has some pretty good one-liners that she doesn't even know she's saying, makes up her own words, likes to tell us how it is (or how she thinks it is) --- AND has a heart of gold and is a big-old sweetie!

My tiny-dancer showing some sass :)  Side note - she started dance this year! 

Showing off her dance moves!

I recently bought her a pair of jeggings (pants) and when I got home and showed them to her, she gasped and squealed "jeggings like Kyra!" and was sooo excited to wear them the next day. 

...Kyra is a daycare friend.  I'm pretty sure it wasn't until I was AT LEAST in 3rd grade when I started knowing what latest trend of clothes my friends had that I didn't and wanting it.  My three-teen has got it figured out :)

Jeggings!!!

Miss Addy Jane was getting in trouble by her dad and her response from her 'scolding' was to say those dreaded words that every child says and every parent fears: "I h@te you" ... (and then got sent to her room).  What 3 year old knows how to say that???

Later on, her and daddy were talking and when Aaron was telling her how those words make him sad, her response was "When you yell at me it breaks my heart." 

Oh my drama girl - she's got quite a way with words!  Sometimes the things she says are really well beyond her years.

**

If you want her to do something, reverse psychology is the way to go!


mom: "Addy, will you look at me and smile"

... "Addy, will you look at me please?"

.... "Addy, smile so we can take a picture for Papa Lowell's craft"

"... Addy...."

(mom's silent at this point....)

mom: "Okay Addy - DON'T look at me and DON'T YOU DARE smile!"

Addy: "CHEEEEEESE!"

At the same time she has the innocence of a 3 year old that I'm holding on to.  She loves to engage in conversation and learn new things. 

Some of my favorite Addy-isms that she has said lately:

"The grass has frosting on it." (frost on the lawn)
"I LOOOOVE Rispie Krispie's" (rice crispie bars)
"Daddy - your hair is falling out onto your face" (Aaron growing a 'beard' for deer hunting!)

Some things are just too dang cute to correct.  She'll figure out the right way to say them all too soon, and so I like to just ask her questions about that frosting on the grass and Rispie Krispie's so I can hear her repeat those sweet little Addy-words. :)

Please stay little for as long as you can...your teenage years will be here way to soon.

I sure do love that sweet, sassy, sugar & spice 'three' teen of mine.

Adventures with Dad & Grandma

In September I was lucky enough to get a weekend away with my girlfriends from high school.  While I was gone, the kids stayed with Aaron's mom.  Aaron was still working weekends, but he joined them on Saturday night after work at his mom's house.  On Sunday they took the kids to Underwater Adventure (I think that is what it is called) at the Mall of America. 

 

I couldn't even tell you what it all consists of, but from what I understand the kids had a good time!!!  Aaron took some pics with his phone so I figured I'd share!

 

 

I'm pretty sure the underwater creatures were just as cool as these guys --- Dora is still pretty popular in our house :)