Meeting with Santa :)

We kept up our family tradition this year of going to meet Santa at Hiller's here in Rochester.  It is invite only for the customers...and we are never disappointed! 



 

They have a "toy shop" that Santa sits in, provide lunch/snacks, give a gift to each child, and have lots of things to do while you wait for Santa.  They give you a number, so you don't just have to wait in line for Santa.  While you are there, you can write letters to him, color pictures, decorate Christmas cookies, etc. 

 

Blake was checking out Santa from afar in this pic...he wasn't too sure what to think! 

Next in line!  Addy is staring in at him soooo seriously here.  I wish I knew what was goign through her head!

 Addy could NOT. WAIT. to meet Santa this year.  She got us up at 5:45 in the morning on that morning...asking when we got to leave to meet him.  She's so funny.  She was all about Christmas in every aspect this year....not just Santa but the true meaning of it all.

She knows that Christmas is about the birth of Jesus and even made presents for him to put under our tree.  One of my favorite memories from this Christmas is when her and I were driving home one night and it was quiet and peaceful in the car.  All of a sudden Addy yelled out "JESUS"! ----- it took me so off guard I initially wanted to get mad wondering why she would have just yelled that, until I realized we had just driven by a house with a manger scene in the front yard.  She was excited to see Jesus!

That being said - she was very excited about Santa as well.  She told him she wanted a Barbie house and real make up.  Santa told her she was too pretty for real make up, so she truly thought that he wasn't going to give her that gift.  If you ask her now, that is probably her favorite thing she got from Santa this year --- only because she didn't expect it :) 

Addy and Santa!

 

Blake wasn't so sure what to think about Santa in the flesh.  He was a bit scared so wouldn't sit on his lap.  He would talk to him with Aaron holding him.  He told him that he wanted "superman" stuff...which for Blake, basically includes all heros - Spiderman, Ninja Turtles, etc!

The closest we could get Blake to Santa was with a high 5!

Chase got to hang with Santa as well, but my picture turned out blurry.  My mom has a better pic on her camera, and you leave the store with printed pictures of your visit with Santa, so I do have good ones for the books, just not for the blog!

My parents always come with to visit Santa every year, so we got this group shot of us with Santa.  Love all the smiles in this pic!

 

Face "painting" time!

Decorating Christmas cookies with grandma!

I shot this picture while Addy and Blake were decorating cookies.  I think Chase's smile says "Guys!  I just met Santa for the first time and he's pretty cool!"  If you are my friend on facebook...I'm pretty sure I posted this pic with that caption so it isn't new to you!

I am always truly impressed with how much they think of at Hiller's for their "Santa Day".  We always enjoy our morning excursion to meet Santa.  It's a good Christmas tradition for our family!

"The Tree" - Christmas '13

I wish I had gotten better pictures of our Christmas tree this year since it was the first one in our new home.  It sat perfectly in our window so that it was seen when you drive up the hill to our home.  Next year, there will likely be a deck in the way of that view, so this will probably be the only year it will be that noticeable from outside.  I wish I had taken a pic of that!

 

 We decorated the tree the weekend before Thanksgiving.  We typically end up doing it that weekend, because after that, there isn't much time and all of a sudden Christmas is here.  With 2 birthday celebrations in early December and Christmas celebrations starting mid-December, weekends are filled up throughout the entire month.   

 

Getting out the the Christmas Decor!

Addy got the exciting honors of doing the star this year!

Ornaments!

Chase had it really hard that day...decorating the tree tired him out :)

This picture is from Christmas morning before the kids came downstairs...with the goods from us and Santa as well!  It is the only pic I have of the tree in full view!

My Littlest Love

So yeah, when you are home by yourself, sometimes you have to take "selfies" with your newborn to get a picture of the 2 of you together...whatever works!

My littlest sidekick is such a sweetie...can't believe he is 8 weeks old today. A 2 month post will come soon, his appt. is 12/30 :)

Until then, here are a few pics...starting to smile in response to us, and of course, he still sleeps a lot!

Such a sweet, sweet boy!

Introducing Clyde

At the beginning of the holiday season, I didn't envision that an elf would join our family.  However, sometimes you have to let the magic in your kids' eyes lead the way.  After learning about different families' elves between friends, school, and daycare - Addy woke up 2 mornings in a row looking for an elf in our house.  

 

Sooooo, we decided that it must be because we haven't written letters to santa yet that an elf hasn't arrived, and set off to do that!  

 

Once we sent some letters to santa, a few nights later --- an elf magically appeared and was discovered while we were brushing our teeth at bedtime. 

I wish I would've had a camera --- the reaction from Addy was priceless.  She could barely breathe! 
As we were tucking her in, she rubbed her eyes and said "I am not sad, I just have tears because I am so happy that an elf arrived at our house!" 

We decided on the name Clyde.  Since then, for the most part, Clyde isn't too exciting...just goes from place to place.  Every once in a while he gets a bit creative and silly though :) 

Using a tree-shaped Christmas cookie as the seat of a swing and some Christmas ribbon as the chain :)

Trying to get close the action without risking getting touched by Mr. Blake...hiding under a glass

Poor clyde wasn't feeling good the other day, just like dad...so was resting with some Christmas tissue wrap as his pillow and mama's mitten as his bed :)

Mmmmm, candy is always good nutrition for an elf!

Sooo, we have happily invited Clyde to our home, and it has proven to be a fun addition to our Christmas traditions :)

Potty Training...Mom - 1, Blake - 0!

Beginning mid-November I started potty-training with Blake here at home.  Yeah -- super smart...newborn, sleep deprived mom taking on the challenge of potty training a BOY!  Addy was sooooo easy to train, that I honestly felt like this was my first time having to do the "training" thing. 

 

After him being in pull-ups for a few months with no happenings, I decided to go cold turkey.  The first week was a challenge...it was coming down to who was going to hold out...me or him.  He TOTALLY knew what he was doing.  We would be out of the house and he wouldnt' have an accident, but we would barely get in the door at home, and he would have an accident...so I knew he was purposely holding it until home.  He was showing other signs to show that his body was physically ready as well.

 

For both Addy and him, the early 3 year age has been when they have challenged me the most.  So, between him being at THAT age and potty training --- I had a week or so that I was a bit frustrated (not to mention, I had high hormones running through me since it had only been 3 weeks since Chase was born)!  Needless to say I debated giving up a couple of times, but thanks to pep talks from my sisters, I held on and ended up being the winner :)

 

Blake is soooo stubborn --- and I can safely say he gets this from his daddy.  I would text Aaron at work with the different accident shenanigans going on at home and how stubborn Blake was being.  Aaron apologized via text, admitting he gets this stubborn trait from him :)  DANG ANDERSON'S!

 

Beginning of his Potty Chart...excited to get stickers (but not excited enough to want to do it consistently!)

To make a long story short...one month and then some later and I think we have safely accomplished the task.  3 weeks ago he really wasn't having anymore accidents, but I still had to remind him to go.  However, in the past week he's turned a corner with that...and now pretty much initiates it when he has to go to the bathroom. 

 

YEAH BLAKE!

 

Potty Chart is Full :)  I seriously love this kids smile!

The only aftermath of the potty training is that Blake would be happiest running around in just his underware now (probably naked if I would let him)!  For example, right now he is just chilling and playing in his underware. Such a goofball. 

Sidenote - have you seen the adorable boxer briefs they make for these boys.  Super Cute!

I am proudly announcing that mommy won this battle, whoop whoop!!

Who does he look like?!!!!



We always get the question wondering who Chase looks like.  At first, I thought that he looked like Blake - but when I look at pictures of Blake at the same age...there are definitely similarities but I actually think he has more similarities with Addy.  They have the same pointed chin and expressions :)  

Chase

Addy

I think Chase has a different shape of eyes of both of them...but there is something about him that also looks like Blake, even though the pictures don't show it as much as in person!



Chase



Blake

Chase is his own little man looking like his own self...which is a good thing!  I can't wait to see what he turns into has he continues to grow.  When I look at these pictures of Addy and Blake, I wouldn't have imagined that they would've turned out looking as they do today!!

Chase --- 1 month old!

I can't believe Chase is already 1 month old (6 weeks tomorrow actually).  It always goes so quickly.  This past month at home has flown by with all of the kids at home.  There have been some days that have been quite crazy -- but for the most part, it has gone really, really well! 

 

Chase is such a good baby. He really is quite relaxed in comparison to his big sis and bro around 6 weeks. He definitely shows a personality though, which makes me smile for the most part! He gets quite mad when you stop to burp him during a feeding...not happy that you are taking his food away from him. I was thinking as that happened today how it makes me smile now...and how in a few years when that personality is shown in other ways, I won't think it is quite as cute. None the less, I like to see him being a bit fiesty! 

Addy and Blake are still so much in love with him. I have to constantly remind them to be gentle around him and to stop leaning over him and such. However, I'd rather have it this way than having some kiddos being jealous or something of the sort. They really have been quite well.

The 2 of them also started going to daycare 3 days/week a few weeks back. I had to start them to reserve my spot for all of them - even though I wasn't ready to do so quite yet. However, I think it is good for all of us. They get more of a routine and I get to sit and cuddle with Chase a few days a week. I really don't feel like I get a lot of cuddle time on the days when I have all three. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, it is just something I like to feel like I get since I will be back at work before we know it.

In the past few weeks I have managed to get some time with him with Chase's eyes open.  He is definitely starting to be more awake.  He has started to "talk" a bit and just in the past week, he's shared with us some smiles!

Here are some cute pics of this guy through the month:

He looks so diferent in these pics than in any of the other pics...it is amazing how quickly they change!

Addy put lots of her animals around Chase during one of his naps :)

You can't tell in any of his pictures - but Chase has a clogged tear duct in his right eye.  Which means it is constantly goopy and watery.  Especially after he wakes...sometimes he can barely open it.  Poor guy!  They say it should go away on it's own...we'll see! 

Bear Pic -- 1 month old!

I sure am loving this little man...and just as I imagined, I can't remember what life was like before he arrived.  I can't believe we are already midway into his 2nd month of life.  He is the perfect addition to our family!