Christmas Morning

The morning was full of surprises.

First, I went out to the kitchen to start the coffee and the cinnamon rolls. Then I set up my camera to capture the kids, but wait, this isn't my camera.


Santa was awesome to me this year. I got a cool new camera with all sorts of bells and whistles. Rob got me the D90 that is a Nikon digital SLR and it does video. SWEEET!!!!

Then we unleashed the boys. This is the first year that Anthony has really understood about Santa and gifts. He was beyond excited to wake up an find a new GEO Trax setup with a Lightening McQueen and Mater that are remote controlled. I think Rob liked it more than the boys :-)


Next it was on to our stockings.



We opened a ton of gifts and the boys loved them all, it didn't matter if it was clothes, books, movies, or toys. They were all met with equal excitement.

Rob is now out shoveling out our driveway which is under a giant snow drift. Anthony played in the snow for a bit, but it is still pretty windy and chilly out.

Christmas Eve

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas

At least that was Anthony's Dream. When he wished in the fountain for a Merry Christmas, he told me that snow would make it merry. It looks like he gets his wish. It will be very snowy with approximately 8-10 inches tomorrow. If it isn't too cold, I think Rob and Anthony will try sledding outside and building a snowman. Gabe and I will likely have hot chocolate inside :-)

the boys and I made reindeer cookies for Santa and left out some carrots and celery for his reindeer, "because they are doing hard work tonight." Since we even have a chimney here, they left everything downstairs by the fireplace.




They even had hot chocolate in their special snowman cups. I love the holiday season.

Time with Friends

We met some friend at a local mall to play at the indoor play area. Thank goodness, we need the time out of the house.

Gabriel's School Program

Gabe also had a school program. Nothing funnier than watching 14 two and three year olds perform songs. They were super cute! They sang Away in a Manger, Jesus Loves Me, and Happy Birthday. They also did a story about wishing stars.





I have included this picture because it looks like a mug shot. Rob and I are convinced that Gabe is our child that will need his college fund to bail him out of jail.

Anthony's School Program

Anthony had a great Christmas Program. He sang a bunch of songs. It was quite the production with hand movements, sign language, and even props. Even better, my parents were able to see it making it super special for him.

Christmas with Grandma Kerry and Grandpa Keith

My parents came to visit in mid December partly to help Rob and I during our finals and partly to celebrate Christmas with the kids. Anthony is totally into dinosaurs right now, so we have been reading the dinosaur encyclopedia non-stop.

First Real Snow

Anthony woke up the morning to find a gift from the angels. We have about 4-5 inches of snow on the ground. He was so excited he just put his snow clothes on over his pajamas to go play for a few minutes while Rob shoveled the walk and driveway. Anthony looked like a little Alaskan Husky sitting in the snow just happy as could be. Gabe was not the least bit interested in playing in the snow.





For breakfast we had gingerbread pancakes...very very yummy treat.

Today I also had a second sonogram that my mom got to go to. This one was more in depth, and we got a 3D picture of the baby. He looks just like Gabe with his bone structure. No, we still don't have a name although Anthony thinks we should name him Thomas.

After Rob got done with work, he and Anthony built a snowman. I tried to build one with Anthony, but it fell over because I am not the snowman building parent. I am the hot chocolate making parent :-) Gabe definitely has my genes with that in mind.


Tonight was filled with stories, hot chocolate, snow ice cream, and special Christmas movies. Now I must work on my paper.

Mommy what is...

Thanksgiving?
"It is when you are grateful for things in your life." Me
"I'm thankful for Turkey." Gabe
"No Gabe, we were already thankful for Turkey, now it is time to have a birthday party for Jesus. Mommy can we have cake?" Anthony

I love preschoolers.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving came early for the boys this year. They got to have an old babysitter who is now in college come visit for a whole week. They could not have been happier. Every time they woke up from nap or bed and saw her there, they just beamed. It was also nice for Rob and I to have someone else who loves the kids around.

For her visit, we hit Chick-Fil-A, the Dinosaur Restaurant, and cooked a ton of food.

Gabe on the way to the Dinosaur Restaurant...ready to slay the T-Rex

Watching the Fish

Slaying T-Rex

Making Turkey Cookies

Gabe and Stephanie

They boys with Stephanie

Pillow Fight

Christmas for the Boys

So, I have been shopping for Christmas. It is hard to get them anything because, well, they have SOOOO MUCH!!! This year they are getting the Geotrax CARS set. The cars are remote controlled on a track and Gabe should be able to work it too. Gabe is getting an RC car for the street (so he will stop trying to take his brothers) and some cool sound making drum sticks. Anthony is getting a digital camera (yes, a real one, not the little kid ones that take crummy pictures). He shows a real interest in taking photos, so I want them to come out ok when he tries. Other than that, it will just be what comes from Grandparents, which hopefully won't be too much.

I'll try to get Thanksgiving pics posted tomorrow.

Snow

Now I remember part of what I love and hate about the middle of the country. Last week it was sunny and 70 and beautiful. We were in shorts! Yesterday and today it snowed. Yep, enough to actually dust the lawns. The boys were ecstatic; I was not quite as thrilled. Anthony has decided that he wants to go skiing...we'll see. He is totally my little Alaska baby. He loves the cold and snow...he played for hours outside in WA when it snowed. Gabe is more like his mommy, snow is pretty to watch from inside the house with hot chocolate and a fire.

Great Wolf Lodge

Was a great deal of fun! The boys had a blast...all of them. I thought it was great too. Anthony was super impressive. He swam with the life jacket and did not want me anywhere near him. He went down the big slides...and loved it. He was so confident. He has never been this way in the pool...ever. I couldn't have been prouder of the way he was.

Gabe is about to become a fish...If he doesn't drown in the process. Unlike Anthony he had only a mild interest in the slides. I think he is still just a little small for them anyways. However, he is putting his head under water and opening his eyes. I am going to look for kids goggles for him...maybe even a snorkel.

Rob and I both really like water slides and parks, so I am glad the kids had a great time.

We went because it was a friend of Anthony's Birthday. Anthony and Zachary were in the same preschool class when we lived in Washington. Now we are all here together and it couldn't have worked out better. They have 3 boys: 5, 3.5, and 1. It just works really well. For Zachary's B-Day we went to eat at Styx restaurant, a Japanese steak house where they cook the food in front of you. Gabe was in awe, Anthony thinks we need a stove like that. Anthony even tried to catch the shrimp in his mouth.

The boys all watching cartoons together

We sprung for the kid's camp room, but I was unimpressed and probably won't next time

Anthony trying to catch a shrimp

Gabe Watching Fire

Gabe on the giant snake in the "big" pool...yes, he wore his sunglasses the whole time and called them his underwater glasses

Gabe on the small slide

The boys together

Gabe and Dad in the warm pool (hot tub)

The glasses just crack me up

Zachary and Anthony on the slides together

Me and Anthony

Me and my boys

Rob and Anthony in the hot tub

Lazing in the lazy river