Bronners 2014

 

Last year we started a new Christmas family tradition of going to one of the world's largest Christmas stores, Bronners.  We let each kiddo pick an ornament for our tree and then of course they get to see Santa and inform him of their Christmas wishes.  This year, Kate picked a high heel ornament.  It is pink with different color polka-dots and glitter on it.  Very appropriate for this girly girl!  She was super excited and very comfortable seeing Santa.  She told him that she wanted the Elsa singing doll that sings with the Ana doll.  Hopefully Santa delivers this year! 

 

 

 

Blake picked a cookie monster ornament this year - very appropriate given his never dying appetite!  Blake was a bit apprehensive sitting on Santa's lap this year.  He REALLY wanted to inform Santa of his Christmas wish, he just wasn't sure he was comfortable sitting on his lap.  Santa totally understood this and asked Blake if he could hold the keys to his workshop and sit with his sister on the little stool in front of him.  Blake was just fine doing this and was able to ask Santa for Lightening McQueen rain boots.  Again, I hope Santa delivers!  We love Bronners and are looking forward to going next year!

 



Book Worms

 

I feel like there are so many days that we are rushing here and hurrying there and we are not really taking our time to enjoy the moment.  Don't get me wrong, we have fun, but I feel like I am rushing to have fun and not enjoying each moment.  So, one day when we had nothing on the calendar, we stayed home and in our jammies, and we enjoyed those sweet moment.  My kids were playing well together but then there was silence and that worried me with a 4 year old and 2 year old.  Instead of being mischievous though, they were just indulging themselves in a good book!  I could not have been more happy in that moment, and I truly tried to soak it all up!

 



Pow-Wow

 

I just adore Kate's preschool - and she does too!  This year, around Thanksgiving, Kate learned about the 1st Thanksgiving and about the Mayflower, Plymouth Rock,  Native Americans, and Pilgrims.  The kids were so eager to share their new knowledge with us during a cute Pow-Wow.  I must say, Kate would make one cute little Native American!

 



Go Broncos!!

 

It's no secret that my dad is one of the biggest if not THE biggest Broncos fans.  In fact, my inheritance consists of bajillions of footballs and countless other Broncos paraphernalia.  So, it should come as no surprise that my dad makes sure that each member of our family is well equipped for game day.  This picture doesn't show it that well, but I wanted to document that we do wear our jerseys and support our beloved Broncos!  Blake has a personalized jersey with Macfarlane on the back with the #32 on it - since he was born on March (3rd month) 2nd - get it, 32?  My dad is pretty clever!  James and I both have Manning jerseys as does Kate, but of course hers is pink!  Go Broncos and thanks, Dad!

 

Handsome Guy

 It might be a bit early, but Blake has grown his first mustache.  Isn't he handsome??  I love the black with the blonde, definitely looks natural, don't you think?!  Kate is WAY too girly to be bothered to try on a mustache, but we all had fun making funny faces!

 

Potty Trained!!!

This last Monday morning as I was getting Blake dressed, he did not want me to put a diaper on him. All he wanted to wear were his underwear. I have no idea where thus came from - I guess he decided he was done! Unfortunately, I couldn't put underwear on him that day because I had to help at Kate's preschool, so Tuesday we put him in underwear and he was thrilled! He also did awesome! He only had ONE accident all day - he even stayed dry during his nap! Since then, he had continued to amaze me only having a few partial accidents. I say partial because it seems he will start to pee and then realize he needs to go and stop peeing, tell me he needs to go and finish up on the toilet. Not bad bladder control for a two and a half year old! I still can't believe how much easier it has been this time around. Just goes to show that it is worth it to wait until the child is ready instead of pushing it like we did with Kate. I must say, it's been awfully nice not changing a diaper the last few days - something I have been doing for 4 1/2 years! Time to celebrate!

Halloween 2014

This Halloween was typical of any one I can remember...COLD! We started the holiday with me being lazy and letting the kids paint their pumpkins rather than having them carve them. Seemed like too much work to do on my own with two kids while James worked late so we opted for painting them. Of course we attended our churches' trunk or treat and the kids had a blast playing with their friends and getting candy. It was a super nice evening - too bad actual Halloween wasn't as nice. The kids also loved that my mom was able to come up for the trunk or treat this year and see them in their costumes. Kate was Fancy Nancy and Blake was Jake from Jake and the Neverland Pirates. They got alot of use out their costumes this year as they wore them for the trunk or treat, then Kate's preschool Halloween party, and trick or treating down our street. I just love our street on Halloween. We all parade down the street together and most of the neighbors stand at the end of their driveway making it easy peasy to trick or treat. Then at the end of our street, one neighbor makes chili and hotdogs for dinner and another neighbor hands out apple cider or hot chocolate - simply perfect on that chilly night! We can't wait until next year!