Christmas Morning

Me looking LOVELY!

Daddy looking cute!

New Elmo houseshoes

When Christian got up he couldn't figure out why Santa wasn't still at his house. Here he is looking out the window for him.

Man! Christian is at such a cute age. Today he kept Kelly and I laughing and in amazement at the same time by the things he was saying.

1. When Bella had to stay in the laundry room while we came on into the house, Christian hugged her neck and said, "don't worry Bella, Jesus is with you".

2. "OHHHH, GOD is the one who makes the moon come out at night and the sun come up in the morning".

3. I was telling him in the car when we were on the way back from Target that for dinner I was going to fix him pizza rolls and broccoli. He replied, "I don't like sbrocki, it hurts my throat".

It seems like everything that's coming out of his mouth these days is hysterical! I wish I could remember all his smart and funny comments!!

Friday night we were leaving to go to Branson around 4pm and the weather forecast was predicting storms and possibly tornadoes but not until like 11pm. As far as we knew, Christian had no idea about the forecast. When we were pulling out of the driveway Christian loudly said, Uh Oh! We asked what was wrong and he said, "the storm's coming, we better hurry." Kelly and I looked at each other a little puzzled because we didn't know how he knew about the storms. Then he said, "Uh, Oh...the winds are coming, and the rain ksshhhhhh (rain noise), we better hurry." We asked him how he knew the storms were coming and he looked out the window and up at the sky and said because of how the clouds were moving. And sure enough the clouds were moving fast. Kelly and I began to get concerned that maybe we'd missed the prediction and that God was warning us (through our 2 year old) not to make the drive, so I jumped out of the car and ran inside to check the weather again. We headed on to Branson and made it just fine in spite of Christian's many warnings before we left and on the way there!! HA!

Christmas at Gammie's

GROOOOVVYY

Christian and Friend Ethan

Big Cedar Lodge for Kelly's Birthday

Things Filling Up My Mind Today

- Planning Christian's 3rd Birthday Party in February

-Buying for Kelly's 35th on Friday

-Making the kids peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for tonight's Christmas party

-My nails are in desperate need of a manicure

-Planning what food we're taking for Kelly's family Christmas event on Saturday

-Gotta wash the clothes we'll need for all these fun things coming up...

-Enchiladas for dinner tonight

-Researching fun cookie ideas to make and leave for Santa (wink,wink) on Christmas Eve.

-Wow, time's flying!!

Nighborhood Christmas Craft Party for the kids at the Ward's

CHRISTMAS PRESENTS!!

We put a couple of Christian's Christmas presents under the tree last night to build anticipation for the big day! He LOVED them. He spent most of the evening organizing them and then re-organizing them and stacking them and moving them and wanting his picture taken with them, and then wanting Daddy's picture taken with them, and so forth and so on...

Christmas is so much more exciting with a kid!!

Oatmeal Anyone?

Christian making oatmeal for breakfast.

Fun Mornning With Christian

We're having such a great day so far. The house is a mess and we've been in alot due to cold weather and runny noses, but today we decided to venture out and try a new library. I think we've been to just about all the libraries in town except the library station on Kansas Expwy. I had no idea their children's section was so cool (where have I been, right?). They had a big train Christian could play inside and a moving train going around the top of the area, and a really great carpeted area with toys and lots of computer games. Christian immediately made some friends to play with and I got to actually have time to shop around for educational books for him!!

Next we went to Panera for a muffin and he was on his best behavior and we actually had great conversation while sitting and chatting - Fun!!

Then we went to Walmart (I know you're thinking how could Walmart be fun, usually it isn't) and played with some toys and got lunch while shopping for dinner ingredients.

On the way home we played 'freeze out' in the car so he wouldn't go to sleep, (can someone please tell me how 2 minutes of sleep in the car can replace 2 hours of sleep at home????) it worked and he's down now for some sweet rest!!

A pretty average day with extra special Mommy and Christian time!! I wouldn't trade staying at home with him for anything in the world. I'm thankful!!

Now, if I can only pull myself away from the computer to make dinner for tonight and actually straighten things up around the house, my day should be a great one!!

Is this picture cute or what???

Bella had major ear surgery on her right ear (the worst one) about a week and a half ago. She's doing great but has had to wear this hood non-stop until she gets her stitches out tomorrow (yay!). Her personality is like a bull in a china shop anyway with her tail wagging and racing through the house to greet you. With the cone head it's crazy!! She's barrelling through and knocking everything!! Funny!

Christian decided to fill up Bella's food dish, thus the overflow. Bella was in Heaven (doesn't it look like she's smiling?!!)!

Sophie Update:

Sophie's doing GREAT! When we first picked her up last Saturday she seemed to being doing better but still not really looking and acting herself. The last 2 or 3 days, however, have been so good! Her face is looking tons better and I think we have our old Sophie girl back!!! She's excited when we come home and demanding food and attention just like before! I AM SO THANKFUL to everyone who prayed for her! Things were really uncertain at first and I was beside myself, but praise God she is on the road to recovery!!

A couple of Christmas present pictures

fun with the race track from uncle ben and aunt Katie. He loves it!

Your car dinner set is a real hit Mimi. He requests it every lunch and I have to pretend I'm driving it over to him.

p.s. This picture was obviously taken before he ate. I'll never understand how someone can eat and literally get food from the top of their head to their toes - ears, back and diaper included. My friend Tami said her kids never "enjoyed" their food as much as Christian. I guess that's a good way to look at it.

Things I LOVE about Christian being 34 months old...

5. Never getting a break (not even at church or with his favorite babysitter) due to a new phase of separation anxiety.

4. Hearing cheerios crunch under my shoes all throughout the house.

3. Chasing him down in public when he's running from me.

2. Getting blindsided in the face at unexpected moments because, "we're football players".

1. Never getting to do anything I want around the house because of constantly having to do back flips for entertainment (OCS - Only Child Syndrome).


Okay, the above reasons are obvious sarcasm. Below is a list of things I REALLY love about Christian being 34 months old...

13. He lets me pretend he's still a tiny baby sometimes

12. I get to be his main influence

11. Holding him for a long time after a nap

10. Hearing his vocabulary expand daily. He's now saying words like - actually, incredible, and amazing.

9. His toddler body

8. His faith

7. Hearing him tell stories.

6. Seeing how friendly he is with others

5. tickling him

4. His breath right after he wakes up

3. dancing with him to kids praise songs

2. His laugh

1. Hearing him say, "I Mommy's Boy"

See, the good outweighs the bad (by a long shot :) This list could go on and on...

Our First Snow

On Sunday it snowed all day, from early morning until late at night. It was beautiful. We had such a relaxing day all snowed in.

Let the Festivities Begin...

Making Christmas Cookies

Christian playing in the tissue all our ornaments were wrapped in

Bringing home the tree

Fun in Tennessee celebrating Thanksgiving and Christmas with family