Happy Holidays!

Whew!  The holidays have come and gone in a blur of excitement!  The decorations are packed away and it is time to go back to school but before life gets hectic again I wanted to jot down how we spent our December.

Logan and Easton visited Santa Claus at Sunflower Elementary.  It was so cute!  Logan was a little nervous about talking to him but was very brave and told him that he wanted monster truck stickers and car magazines in the mail!  He also mentioned that his baby brother would like a water table.  

 It was a very exciting time for a certain 4-year-old!  His elf, Santa Elf, came on December 1st and each night would leave him a something.  Some days it was somewhere to go with his family, an art project, a holiday book, or a nice deed to do for someone else.  One morning Logan refused to show us what the elf had brought him.  After school I finally got him to talk about it and he told me that he couldn't show me because he was on the naughty list!  I assured him that this couldn't be true and he should show me what Santa Elf had brought.  He showed me the flyer from Bass Pro Shop's Winter Wonderland.  I told him how much fun we were going to have when we went there later that evening.  He was very upset and told me, "No, I'm getting coal in my stocking.  See, that girl has a frowny face on!"  (It was a little girl sitting on Santa's lap that was definitely not frowning!).  Eventually I convinced him that it was all going to be okay and we headed off to the "Fish Place."

 And, lo and behold, we did have fun and there was no mention of coal for the rest of the evening!

 Logan and I made an ornament and drove a monster truck.

 He even did a little bit of hunting!

 Logan and B rode on the merry-go-round.

 One of the most heart-warming nights of December happened after Logan went Christmas shopping for us at the school store.  He couldn't bear to keep the presents under the tree until Christmas!  He did a great job keeping our gifts secret!  The best part of the night was the smile of anticipation on Logan's face as each of us opened our gifts!  He was so giddy and proud!

Daddy got an ice scraper.  It worked out perfectly since the next day we had a snow day!

 Easton got The Night Before Christmas, it must have been very flavorful because he loved putting it in his mouth!

 B got a new travel coffee cup!  He might have let this one slip when she picked him up from school that day!

 Mommy got an ornament that says "#1 Mommy" on it!  There may have been a few tears!

 Our last day of school before break was cancelled due to a windy snowstorm.  We were all pretty disappointed not to be able to attend our parties.  Logan was especially bummed because he was supposed to be doing a concert in his PJs!  Luckily his sweet preschool teacher let us drop off her Christmas present to her at her house!  That made the day a bit better!  Logan and daddy also did some shoveling to enjoy the snow.

The Sunday before Christmas the Weishaars tried out church #97.  During the lighting of the advent candles Logan said, "OH BOY!  Here comes JESUS!"  I looked at Kasey and told him what Logan had said.  With wide eyes Kasey replied, "Well, this is going to be a big day!"  I asked Logan why he thought that Jesus was going to be coming to church and he told me "Because, they're lighting his birthday candles!"  I LOVE MY KID.

 On Christmas Eve we invited the Burkins to have a late lunch with us before heading off to church.  It was great to spend the day with B and our friends.  Logan and his little buddy Cole had fun blowing out Jesus' birthday candles!

 That night was surely entertaining!  Logan was so worried about Santa!  "How many cookies should we leave?"  "Don't forget about the carrots!"  "We need to make a path for Santa, he is going to trip over the presents!"  If I remember correctly he was up at 4:30 but we convinced him to go back to sleep!  B and I were actually up before he was!

 I couldn't believe it but these two actually took a great picture before the madness occurred!

Guess what!  Logan did not receive coal in his stocking!  He did however get monster truck stickers and a car magazine.  He of course pointed out that he told Santa that he wanted magazines in the MAIL!

Easton happily let his brother open all of his things.  He had better things to do like swing and grab his toes!

 Poppi would be so happy that Logan cleaned up the wrapping paper!

 Daddy was very excited to give Logan his first baseball glove!

 Easton was so excited about all of his fun new toys!!

 Mommy was pretty pumped about a new stand mixer!!

 Logan got three new early reader books in his stocking.  He LOVES them.  He slept with them every night of Christmas break!

 Logan got nano-speed racers.  They are SO cool!  They zip around this track and crash into each other!  We all had a lot of fun with it!

 Kasey got a Kinnect for his Xbox.  Kasey and Logan were trying it out and Easton thought it was wildly funny!

 I guess Santa should have just brought Easton some new socks because he has been spending a lot of time grabbing his toes these days.

 After all of the presents were opened and the cinnamon rolls were devoured we packed up and headed to Illinois.  It is a trip that takes roughly 8 hours.  Or, 10 if you are traveling with two young boys!  It was all worth it because we got to hug on my brothers, mom, dad, and sister-in-law as soon as we got there!  The next day we got to see these cuties!

 They are getting so big!  But not too big, I still got to get my snuggle on!

 Logan loved swimming in Gramma and Poppi's tub!  He needed a bit of relaxation since the first night we were there he screamed half of the night because of an ear infection.  Some day we will visit and not have to go to an urgent care!

 On Thursday I got to hang out with all of my girlfriends at my friend Suzanne's house!  It is crazy how times have changed.  We used to live in a house that was on the verge of being condemned and now she lives in a jaw-dropping home!  It was so cool seeing all of our kids play together.

On Friday morning we had a mass play date at the Peggy Notebart Nature Museum.  The kids had a lot of fun and I loved catching up with the mommies and daddies!

 Here is my best pal, Lori, hugging on E.

 Aww, look at my sweet sleeping baby!

 After the museum we got to eat at my favorite place, Pasta Bowl!!  We stayed the night downtown to enjoy all of our favorites.  The Pellings joined us for a dip in the pool and dinner.  Logan was very excited that our view was of a construction site!  When we were reminiscing about Logan being born in Chicago he said, "No, I was born this big and drinking a glass of wine!"  What!?

 That night the family stomach bug got me!  I was so sad because Saturday was my family Christmas.  I stayed in bed for most of the party but did make it down for an hour of visiting.  I was so sad that I didn't get to take pictures of the boys with their relatives but luckily I managed to get a couple!

E and Uncle Anthony

 Overall, it was a great visit.  Easton loved snuggling on Gramma and helping her drink her coffee.

 Logan had fun sledding down Poppi's backyard.

 I hope that you all enjoyed spending time with your loved ones!  I am already looking forward to our summer visit to Chicago!  However, as part of my resolution, I plan to live in the moment and enjoy my boys as they are right now; sweet, demanding Easton and my funny little worrier Logan. This very long post proves that I am one lucky mama!

7 months...and some other stuff!

 Look who is 7 months old!  In the last month he has grown a ton!  At Thanksgiving he fit comfortably in his 3-6 month clothes and a week later he was in 6-9 month clothes!  His personality is really coming out and he is quite a character.  He is a little stinker, full of smiles and giggles, extremely strong-willled, and quite a snugglebug!

 His hobbies include grabbing for his toes and eating.  The other day Kasey and I were eating a caramel apple and he was reaching for it and crying that I wouldn't share with him.  Finally I gave in and let him gnaw on the core, it made him a very happy dude!

 He knows how to make his mommy's heart happy.  He will give me big, sloppy kisses when I ask him to!  Then I kiss him back and he thinks it is wildly funny!

 Logan is really into playing with him these days.  He is such a great big brother.  The other day he was telling him "Don't worry Easton, I am here," and "There is no such thing as ghosts," I don't know where that one came from!

Easton is working on sitting unassisted but he can only stay up for a few seconds.  Maybe next month...

 Easton and Logan are quite a pair!  They have been wrestling each other already.  I can only imagine what life will be like a year from now!

We have been so lucky to have beautiful weather this fall.  Logan was so excited to make a leaf pile with his daddy!  

 Easton LOVES bath time!  He splashes and kicks and smiles the whole way through!

 
This year we got to celebrate Thanksgiving twice!  We had "Friendsgiving" at our one of our neighbor friends' house.  It was a lot of fun, until about 7:30!  We are very thankful to have such a fun group to raise our kids with.

 Then we headed to Grandma B.'s house for the real deal.  

 We shared it with Aunt Kathy and Uncle Bob, cousins, and

Great Grandma Betty.

Grandma B. did a wonderful job!

Easton loved his feast of pureed peas...mmm!

Daddy and Logan worked off some of their extra helpings with some after dinner "wrestle-dogging!"

The thing Logan was most looking forward to about Thanksgiving was going to see the lights at Lake Shawnee.  It is a huge display that your drive through as you listen to Christmas music.  It is really neat and has become a tradition.  It was fun to have Baby E with us this year!

After Thanksgiving was behind us we got to work putting up our Christmas tree!  

Logan wanted to help with each ornament and know who it belonged to and the story behind it.  As is customary we had to break one of daddy's Frosty Friends.  I should start packing super glue with the ornaments!

My Auntie Cindy sent us that cute little penguin ornament in the background of this picture.  I tried to have Logan pose with it to take a thank you picture and you see what I got!  It is the first ornament that is partially Easton's!  I am so excited to have his first Christmas!

Logan also has a tree in his room to fill with all of his ornaments.  It is really neat to see him put up ornaments that have his birth stats.  Can you believe this guy was really only 2 pounds?!?  He is such a stud!

This month Easton met the amazing Dr. Owens who delivered him!  We are so lucky that he helped us out of a really scary situation.

 We have had weather in the 60s most of this month.  The other day we ventured out to our park to enjoy the day.

 It was so sweet to see my boys playing together.  It is moments like this that I prayed for...

 Easton likes swinging, not loves, just likes!

On December 1st our old friend, Santa Elf, showed up!

 Each day he is up to something silly!  Today we found that he had toilet papered our tree!  Santa Elf brings Logan something under his tree everyday.  Sometimes it is a book that has been wrapped up from his book shelf.  Other days it is a project.  Logan really loved this one:

 The second day he was here he brought supplies for Logan to write Santa a letter.  Logan grabbed the Toys R Us ad and got to work!

 His daddy and I could not be more proud of this kid!  He is sounding out words like a champ these days!

"I want Nano Speed (racers).  I need vitamins.   I'll wear Hot Wheels clothes.  I'll read truck books.  And I'd really love you to bring me monster truck.  Love, Logan"

 Read to mail...

 just one last thing!

Last weekend we headed down to Union Station to enjoy the beautiful decorations and check out the model trains.

Look at E sitting in the stroller like a big dude!

Logan's favorite part was the junk yard full of crushed cars...surprised?!?

Easton's favorite part was his thumb.

Just one last picture to show how big our baby E is getting!  His feet actually touch the bottom of his excersaucer.

Just think our next update will be about CHRISTMAS!!  I am looking forward to seeing friends and family in just a couple of weeks!  It will be wonderful to introduce our little man to the many people who have not met him yet!