Merry Christmas 2013

I know it is January. But, we still hope everyone had a great holiday season. Ours was busy but great. Christmas Eve, after Robert got off work, we made our way to Red Oak to visit my family. We started our day at Nanny's house where Ethan enjoyed playing with cars that are different than his. He loved the fire truck he received along with the floor puzzle.

After Nanny's house, we made our way to Gaga's house for us to all open presents. He really got into it this year. He loved the opening part. He doesn't love that we made him wait to actually take the toys out of the boxes to play with them until after we are done with presents. And typical kid, he learned that clothes are boring so we should move on to the next box.

Loves all of the puzzles he received this year

Someone is worn out from her first Christmas Eve

Doing some puzzles with Uncle Jason

The aftermath

 

Dad, why don't these doors open and listen to this siren

What, I'm just giving Macy's puppy a ride on the fire truck

Later in the evening we went to my cousin Ranea's house for the big family gathering. It was great to visit with family we don't get to see often enough.

He was done by the end of the night

He was very tired when he got home but insisted on sleeping with that truck

On Christmas Day we woke up when Ethan did, somewhere around 9. Ethan loved the gifts that Santa left for him. I found him that morning drawing on the easel that was sitting in front of the tree. Which means he went to that before coming to get us out of bed like he normally does. We spent the morning having a little family time and opening gifts from Mom and Dad before heading to Chris and Diana's for Christmas lunch. After lunch horse races broke out, along with a little dancing, and of course more present opening.

Santa has made his visit

A tired boy excited about coloring

And building

Hanging with Mom

He suggested a mustache picture

Dance party (Grandpa is there too)

Off to the races

  

 

Happy Birthday, Grandpa!

Once again, a tired boy.  Decided to sleep on my face for awhile.

We hope that everyone had a great Christmas and fantastic New Year.

Thanks, Martin, for the great pictures!

Ethan's First Christmas Program

Tonight we witnessed the most adorable display of Christmas spirit we have ever seen. There is truly nothing cuter than a bunch of two, three, and four year old's singing Christmas Songs. The program was put on by Ethan's Mother's Day Out at church. They performed their musical numbers by age and classes. Our little two year old got to sing Happy Birthday, Jesus, The Bible Bears Song, and Ring the Bells. There may not have been much singing on his part but, he did a great job on the dancing. Robert and I were worried once he saw us he would come running to us. We were pleasantly surprised. He saw us from the stage, got really excited, and waved to us. He was happy as he could be up there on stage. I am very upset with myself that I forgot to put the SD card back in my camera. But, I guess that's what my iPhone is for., which is why some are a little grainy.

He caught sight of us walking in and he had to stop by for a hug.

This was towards the end when he was up there saying "Ethan playing on Staaaage!"

He was so excited when he spotted us from the stage.

Grandma and Grandpa made it out to see him

And Uncle Mike came too

We think he did such a great job. Such a great way to end our first semester of "school".

Icemaggedon 2013

We have been stuck in the house for most of the weekend, ever since Thursday afternoon. Keeping a two year old busy in the house for 4 days gets tough. Luckily, I had been holding out a little while to make some salt dough ornaments with little man. He really enjoyed this. I am grateful that is occupied him for almost an hour. He loves to play with cookie cutters.

Such concentration

All projects go better with your tongue hanging out

After we got them all cut out and on the baking sheet we baked them for about 4 hours. After we did some ornament cutting we decided to go outside and checkout the ice.

Saturday we ended up braving the icy streets and making our way to the mall to ride the carousel walk around. We also ended up going to see the doctor for a cough that just wouldn't go away.  He is on antibiotics and on the mend now, not that you would know he was feeling bad. So the ornaments had to wait until Sunday morning. Sunday we painted some of our ornaments. I saved some for later in the case we get stuck again or just bored. 

Sunday afternoon Grandma, Grandpa, and Uncle Mike came to visit. Unfortunately, Ethan was napping. But Grandpa came with gifts, one that we can't seem to keep him away from.  He loves this train. And it is something that we can add to as the years pass. It was the first thing he asked for this morning. So thank you Grandpa.

He made sure Huggsie was able to see too.

We hope everyone is staying warm!

Christmas is all around us

We brought in the Christmas season this weekend with a fun trip to the Gaylord. Ethan loved all of the decorations that transformed the hotel into a Winter Wonderland. He was in awe of the train that ran around most of the area. That was probably his favorite thing to see and the hardest to get him away from.

Grandpa and Ethan checking out the trains

The best present I could ask for.

In awe of the reindeer

"Please let the train start going again"

Ethan, Grandma, and Uncle Mike

Uncle Mike and Ethan

Later that night we had some cookies and milk to practice for the big man in red to get here later in the month.

Oh, cookies!

Can I have one?

I can't read so I assume that says for Ethan.

 Happy December!

Ethan has an announcement!

Ethan, Robert, and I are happy to announce that we will be welcoming baby #2 in June. We look forward to adding to our happy little family. After an exhausting first trimester my energy is finally coming back to me, most days, and things are going well. So far it is fairly similar to my first pregnancy. No morning sickness, protein and salt type cravings, and very tired.

We have told Ethan that he will be a big brother and that there is a baby in Mommy's belly. I am not sure that he quite understands.  But, each time I ask him about it he points to my belly. So something is sticking. But, we know that he will make a great big brother.

We had family photos taken for our Christmas card over the weekend. Luckily, we were able to squeeze some announcement photos in there too. Thanks to Martin Davis for helping us share our big news and capturing such precious moments of our little man!