Wrapping Up 2011

Someone was raring to go on her first Christmas morning.

Santa knew just what Mama wanted in her stocking.

Phil and I opened our presents the night before so Christmas morning was all about the kids. FYI: Phil got a big tool chest on wheels and I got a plane ticket to visit Phil in Colorado while he is out there for a month in February. We get to stay in a really nice hotel and I get to sleep in! I love my husband for thinking of me and knowing how wonderful a break will be in this season of my life.

Adam wanted to play with each gift after he opened it, so Christmas morning actually stretched into most of the day. Oh well, we were in no rush.
This is a Thomas matching game.

Gordon takes a trip through the new abandoned mine tunnel.

Clara got two dollies! She loves to carry the one from Grandma and Grandpa L. around with her because it is easy to crawl while holding it. This one (from Santa) she loves to sit and hold and give the magnetic paci - over, and over, and over.

She got a picnic basket from Grandma and Grandpa L. Notice she is also holding one of her brother's new cars that he got from Grandma and Grandpa S. What can I say, she loves trucks!

Adam got a big floor puzzle (Thomas, of course.)

The kids got to open one present with each set of grandparents on Skype - lovin' technology!
Both kids like the story reader from Grandma and Grandpa S.

The next two photos are just cute pictures of Adam that I wanted to share.

Phil and I rang in the New Year together at home while the kids slept. Well, technically Adam woke up just as the ball was dropping, so rather than listen to him cry as we tried to celebrate the New Year, we just brought him downstairs, so he got to party with us for a little bit.
We got take out from our favorite sushi restaurant - YUMMMMM!

Check out this bottle of wine - bought purely because of the name.
"I have seen the elephant!"

Merry Christmas 2011

Yeah, it's about time for this post, huh? We've been out of commission for a while due to illness, and we are just now emerging from our cloud of "blah."
What a great way to start a post about Christmas.
We stayed home for the first time this year and did not make our pilgrimage back to Minnesota. It was weird, but probably good since we all got so sick. So, there aren't many things to report from our Christmas break, but I will share a few things with you.

Everyone got a chance to help put the star on top of the tree.
This guy was the most helpful...

Here's a medium level of helpfulness...

And the least helpful...

Adam really got into the Christmas tree this year and actually understood that the ornaments were supposed to go ON the tree. He found his Elmo ornament right away and got to work choosing the perfect spot for him.

Picking out the next ornament for the tree. The kids had great fun inspecting each ornament in the box.

The finished product, complete with presents on Christmas Eve.

Ten Months and Toothless

Ten months old and still no teeth - but isn't she just the cutest thing you've ever seen???

She's still our easy going girl. She loves playing outside, reading books, playing with Adam's trucks (she mimics him driving the truck back and forth along the floor), and clapping to music while Adam and I dance and sing.

She's gotten really good at standing up and can pop right up. This has been a little troublesome for Adam when he's trying to keep his books and things away from Clara. Luckily, Clara has figured out how to get back down from standing in the past few days.

Soooooo big!
Clara's other "tricks" include high five, waving, clapping, dancing, and touchdown.

Clara still completely adores this big brown-eyed boy. It's so fun when they get laughing together.

Adam's new favorite game.

Happy ten months, Clue!
(Yes, Adam still calls her Clue.)

Christmas Tree Hunt 2011

This year, we drove a bit further to Moose Apple Christmas Tree Farm to get our tree - it was a very pretty drive and totally worth it! The tree selection was awesome, service was great, and you can't argue with a $10 military discount.

Christmas Trees as far as the eye can see! We left Clara at home with Grandma and Grandpa, so this was a special trip for just Adam, Daddy, and Mama. Adam was really excited when he saw all the Christmas trees and got really into picking one out and taking it home. Super fun!

Hunting for the perfect tree.

Found it! This is the one!

People always say there aren't enough pictures of me on the blog...so here you go.

Helping Daddy cut down the tree.

We're decorating this weekend, so pictures coming soon!
Also....master bathroom is almost complete!!!

A Ritter Christmas

Who are the Ritters? Some secret branch of our family that is just now being revealed? No - nothing quite THAT exciting. The Ritters are a family in our neighborhood that we have never actually met, but I think they have become part of our Christmas tradition. Let me explain.

While Casey and Peg were here for Thanksgiving, they were on a walk with Adam and saw a house in the distance with some decorations in the front yard and decided to check it out. When they walked over to the house, they found that the house was totally COVERED in lights (think Griswold style). They came back and told us about it and said we had to go see it at night.

So, we loaded up the kids and took a little walk.

We could not believe it when we arrived. You can't make it out in this picture, but it says Merry Christmas from The Ritters in the arch over the driveway. Apparently, they do this every year and have won awards for their display. The lights are timed to music that plays in the yard, but they also have a radio station dedicated to playing the music so you can listen from the warmth of your car if you want. Click Here to see a website that the family created with all the information.

There are 25,000 lights and something like 250 statues that make up the display! What's also cool is that they have a big box in front of the house to collect food for the food pantry in exchange for viewing the spectacle in their yard, so we brought a bunch of stuff to put in there.

I've already driven the kids past a few more times when coming home at night. I think this will definitely be something to add to our Christmas activities! Thanks, Ritters, for your hard work and Christmas spirit!

Ladies and Gentlemen...we have a PRESCHOOLER!

Adam started preschool a couple of weeks ago and it has been fantastic for him. He loves going and seems to have already learned so much. It's amazing and so fun - we're so proud of him!

All ready to go with his backpack (a Thomas backpack, of course).

Walking into school with his teacher, Ms. Jessica. He's looking to the right to look at the buses that park by the curb. He loves to watch the kids get off the bus.

Clara and I got to visit Adam at school last Wednesday for a Thanksgiving feast. It was so fun to see him in his classroom and do some fun activities together.
They made pizzas for their lunch. Here's Adam putting the cheese on his pizza. Look at that concentration! (Clara's hanging out in the background)

Playing some little games.

Play - doh.
This was a game with music that instructs you to tap your sticks in a certain way (above your head, fast, slow, down low, etc...) Please notice that Adam is the only one following the directions all on his own :) I think they had done this before because Adam was very excited when Ms. Jessica handed him his sticks.
Each of the classrooms has a Smart Board (as a teacher, this is amazing to me). Adam was so excited for his turn! I think he likes it so much because it's like a giant iPad. Ms. Janine is helping him in this picture and Adam is laughing because when you touch the dice it rolls around on the screen before it lands on a number.

Using the pointer to move the pumpkin onto the fence.

Playing with water is one of Adam's favorite activities.

After all the activities, it was time to eat the pizzas they had made.

A few days later, I visited Adam at school again to bring cupcakes for his birthday.
"Do I have something on my face?"

Swenson Thanksgiving 2011

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with a great visit from the Swenson side of the family. Adam and Clara LOVE when Grandpa and Grandma are here!

Unfortunately, I didn't get a good picture of the table and everyone, so you'll just have to trust me when I say that dinner was completely awesome. Everyone made something and it all turned out great.
This girl enjoyed her first Thanksgiving. She liked the green bean casserole, sweet potatoes, carrots, and the cranberries.

Bummed that this photo is a little out of focus, but a good shot of the fam hanging out. You'll notice that it was unseasonably warm this year. We enjoyed temps in the 60s all weekend long! Great for spending lots of time outside.
Uncle Matt, Grandma, Grandpa, and Adam

Adam and Clara took lots of walks to the park and played outside in the yard with Grandma and Grandpa.

Clara and Mama.

Daddy and Adam - getting some serious air!

Girl loves her some dirt!