Christmas 2013

This was our first Christmas in our forever house!  I really started out with minimum Christmas decor because I never wanted to spend the money when we were moving around so much.  So, we did buy some decor items before Christmas, but I have gone HOG-wild at post Christmas sales (including an 80% off sale at Hobby Lobby)…So, next year, I will have SO much fun decorating!  Here are some pictures of what I did this year.  The first two are of the fireplace in the kitchen and the last ones are of the great room.

 I love reminiscing when unpacking and hanging the ornaments.

 From my first Christmas as a baby

 A viking fan :)

We really want to keep the Spirit of Christmas the focus of the season, rather than the secular distraction of Santa.  So, I bought a wooden advent calender with boxes for each date that I filled with fun activities (bake cookies, drive around and look at lights, decorate gingerbread house, shop for Toys for Tots, etc).  The kids really enjoyed opening up the boxes each morning.  Here are some pictures of Elsa decorating her gingerbread houses.

I also heard of a great idea on our local Christian radio station regarding keeping the Spirit of Christmas.  They mentioned placing all of the photo Christmas cards in a cute box on the kitchen table as you receive them and then each night at dinner, removing a card and praying for that specific family.  I love keeping the cards out all year, so it will be fun praying for all of our friends and family throughout the year!

One thing that is really important to Aaron and I is that "Santa" doesn't bring a ton of gifts.  I read on a blog once that her family did four gifts:  Something you want, something you need, something to wear and something to read.  A woman who works for me said she did three gifts, because Jesus got three gifts.  How great is that??!!

 On Christmas eve, we went to mass.  Elsa and I went 30 minutes earlier while Chet finished his nap to get us some seats.  I kept her busy with painting her nails…a huge hit.  She even asked the cute lady sitting behind us if she wanted hers done.  I am glad I at least took this picture before Church, because all of her curls went flat during mass because she fell asleep on me.

It would have been nice to get one with both of the kids, but Chet would NOT sit still (I have a whole new appreciation for photographers of small children!!!)

 We opened gifts from the Grandparents and cousins.  Chet loved opening presents so much that he had a major meltdown when he discovered there were no more gifts to open.  He emptied out the garbage where we were putting the wrapping paper and dismantled boxes…fun times!

 Elsa LOVED this doctor kit from Grandma Anderson!  She has given us (and her dolls) multiple checkups and has turned her bedroom into her office.

 Here are the treats for Santa and the reindeer.

 Early the next morning, Elsa came running into our room telling us Santa drank most of his milk and left a lot of crumbs.  That messy Santa. Santa only brought a couple of gifts for the kids this year along with some stocking stuffers.  The gift Elsa REALLY wanted….a puppy!  But, unfortunately, he can't come to our house until Feb 2nd.  So, Santa wrote the kids a letter and sent a picture of the puppies.  Elsa was so excited when we read the letter, but not so excited when she discovered a stuffed puppy in the box!  She has changed the name a million times when asking Santa for the puppy, but after watching Frozen, she has decided on Olaf.

The other tradition we do each year, is make a Birthday Cake for Jesus.  Elsa decided He was 5 years old, so we blew out five candles after singing Jesus Happy Birthday!

 I really love creating new traditions, while incorporating ones Aaron and I did with our families.   Love  watching the joy on their faces as they experience them!

Back to School 2013

Where did the summer go?  I think since it didn't get warm in April like last year, this summer seemed like it flew by at warp-speed!  Both kids are in school with Chet going to the Early Childhood program three half days (8:15-noon) and Elsa in 4k for 5 half days (8:15-noon).  Chet is one of the youngest in his class of 18 month-3 year olds and I honestly did not know how he would do.  He LOVES it!  So, much in fact, that on days he doesn't go, he throws a tantrum when we drop Elsa off and he needs to come home.  His teachers say he is doing things more advanced for his age by identifying patterns, doing "math" (still don't know what that means) and participating well with music and spanish.  He will sit on the rug with all the others and follows instruction well.  I have to admit I wanted to ask "Are you sure we are talking about MY (rambunctious) child?"  It is really fun having both kids in school and Elsa likes to make sure Chet is all settled in before we take her to her classroom.
     
Elsa's 4K program is already exceeding my novice expectations.  Her teacher, who I ADORE, sent home a list of yearly goals/objectives...they are going to start reading, learn about geography and the continents, and start adding/subtracting!!!  Holy Cow!  Elsa, even on the weekends, wants to know when she is going to school.  Her good friend Annie is in her class and I am so excited to see the year unfold!

I am going to "homeschool" a religious education this year since their school is independent from any religious affiliation.  She started Sunday school this past week, but want to do a little more beyond that.

Here are the first day of school photos.  It is fun to look back at ones my mom took of all of us girls!

 Chet walked around with his Monsters lunch box all morning.

Since Elsa started on Wednesday and Chet on Thursday, I totally forgot to get one of them together :(

Here is one of Elsa and dad at her desk on Meet the Teacher night (day before school started)

I love how the teachers send home a weekly newsletter so I can hear about all the fun things they do each week.   LOVE LOVE LOVE this stage!    I know, I am a dork like that...i LOVED school as a kid and I still love learning!

Chet-18 months

It is hard to believe how much things have changed over the past two years!  The surprise pregnancy, separating out of the Air Force, moving to Green Bay, buying a house...Wow!  I think that is why it does not seem possible that he is 1 1/2 years old!

Communicates by roaring, grunting, pointing to things and gets so frustrated when we can't interpret his language!

Loves what he can't have :)  I can tell he is going to be quite the challenge in the teenage years!

He has started to be able to put together puzzles with shapes and enjoys looking through books with flaps!

He is an AMAZING sleeper (finally!!).  He often does not even want to be rocked or read to, he will just point to his crib.  We put him in the crib and he rolls over and goes to sleep!

He loves to be independent with putting his shoes and socks on and is trying to do many other things on his own.

Goes through periods where he barely eats!  It is frustrating!  I know he will eat if he is hungry but I worry about him getting the proper nutrients.  Thank goodness for gummy vitamins!

Loves to color (okay, scribble) on paper (and, occasionally, on the table and floors)

He is so excited every morning and I love how he will run and give me a big hug and kiss with a big "mmmmmmmwwaaa"

We took him to get his first haircut!  I definitely wanted to keep the curls in the back but the front was getting OUT OF CONTROL!!!

 Loves to swing and go down the slide.  We got a swing set out back and he will often sit in the kitchen and just point out the window.

 Loves to swim!  I am excited to get him into swimming lessons!

Is still as wild as ever!  I can definitely see him excelling in hockey or football.  The more aggression involved, the better (for him, not for mom!)

The kid absolutely LOVES Nemo!!  He will sit still the ENTIRE movie!  I took this photo the other day of his movie watching pose!  

Chet's Dental Trauma

Well, I have to admit, I am quite surprised that this was his first injury.  Let's face it.  The kid is not happy unless he is climbing on people/things or running around!

Aaron was golfing in a tournament Friday night and I was on call for the weekend.  Elsa loves to crawl on all fours with Chet on her back.  I held his hands and he would just laugh when Elsa would sound like a Horse.  So, we did that for about 20 minutes and then they were distracted by something else.  So I decided to make dinner.  I look over and Chet is back on top of Elsa and he fell forward.  It didn't seem like it was very hard (especially since Elsa didn't cry), but his face hit the back of her head and he instantly started crying.  I ran over and took a look at his mouth.  There was a little of blood around his left central incisor, but the tooth was not mobile and did not appear to be in a different position.  Whew!  Just a mild subluxation i thought!  He calmed down and I checked again before bed and everything seemed to be okay....until morning.  Chet woke up at 5:15 and was really fussy.  Nothing seemed to make him happy and he had no interest in eating.  At about 8am it was apparent that eating and drinking was causing significant discomfort.  So, I take a look.  The tooth was split right down the middle!  Poor 'lil man!  Fortunately, I have the luxury of having lots of great resources in the dental profession ;)  I called my dear friend, Laura, who is a pediatric dentist in Sioux Falls to ask a few questions.  I knew it needed to be extracted, I just needed some reinforcement!  She highly recommended that I step back and be mom and let someone else extract it.  Fortunately, my partner Steve was around and graciously agreed to help.  I gave Chet some Benadryl to relax him about 30 minutes before.  I tried to use some nitrous on him, but he wasn't a big fan of the nasal mask.  I sat in the chair and held him and stabilized his head.  He cried during the local anesthetic injection but then instantly calmed down when that was over.  Aaron held him while the anesthetic was infiltrating and then gave him back to me for the extraction.   Steve explored the tooth once he was numb and the fracture extended up onto the root and was definitely nonrestorable.  I got worried when it fractured even more and thought it was going to turn into a surgical extraction.  Fortunately, the rest of the root came out intact!   He squirmed a little bit but he was such a great patient!  Especially considering he isn't even 18 months old yet!!!

Elsa was so amazed by the tooth.  She walked around all day and had to show our friends that came over that afternoon and tell them all about it!

He totally looks like a hockey player with his wild curly hair and missing front tooth.  I guess I have this Halloween costume all set to go!

Happy 4th Birthday Elsa

My Dear Elsa,

Wow!  I can not believe that you are 4 years old!  It just seemed like yesterday and Daddy and I were praying over you.  You are truly a miracle baby and came into our lives when we did not think we would be parents.  Every day I thank God you made me a mommy!

You have been the most laid back child (more so apparent with your wild brother, but that is a whole other post)!  You have the most amazing heart and are so caring about other people.  I love how you great us every morning and every day when we pick you up from school.  You love "squeezes"  and always tell me to "squeeze harder".     You are so affectionate and I hope that NEVER ends.  Every time I pick you up or drop you off at school, you always want to hold my hands during the walk.  And, you always have the biggest, most infectious smile on your face!  You bring so much joy to those you meet.  Even complete strangers will comment how friendly you are!  You love to say Hello to everyone we pass.  

Favorite songs:  Shake your booty;  Call me maybe;  Momma's broken heart (Miranda Lambert)--which you LOVE to sing the chorus!  Really, any song that comes on the radio, you say "Turn it up, this is my favorite song"

Favorite games:  Hide and Seek (you are getting better at this but you still like to hide in the same exact spot) and Memory (you are one smart little cookie and always beat your dad and I)

Favorite books:  Anything related to Princesses;  Brown Bear, Brown Bear What do you see; your Bible for little girls.

Favorite foods:  You are at that stage where you are a very picky eater, but at least you will try 1-2 bites "You gotta try new foods because they might taste Gooo-oood";  You constantly are asking for a snack or chocolate even after you tell us you are full at dinner.  One of your favorite treats is Smart Cow Frozen Yogurt Bar and you love to add gummies and marshmallows to your Chocolate yogurt.  

You LOVE to color and play with stickers!  Looking at your art projects from the year, it is amazing to see the progression from coloring with scribbles to drawing things we can actually understand.

Your artistic ability was certainly not inherited by me as your artwork already surpasses anything I can produce.  We created a wall with your artwork in the kitchen where it is proudly on display.

I love to watch you read to Chet and get him to understand things.  I know you get frustrated when he takes your toys, but you are so good and usually let him continue to play with it.  You are a very patient  big sister!  

You are also such a big helper with Chet and always let us know what he needs or what he is doing.  I can tell you are going to be a great mommy some day!

You have had some difficult adjustments with moving to the new house.  I know it was hard to leave your friends.  You still like to come down into our bedroom every night since you aren't quite comfortable sleeping upstairs all by yourself.  

You love to dress in short sleeved shirts and tank tops...even in the middle of winter.  I know when you are at the age to flee the coop, you will venture to a warmer climate!  

This past year you were enrolled in Ballet and Tap and you were such a good dancer.  I didn't know how you would do on stage in front of all of those people, but you LOVED it!  You even made dad into a dancer!  You both did a disco routine for the dance recital.

You continue to love school and enjoy learning.  Your dad and I are very proud of how you pay attention to your teachers and how much you have learned.  Your teacher, Miss Thornton, says you are a natural leader and are always willing to help out in class.  This year, you learned zoo phonics and are even able to start reading some words!  I love how you sing Mandarin songs and are learning another language!  The other day, you told me "i really like to try hard at school, mom".  If I tell you how to spell something you can write out the word all by yourself.  

I am so proud to be your mom and, although I love watching you grow, I will always yearn for you to stay this age.  The age where you still need me.  The age where you LOVE to be around me.  I hope that this will never change.  I am so excited to see what this next year brings!  Happy Birthday, my precious darling!  Love, Mom

We had several celebrations for her birthday.  I think that may have been too many because she woke up the morning after the party with her friends and asked "When is it my birthday again?"

When our families were in town, we celebrated her birthday with her Grandparents, Cousins, and Aunts and Uncles.  She saw a picture of a Strawberry Mousse Cake on a recipe I cut out from Southern Living and wanted me to make that for her birthday.  It was not a straight forward cake and it had very ambiguous directions...let's just say I am glad I bought enough ingredients because I had the opportunity to make the cake twice.

You can see her covering her eyes...at all three parties, whenever we would sing "Happy Birthday", she would get so bashful!  

Then, we took her to "The cat in the hat place" for dinner on her actual birthday.  Chet stayed home with our babysitter, so Elsa got some undivided mom and dad time.

And, her final party was for friends at the NEW Zoo.  11 kids + 6 adults = pure chaos!  We joked that even with the 6 adults it was difficult to "control" the kids!  Even though it was a blast, I joked about just having cake at a park with a playground next time since that seemed to be the favorite part of the day!

This goat LOVED Miss Kate!

 Chet LOVED feeding the Barnyard animals!

All the girls of the party

That evening, we went for a walk around our neighborhood and Elsa insisted on riding her scooter in her princess dress...priceless.