Holiday season HIGHLIGHTS!

Soooo, I've been absent awhile (to say the least).  I guess it started with being frustrated with blogger requiring me to resize each picture before I uploaded it due to exceeding some quota of files larger than a certain size.  I couldn't figure out the problem for awhile, then when I did it was time consuming to go through extra steps to get pictures uploaded.  By the time I accepted the fact that this was the only way to continue to blog for free, the pregnancy exhaustion and sickness had set in.  I went into survival mode, and blogging just wasn't going to make the cut :)  This is where the excuses end.  Ha!  Once I got to my second trimester and was feeling better I kept saying I was going to catch up but obviously never did!  So...  I'm going to try.  I know that I will regret not having this blog as a keepsake if I give it up.  Someday I will have this printed into books.  Someday ;-) So this period of months I've missed will be a condensed version of highlights!  Here's a few pictures of our tradition with neighbors to watch The Polar Express movie up at the clubhouse in our neighborhood.  We have special snacks and hot chocolate and sport holiday PJs. 

Our other holiday tradition has become The Holiday Express at Pullen Park.

Little boys have to make sure to tell Santa what they wish for, ya know ;-)

Waiting in line for the carousel with Uncle Chris and Aunt Jen

Maddox was the only one warm that night; snug in my belly!

Happy 4th Birthday Kellen!! Snuggling with Nala before we headed to Suzi's to celebrate

Donuts and a date at the movies for Kellen's big day

And to end the day we had pizza with a few friends

Of course there had to be dancing :)

...and booty shakin'

...and wrestling with Whitney!! We sure do love our neighborhood family :)

 Cole and Kellen really seemed to understand and be excited about being big brothers by this point.  I started really showing around Christmas time which made it easier for them to understand that there really was a baby growing in my belly.  We talked a lot about how big he was in comparison to some of their stuffed animals, and also about what he was doing inside me.  Of course the coolest part was that he was drinking his pee :)  We talked a lot about how he was floating in there upside down and how he got his food from my blood to his blood through the umbilical cord.  We looked at pictures of babies in utero and they asked some really great questions... some of which I wasnt prepared to answer ;-) They loved to hug and kiss my belly and feel him move.  We talked about how big of a deal it was to be a big brother and how great they would be.  Kellen was pretty stoked to be a little brother AND a big brother.  They told every stranger on the street all about being brothers.  Cole took his role very seriously and asked more than once how he would be able to look out for 2 little brothers and how that would be a pretty tough job.  We told him its a big job but would be very rewarding for him.  I've tried to instill in them how lucky they are to have each other.  They are absolutely best friends and it's so fulfilling to watch them grow up together.  We talk a lot about how brothers always look out for each other and be there for each other.  They warm my heart with how much love they have for each other and their baby brother they haven't even met yet.  I wondered if they would bond with Maddox before he was born, but they definitely did!  They loved him before they ever saw him and were so protective over him and me while I was pregnant. 

I really can't say enough good things about St. John's Preschool.  The program has been a perfect fit for our family.  The boys have so much fun at school and have learned so much.  The program is a perfect balance of fun, learning life skills, basic education preparation for kindergarten, and relationship and social development.  They learn by doing projects and experiments and relate everything to the real world.  They learn about recycling, composting, wildlife, emergency preparedness, critical thinking, animals, how to be polite and respectful in relationships, and how to problem solve while controlling their emotions.  They don't just talk about how caterpillars turn into butterflies, they actually have one in their classroom and discuss in detail each phase while reading books about it and experiencing it first hand.  They really do a fantastic job and I'm so pleased with what the boys have taken away from the program.  As a parent, you want your kids to be well rounded and have as many fun and new experiences as possible while growing up.  I think our preschool has been instrumental in helping us raise well rounded little boys.  They also involve family the perfect amount.  They have parties and events for holidays and invite family to join for special occasions.  One of these was a holiday celebration in Cole's class.  Nina and I joined Cole for school one morning, and together we made ornaments, special treats and watched the kids perform songs they had learned.  I am so thankful for memories like these!!

Cole making a Christmas Tree out of a waffle cone, green icing and fruit loops for ornaments.

 Too yummy not to eat :)

 Here they made reindeer dust.  It was composed of oatmeal, sprinkles and glitter and was to be sprinkled on our lawn on Christmas Eve so Santa and his reindeer could find our house by the glow of the glitter and then the reindeer could have a little snack.

 Then we made snowman ornaments

 And a mix of goodies to make hot chocolate!

 Then they showed off their songs they learned from their music teacher, Ms. Julie

 Sure do love my sweet Cole!



A Superhero Halloween

Halloween playdate with friends.  Haley (aka scooby doo)

                                                         Iron Man showing off his moves

                                                                     Cinderella Peyton

                                                        Carving Pumpkins with my pumpkins

K

Kellen's class singing their halloween songs

                                                                       Cole's class

 The girl next to Cole in the black is his buddy, Ericka.  Last year she spoke only Spanish and Cole took to her immediately saying "she's so nice."  They bonded playing chase on the playground even though they couldn't really communicate with words.  This year, Ericka speaks English pretty well and they are even better friends.  Warms my heart how accepting children are.  So proud of my boy for seeing past the "shell" of something different to a fun little girl.

 Our neighborhood buddies Coy and Carter share Halloween birthdays, so our Halloween traditions are made even sweeter with extra fun celebrating these brothers.  This is the pre trick or treating party.

                                                 These kids are NOT excited at all ;-)

 Kellen is eyeing my neighbor who has a scary mask on.  He would stare at him so fretfully, but then beg him to put the mask back on if he took it off. 

 The kids would hit 3 or 4 houses at a time, then jump in their chariot (trailer) and ride to the next group of houses.  Star treatment courtesy of Coy and Carter's grandpa!