Christmas 2014

We had a delightful Christmas with 10 days of Christmas activities in Sioux Falls.  We saw lots of family and friends and even got to enjoy some snow.  Unfortunately, I was so focused on all of the festivities I did not take many pictures.  But the best part was spending ten days of quality time with these two adorable kiddos.  Enjoy!!

Putting the stockings out for Santa

Merry Christmas

Looking at the tree with amazement

Running to see what Santa brought

Burke and Kade with Grandma

Finally!!!  Snow!!

Sledding!!

11 Months Old

I thought I had this parenting thing down.  Brynn was always a nice, quiet, playful baby that ate fruits and vegetables.  As long as she had a clean diaper, milk and some cucumbers life was easy.  Well I have come to realize that is not good parenting, it is just personality differences.  We have parented Burke almost the same way as Brynn and they could not be much more different.  Burke is crazy.  He is into everything.  And I mean, the second you pull him out of one situation and put away whatever he was not supposed to be doing he is already into something else.  And the climbing….oh the climbing!  He climbs on everything – his toys, speakers, furniture, boxes, people.  He now knows how to get up onto our ottoman and couch without stepping on anything.   Oh man, it is a nightmare!!  He knows how to climb up, but cannot climb down safely.  He either just walks straight off the couch or gets down head first.  You would think he would have figured this out by now, but no.  Despite his craziness, we love him dearly and cannot believe is going to be one years old soon.  He is the funniest, silliest little “old” man we know. 

You would never know he is so crazy by looking at this face

What up?

Burke Loves:

• Climbing
• Rough-housing with his sister
• Meat and potatoes with a few pears
• A good party
• To dance

Burke is working on:

• Figuring out how to get off the couch without going head first
• More teeth
• Drinking whole milk - He HATES it!

Christmas Program

As not to add any more chaos to our lives during the holiday season, Brynn’s Christmas program ended up being scheduled for the morning we were leaving to go back to Sioux Falls for 10 days.  On top of that, a note was sent home with very specific clothing items she was supposed to wear.  So in addition to packing for the 3 of us (Cameron can handle his own chaos), I had to hunt down a red dress, white tights, and black shoes.  Because I was on such a time crunch the dress ended up being too short, the tights too big, and the shoes slipped off when she walked too fast.  I mean come on!!  In any sense, we made it work and she looked adorable. 

Brynn loves music, loves singing, and loves dancing.  Therefore, she could not wait to perform at the Christmas program.  I would catch her practicing the songs while she played with her dolls or colored.  She would immediately stop practicing the second she thought I was getting too close.  It was too cute.  She did a great performance.  She sang loudly and did all the hand motions (as Mom cringed when she had to lift her arms).  All in all it was a great performance and her class was by far the best and the cutest.  Mrs. Jenny always goes above and beyond.  

Its Beginning to Look a lot Like….

Christmas is just right around the corner and the anticipation is building in the house.  The kids helped decorate the tree and just love to sit and stare at it.  Burke is amazed at the lights.  And when he first went to touch the tree he got pricked.  For the next few days afterwards, he shied away from touching the tree and would just look.  Unfortunately, those shiny ornaments and bright lights got the best of him and he went in after them.  Which means instead of just gazing at the tree every night, we are constantly yelling “Burke, NO TOUCH”.  Well at least he has not brought the tree down, YET.  Brynn loves to check the water every day to make sure the tree is not thirsty but unfortunately she still reminds me that she wants a “snowy” (or flocked) tree next year.  She says the snowy tree is like South Dakota where we celebrate Christmas.    

No holiday season is complete without a trip to visit Santa Clause.  Luckily for us it did not entail long lines or impatient Santas’.  There was no line so we got to sit back and check him out before building up enough courage to sit on his lap.  Burke was stiff as a board and very unsure of the situation.  I think another few seconds and we would have lost him.  But once Brynn warmed up to Santa, she did not want to leave.  She kept chatting with him and went through her entire Christmas list item by item. 

1. Play-doh cake
2. Doll
3. Dora bracelet
4. Lunch box

Happy Thanksgiving

We had a very quiet Thanksgiving this year.  We spent the long weekend relaxing and getting ready for Christmas.  The weather was beautiful so we spent the morning at the beach walking and playing hide-and-go-seek.  We later spent the day at our close friends’ house playing with the kids and eating a nice meal. 

This year we are most Thankful for:

• Two healthy and happy children
• The love and support of our family and friends
• The chance to spend so much time with our loved ones this year
• The hours between 10pm and 7am when the kids are sleeping

10 Months Old

10 months old and our little crazy man is walking and climbing.  We are going to have our work cut out for us as he gets older.  He is 10 months going on 2 years old.  He nearly runs everywhere so he can keep up with everyone.  He only wants to eat what we are eating – no baby food.  He is already picking on the other kids at daycare.   Just the other day he was trying to sit on the babies who were in the little bouncers and if he did not sit on them he pulled their socks off.  And the older ones he just would laugh and stick his finger in their ear.  He also has figured out how to use other objects so he can climb on top of things.   What!?  I am not sure if I should laugh or cry at this point.    

Burke 10 Months Old

Using Brynn's lunchbox as a step stool. 

Burke Loves

• Playing with toys, especially Brynn's princess castle
• Picking on his friends at daycare
• Climbing on everything
• High-fiving and clapping

Burke is working on :

• Running
• Eating more table food
• Curly hair

Halloween 2014

I know this is nearly a month late but I will soon accept the fact that every event/holiday is going to be a little more hectic now that I have two kids.  Halloween was a little bit of a blur.  Cameron and I had just gotten back from a mini-vacation, Brynn had numerous activities going on at school that week and everyone in the house was playing catch up.  Brynn and I did a great job of painting the pumpkins the weekend before so we did not have to worry about trying to get them done after school during the week.  The last pumpkin got carved the night before Halloween - but at least we go to enjoy it for one night.

Brynn started her Halloween off at school with a Halloween “fashion show”, as she would call it.  She surprisingly was the only Elsa in the entire preschool.  They played games, colored, and had a creepy crawly lunch that they all helped prepare.  After school we stuck around for the Harvest Festival where Brynn enjoyed more games and the bounce houses.  She was happy to show us all of her friends and teachers, which we have met thousands of times.  Afterwards it was trick or treating time. 

Trick or treating was a blast.  Burke just sat in the stroller checking out all of the kids while Brynn went from house to house knocking on the doors herself, saying trick or treat and please and thank you.  This was the first year she understood what to do and wanted to participate.  She loved showing off her princess dress and taking in all of the complements.  A true princess at heart.  Poor Burke was just along for the ride, dressed up in his hand-me-down costume MOO!  It did not take long, and Brynn was ready to head home.  She was so tired from all of the excitement of the day and all of the walking.  A few pieces of candy later and Brynn was sleeping like a princess!!  And like always, Burke was wide awake ready for more MOO!