The Christmas Season - 2012

Wow.  I gotta say, I feel like Christmas was forever ago and it even took me longer to prepare for all that Christmas was this year.  Between "The Elf on the Shelf " to visiting Santa, Gift exchanges, family birthdays, Christmas pageants, Gingerbread making, searching for the gift that Connor has asked for at least one million times to just trying to be present with all of it... WOW, though I LOVE the Christmas season, in a sense, I was a little relieved when it was all over.  Is that bad??

BUT, I will say, the Boys had a blast this Christmas, so it made everything all worth it.  Connor is at the best age with the excitement, expressions and questions... Just too cute.  Grant was just excited to rip paper, look at lights and be a part of it all.

This Christmas season was fabulous and we've got the pictures to prove it!

VISITING SANTA:

All dressed and ready to see St. Nick (ps - it was a HOT December day, so I could not put these boys in pants)

 These two kill me ( this is the 4th year they have shared the Santa visit together)

Window shopping...

Santa 2012 -- Classic

We hosted a GINGERBREAD FUN Party with our besties: 

 They really didn't care about the decorations...

 OR the gingerbread houses... 

 ...all they wanted was the candy.

 The Besties (you should have seen what was going on behind the camera to get this shot!)

 He did manage to decorate a bit between bites

Sugar high?! (please note Ruby in the background) -- I swear, they never stopped.

 Gingerbread FUN  2012 

CHRISTMAS ART:

Connor spent a LOT of time coloring tree's this year (almost daily)

GRANDMA MEGGY's BIRTHDAY:

CHRISTMAS PAGEANT AT PRESCHOOL:

 I mean... 

 Cutest Shepard's I have ever seen

 Oh, and those angels?  Are you kidding me?!

 Connor and Vivian

 Angelic

 What this season is all about.

 My little angel -- well, 90% of the time.

 Cheese!

Just a little proud of himself. 

Merry, Merry from the Khamis'.

Grant is 16 Months Old

I'm 16 months old and still obsessed with Balls!

For whatever reason, this month, every mom I talked to seemed to have a little one home sick with the flu.  We luckily dodged that bullet, but Grant did come down with a double ear infection.  We would have never known if it were not for the fact that Connor complained of his "ear hurting" that we decided to take Grant in as well.

This boy is such a trooper and took his "bubble gum" medicine (aka amoxicilline) and was feeling better in no time.  

We also started "Mommy and Me" this month (something that I never did with Connor) and I have to say, I actually enjoy it!  Grant absolutely loves every single second of it -- Undivided attention from his Mom, art projects, new toys, kids HIS AGE and tons of play-time.   It's so cute to see Grant with other little ones without his big brother just a few steps away.  He runs around giggling and I will catch him eyeing me from across the room with the "Mom, did you see that?" grin.  He also shows this new found confidence while we are at our class.  It's darling.

Grant continues to be a great eater, eating just about anything in site (edible or not!) and this boy doesn't stop moving.  He seems to be far more active than Connor was at this age, and always wants to be on the Go.  Not interested in sitting, watching television, being held or even walking.  He wants down and if a door is open, he'll be out (running of course!)  

His naps have been LONG lately, right around 3-3 1/2 hours and he is still just about ready for bed at 7:00 p.m. Our little boy is growing...

His laugh is infectious and his expressions are priceless.  He continues to bring joy to each one of us and we just love his demeanor.  He's got a grand total of 12 teeth now, and thoroughly enjoys walking around the house with a toothbrush in his mouth.  It's classic.  

He's still our little, big boy and we love our Dub so so much.  

 More chompers!

Love this one.. It was POURING and both boys bolted outside (shocker) -- Grant was surprised with the outcome.

The Grant glare (gimme those lips)

 Grant in a nutshell - ALWAYS running

 Watching his crazy brother with a "what the heck is he doing" expression.

Love this kiddo.

Once again... Running.

Peek-a-boo

Our little Dub (and his first ring pop!)

The Christmas Tree Lot - 2012

This event has become quite the tradition in our house.  Connor starts asking to go get the tree right around Thanksgiving, and doesn't stop asking until we are actually in the car, on the way to the lot.  The kid is unrelenting, I tell you.

Last year, I bought these silly hats for the boys to wear to the Christmas tree lot (Grant was a mere 3 months old), and this year, I found a few more hats.

So, all bundled up with jackets, rain boots and snow hats (you would think we lived in Minnesota or something!), we headed down to the tree lot. 

And I don't know WHAT it is, but I really have to hand it to Joe.  Without fail, we always take home the first or the second tree we look at!  I think Joe has some Christmas tree super-powers or something, but we always get a great looking tree, and are at the lot for about just about 10 minutes.  It's crazy. 

I have to be pretty quick with the camera due to the fact that it takes longer to get the boys dressed for this "event" than the minutes we are actually there.  But I did manage to get a few shots. 

Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas tree! Love this time of year.

 My boys are going to hate me when they are older!

"Grant, look.  This is a Christmas tree!"

 Here's the tree -- In record time (please note: Joe had not shaved his Movember mustache yet?!)

 My little guy

"Wait, we are taking that home??"

Christmas Tree Lot - 2012

Christmas Tree Lot - 2011

Let the decorating begin:

 Making sure the tree looks just right

Very into being a part of the process!

 I spy Connor and Mommy in the ornament

Dub loved the lights on the tree

Grant is 15 months old

I'm 15 months old and cuter than ever!

Another month, another post.  Our little pensive one is starting to come out of his shell a bit, but still is not a big fan of new faces.  He is actually much shyer than his older brother ever was, and seems to be a little more sensitive too. 

I read over Connor's 15 month post recently, and I am amazed at the similarities of these two ( even though they are so different.)  Does that make any sense?? At 15 months old, both boys fell IN LOVE with trash trucks and anything that has wheels on it.  Waving to any truck out the window is something that both boys started doing at this age, and throwing food on the floor became the thing to do for these two also.  

This month I finally cut a tiny bit of Grants hair (he was beginning to look like a masculine little lady so I had to.) He is using his Spanish more and more every day (thank you Ellie) and we love how he wanders around the house saying "Agua, agua, agua" 

Grant's hair is still a blondish color ( I thought it would have gotten darker by now) and he has seven teeth with 6 on their way in -- Yes, this boy has had a few tough nights with all those teeth making their debut. 

15 Month check-up measurements:

Weight: 25 pounds

Height: 33 3/4 inches

Head circumference: 48 centimeters

Grant, you wake up pretty early each morning (around 5:30 a.m.) but as soon as your dad brings you your milkies, you fall back asleep until about 8:00 a.m..  You are taking about a 3 hour nap in the afternoon, but are DONE with your morning snooze.  You will not let your mother eat her dinner without sitting right on her lap, trying everything on her plate.  Your laugh is deep, authentic and absolutely precious.  You insist on reading "Piggies" every night before bed, and had your first chocolate chip cookie this month.  

We are smitten with you big boy and recently gave you yet another nickname - Pigpen.  Yep, you are kind of our little messy tornado, but don't worry, we still love you.  xo

 All the shoes Grant has grown out of already

Grant's first hair cut - I waited until I absolutely had too

 He is ALWAYS holding a ball of some sort

"Hey trash truck, SLOW DOWN, I can't run that fast!"

Football Sundays are a big deal in this house

The three amigos

Love this little stinker.