Santa

I didn't think it was going to happen this year. At the beginning of the season when people would bring up Santa to him, he would say that he didn't like Santa....so I wasn't going to push it, and he wasn't going to visit. Then I thought it should visit, and we got an Elf on the Shelf thing to start a nice family tradition. Then this past Saturday we were at Penneys getting photos taken, so right next door to the mall where I knew the big guy would be. So we're in the car and I run in to double check that he is inside, I come back out and say to him, guess who is inside, Santa is here! would you like to go see him? Sure he says. So off we head. When we got to the entrance, I still wasn't sold that he'd go in there, but sure enough he walked right in, walked right up and snaked the candy cane.

Looking good! He told Santa he wanted some books/dvds etc (with some prompting from Santa) but this past week at daycare he's been telling his teachers that he asked for dragons. So I kindly remind him what he asked for (cuz dragons are not coming!)

We did pick up the Elf on the Shelf (I had never heard of this before and saw it on my step sisters blog) and thought it might tie in nice with having just seen the big guy. So I told brennan that as we left Santa gave me something special to share with you....We named him Floyd.

It's been pretty fun being Santa. Picking up some little things that he likes; animal crackers, chocolate milk, gc for Mcdonalds, and then there will be a few books too.

Have a Merry Christmas everyone!

Some December happenings

Here are some photos of our december.He has been happy to work on art projects at the day care these past few weeks, and they have had some cute projects. These are Christmas tree bulbs that they cut out and put on a crown.

This is going to be a fun holiday tradition, I can feel it! I used to love advent calendars, especially the ones with candy in them! But Brennan really loved this and would ask several times during the day if he could do a door. He had a hard time grasping that he could only do one and that we are counting down to the big day.

Hanging out at church, he will play nicely in the nursery, with the promise of a donut after church. As you can see, he played nice.

We took Quinn swimming for the first time on Sunday Dec 19! It was a good time. She enjoyed herself and didn't cry. She would have been in the pool sooner, but we were waiting for her bms to firm up (tmi? oh well) and we have her on some solids now, so that has helped.

It was pretty cute though, the night before I told brennan that we were headed to the pool after church, and that the whole family was going, even Quinnie. And he got a little worked up....no no Quinnie can't go swimming, she's not a big girl yet! Well bud, you have to teach her, you have to show her how to use her arms and blow her bubbles. He was worried about her.

Snow

So we had our first snow fall of the year this past weekend, and it was biggie, a blizzard! It would have been great if we could have put ourselves in lockdown for the weekend, but we had to travel to Sheboygan on Saturday for a funeral, my grandma passed away (my moms mom) after losing her second battle with cancer. It was a slow drive home on Sunday in the wind and when we got back to town on Sunday, this is what we found in our driveway. We actuallly parked our car in our neighbors driveway. Jeff made a path for us to get in, so I could atleast get the kids in the house.
Our neighbor Jeff made a path for us, so I could get the kids inside, and Adam then went to work. Thank goodness for the snowblower.

This was the drift by the front door.

Here's looking to summer! I can't wait :)

Happy Thanksgiving

We had a very nice Thanksgiving this year. I missed seeing my family, but had to work both Thursday and today, and honestly didn't feel like I needed to add the stress of a quick visit to my life. Brennan had been getting excited for the holiday and was wishing everyone Happy Thanksgiving, and Thursday morning Adam woke up and said he wanted to make a meal for Brennan. And it was great. As we said our prayer, Brennan said he was thankful for his mom and dad, and the drs that give him shots so he can stay healthy....
This is Chicken Tom, our centerpiece for our meal on Thanksgiving. He made some great art projects at daycare. (instead of Turkey Tom he has been calling him Chicken Tom)

The happy family getting ready for the meal, Chicken, ranch potatoes, cornbread stuffing, corn, rolls and pumpkin pie. yum yum

Baptism

Quinn was baptised earlier this month. She didn't made a peep. Just a few weird faces when the water went on her head.

Halloween

Halloween was sort of a bust over here. Brennan was really diggin' in hard with the heels and the 2 year old independence and did not want to wear a costume to any of the events that we went to. There were some costume parades at the Y daycare; did not want to participate. We went to Schneider (Adam's work) to trick or treat; no costume, so I would not let him get any candy. Sweet Street, an event at the Packer stadium; no costume. Halloween at the Y; no costume. And trick or treating in the neighborhood; no costume. I really thought he'd have been OK with the smock/cape thing but hate the hat, and it was the other way around. He was OK with the hat, but no way was he wearing the cape. He was supposed to be a dragon. On the positive side, at least there is no candy in my house for me to eat....

'CANDY' Adam is trying to get Brennan excited about the candy maze that we just went through at Sweet Street.

crafts at Halloween at the Y

Here we are having a tantrum in the neighbors yard, because I won't let him go to the door since he doesn't have his costume on.

half of the costume, he would wear the hat of the clown costume. We stopped at 3 houses in our trick or treating adventure, this is Ms Jenny, one of his daycare teachers that lives down the block.

He really enjoyed handing out the candy. He'd run for the door and loved to chat with everyone that was there. Photo op with the really cool pumpkins that I carved, you can see that smiling nice for me is the last thing on his mind, since the kids are coming. Can't you see mom! they are coming!

Fall color

The fall color has come and gone, and now I dread the snow and cold and soggy ground until May....I love fall. The colors were so vibrant this year.

Emergency Vehicles

Our lives have been busy, yet I don't really have any photos to show for it.....earlier in the month we went to the Suamico fire station, the annual open house, for fire safety week. We were in Sheboygan the next day and we went with Papa and Deb to the Black River open house. The flight for life was there. That was pretty neat. Brennan is in a phase where load noises bother him. From the pictures you'll see what I mean.

It was pretty chilly this day, I'm glad the diaper bag had a few things that we could put on Quinn

rollin'

So we sort of feel like we've been slacking on the parental front. The other day I was looking at Brennan's baby book, and when he was 14 wks, he had rolled over, and at 15 wks he had rolled both directions. And Quinn....well the other day we put her on her tummy, and she got carpet marks on her face from not being able to hold her head up.....So we're trying to give her a little more tummy time. And then this happened on Saturday night! It was a little anti-climactic....when Brennan rolled over we were so excited, I'm sure there were fireworks etc. And with Quinn...Adam and I high-fived, I got the camera and we asked her to do it again, and sure enough she did.

Who ever said life with two was easy, well I think they were lying. It's hard, but still good.

gymnastics

I'm not sure where he learned how to do these but it's pretty neat.

Quinn

My grandma had wanted to see some video of Quinn. So here is what she has neen up to. She likes to hang out in the chair, sometimes the legs are going wild.

Happy 60th Birthday Baby George

Brennan's favorite buddy had a special day, he turned 6o years old this month. One of the bookstores in town had a party for him today, so we went to help celebrate. (He calls him Baby George instead of Curious George.)

He waited patiently, sporting his George t-shirt and he brought his Baby George buddy (he's in the pile of animals that are for purchase that our child was playing with and yes, we did not buy any of them). He wanted to play with everything in the store, which was hard for him. He's used to the library where he can play with everything, and here everything is for purchase, but he held it together nicely. When the party started, the owner started reading books and singing songs. Brennan staying in the background with us, not wanting to participate. But as soon as Baby George came around the corner.....

He was front and center waving and trying to get Baby George's attention. He was showing the big George his little animal George. It was pretty cute.

And it's not a party without cake....

Happy Birthday Baby George.

vacation

Labor Day weekend was our vacation for the summer, and it was a nice one. We stayed at my dads house, but he was gone for the first few days- still on his honeymoon- so it was like a house swap, nothing to do but relax and the country is so peaceful, I love sitting on the deck.
Saturday we went to the county fair, I don't ever recall a fair that was so chilly that I had to wear a winter hat, but at least we weren't roasting like usual.
Here was a car that he liked...

and one that he didn't....

playing in the yard, soccer and flying kites and walking the nature paths.

Monday and Tuesday we headed to Milwaukee to stay at our friends, the Dunns' The dads went to the Brewer game Monday and Tuesday was the zoo. We had behind the scene tour tickets. So we got to see the sleeping quarters and where the trains sleep and had a tour guide for the inside scoop. Here are Brennan and Hayden, he is a year older, but they are buds.

the sleeping quarters, under the exhibits

more vacation

Brown Bear, Brown Bear what do you see? I see some people looking at me...this guy was my favorite. As soon as we walked up to the exhibit, he walked toward us.

here we are watching the bear, watch us

the kids had fun feeding the goats, but the goats knew who hadthe food, and kept bothering the dads.

one of the many exhibits he climbed on

buddies...

peacock

walking like a peacock.

getting big

the kids are getting big!
Growning up my brother was big into model rockets, he felt like reliving the glory days, and we shot a few off. The first one scared Brennan, so he's preparing for the second one. He has been picking me flowers lately, here is one of them.

Quinn is getting so big- 11wks tomorrow, and that means only one more week of my maternity leave and then back to the work world....
She likes to smile and coo. She's getting better with her nook, and sleeps well at night, I'm OK with her not sleeping through the night, she goes down at 7ish and wakes at 3ish. So depending on your perspective, that is a good portion of the night, but I'll need to feed her before I go to work, so waking at 3 will be a good time.

Wow, she looks so LONG here. She's relaxing with Suzie- my brothers girlfriend, this was her first time meeting Quinn.

goofing around at Grandma Pat's house.