1st Time Sledding

I have the best memories of playing in the snow as a kid, and I want my kids to have the same experiences.  Each winter I have wanted to take Ella sledding, and for four years it has never worked out.  I am so glad to say this year we made it.  We had the perfect day on Saturday.  The sun was out, so it really wasn't even cold.  Ella and Braden loved it, and Beckett was kind enough to take a cat nap nearby in his car seat so all of us could sled.  Perfection.  I know this kind of day is rare when it come to kids, multiple layers, and snow, so I savored every minute!   I don't know at times if I am really fulfilling fun moments for my kids, or living our my desires for fun.  I guess it is a mixture of both, so it works.  

Our friends the Rapps were kind enough to lend up this snow suit for Braden.  I thought it was so cute that He and Collin matched.  Thanks Bronwyn!

My dear friend Katie and Kara joined us.  These girls bless me so much by how they love me and my kids!

Even Beckett had his first time to sled.  

We got to build Frosty!  The snow was perfect we just forgot something to make his button nose and two eyes made out of coal.   

Yeah for Snow!

I am one of those strange people that when everyone else is wishing for spring, I am hoping for just one more good snow.  I like all four seasons.  When it is supposed to be cold, I want it to be and when it is time for warmth, I love that too.  So for the last week I have been in heaven.  I love living in a winter wonderland.  I say this bearing in mind that I am so sorry for all the people that have had havoc reeked on their lives because of the snow storms.  I know I would not enjoy it quite as much if that is what I was living.  But for us snow days entail, dad getting to stay home from work, a warm fire, and hot cocoa, so..... I quite enjoy these days.  

It is a must on a snow day to have a fire side picnic with soup and grilled cheese.  We end up with half of it spilled on the floor, but oh well, its a memory.  

 We didn't get to make Frosty outside because the snow wouldn't stick, but we watched him when we came in!

My favorite cocoa by far is made from milk with the recipe on the back of a Hershey's cocoa can.  If you have never tried it, you must.  It is so much better than any powder I have ever had.  It is so worth a little extra effort. 

Beckett is getting so big!  He is still so content and joyful.  Anytime he is smiled at, he always smiles back.  He rolled over for the first time at Christmas, but just this past week he really figured it out and is rolling again and again.   

He doesn't drink from a bottle very much, but he figured out how to hold it on his own.  I also  realized this week that he cut his first tooth!  How can that be!  It feels so soon.  Ella told Collin, "Daddy...Mommy and I are just not ready for Beckett to have his first tooth."  Sweet milestones.

1st Time to Ice Skate

While we were in St. Louis for Christmas we took Ella and Braden ice skating for the first time. My Dad, Mom, Nicholas, Aunt Gerry and Uncle Cloud all came.  It was such a fun memory to have every one there with us, and to have my brother (who is a great Hockey player) teaching my kids to skate.  Thank goodness we had so many adults because we needed every pair of hands!  I learned my lesson that when you are teaching children to ice skate you for sure need an adult on each side.  Ella and Braden actually learned and improved quickly, but they were still like a wet noodle most of the time.  Therefore a person on each side helped a lot.  My Dad and Nicholas were great to take one kiddo while I skated with the other, only with the the help of my Aunt or Mom who walked along the outside of the rink and held the other hand.  It was really cold, but really fun!  We can't wait to go again!

Christmas Days

Wow!  We had a great Christmas!  We were blessed to get to be with both families this year.  We spent Christmas day with the Sparks and then a few days later headed to St.Louis.  Overall it was so incredible to be with everyone.  We were spoiled by gifts and great time with family! 

Our first Christmas with Melissa!  

Such fun gifts all around this year.  There were dress up clothes, balls, dolls, guitars, and so much more.  This was a great age of kids because Ella and Braden were so excited to ask for presents but still not consumed but them. I am sure that day will come, but I am hoping we can continue to teach them the real focus of Christmas. 

We had  big "Disney" Christmas.  Disney dress up clothes, disney dolls, a Cinderella princess dress, and lots of Toy Story.  

Braden got buzz lightyear pj's and now when he wears them only refers to himself as buzz.  He also hates for me to take them off.  Ha!  

One of the hits of Christmas was the Hungry Hippos game.  It has been so fun!  We all laughed so much playing it together, and I love that Ella and Braden will play it together.  I even don't mind sitting down to play  few rounds with them. So fun!

I love this picture. Braden looks like he is standing in awe of the Christmas tree, which he truly should be.  Marsha (Collin's mom) always does such a beautiful job decorating for the Holidays.  She went all out this year with every corner of her home dressed for the occasion.  Such a labor of love!

The whole family including Erica and Evelyn who came over for visit.  

Next we headed to St.Louis.....

I think my mom was generally disturbed when she heard that Braden was wearing Ella's dress up clothes and was walking around in her high heels.  At that moment, she was determined to get him some boy dress up outfits for Christmas.  Now he is the cutest and most macho dinosaur, nemo, pirate and indian that you ever did see.  

Yeah, fishing poles for everyone. Can't wait to use them at the lake!  

Great time with our favorite cousin! 

Beckett's first Christmas! 

Wrapping Paper Scheme

For some reason I love wrapping gifts.  Every Christmas I really enjoy deciding a wrapping paper scheme each of my gifts.  I loved how it came out this year with a little inspirations from going green. I went with just brown craft paper, red satin ribbon, large initial tags that were embossed with red glitter, and then red and white bakers twine.  The bows were made from target bags.  They were so fun and easy to make.  Let me know if you want the tutorial of how to make them.  

Christmas Part 4: Happy Birthday Jesus!

We made cupcakes, sang Happy Birthday to Jesus and then thanked Him for all of the blessings that He gives to us.   Ella's cute comment later that night was, "Mom, how did God create everything in the world if He was just a baby?"  I loved the way her mind works.  

Christmas Part 3: Breakfast with Santa

This will also become a yearly tradition for us!   I randomly heard about this event and had no idea what to expect, but it was incredible.  It was held at the Chateau and was more than I could have expected.   We had so much fun, and the cost was worth it just even for breakfast at the Chateau.   

They had a kid buffet, that was made just for the height of little ones to fix their plates.  Ella and Braden loved being able to get their own food.  

They also had every cereal that you could possible imagine, along with like 10 kinds of juices.  So kid friendly!  They also had a huge screen that was playing Christmas movies while you ate breakfast.

There were tables set up with wonderful "elves" that helped the kids make ornaments. 

They also had clowns that did the greatest face painting I have even seen.  

Braden was not crazy about getting his face painted (we ended up with just an ornament painted on his had), but he was so excited about the clowns that were making balloon art. 

Ella's small dog in honor of her dog Izzy at home.

Braden could not have been happier with his sword, can you tell from his face!  It kept him entertained for days. 

The line for santa was incredibly long, too long for us to wait in.  But the Chateau even had a huge table of coloring books and activities to do while you were in line for Santa.  So clever!

Every child that saw santa got gifts, and they weren't cheap gifts.  We didn't see santa but they were nice enough to still give us gifts.   Ella got a huge princess velvet poster to color and Braden got a block set.  I couldn't believe that each kid got a gift.   Actually Ella cracked me up because after she finished eating, she bee lined away from me, so fast that I lost sight of her.   I grabbed 

Braden by the hand and started off after her, but it took me a couple of minutes to spot her.  I was kind of getting frantic when I turned around and spotted Ella walking off the stage with a gift in her hand from seeing santa.  I was shocked!  Some how she managed to get herself onto the stage and sit on Santa's lap, tell him what she wanted from Christmas (roller skates and ice skates), all without waiting in the mile long line.  I'm sure there were probably some parents who were infuriated and wondering whose child is that, as she butted in front of their child.  That's my ella, fearless.  All she knew is that Santa had arrived and she was going to see him.  Hilarious! 

Santa arrived at the Breakfast on an old fire truck they actually drove into the Chateau.