Holiday Fun!

 The tree is up!

 Downtown at Macy's display

 

Liam loving the giant Target dog at Dad's work

 Date night:  Cross Country Skiing

Mom and Braden date: Giant pizza and Disney on Ice

 

Christmas Eve 2013

 

We sure kept busy this month, packing in all the holiday festivities and activities we could. We got the tree up right after Thanksgiving and set up all the holiday décor. I took the boys downtown Minneapolis to see the Macy's Christmas display and visit Joe at work. Braden and I got to see Disney on Ice one Sunday afternoon. We had the Johnson cousins over for a sleepover. We got in the van one night in our PJs and had hot cocoa and popcorn and drove around to see Christmas lights. We snowmobiled in the field behind our house. We went sledding. Joe and I dropped the boys off at the YMCA for Parent's Night Out and we went Cross Country Skiing in the woods on the lit up trails during a nice snowfall. (Next time, we will remember to wax the skis that have been sitting around for 20 years.) We spent Christmas Eve with the Sullivans and had a quiet day home on Christmas Day. We went to the movie Frozen on Christmas night and out to dinner (breaking out of the traditional Christmas norm). Post Christmas, Joe had a sleepover with the boys in the living room and took them to SkyZone for some jumping during his time off. Phew, did all that really happen in just one month? That wasn't even the normal day-to-day stuff like work, preschool, etc.. :)

Now we  are getting ready for a smaller Hammond celebration this weekend and then New Year's with some friends next week. What a busy and fun month! I have taught a bunch of classes to keep people moving all through the month. Joe has logged in lots of hours in his new job, in hopes that he is getting the hang of his new gig now. We are super blessed to be surrounded by good health, love, family, friends and happiness this holiday season. We also made new memories and kept old traditions going. This holiday season is a memorable one for us. The boys are a little bit older and can appreciate all the excitement and magic of Christmas. We have enjoyed watching them get involved in decorating, and just showing excitement for each and every holiday outing or activity.

We hope all of you had a Merry Christmas and that your New Year is filled with happiness, good health, and so many blessings for you and your families.

Circus Circus

A couple of weeks ago, the Personal Trainers at the Woodbury YMCA had our Holiday outing. Once I heard "Trapeze" as the theme of the outing, I knew I had to attend. I looked at the website that was sent to us and quickly glanced over the details. It sounded fun, adventurous and something I probably wouldn't do on my own (without a little nudging anyway).

Little did I know that I would be coached into a series of trapeze swings that would end with this as my grand finale! And boy, was it up a lot higher than I thought it would be. :) I accomplished some fears that night for sure! It was scary at first, but amazingly awesome and fun. What an adrenaline rush! This place is right in St. Paul if you want to try it out! It's called Twin Cities Trapeze.

 

 

Here's a picture of the stairs to get up to the "small" platform. :)

 

A picture of my entire Trapeze team that night.

 

Braden John: 4 years + 1 month & 4 years + 2 months

Braden is just a bit over four, but somedays I think he is about 10. He catches things that I miss, he remembers names really well (unlike me) and he also corrects me if I get a minor detail wrong. Sounds just like someone else in our household, hmmmm. :)

The best things about Braden (if I had to narrow it down) are the following: He has a pretty laid-back demeanor but likes to stay busy, he is always up for anything, he is easily excited about little things (I hope this lasts a bit longer), he listens fairly well, he doesn't typically put up a fight if he is mad about something (less tantrums for me and just a "oh man" instead). I also like that he likes to be challenged, choosing the seek-n-find books everynight for his bedtime book. I also love how he gets a big smile on his face when he is proud of himself - like when he writes his name right.

Even though Braden and Liam are now into a lot of the same things, Braden is a good big brother showing his little brother how to do things or helping him (and me) out. Of course there is plenty of fighting, but I am sure it's hard to have someone smaller taking all of your stuff. I laugh when I find "secret" stashes of toys around the house. The big milestone as of late, is Braden moved into n official big boy bed- a step up from his "little boy bed" (crib with the rails off). He now sleeps in a twin bed and looks like a tiny little boy. I prefer him this way than hanging off the crib size mattress! :)

Braden attends pre-school two days a week and loves it. He will have one more year of pre-school since he has a fall birthday and has to wait another year for Kindegarten. I hope to keep him challenged and busy that last year! Right now it's a bit hard when we have to be home for Liam's naps. I can't blame him as I like to be out and running around a lot too. Hopefully this winter I can keep him moving and busy despite the cold! (May not be a problem as you can see in the shoveling pic above).

We are super excited for Christmas this year. Braden is already picking out things he wants and he actually listens to me when I tell him that Santa is watching so we must be good! We love watching Braden grow and learn each month, he is slowly becoming a little man - one that makes us so proud to call our own.

Liam Jude: 2 years + 2 months & 2 years + 3 months

So I am a little behind in my monthly updates on the boys. I am not sure where the time has gone. Work has gotten a bit busier for me, Joe has been extremely busy with a new job and travels, and the boys are keeping active as ever. I am not sure how I keep up!

Little Liam is growing into his two's! He is funny, smart, full of energy, has full conversations and can be loving one minute and throwing a tantrum the other minute :) Liam is doing whatever he can to do exactly what his big brother does. He has started potty training somewhat. He speaks in 6 or 7 word sentences telling me "Mom, I am done sleeping now can I get up?" as an example. He  loves to go places, but after some time will say "Can we go home now please?" He is my little homebody. He is also obsessed with puppies and Lightening McQueen. He asks for the Cars movie everyday. He wants to wear his big brother's Car slippers. He jumps up and down when he sees Mater or Lightening McQueen toys at Target. His obsession with puppies has grown greater and greater each day. Liam wants to wear his puppy shirt everyday, sleep with his puppy costume in his crib every night and he has a stuffed puppy that he sleeps with as well. It takes some wrestling and a few tantrums just to get the puppy shirt in the washer. :) I think he is a man of comfort, opinions and security.

Liam will also be the kid that screams at Target at the top of his lungs or takes off running and doesn't come back. He is a bit of a rebel, does quite a few time outs a week, but at the same time will give me lots of hugs daily, holds doors open for strangers and says please and thank- you often. He is quite the character. It is so fun to watch Liam grow and grow. His personality is spunky and funny. He likes to trick me by hiding behind the curtain or putting something on his head and trying to balance. He knows how to play games on the Iphone (yikes) and will ask me, "Mom do you have class tonight?" and say "oh, ok!" when I respond. He just gets everything now. He cracks us up daily and we cannot wait to watch this two-year-old grow and grow as we are sure there will NEVER be a dull moment.