Christmas 2015

What a fun Christmas! Our normal Christopher returned and has been so much fun since Christmas Day. If his behavior was truly caused by Christmas excitement... he may not be participating next year. :)

All Christopher wanted for Christmas was Power Rangers Mega Blocks- they are these little figures that come in a bag that you put together like Legos. Win for Santa- they are like 2.99 a pack. "Santa" came and brought him a couple packs on Christmas Eve....

He also brought him an Optimus Prime. 

After Anthony came back in from changing... Christopher said "Uncle, was that you in that Santa costume?" He was kinda fixated on the fact that it was Anthony for quite a bit, but finally believed that it wasn't. I'm not too sure Anthony will be able to pull that one off another year. 

Throwing reindeer food with Uncle.

Christopher slept in until 8 Christmas morning. Matt and I were up and waiting... and waiting... Caleb woke up so at least we had him to hang out with! 

Christmas morning. 

Smiling for Granddaddy.

Photo bombed.

coming downstairs video

Christopher was so excited when he finally woke up. The first thing he did was come and hug Nana. He was so shy walking over to see what Santa brought... a couple packs of Power Rangers, a Lego set and superhero ornaments. WHOA (our elf) had brought him a Captain America ornament one day in December so Santa brought the rest of the gang! The best part may have been when he stopped and said "Baby Caleb- look! Santa brought you presents," and then he proceeded to pick up Caleb's toys and show each one to him. 

We got Christopher a bunch of games- Operation, Don't Break the Ice, Chutes and Ladders and Nana got him Candyland. We have had so much fun playing all of them.

After years of begging from me, Matt FINALLY agreed to getting a playset for the backyard. I kept telling him "Christopher and Austin would use it all the time..." and then when we found out about Caleb I added his name to the mix and now Austin is having a little brother and Matt couldn't say no anymore... and I would say Christopher was so surprised!! It's definitely not something he ever asked for, but something he would for sure love to have. Here's the video of him seeing it for the first time... WHOA!!!!!!!!

I have a feeling we will hear the best conversations watching these two play. 

Yesterday's conversation about Austin's baby brother went like this... 

Austin: Liam is coming now that Christmas is over. 

Christopher: I know how he is getting here. 

Austin: How? 

Christopher: He has to drive on the interstate. 

And now for the rest of the pictures that I have... not too many though!

Loving that thumb.

He loves his new Sophie from Aunt Sara and Uncle Anthony.

Brotherly love.

This was before he pooped everywhere. 

That's it... I think! We hope that everyone had a Merry Christmas!!! Happy New Year! 

Be kind.

No Joke.

This three year old thing is no joke. If you told me taking care of a  3 month old would be easier, I would have laughed in your face. Sometimes I even look at Matt with lots of jealousy at the end of the night- he is in charge of Caleb. Poor Christopher has even lost presents from under the Christmas tree. He probably just looks at the other 50 and thinks "oh well... there's plenty more." Thankfully he still has his sweet moments every now and then. :)

 

Thumb sucker.

Playtime with brother.

This is from when Christopher stayed with Uncle and Aunt Sara. They watched the Polar Express. 

I guess he gave Luke Dine.... that could have ended badly. Christopher got to sleep with 3 of the 4 dogs that night, plus Uncle Anthony. 

Helping me peel eggs for deviled eggs.

We really are late in posting... because I am going to take his 4 month shot next week!

He loves feeding Caleb and burping him after.

Nana took this great picture! I love it. 

Nana and Granddaddy took the boys to the mall to see Santa.

Christopher got a Christmas cookie from the neighbors! 

Waiting on Santa to arrive in downtown Acworth.

Matt and Christopher sleeping under the Christmas tree.

Dinner by candlelight on the longest night of the year.

He just wanted his picture taken.

Making Christmas presents.

Caleb hanging out with Granddaddy.

 Merry Christmas!!
Be kind.

Thanksgiving 2015

I started this post before Thanksgiving and am finally going to finish it up real quick! I was writing about what we are thankful for and even though Thanksgiving has come and gone.... I am pretty sure we are all still thankful for the following....

I am thankful for a wonderful hubby that let's me convince him to do things I am most certain he does not want to do... (like go to a craft night)

 Christopher is most thankful for Matt, but some other people made his list...

Christopher loves his little brother... He is so rough and tough all the time but the moment he gets within inches of Caleb, he slows down and is so sweet. 

and he most definitely is thankful for his buddy, Austin.

We had a fun Thanksgiving at our house on Thursday and right as we were saying goodbye to everyone, Christopher ran by us and declared he was staying at Nana's.... and then the next night he spent the night at Uncle Anthony and Aunt Sara's. He sure is growing up so fast. 

Nightly routine. 

Matt does Caleb and I do Christopher... sometimes I think Matt gets the better end of that deal! :) 

We ran our annual 5k last weekend. Christopher did the 2k with Nana and Granddaddy and then the Tot Trot. 

Happy morning baby! 

Short and Sweet! 

Be kind!!! 

Halloween and Florida... All in One!

As most of you know, we had to go to Florida this past weekend for my grandfather's memorial service. So in my head... why not throw a trip to Disneyworld in there as well!?! By Friday night, I wanted to pack the car up and head home- Christopher was being a butt and Caleb couldn't nap... but it was super fun nonetheless! We ended up driving the whole way back Saturday...which eliminated Hotel #4 for Christopher. The boys were rock star travelers and we made it home with just one stop.

 I am going to write this blog through pictures. :)  and holy pictures! There are about a billion... in no real particular order. 

Captain America Christopher (as he called himself) and Tiffany

Matt dressed up as IronMan and surprised Christopher at his daycare Halloween party. Of course, IronMan was needed to help Christopher get out of bed the next morning. 

and Austin and his daddy- Mr. Incredible. 

Elliot, Christopher, Luke and Austin

 It was so fun to see all these boys playing together again! 

Our trick or treating crew

Caleb getting his first treat! He stayed home with Nana and helped hand out candy.

And on to Disney pictures.... We left Monday morning after taking a tour of Christopher's (hopefully) preschool for next year. We drove in the pouring down rain and made it to our overnight destination of Lake City. Our plan was to drive most of the way Monday and then just have a couple hours to do Tuesday. Christopher was most excited about the 4 hotels we were going to be staying at while on this trip. 

This was hotel number one! We got in around 5:30, ate dinner and just hung out. It was so relaxing- Caleb slept great and we were all well rested to drive into Disney the next day!

All unpacked and ready to get into our room- Christopher picked out pirate themed rooms for all of us. Nana and Granddaddy had adjoining rooms in all of our hotels and that was soo convenient. 

Caleb chilling at the pool. 

Christopher deemed this girl his new best friend. 

Family photo on the way to Disney Springs! 

It was Raquel's birthday this day... and since the teacups are her favorite, we sent her this picture to say Happy Birthday! 

Operation #hugmickey! When I would ask Christopher before we went what he was going to say to Mickey and he would tell me "nothing, I'm just going to hug him." 

Waiting to see Mickey- but that's not why I took this picture- check out his physique- you can see definition on his arms. 

En route to Magic Kingdom for Christopher's day of Big Brother fun! 

Dinner at some crazy dinosaur restaurant at downtown Disney.

Of course, Christopher would get stung by a bee on his hand in line to ride. 

Hotel #2- the pirate rooms at the Caribbean Beach Resort

What??!?! Oh hey- Little Miss Avery! (This is from our time in Clearwater)

Matt said "Let's take a picture of him in case he gets separated from us"... um okay. 

I think this was our first ride... Pirates of the Caribbean.

Driving the race cars.... oh my. Thank goodness for the rail down the middle. 

Crammed into Dumbo.

Christopher and his "coffee"- he was all about some pomegranate lemonade.

Hotel #3- Christopher was pretending he was fishing with Caleb's activity mat poles. 

I do not remember what he was eating... but he had some serious chocolate mouth! It could have been his chocolate chip pancakes he had at breakfast. 

Testing out the water at the hotel. 

Dinner at the Dinosaur restaurant. We were all trying to making it into this picture... Caleb's foot made it. 

This was when we arrived at Disney. Christopher and Caleb got their own swords and eye patches. Caleb got his "1st Visit" Disney button too.

Of course they had a Lego store! I got some secret presents for him, including a Thanksgiving set for him and Uncle Anthony to put together. 

We had a crazy, huge accomplishment this morning and I have to brag on my little one. C1 and C2 both woke up around 7- and they both wanted breakfast. I told Christopher I would get him his cereal in the middle of Caleb's bottle, to which he replied that he could make his own. I agreed to let him give it a whirl.. and he did it. Got his bowl, spoon, cereal and milk... poured the cereal up to the top (with a few on the floor that he got down and ate up) and dumped in the milk. We had bought a small container of milk when we got back from Florida so the container was just big enough for him to handle. I went ahead and washed the container out to fill it up for him to use again tomorrow to make his own cereal. He must have asked me ten times- "Mommy, are you proud of me?" We called to tell Matt and I am sure he was thinking... oh good now he can get up on his own, make his cereal and watch cartoons while we sleep. :) 

And some videos...

surprising the boys

telling about his trip

riding the Barnstormer (C calls this Goofy's airplane)

driving the race cars (Matt filmed this upside down)

working on scissors

caleb on his activity mat

And that is all... I think! 

Have a great day!

Be kind.