Favorite Posts of 2011

As 2011 comes to an end, I enjoyed looking back over some of our most memorable events this past year.  It was very hard to pick 10 so I combined a few. 

Here are my top 10 most memorable events/posts in 2011:

1.  Owen singing "Chicken Friday".  He still enjoys the song and will perform a mini-concert for us now and then.  And I can't forget the adorable love song he performed for me either :)

2.  Adam's first steps.  Brings tears to my eyes to look back over this video.

3.  Adam turned ONE and Owen turned FOUR!

4.  Adam got glasses

5.  We made it through a trip to the beach with our boys over Easter

6.  Mike and I did the Warrior Dash with the Szajda's

7.  Owen learned to swim and ride his bike!  He also played soccer and had a blast!

8.  The Flood.

9.  Mike and I took a trip to Hilton Head to celebrate Katie and Joel's wedding. 

10.  Adam broke his leg.

Christmas 2011

I posted about Christmas Eve day, but haven't written about the rest of our holiday.  So sit back, relax and get ready for a long, and probably boring to most, post.

Christmas Eve we went to the 4:30pm church service.  Despite major tears, we put Adam in the nursery because the service was being held in the traditional sanctuary which meant it was a quieter service.  Adam and quiet don't mix well.  Owen sat with us and did very well.  His favorite part was holding the candle during "Silent Night".  I've never let him do that before so it was a big hit!

After church we headed to my aunt and uncle's house.  It was so nice seeing everyone, however I didn't feel like I really got to talk and catch up like I would have liked.  I guess that's just our reality right now.  Adam was very busy and hobbling around on his peg leg, trying to jump off every step, and doing laps around the downstairs.  I couldn't really keep my eye off him for a minute.  The food was delicious!  Owen ate about 25 strawberries, which came back to haunt us a few hours later.

Once we got home, we put Adam to bed and Owen and I got everything ready for Santa.  I really wish I had a secret camera to video how adorable and excited he was for Santa to come.  He put out cookies and carrots and had lots of questions about how Santa would fit down the chimney.  I told him that Santa is magical so he'd find a way.  Sometimes he asks the trickiest questions.  Someone should write a book about what to say when your child asks you tough questions.  I'd definitely buy it and read it!
Before bed, we sprinkled magical reindeer food on the roof just outside his bedroom.  That was the last of our blissful, Christmas magic.

A few hours later (around 11pm) he woke up with a horrible stomach ache.  The stomach bug has been going around his daycare and I just knew it was a matter of time until it hit our house.  However, I was praying it would not happen over Christmas.  I got in his bed and rubbed his head and asked him if he felt like he was going to throw up.  He told me "no", but that his belly just really hurt.  Next thing I know, he sits up and throws up all over my face and hair and in my glasses.  I jumped out of bed, gagging, and yelling for Mike.  It was horrible.  Just know that neither Owen, nor I, will be having anything strawberry related for a very. long. time.

Poor guy was so sick.  I felt so badly for him.  The next morning he was so sick he didn't even feel like opening his presents :(  Adam would go over to him on the couch, lay his head next to Owen's, and give him a kiss.  Then, he'd bring him a gift to open.

So we watched Adam open his presents.  He was really into it and his excited face was priceless!

None of us got out of our pajamas all day.  Our brave parents came over to visit.  The best part of my day yesterday was taking a 2.5 hour afternoon nap.  By the evening, Owen was starting to feel a little better.

He woke up feeling fine this morning so we went over to Papa and Finny's house for breakfast and to open some gifts.

Is this a forced smile or what?!?  It made me laugh so hard.

Then, at noon we went over to Uncle Boo and Aunt Judy's house for one last get together with everyone. 

It ended up being a very nice Christmas, despite Owen not feeling well.  All of us were given wonderful gifts and are so fortunate and blessed!

Now if the rest of the week could continue at snail speed, that would be nice :)

And congratulations if you made it this far!

Christmas Eve Day

This morning we went over to my parent's house to exchange gifts, and afterwards, have some lunch.

The boys were in stimulation/excitement overload!  Adam was definitely more excited about opening gifts this year, however, after opening a few things he just wanted to play with the toys that have been at Lala and Steve's since before he was born.

Paige, Ella, and Samantha came over for a bit to open gifts.  Samantha got a cute, pink princess tent.

While I was assembling it, Ella, Owen and Adam came in and I got very claustrophobic.

Poor Sam just wanted to snuggle with her mommy.  I think there was a little too much action for her that early in the morning.

She did let me snap a few pictures of her with Adam.

Unfortunatly, a picture with all 4 of the kiddos just wasn't going to happen.

We have many more festivities today, tonight, tomorrow, and Monday!

And now I must go get a certain, almost 2 year old, out of his crib.  I guess napping is overrated because yesterday and today he has only napped for 40 minutes.  I'm praying this is a short-lived phase and he's back to his 2-3 hour naps very, very soon!!

Our living room

Our Christmas Card

After many attempts at the "perfect" Christmas card picture, I gave up and decided this one is probably the best TRUE picture of our family right now :)

Merry Christmas!

Tid Bits

We had a fun and festive weekend!  Friday night we cleaned.  A lot.  Usually by Friday our house is such a disaster, but last week was especially bad.  It felt good to clean and get rid of some things.  Once the boys were in bed, Mike and I watched The Help.  I loved the book and saw it in the theater, but Mike had never seen it.  He really liked it. 

Saturday morning we took the boys to the Strasburg Railroad for the train ride with Santa.  It was Finny's birthday, so we all went along and had lunch on the train followed by a special visit from Santa!  I wasn't as impressed with this Santa as one we saw during our breakfast the previous weekend.  I think he's in such a rush to visit with all the kids that he really doesn't connect with them.  Oh well.  I don't think Owen noticed much, although he did comment that his beard was different than last time.  haha!  I told him he must have cut it.  Both boys had a good time on the train, especially Adam.  He is very into trains right now.  He almost always has one in his hand. Just like Owen was at this age :)

I don't really remember what we did Saturday night.  Probably just hung out at home and wrestled (the boys, not me), and played Polar Express.  Owen's latest imaginary game is pretending he's the conductor on the Polar Express.  His favorite scene is the hot chocolate scene and he runs around dancing, pouring hot chocolate, and punching our tickets.  It's so funny and he gets so into it!  My mom printed out some "real" Polar Express tickets and gave him a real hole punch.  There are little holes all over my house, but considering how the rest of the house usually looks, it's no big deal.  Plus, the fun he has pretending makes it completely worth it!

Sunday morning Mike had to get up early to go to a soccer tournament so I took BOTH boys to church by myself.  It was my first time taking them both together, without Mike.  After naps, Owen and I baked chocolate chip cookies and peanut butter blossoms (my favorite!!).

We decided to (finally) take Adam's nunner (pacifier) away except for nap/bed time.  I was going to wait until after his cast came off, but he's doing fine with the cast.  In fact, tonight, for the first time, he was walking all over the place with it on.  In a few days I may try to get him to walk wearing his boot.  Anyway, we were about to sign him up for Nunner's Anonymous.  He is SO attached to it.  I probably should have taken it away like 18 months ago, but I didn't.  He's done surprisingly well without it.  He's only asked for a it a few times, but he hasn't thrown massive tantrums...... yet. 

And then there's Sam- our silly elf.  Last night he toilet papered our Christmas tree. 

Nice one Sam.

I think he knew I was unhappy about that, so tonight, he's laying low and reading to some friends. 

Happy Monday!

Making Messes

We woke up Thursday morning to find that Sam had made quite the mess!

Making snow angels in flour all over our dining room table.

The excitment and look on Owen's face every morning while he searches for and then finds Sam is priceless.  I wish I could box it up because I know it won't last forever and I LOVE the age/stage he is in right now.  Everything is so magical.

This morning Sam is much more subdued.  I think he knows I wasn't happy about the mess he made.  He's sitting on our book shelf like a good little elf with an apology note.

I have such a hard time disguising my handwriting.  I found that writing with my left hand works pretty well!

Wordless Wednesday

Meeting Santa

I won't tell you what Adam thought of Santa.  You'll just have to wait to see for yourself.  I finally got the perfect picture for our Christmas cards.

I am home with Adam today.  I think he has Roseola. Wednesday afternoon/evening he was MISERABLE.  He cried and cried and just wanted me to hold him.  I put him to bed at 6:30pm and he slept until 7:30am the next morning.  When I got him up, he felt really warm and had a low grade fever and a rash all over his chest.  He was acting pretty normal so we sent him to Papa and Finny's.  He fell asleep on Papa at 10am and again at noon.  Then, he slept almost until I picked him up at 4.    He just had no energy!  Last night his fever was a bit higher and he went to bed again at 6:30 and slept until after 7am which is very unlike him.  He's my early bird.  His rash has spread to his legs, arms, and a little on his face, but his fever is lower and he has been happy and playing today.

We have a very busy weekend planned.  Tomorrow morning we are going to Breakfast with Santa at the church down the street.  Then, I am taking Owen into my school because they have a One Stop Shop for kids to purchase gifts for their family members.  He's excited to buy some gifts for other people.  I can't wait to see what he chooses.  Then, tomorrow night we have my work Christmas party and Mike's work party after that.  Phew!

 

We've been enjoying Nana Way's Advent calendars.  Every day the boys open a drawer.  Each drawer usually has $1, a piece of candy, and a card with a number on it.

They have to find the gift with the same number on it and then they get to open it!

Owen is super excited every morning.  In fact, he was waking up too early and rushing downstairs to open his gift so I had to threaten to make him take naps at daycare if he kept getting up before 6:30am.

I found a Christmas tree craft project on another blog and decided to try it with Owen.  He helped paint the pots green and glue some of the buttons on the trees.  We plan to give them away as gifts to his Sunday school teacher and a few other people.  I think they turned out cute, although I still have some to finish.

And our elf Sam... well he's been his usual mischievous self.  I think Mike and I are having just as much fun, if not more, with Sam than the boys are!

Oh Sam!

We do the Elf on the Shelf every year as one of our Christmas traditions and this year Sam seems to be a lot more mischievous than previous years.  Another blogger that I often read posted this link which has tons of fun ideas to do with your elf. 

So far he's hung from our Coo Coo Clock, written "Hi Owen" in HUGE letters on our mirror in our living room, drawn afros and unibrows on our family picture, and this morning when I came down stairs this is how I found the little stinker...

Truth is... I usually forget to move him before bed, so I make Mike do it.  I almost like it more that way since I'm the first one up and it's fun to try to find where Mike put him.  Last night I texted Mike from bed and reminded him to move Sam.  I was cracking up when I found him hugging Mary this morning.

Happy Monday!

Hodge Podge

I'm so glad it's the weekend!  This week seemed to last forever.  Adam was finally back at daycare on Friday and he did great.  I think he missed his friends.  The kids at school are already hyper and excited for the holidays.  I have a very needy class this year as far as sad home lives and it breaks my heart.  I wish I could bring at least five of them home to stay with us.  Sigh.

I went through some pictures I took to see what I've missed blogging about...

So, last Saturday we had a very laid back, small celebration for my mom's 60th birthday.  I actually thought she was only turning 59.  She just doesn't seem like a 60 year old to me.  But, I was wrong.

God Bless Aunt Beth and her cake making skills.

Had I known it was the BIG 6-0 I may have tried to throw together something a bit fancier, however I know she would have hated a big party, and since Adam broke his leg the day before, it worked out great to stay at our house and just order pizza.

Both boys are obsessed with their Lala, but Adam thinks he owns her.  He tells her what to do, where to sit, what to play, even where to put her hand, and she listens :)

A few weeks ago I had this great idea for a Christmas card picture.  Since the previous photo shoot didn't work, I was going to try a second time here at our house with just the kids.  I put a wreathe on the John Deere, my mom wrapped some gifts to put in the back, the boys looked cute in their denim and waffle shirts, it was going to be great.....

Or not.  After many attempts, Adam just wasn't cooperating.  I believe I wrote about our attempt in a previous post, but I never showed the pictures.

This one would be OK, minus Baby.

 

Adam loves his baby doll.  He holds her all the time.  He loves to sit on the couch and watch Sesame Street with baby in his lap and he insists I cover them both with a blankie.  

He also loves his Clifford.  He constantly kisses him and feeds him whatever he is eating.

Here's hoping this weekend is MUCH less eventful than last weekend.  We have very few plans, and we'll soak it all in because after this weekend we are busy with Christmas events every weekend in December.

Adam's Cast

Mike got Adam an appointment with the orthopedic doctor this morning at 10:45am.  The appointment went really well.  His break is very close to a growth plate, but they don't think it will be a problem.  Mike let Adam pick out the color for his cast and he picked neon green.  He has a boot to wear once he starts walking with his cast on.

I feel much better now that he has a hard cast.  They said he will need to wear it for 4-6 weeks.  They could take it off January 5th or the 12th, but because of work schedules, we had to make the appointment for the 12th.  Exactly one month before his 2nd birthday.  During that appointment they will do another x-ray to make sure it is completely healed.

It's going to be a long 6 weeks (especially when it comes to taking baths).  Adam is a wild boy in the tub as well.  He loves to splash like crazy.

Something positive in this whole broken leg thing... we've gone on more family walks in 4 days than we have the entire time I've been back to work.  After Adam was  born and I was home with the boys, we'd go on a family walk almost every night after dinner.  Once I went back to work we rarely went on walks together.  Now that Adam can't really play outside, we've been taking him on walks.  He loves it and so do we.  The weather has been unseasonably warm and a lot of our neighbors have out their Christmas lights and decorations, so it's been extra fun.