3 Year Olds

Eden came to spend the day with the boys and I - so I thought it would be the perfect time to whip up a batch of cut out sugar cookies.  Chase was thrilled, of course!  He loves to help me in the kitchen. 

...probably because I let him taste the dough.  ; )  He was a great little helper helping me roll the dough and cut out the cookies. 

I baked them off and put the frosting on them and then let Chase and Eden do the sprinkles.  They were so cute!  Chase would cover his with so many sprinkles you couldn't even see the icing..and Eden would only put like 3 sprinkles on each cookies.  Haha.

I had quite the mess of sprinkles.  Milo was walking all around trying to pick them up off of the floor and eat them.  Haha - oh well! 

Didn't they do good?!

Good job little buddy!

Somehow I actually managed to get them all a nap at the same time.  I couldn't believe it!  I wasn't going to worry about Chase and Eden having a nap but then Eden fell asleep watching a movie so I went ahead and put Chase down too.  Cuties! 

Eden sat in the kitchen on the stools a lot of the day watching me cook and clean.  Kind of fun having a little miss around.  : ) 

Copy Cat

Chase was playing with the microphone and Milo ran back to Chase's room and comes out a few minutes later with another toy with a microphone attached to it!  We were amazed!  He pays such good attention to little things already.  Such a smart big boy!  They were both "singing" until I got the camera out, of course.  : ) 

This little one shoulder up and head tilted to the side sweet look is one of our favorites.  Such a doll he is! 

Sending Christmas Love

The first year Josh and I were married Aunt Desiree sent us a personalized ornament in the mail.  It was completely unexpected and very thoughtful.  I loved it!  So - I wanted to share that feeling.  I sent Matthew and Lacey a little package.  I bought them a "our first Christmas together" ornament, made Matthew his favorite green wreaths, and had the boys color them pictures.  It got to Chicago lickity split and I think they were pretty surprised and excited.  Matt told me that when Lacey got the box she told him it was from us and said I wonder what it is...and he said "I hope it's those green things!".  Yay!  I did good!  : )  I just wanted to pass on something that I liked and appreciated and provide Matt with a little bit of "home" around the holidays too.  Felt good - I want to do it again! 

His Idea

Chase just randomly ran up to Josh and asked him to come take his picture.  He posed in front of the tree and put his hands like that.  Cute right?!  ; )  We sure thought so! 

Snow

We got a dusting of snow before the big snow.  I actually took a walk in it that next morning.  It felt great!  I am trying to still walk when I can during the winter.  I hate being cold but I love the way I feel after a good walk.  I scooped off the cement when I got back so we let my big buddy come out and help.  10 minutes outside and he was satisfied.  It doesn't take much to please him.

Christmas Is Coming

I found a sticky window choo choo in our box of Christmas stuff.  I let Chase put it on the window how he wanted.  He did a really good job!  He has climbed up there many times since then and rearranged it a bit - and it looks awesome every time. 

Colista does an Advent calender with her kids that is just cool.  They have something Christmas related to do every day.  I feel like I have kind of been doing this - just without the calendar.  I want to get something like that though for future years.  Simple little things to help the kids feel the magic of Christmas time.  I enjoy it all and feel the magic too.  : )

Sing Us A Song

You're the piano man.  ; )  I've finally started playing my piano again lately.  Christmas music is always enjoyable to play.  Anyways - Milo has become interested in the piano all of a sudden.  I thought this time he was "playing" was exceptionally cute.  He was sitting on the bench and had both hands a goin' like he really knew what he was doing.  Maybe someday he really will know what he's doing - we'll see!

Random Night

On just a random night at Grandma's...

Harley is eating baby food now and LOVING it!  His tiny little mouth smacks away.  : )

Look who isn't too big to rock.  : )  I caught Chase in the rocking chair with Grandma.  I know our days of him being willing to do this with us are limited, darn it - but for now he still likes a snuggle just as much as we do.  Yay!

Milo kept giving Harley hugs and kisses all on his own.  So adorable! 

Milo was also a big fan of Aunt Nessa that night.  Full of love he was!

Ice cream cones!

Apparently Grandma lets Milo have these at her house.  I didn't know he had ever had one before.  He ate the entire thing!  Like not even a speck of the cone was left.  I couldn't believe it!  Well, I can - because it's Milo - but I was surprised! 

So Squishy

Oh, Milo - you are SO squishy!!  I love love love him!  His cheeks are so kissable and he's so soft and squishy.  There isn't a thing that I don't love about him.  We are so enjoying him and the awesome lovable bright personality he is shining!  This stage is a fun one.  : )

Drive

Last weekend we didn't really feel like fixing supper and didn't really have any plans - so Josh had the idea of driving over to Keokuk to go through the city of lights.  OK!  Sounded like a plan to me!  We put the boys in jammies and buckled them in with blankets over them.  We put a Christmas movie in the DVD player in the car and went on our drive. 

Chase was super into it.  He sat up as far as he good and had big eyes.  : )

Milo I think liked it too.  The little stinker would NOT get his hands away from his face.  Every time I took a picture they were there.  Haha - typical Milo! 

We drove through there and then went by the house that is next to it that has their house all done up too.  After that we went to McDonalds and got the boys happy meals.  They ate those in the car while we drove to Hamilton and saw a few houses there.  Josh and I picked up Mexican for us to bring home.  We got home and the boys were fed and we got to be comfy and chow on our Mexican.  It turned out to be a super awesome night!  I think we ALL enjoyed it!

My night turned sour pretty quickly - shortly after going to bed I woke up with a terrible stomach ache.  I was miserable for a long time before finally losing my cookies.  I thought I was in for it and had the flu.  I only vomited the one time but I had the chills and everything. It was awful.  Josh got called to work in the night so luckily it was Sunday the next day and Mom came and took the boys for me for a while so I could rest.  I don't know what caused it or what it was but it was rough - but quick, thank goodness! 

Buster

Mom and I went up town to the vendor blender they had during the Christmas walk.  There was this man there (we thought probably a retired farmer) selling wooden things.  He had planes, trucks, trains and other things.  This dog was my favorite of what he had.  He is cool how his legs move around when you pull him.  I decided to go ahead and get it for my boys.  They were excited I brought them something home.  We named him Buster.  Chase knocked the dog over and Josh said to be careful we didn't want to bust him - so that is how he got the name Buster.  Yep - we named a wooden dog.  Haha!!

Josh was home because the boards were moving slow and I had a really long week with the boys that week so I ended up going to Burlington for the afternoon with Mom too.  I so needed a break so it worked out perfect. 

Program

Owen and Asher had their Christmas program last week.  I wasn't sure if I should try and go since I had the boys by myself - but I gave it a shot.  Here is Asher before the program.

Owen before the program.  His friend Alex jumped in his picture too.  : )

Milo sat like a big boy next to Ty Ty...for just a minute though.  Cute while it lasted!

The boys are getting so big!  I remember when they were just babies - only 3 days apart from one another.  They did a good job singing like pro's.  : ) 

Chase took a turn on Ty Ty's lap too.  Something funny was going on here - Chase and Cullen had the giggles. 

My boys "sat still" long enough for me to get to watch Owen and Asher's class sing their songs and then I had to take them to the back of the gym to run around.  I kind of figured they wouldn't do well in bleachers and I was right.  They are little though I shouldn't expect anything else.

Next year Chase will be in his very own Christmas program.  Oh - I just seriously can't believe that!  I'm excited though too to get to watch him perform.  ; ) 

The Polar Express

We made a special evening of it when we broke out The Polar Express.  We knew Chase would be excited.  I put it away with the Christmas stuff so he wouldn't watch it year around and it would be special for Christmas time. 

Yay!!  He loved it again this year just as much (if not more) than he did last year. 

It quickly became his favorite movie.  He wanted to watch it again and again in the next few days.  After seeing it a few times - when it got to the hot chocolate scene one day he asked me for hot chocolate.  He has never asked for hot chocolate before - so I thought that was adorable...and of course, he got some.  : )  Simple special moments that I adore! 

Thoughtful

Shani Bollin used to do my hair for me back around the time we got married.  We had a conversation at some point about who did our wedding cake.  Well - years later she remembered our conversation.  One of her clients gave her a white chocolate raspberry cake from Ruby's and she thought of me and called me to come up and get a few pieces.  I thought that was SOOO thoughtful!  ..and I was SOOO excited!  Josh was home too so we both got to enjoy it together.  Chase even grabbed a fork and joined us.  ; ) I forgot how good it was.  Mmmmm YUM!! 

Cheap Date

We felt like Amigo's so we called Taylor to see if she wanted to go to Amigo's with us for for supper.  It's her favorite.  She met us in Niota and went with us.  She was a super cheap date - her supper was only 3.25!  Haha! 

We took a drive by their lights before going to supper and again after we ate.  The boys liked them.  Milo pointed and said "oooh".  Taylor had Milo giggling away in the back seat.  We all got to enjoy the worlds best giggle.  You can't hear it and not smile...it's just the greatest laugh there ever was.  We dropped her back off in Niota though and his giggles quickly turned into tears.  He was MAD that Aunt Taylor got out of the car.  Haha - we have another fan of Aunt Taylor. 

Daddy Time

I left the boys with Josh one morning while I ran to a chiropractor appointment.  I came home to find this awesome fort he had made with the boys.  My Josh is like a big kid himself and the boys and I love him for it!  What a good Daddy he is!  : ) 

Learning

I know I just posted him playing with his wooden blocks recently...but here he is building with other blocks.  I seriously enjoy watching him sit and concentrate and learn and play quietly.  So sweet!  Muah!

Mr. Fashion

Oh my gosh this boys is cracking us up lately!  He LOVES to dress himself up in all sorts of duds.  He calls the blanket his "superman". He'll have us help his with that part..but everything else he does himself.  

This one was my favorite!  ..and he asked me to take his picture this time too.  He posed like that himself and everything.  Haha!  He is a riot! 

Yep, he wanted his picture taken again.  Notice the shoes on the wrong feet.  That makes it that much more cute if you ask me.  What a stud!  ; )

The Tree

We got a new TV stand and a new TV this year.  Josh got a bonus from work that was mostly used to pay off some debt.  That was no fun AT ALL!  We decided since we were "smart" with most of it that we would treat ourselves with one nice treat - so the TV and stand were that "treat".  Our old stand was falling apart so we actually needed the stand.  The TV...well, I just surprised the heck out of Josh and suggested it and of course, he was ALL for it!  Haha.  It really helped with making room for the tree - so that was a bonus too. 

We put Milo down for a nap and let Chase help us put up the tree instead of taking a nap.  He was excited!  We showed him his ornaments and let him hang them on the tree.  His Mickey Mouse on the tractor one was his favorite. 

He got to help Daddy put the topper on too. 

The tree was all done when Milo woke up.  We weren't sure how he'd do with it.  The Christmas when Chase was his age we had the huge gate up around it because he would NOT leave it alone.  Chase had to show it too him. 

I told them I wanted a picture in front of the tree..and this is what Chase did.  How CUTE is that?!  Oh, I love it! 

 Love.  This defines priceless to me. 

 Milo was super curious.  He found Chases tractor ornament right away. 

He sat and stared at it quite a while.  We had to tell him no no a few times but overall in perfect Milo style - he has been easy peasy with the tree and leaving it alone!  He is such a good baby!  He will once in a while go by it and reach out to touch something and then look at me and smile just because he knows he isn't supposed to do it.  He's such a little flirt!  ; ) 

Getting the tree up really makes the house feel cozy and puts you in the Christmas mood.  We love our tall skinny tree.  Perfectly pretty!