Christmas 2013: Part 2 (Home)

Part 2 of our  Christmas meant we got to spend Christmas morning just the 5 of us opening gifts from each other and Santa.  It was so much fun! 

Ready for Christmas morning!

 

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care.

I was so excited I was able to get Grant's up there this year too.  I think our fireplace looks perfect with five stockings!

 Santa left a note and ate the cookies Tyler and Grandma made. 

Here is a video of the start to our Christmas morning present opening. 

Tyler was pretty excited about his new bike. 
I don't think the video does his excitement justice. 

Tyler was excited about his Scooby Doo shirt.

Nathan got some new Mizzou gear.

Tyler helped open presents for Grant.  So generous of him! ;)

 

Tyler got some new Mizzou gear too.  Santa has excellent taste in college teams!

A new remote control car.  Santa brought different ones for Tyler and Nathan but we have two to minimize the fights. 

 

 

New Mercer Mayer books - Tyler's favorites!  I don't know what 4 year old requests books by the author...crazy kid.

 

 

I love the sweet photos of Tyler talking to Grant.

Nathan's remote control car.

Thomas + book = pure happiness

Merry 1st Christmas, Grant!

Nathan wanted in on the action of having a sweet moment with Grant on Christmas morning.  

The Lincoln Log container was more of a drum set on Christmas morning.

Trying out some gummy bears from his stocking.

 

One of the most exciting gifts the boys received was a train table that Jeff built for the playroom.

 

Nathan obviously loves it!

I love all the storage underneath.  I still want/need to purchase coordinating storage bins. 

You can hear Tyler constantly making up Thomas related stories with all the characters.  I love listening while pretending not to (he makes up the best ones when he doesn't think I am listening). 

I also love that Jeff built it big enough for both (soon all three) boys to play on it with enough space to avoid too many arguments.  We also intend someday that it will turn into a Lego table covered with the green Lego pad squares. 

 

I think it is so special to have a gift that they treasure so much handmade by their awesome dad! 

 

After presents were open we had time for a few more photos before it was time to get ready and head off to our next stop.   

This is pretty accurate photo of usual day to day happenings - three boys who constantly need/want my attention.  Tyler has a book, Nathan was eating gummy bears from his stocking for breakfast (hey, it was Christmas) and Grant is just hanging on for the ride.  I am exhausted and look like a wreck while my house has been torn apart.  LOVE!   

This was our attempt at a Christmas morning brother photo.  You see how well that went...

Nathan started whining.

So then we tried for everyone crying on Christmas morning.  Two out of three isn't bad.  We could only get Tyler to yell.  :)

Cheers to many more crazy Christmases to come! 

We are thankful to all be together, healthy and feel very blessed!



Christmas 2013: Part 1

We are going to break all the Christmas festivities into several posts.  We had a total of FIVE Christmas celebrations.  My mom and dad were nice enough to schedule our immediate family Christmas the Sunday before the big day to spread it out a bit.

 

Tyler opened books first and was content for a bit.  This child LOVES to read so much and it is evident by the amount of books he received for Christmas!  I have said it before and I will say it again, we might have more books in our little house than his kindergarten classroom will have.  They are EVERYWHERE and I love it! 

Kyle and Grant got some good bonding time in during the celebration. 

Nathan was into ripping open gifts this year.  The boys LOVE their easel from Kyle, Maggie and Hadley! 

Hadley is quite the fun, sassy little girl and we enjoy not only living so close to them but also to be able to celebrate holidays too.  We look forward to Hadley's new sibling set to arrive in July! 

I hope that Grant and the new Zick baby are as close and sweet as Nathan and Hadley usually are to each other.

 

 

Tyler got a cool car that travels on any black line that you draw.  I was skeptical but it really does work and it is pretty neat! 

Mom and dad with their 4 grandkids! 

 

Thanks Mom, Dad, Kyle and Maggie for a great Christmas!



Grant: 1 MONTH

Grant turned 1 month already and already I am way behind.  I am going to use the excuse of Christmas and hopefully I will be better in coming months, but no promises. 

 

It was difficult (on my own I might add) to get this little man situated to sit up, look at the camera and take the picture but I managed to get a few.  Grant is just starting to get a little belly on him.

It is exhausting to take photos with mom.

He still naps in between every feeding which occurs ever 3 or so hours during the day.  At night we have made it as long as 6 hours, but 4-5 hours has been more regular at night.  Luckily, he has been awesome to go back to sleep promptly after nursing at night.  I will take it!

Grant has lost a lot of hair on the top of his head.  It is not a hairdo I hope he repeats later on in life but he seems to make it cute nonetheless.  ;)

His big head is hard to hold up. 

He had a bit of baby acne for two weeks but then it cleared up. 

Working on a smile...

We did get several smiles by the 1 month mark, usually in the evening when he is most awake between 7-9pm. 

"Are you really still looking at all these photos my mom took?" ;)

His big brown eyes just melt our hearts. 

Finally, there is a glimpse of the his little dimple.   LOVE!

 

Overall, we have adjusted nicely to a family of five. 

Funny story: Tyler was counting our family members earlier this week and said "Mom, I love that there are 5 of us!"  That prompted me to ask the question "How many of our family do you think there should be total?"  Tyler's answer: "Seven!"  Jeff promptly chuckled and said "I don't think so..."

 

It is hard to believe the time is flying by so quickly.  I just love the newborn baby stage and cuddling the sweet little man.  Jeff often has to tell me "Ali, he is sleeping so go put him down in his bed."