The Santa Express

HIGH: A great trip on the Santa Express with Nana and Papa :)
LOW: We were too pooped to make it to the tree lighting ceremony downtown :(

Today Nana and Papa took the whole family on the Santa Express!  We took a nice train ride to see Santa!  The kids all wore their jammies, it was super fun!  There was hot chocolate, popcorn, Christmas music in each car, and of course SANTA!!  Claire and Oliver had a blast!

Oliver and Nana waiting for the train to leave the station.

ALL ABOARD!!!

We didn't even sit down yet and Claire was telling me how much fun she was having!

Of course we all had our snacks!

This is Claire when the horn sounded and the train started to move.

Oliver had fun hangin' with Nana.

My little Elves.

Oliver kissin' Claire.  I swear he gives kisses already!  Well, it's more like he sucks on your face BUT it is a definite sign of affection :)

Oliver was sooo good all day!  He didn't fuss once, even when we went out to eat after the train ride.  He was perfectly content with a rattle to suck on.

Claire loved staring out the window.

The conductor came around and punched everyone's tickets.  Claire thought this was awesome!  She didn't let that ticket go after it was punched.

They had singers that went from car to car singing Christmas songs.

My little train buddy.

My dad's best friend and his wife and their grandkids met up with us while we were there too. I swear my Dad was there, although I have no pictures of him!

All I wanted was a picture by the train but of course neither of the kids are looking.

Today was Claire's first experience with gloves not mittens.  Yeah...didn't go so well.  I need to find gloves that fit these tiny fingers.

Mark and Oliver waiting patiently for Santa.

Claire couldn't wait to get on Santa's lap!

She let him know all of the things that she wanted for Christmas.

Then she posed for a picture (she knows the drill by now).

The Komos and Santa.  What did Mark ask Santa for this year?  New forks.  Somehow, we have lost half of our forks.  I hope Santa pulls through for us :)

Then Mrs. Clause (or Mrs. Santa Clause as Claire calls her) gave Claire a candy cane.

Me and my baby girl.

Oliver back on the train ready to head home.

"WAIT!!  WHAT DO YOU MEAN SANTA IS ON THE TRAIN NOW?!?!?!!?"

One more picture with Santa.

Claire writing a thank you letter to Santa.

Claire even looked cute from behind.

My mother and I had to sit in the third row seating in my truck.  Besides it being a huge pain to get in the back (although HILARIOUS) it was pretty comfy.  Oliver loved it because he could see us the whole time!

IT WAS A GREAT DAY!  THANK YOU NANA AND PAPA!!  WE LOVE YOU!!!!

Friday, December 3, 2010 Tubby Time

Tubby Time
HIGH: Mark had ANOTHER snow day :)
LOW:  My poor parents were stuck in their house :(

Today Mark had another snow day!!!  YAY!!!  So again, we just stayed in our jammies all day long and relaxed!  My poor parents got soo much snow that they literally could not get out of their house.  And of course their plow guy didn't come!!  This weather has been crazy!!  So there is not too much to write about today.  I did get some cute pictures of Oliver taking his bath tonight!

Tubby time for Oliver has been a nightly routine since we started sleep training (which has gone amazing!  Now you just lay him down and he goes right to sleep.  Well...after he places the blanket over his face :).  This kid LOVES his bath.  

He splashes like crazy!!!!!

Then he looks up at you like this.  

As if to say "DID YOU SEE THAT?!?! IT WAS AWESOME!!!".

Thursday, December 2, 2010 LET IT SNOW!

LET IT SNOW!
HIGH: MARK HAD A SNOW DAY :)
LOW: I am starting to get a little antsy from being in this house :(

Well it is STILL snowing!!  Mark got a snow day!!!  Which is nice because now he has an extra day to work on the dining room floor!  We basically hung out around the house all day while Mark worked.  Then Mark's brother came over to help out with the floor.  Basically, just a relaxing day in our jammies!  Thank god my girlfriend Amy came over for a glass of wine to break things up!! I LOVE the snow but I would like to get out of this house one of these days!

Ahhh Claire's favorite swing.  Now it is covered in snow!

Wednesday, December 1, 2010 Welcome December!

Welcome December!
HIGH: Mark got out of work early because of the weather :)
LOW: We couldn't get to swim class because of the weather :(

Welcome December!!  You definitely came in with a bang!  The snow has been falling and it has not stopped!  Mark was supposed to have parent teacher conferences all day and they all got sent home early because of the weather!  I love this weather.  As a teacher I still get snow days!  Poor Claire was the only one upset about the weather because we couldn't get to swim lessons.

When I was a kid we used to pick on my father all the time because he always taking pictures of the yard when it snowed.  And now here I am doing the same thing!  I get it now Dad :)  Here is my yard.  As you can see there is snow but there is also some water that is starting to freeze!  

I love this weather.

Now, I have water on my lens so I must take a break.  Hmmm I wonder how my Dad handled that one!

Tuesday, November 30, 2010 Sittin' Tall

Sittin' Tall
HIGH:  Oliver is getting really good at sitting on his own :)
LOW: The weather is all rainy and Pete gets really muddy :(

Oliver is getting sooo big!  He is starting to sit all on his own!  He still needs a little help and doesn't last very long but he is getting there!

He looks so big when he sits up!

 Oliver is sooo proud of himself!

Monday, November 29, 2010 Ode To Pete

Ode To Pete
HIGH: A nice playdate with the girls :)
LOW: I didn't get any pictures today :(

Today we had a nice playdate with the girls but I didn't get any pictures.  We were too busy chatting and playing with our little ladies and our little gentlemen too :)

Since I didn't get any pictures today I decided to post a tribute to our first baby Peter Bernard.

Poor Pete.  He does not get enough credit around here lately.  The poor thing usually just gets hollered at for being my "third child".  But, he is really a great dog.  Yes, he is a little annoying when company comes over, or when he barks at nothing, or when he has to go out when it's raining.  BUT he is really amazing with the kids.  Claire can do whatever she wants to him and he still loves her and he just takes it.  Also, Pete is great with Oliver.  I can leave Oliver anywhere and I know that Pete will not hurt him or even bother him.  Pete gets just close enough to keep an eye on him but never more than that.  Also, if Oliver starts really crying Pete will start howling as if to say "Hellllloooooo!!!!  Someone come and make sure Oliver is ok!!!!!!".  Pete, we really do love you even if we don't always show it!!!

 

Ever since Oliver has been born Pete has been by his side!

 Wherever Oliver is, Pete is not far behind.

 Pete is always in the background, just making sure that things are ok.

Claire and Pete have always been buddies.  Her first word was dog because of him.

She loves Pete, even when he drinks out of her pool...

or plays with her toys.

WE LOVE YOU PETE!

Sunday, November 28, 2010 Milkshake

Milkshake
HIGH: We did a little bit more shopping :) AND Had dinner at Grandma and Grandpa's :)
LOW:  We still have not found a light fixture that we like :(

Today we did our usual run around all day thing.  We are still looking for a light fixture for the dining room and that seems to be the toughest thing yet.  

Claire had fun making a milkshake with Grandma today.

I am pretty sure that the taste test was the best part for her.

Here's Oliver nappin' on the floor.  Yes, that is his blanket over his face.  My little guy LOVES to have things over his face to sleep, it used to scare me and now I think we are just used to it!

So while Claire and Grandma read their books, Oliver put his blanket over his face and napped.