Snow, Santa and Silliness

This might just be my way of surviving a trip to Target...

 Our little man can't get enough of the snow and the outside.  He dresses VERY warm and heads out with Zack every chance he gets. 

 He even helps sometimes!

 Future medical student?!? Hopefully by then she will be more interested in wearing clothes and not just her diaper and onesie (which she just figured out how to unsnap yesterday!). 

 We took the kids to the annual Rotary Christmas party.  They enjoyed the singing and program...

 Then Santa came along.  Jack was thrilled and Fernie couldn't get off daddy's lap fast enough!!

 I love how Fernie is trying to avoid looking at Santa while he is talking to Jack!   She wanted NOTHING to do with him.

 First Jack took a picture with Santa...

 Then we added Fernie...and daddy!

 Jack has been making snowballs like crazy with his new snowball maker...what will they think of next??

 Jack had his preschool Christmas program this week.  He enjoyed showing Dad around his room.  First stop:  Book section!

 Second stop:  Frog terrarium... Dad is very impressed with the magnifying glass! 

Little Fernie is always up to something!  She DOES like wearing hats. 

 Jack attended his first basketball game of the season.  I'm pretty sure he would spend the entire time at the concession stand if we would let him.  I only take him before the game and after half time!  He first wanted a "sucker nuk"...I had no idea what that was until he pointed it out.  A RING POP!

 Jack thinks this would be a good Christmas present! 

Still awaiting the arrival of Baby Girl!  Jack is sure she will be arriving on Christmas Day. He told me "the baby will be born Christmas Day, I will put on my clothes as fast as I can, run downstairs, hop over the gate (Christmas tree is gated off) and open all my presents with the new baby!" 

We are all very excited to meet our new little girl!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Cake, Cupcakes and More Cake!!!

We've been busy the last three weeks. 

The last few days we've just been trying to keep warm!!

Our little Fernie keeps us on our toes.  She is a good mix between being girly and keeping up with the boys!  This particular day she insisted on bringing her purse to run errands.

 Big brother finally made a trip to the dentist.  He did GREAT!  We've been reading books and talking about going to the dentist.  He was a bit apprehensive but overall he was a rock star!  (disregard the birthday boy shirt...it's one of his favorites!)

 This picture makes me laugh...this is how they watched the Thanksgiving day parade!  They both have their blankets in the tubs with them.

 Out for a ride! 

 One Sunday afternoon Fernie woke up from her nap a bit too early so she snuggled with Daddy on the couch.  It's rare to get a good snuggle out of her!

 'Tis the season!!  My favorite time of the year.

Jack is taking this Christmas thing very serious.  He was very thorough about decorating the tree.  He waters the tree every day (with help), turns on the Christmas lights all by himself and reports any tree mischief (Fernie)!

 Jack even got his little scissors to help cut the netting off the tree.

 Jack was very careful about hanging each ornament while Fernie took them off...

 

 Later in the week we celebrated Fernie's 2nd birthday!  We've eaten a lot of chocolate cake lately!  On the morning of her birthday I asked her how old she was...she held up her two fingers and said "two"!!  I had no idea she knew that!!  Later Zack told me that the night before he told her she was going to be 2!  Smart girl :)

Friday we went to Barns and Noble to redeem our free birthday cupcake. Fernie loved every bit of the frosting!

 Jack chose the double chocolate cupcake, good choice!

 

 Last night we had the BIG party!!  I think Fernie had a good time.  Jack was very helpful when it came to opening gifts.  He even reminded Fernie to thank him for the present he gave her!!!

I can't believe my baby is 2!!  She is full-of-life, sweet, silly, and VERY independent!! 

We love you baby girl! 

Tude

Over the last few months our sweet little Fernie has developed a bit of a "tude"!!  Sometimes it's funny and other times it's exasperating.  She clearly lets you know what she wants or doesn't want.  Don't misunderstand me, she is still sweet, caring and helpful but she has also let's her desires be known!  She is quick to say "No, No, No, No" or "Noooooooo" (high pitch scream).  And if she really is mad she will just scream.  One time I said to her during a screaming fit "Fernie, do we scream?" and she immediately stopped and said "No!"  It's amazing how much she really understands. 

We really didn't go through the terrible two's with Jack, so maybe that is what this is?!?! 

Fernie still likes to take off her pants and do her own thing.  When I'm in the kitchen she likes to be right by me.

Best seat in the house, I guess!

The last football game of the season was pretty chilly so only Jack and I went.  Zack and Fernie stayed in the nice warm house!  Cold weather can easily be forgotten with a bag of Mike 'n Ikes and hot chocolate!

With baby about 5 weeks away I'm beginning to wonder who might have some jealously issues?!??!

We had the pleasure of having Nana and Papa visit this weekend!  Jack had been counting down the days and it finally arrived.  We did our best to keep the kids from waking Nana and Papa the first morning but 7:00AM was as long as we could wait!!!

 

We did lots of reading, took Nana and Papa to the zoo and library, went to McDonald's playland and participated in our school's annual auction!

Jack enjoys feeding the animals but only the smaller ones.  He would say to Nana "you distract those big animals while I feed this one!"

 

I kid you not, Jack said to Fernie "don't wurry Furnie, they can't eat you!"  We have never been to the zoo when the bears were this close, they had dug a huge hole by the window.

I can't believe how much this little man is growing up and grasping the concepts of the world.  It's funny to hear in his words the things he thinks we are saying...
On a walk:  "I think that dog is a boy...he has gutters" I'm thinking he meant udders because it was a female dog!!!

Reading a book:  Me:  "...and all the kids cried tears of joy..."
J:  What are tears of joy??
Me:  When you are so happy you cry!
J:  Like when Papa cried @ Brit's wedding?? 

Talking with Zack:  Z:  Jack did you know the planets rotate around the sun?
J:  We learned that in school, dad!!

"Mommy, don't be a gooseball"...I think he meant goofball!

While getting ready for bed:  J:  Mommy I have chubby checks...
Me:  No you don't why would you say that??
J:  Because they are red and they hurt...
Me:  Oh you mean chapped checks!

A while back I hurt my back and every once and a while he will say:
"Mommy how is your back feeling today?"
When moving or lifting something:  "Mommy don't hurt your back"
"Furnie, don't hurt Mommy's back"

Jack is our little tender-heart!

Our Lovies!!!

 

Fall FUN!

Life is NEVER boring with these too, I can only image what like will be like after #3 arrives!! 

Fernie's newest thing is to take her pants off...she thinks she is VERY funny! 

 These two are BEST buds.  Fernie loves her "Pop Pop" very much. 

 We were blessed by a little snow a few days ago.  Good thing Jack was prepared!

 Our little snow owl!

 What do YOU do when someone rakes you a pile of leaves?!?!

 

 Jack was very helpful...Fernie would rather eat a snack!

 I spent the morning with Jack at his Fall School Party.  We both had a great time!! 

 The best part of our school day:  RECESS!!  Jack showed me all his tricks!

 We had one very excited little boy on Oct 31.  I think he had his costume on by 3:00pm.  Fernie on the other hand wanted NOTHING to do with her costume.  Just looking at her costume would bring tears to her eyes....good thing we had an owl hat!

 

 There is nothing more fun than tackling dad!

 

 We take full advantage of 40-50 degree weather!

 She rides on each playground toy for about 3 seconds...

 

 When Fernie was done, Zack hopped on...Jack was thrilled!