changes

I have been looking for a new layout for this blog. I'm getting bored with the background, and there aren't many "themes" to choose from on the blogger website. So I have a new and improved blog on wordpress. So many themes to choose from. Hope you'll join us over there. I'm still working on getting all the old posts from here to there, and am able to personalize the site a little bit more so patience my dear friends....

cousins

Alex only has one first cousin, Maggie. She came to visit us today with Grandma and Uncle Gary. They have so much fun playing with each other. I really wish they would visit more often.

testing his limits

Alex loves looking at the Christmas tree and all the presents underneath it. He's really into presents right now- opening them and seeing what's inside. This should make his 2nd birthday fun. Anyhow, he has already opened one of the presents that we got in the mail from my parents. Luckily, it was for me and Chris. I quickly re-wrapped it since Chris doesn't know what it is yet. This taught me that I need to keep an eye on Alex when he's around stuff because I don't want him opening anymore. So lately, he keeps walking by the tree and touching all the presents, saying "omen, omen." That's how he says "open." And I remind him that we have to wait xnumber of days before he opens any. Ahhh... life with a toddler.

christmas cards

One of my favorite things (because there are so many) about this time of year is getting Christmas cards in the mail. I guess I should say holiday cards... more PC, I guess. Anyhow, I love seeing all the pictures of growing kids and expanding families :)

christmas cheer

Alex had his Christmas program/party at school this afternoon. His toddler class didn't participate in it because, to be honest, who can get kids under 2 to sing. Anyhow, it was adorable! I can't wait until next year when Alex actually participates in it. We enjoyed a nice lunch and snacks after the 2, 3, and 4 year old's sang.. Before we left, I made him give Mrs. Denise a hug. All in all, we had a great time.

typical school morning

I tried to get a picture of Alex standing nice and still since he was wearing this adorable Christmas outfit (which I made him wear since it was his last day of school until January), but no luck. I did get a picture of him during the brushing the teeth portion of our morning routine. I usually get him dressed, then have him sit on the counter while I brush my teeth. This is usually the only way that I can get him to brush his.

friends rock!

Alex and I went to playgroup this morning, as our usual Monday morning routine. It was at Laura and Wyatt's house today, and it was a lot of fun. Laura pulled out a huge garbage bag full of toys and told us to pick what we wanted out of it because Howard wanted to get rid of them. Whatever we didn't want, she was going to take to Goodwill. So Alex scored this lawnmower and a few Lightening McQueen cars (his current favorite). What a surprise! It was like an early Christmas.

difference between 1 and 2

Last night, I watched Jeremy for Nicole and Andrew so that they could attend Andrew's work Christmas party. Earlier in the week, Chris said that he told one of his other friends to bring their son over too. I asked why, and he said, "what's one more kid?" I thought about this for awhile and I have heard that having more than one is really not twice or three times the work. Anyhow, we had fun watching Jeremy, and Alex loved having his friend over. Who can resist that kid?

away in a manger

One of my goals this season was to buy Alex a nativity scene for his room so I could teach him why we celebrate Christmas. Along with the Advent calendar, this was my plan. I saw this Fischer Price Little People set in an ad somewhere, and thought to myself that this was the perfect one for Alex. Good thing I didn't buy it right away because my aunt sent it to us in the mail yesterday as an early Christmas present for Alex! He loves this thing. The angel on top plays "Away In A Manger." He loves letting the donkeys eat the hay and kisses the sheep, too! Aaaahhhh! It's so adorable. Notice baby Jesus isn't part of the scene just yet. He's hidden in Alex's dresser right now, and will make an appearance when the time comes.

breakfast of champions

Alex and I went to the mall-- to play, to eat, to shop! We haven't been to the mall in a really long time, but I usually let him play for a little while before the mall opens. Then we have a little chik-fil-a before shopping. That's exactly what we did today. Although I didn't get much shopping done since by the time I started, it was nearing his naptime.

wordless wednesday

more friends

This is Alex's buddy, Wyatt #2. I'm calling him this right now because he has another friend with that same name. We're still trying to figure out how to differentiate between the two since they hang out together a lot. And why is it that my child is not looking at the camera, but Wyatt is?

breakfast with Santa

Yesterday morning, we went to Breakfast with Santa. It benefited the Madison Public Library. I felt we needed to support the library since we (I mean, I) take Alex there so often. Anyhow, it started out fairly well. Alex was actually asking to see Santa. So I thought, "we might actually get a picture today." Nope. He cried again, and Chris didn't want to force Alex to have a picture taken with him (even with us in the picture) so I don't even have a picture of him screaming from this one. We had a great time though-- Alex colored with the crayons and pages they provided for him, we had pancakes and ran into a lot of our friends over there.

winter wonderland

Well, not really. I did wake up this morning to snow on the ground. It melted as soon as the sun started to shine, but it was nice while it lasted. There is something refreshing about seeing a blanket of snow on the ground... like a new start.

christmas displays

The Christmas season is in full swing around here. This was one of the pretty Christmas displays at EarlyWorks. This is my absolute favorite time of the year. And having Alex makes it even more fun (it was fun with him last year, but now he really is getting into things)!

mean mama

This morning, my friends and I took our kiddos to see Santa at Bridge Street. It was free so I wasn't going to lose anything from the experience. Last year, Alex was not a fan of Santa so I was expecting pretty much the same this year. And my expectations were met. In the end, we got a hilarious picture that I can use later in life. Santa and I are both laughing at the fact that Alex did not want to sit in his lap. Priceless.

teaching patience

Advent is the period of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus.... in non-religious terms, this is the time before Christmas. Our neighbor bought Alex this Advent calendar while she was in Germany, and I let him open the first one today. Before I found out that she bought this for him, I had intentions of buying one for him myself. As this is an important time in the Catholic faith.

p.s. The 12 days of Christmas is really the 12 days after Christmas, which is why I don't take my tree down until January 6.

in admiration

Alex's friend, Magda, finally joined our playgroup. Such a cute baby. Her poor parents, though. She's the only girl in a playgroup with 6 boys!

so tired

Poor Alex was exhausted this morning from his busy day yesterday. We had to leave church early, and he fell asleep on the less than 5-minute ride home.

best buds

We spent this afternoon with Jeremy and his parents, Nicole and Andrew. First stop-- EarlyWorks for a birthday party. The boys had a blast playing with each other. We were there until 3pm or so. Then it was off to Nicole and Andrew's house for football, dinner and just general being around friends. It was a great day!