Christmas and more Christmas!

Another Christmas has gone and Jacob is still asking to open presents. He's really set on opening Harley and Hannah's presents under the tree, even though they are at my parents for these few days we are in Chaska this week. For the first year he was good at opening his presents and was a great help to Gavin too.

We headed to Melrose on Tuesday night in the Malibu, since the Explorer's idler (or something) was making it idle too high for us to drive all the way to Melrose. 4 people, 2 dogs and all their gear and presents in a small sedan. It was a cozy as it sounds.

We started Christmas Eve at my parents for brunch and the opening of the stocking presents. When I was young we opened stocking presents all throughout December - think "oooh, look, bobby pins!" (underwear, socks, chapstick) and we did that here this year too. But for the last couple years mom hands out names and $30 and we each are responsible for buying 15 gifts with the $30 for whatever name we get. This year I had to buy for Alyssa and Fred had my dad. My mom always gets to buy for her grandchildren.

Gavin and cousin Isaac at my parents'

Then we headed to Middendorfs' for dinner about 2:30 and then did our exchange gifts. The littlest ones exchange names and most of the nieces and nephews and all the adults do a dice game exchange. I brought a blender this year and left with a very cushy new bathrobe. Fred came with the new Metallica CD and walk talkies and left with the new Metallica CD and walkie talkies. We always buy something we really want since it is such a variety of ages that its hard to by something that everyone would like.

At 5 we had church with my family. We made it there a few minutes late with a Jacob who was tired, hungry and thirsty! He ended up just falling asleep on my lap, which I was torn about as he missed what CHRISTmas is all about. But it is hard with all the running and all the fun cousins to play with, there is no way we'd get a nap out of him.

After church we go to my parents' and open the remainder of the presents. Fred got a new jacket for snowmobiling. I got a beverage tub, new file bins, a shower cleaner, and lots of other good stuff. Jacob got Legos and an emergency vehicle set. Gavin got his own little couch, a toy box and piggy bank.

Family photo after chruch

Dre always wants a picture with all her neices and nephews, this was the best one this year.

Then back to the Middendorfs' for the rest of the gift opening. I got a new frying pan, snow globe, and vaccuum for the steps. Fred got a blow-up Santa for in the front yard next year and wrenches. Jacob got a computer and Kid K'nex and, as usual, noisy stuff from Chad and Mary - this year a percussion set (bongo drum, tamborine, maracas, shakers and more!) and a roll-out electric keyboard. Gavin got a rocking chair and the Leapfrog Alphabet Train.

Jacob with a piece of the percussion set.

The next day it was off to my Grandma's in Springfield, MN. That's about a 2 hour drive from Melrose. We went there for lunch on Christmas Day. It's always a little challenging to be at Grandma's with all her crystal, ceramic nativity set and ceramic village all at kid height, but the kids did really well and it was fun to catch up with relatives.

Alyssa brought fun entertainment gifts to distract from the breakables,
the sunglasses were a hit.

Cool dudes, Isaac and Jacob.

We spent Friday and Saturday in Melrose. Fred got to do a lot of snowmobiling. I tried shopping the day after Christmas with 2 kids. Exhausting and unproductive. Luckily I needed nothing and Fred was off snowmobiling anyway. Fred and I actually went out on Saturday night, Alyssa's birthday, down to Scooters. Alyssa and Joe and Joe's brother and girlfriend were there and we thought a lot of people from our class would be there, but not as many as were thought were there. It was fun to see and catch up with the ones that were there though.

On Sunday, we came back to Chaska after church. All our presents and presents left from Santa were waiting for us. It was fun to see what Santa had brought, since he hadn't told me. XBox games and a controller for Jacob, Fred and I. Gavin got a guitar. Jacob's big present was Hotwheels Tricks Tracks and Gavin a ride on dump truck. Fred got a leather jacket that needs to be exchanged and I got new outside lights for the house (my requests for new furniture, new appliances, and panelled doors were all denied). For our Christmas supper we ordered pizza (Jacob's favorite) and then made Jesus a birthday cake. And the Christmas celebrations came to a close, but we are still eating cake.

Me and Jacob helped Gavin open his Santa present.

Gavin needed a snack amidst the present opening.

Gavin with his big present.

Jacob and me with the Jesus cake.

With the Explorer on the fritz we debated trading it in and getting something new, but after looking last night and just not knowing what to buy, its in the shop getting fixed and we'll keep an eye out for a new vehicle

We are heading back up to Melrose tomorrow to celebrate New Year's with some of Fred's family. And I am sure Fred will do more snowmobiling over the weekend. Maddie finally has her dance recital on Saturday (its been postponed twice due to weather), so that should be fun. And I hope to get a peak a Avery Braegelmann, Lori and Ryan's newest.

Gavin's latest face. He'll do it on request. He's also been very brave about walking around the house this week. He's very proud of himself.

If I don't see you before or shortly after. Happy New Year!

Ready for Christmas

Gavin is obsessed with phones. He has picked up many things, put them by his ear and in his best southern drawl said "hiah". He loves to use real phones, but will also resort to remotes, "Little People" figurines, ornaments, crackers, a sandwich or if real desperate his bare hand. It's very cute. He is also saying "pup", we think. The other night when the Target commercial was on TV is sounded like he tried to say "There's no place like Target at Christmas to save." Fred and I just looked at each other, like "really?". It was funny.

Gavin using a hand-held game as a phone.

Gavin, who hasn't ever been a pacifier baby, uses a gear from the toolbench as one.

When not on the phone, all he wants to do is walk around. No not by himself, but with my finger firmly gripped in his chubby hand. Oh, the miles we've put on and he has a very definite idea of where he wants to go. Through the gate, over and over.

Jacob has been big into Cars the movie lately and role plays the characters with his cars and stuffed animals. We've watched the movie enough that Jacob can recite the Rusteez commercial.

Jacob in the snow volcano.

Jacob, Gavin and I went to Macy's 8th floor today with Alyssa, Maddie, Isaac, Grandma Jeske and Adrea. We always eat down in the food court and then head up to the 8th floor. Today the line started on the 5th floor! It went from the 5th floor straight to the 8th floor, no waiting on the 6th or 7th, but still longer than we've ever waited. Now that Maddie is in school we can't go when the rest of the crowds are at school and work. Arg. Now we have to figure out when a better time to go is. Any suggestions? The theme this year was "A Day in the Life of an Elf". Gavin was in awe of all the movement, but Jacob was a bit freaked out by the moving trees and the creepy figurines.

Waiting in line on the 5th floor.

Posing in line, on the 5th floor.

Alyssa, Maddie and Isaac.



Me with my boys.


Best group shot we got, not even the whole group and half of us look goofy. Yes Mom, this is better than the one of you with your eyes shut.

We are getting ready to head up to Melrose for Christmas. We were suppose to celebrate Christmas at my Grandma's last Saturday, but with the weather we didn't go. We will celebrate all day long on Christmas Eve, at both family's and then head to my Grandma's on Christmas day now. Fred is hoping to spend the rest of the weekend snowmobiling. I am hoping to shop for a new car as I think the Explorer is dying. Hopefully it makes it to Melrose with all the presents. I think we'll wait to do our family Christmas when we get back on Sunday. Santa will have come while we were away ;)

I think this is my 3rd year in fantasy football and it looks like I am going to win the Toilet bowl in my girls league and take the championship in the family league. Big money! I still don't always know who plays for who or if they are a RB or WR, but I guess you don't have to - its about the stats. Oh, and luck.

Away In A Manger

Jacob was in his first Christmas program yesterday at church, at 2 of the services. He sang “Away In A Manger” with his 3-year old Sunday School class. They sang loud enough for most to hear and at the second program Jacob joined in on some of the actions. They were cute as can be! I teach the 3-year old Sunday School with another teacher, Lori, and at the first service one of our 3 year olds got left in the narthex while the rest were up front singing. So second service we made sure we had all 11 up there. When they got done singing the little girl who missed the first show says “Mommy, I sang the whole song!” loud enough for all to hear.

Here is the video of the first program...

Here are pics from the second program...



"asleep on the hay"

"the stars in the sky" (Jacob in non-action)

Mid-December Update

Ready for Christmas? We are getting there. The Christmas tree got set-up on the 4th, the stockings are hung and the snow globes are out and that is about all we're doing. Fred always has grand plans for lots of lights on the outside of our house, but they're has never been ONE out there. We do have them purchased and this year he even bought the really tall ladder to fix some siding, so one of these years there shall be lights!

Jacob helped Fred set up the tree and then helped me decorate it. I was the only one to break an ornament, it was a snow globe, so that made me sad. The string on the ornament broke just as I was saying to Jacob how he couldn't hang it because it was breakable. I assume someone was trying to tell me something.

Jacob by our tree. If you look closely, you can see about

5 ornaments per branch right behind him.

We have started opening stocking presents and managed to keep Jacob from opening the presents under the tree. We wrapped and put their big presents under the tree without thinking and now we have to figure out what Santa is going to bring. Hmmm.

Future Doctor?

Gavin has been taking steps since we got back from Florida. He actually took about 10 steps the last night we were in Florida, but he hasn't been practicing much. He's pretty cautious about it. Plus, he's more obsessed with climbing the steps so he has no time to do any walking. He's saying "uh-oh" these days, give fives, and does a goofy head shake when he's being silly. His terrible eczema that he had when we returned from Florida has been cleared up with some steriods, so we'll see if we can keep it away with lots of cream lotion. He's also become quite the Daddy's boy. He leaps out of my arms and into Fred's and doesn't want to come back to me. Stinker.

Gavin outside. Watching Jacob play in the snow.



Gavin by the Leapfrog table from Rosenbergers.

Fred finished up fall semester of school this week. He doesn't start up again until February. Yeah! Then he has just one class during the week and the other every other Saturday, which I like much better. He'll finish up his masters of software engineering in the spring of 2010. Yes, I am counting down.

I have been busy with the boys. Preschool, MOPS, gym time, ball pit, playdates. Taking Jacob to preschool 3 days a week in this weather is no treat. He seems to be slowed down by the cold and doesn't understand to hurry up to get into the warmth. And hauling the 30 pounder on my hip makes it all the more challenging. We had our MOPS Christmas party this Tuesday and that was really fun. Jacob made an ornament in MOPPETS. On Wednesday night I got to do a progressive dinner with my MOMS Club. Apps at one house, salad at another, dinner at another and finish up with dessert at another. That was a good night as well.

Last weekend Jacob and I got to go to Madeline's Christmas at the Paramount in St Cloud. To prepare, we checked out Madeline books from the library, so Jacob was excited to see Madeline. It was a cute show and Jacob is still talking about it.

This weekend we have Jesus' birthday party at church on Saturday and then Jacob sings "Away in a Manger" on Sunday for the Christmas program. Both sets of grandparents plan to be here to witness the 20 second debut. If it ends up being too snowy for them to come, I'll post the "performance". On Sunday, we also get to got celebrate Logan and Riley's (Corey's twins) birthday with them and then I am wrapping presents at Eden Prairie mall as a fundraiser for MOPS. I also hope to get out on Saturday to finish up shopping.

No Toys Needed

Last night I was looking at ads from the paper and I asked Jacob if he'd like to look at the Toys 'R Us ad to find toys he might want for Christmas (since he's only said more smash 'n crash cars and I don't know either). He said "I don't need more toys, look I have plenty." As he motions to his toy room that is cluttered with toys and a complete mess. So I guess I am done shopping for him.