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.