My Christmas joy...

Abbie actually wore a dress!!!! I put the dress on her and Jake kept following her calling her a Christmas Queen. She then got lots of attention at a family party (since she was the only little girl there). I think Jake was a little jealous and wants to wear dresses now. As if he doesn't get enough attention with a mohawk. Just imagine a mohawk and drag.......maybe that is how you win mother of the year???

Jake and I buttering up the turkey getting it ready for stuffing. He is actually a good helper. SO maybe an apron will get him over wanting a dress??

It is good to be a kid at Christmas

Jake got his big excavator from Costco. The fat man kept his promise.
Abbie wasn't finished eating breakfast, but Jake couldn't wait any longer.
She no longer needs to use a straw since Santa brought a harmonica.
Daddy showing Jake his new firehouse.

Mommy showing Abbie her new Brio blocks. It is one of her favorite things...well next to waffles.

The Other Man in My Life

His name is Ralph and he is a married man.
He sings to us everyday. Sometimes more than once....twice..... a 100 times a day.
Here is Abbie Rockin out to her favorite song, You're all my colors.
Jake pretending to be Ralph too. (singing the Muffin Man song)

While Jake had the guitar Abbie used this straw as a trombone. Who needs all of those fancy toys??

Adam doesn't mind that I have another man in my life since he allows us to cook dinner and steal a moment to read the paper or just go to the bathroom alone. In fact Adam prefers Ralph over the Dora the Explorer CD the kids like to listen to in the car. However, I'll listen to Dora singing the whole car trip it keeps the kids happy in the car. Oh the sacrifices we make for our kids.

Local Lights

Here we are in Santa's Sleigh. Jake is so into all of the Santa stuff now! (Don't you just love the expression on Jake's face?)
We let him go past the rope to stand next to the display. Hopefully this won't start a bad habit.
A huge rocking chair. Not so much fun when it is covered in a layer of ice. We had some rosey cheeks after that...not like santa.
Abbie LOVES the lights and doesn't mind being out in the cold as long as her feet never touch the snow. Is her girly side finally coming out??? She is wearing what she calls her "pretty coat."
Here is an overview of the park. On the weekends they run a tractor/train to ride, so we will have to come back. I was excited to see a good chunk of LED lights being used! It is a small step in the right direction. Hey does anyone else feel like they are drunk when they stare at blue colored LED lights??? For some reason that color really messes with my eyes....or maybe I am drinking too much again...hic...up!

Simply Having a Wonderful Christmas Time....

Here is our tree looking pretty and festive.

Jake, our outdoor kid, enjoying the snow again. BTW according to Jake those are not snowpants they are his snowman pants.

Chaos just before she started eating snowflakes.

She is no snowbunny! She lasted less than a minute outside. She actually liked putting on her snowpants and puffy coat, but wants nothing to do with gloves or the snow. Maybe next year :(

Abbie would rather be in some footie pajamas posing for pictures. Here is her current model pose. Believe it or not Jake was actually giving her a hug. It is so nice to know they actually like each other most of the time.

Breakfast with Santa 2007

Jake cuddling with Santa & Abbie sitting, but not to sure about the big guy
Gandpa & Grandma Baby Dog, Jake & Abbie, Carter & Dylan (my bros kids)
It is about time we had a family photo where both kids are looking at the camera!
Everyone already pictured above plus Greg(my bro) & Heather
Who had more fun? The adults or the kids????

Jake meets the big city

Jake loves to go up, up, up on Daddy's shoulders
Ahhh the joy of a 3 year old boy seeing the holiday windows for the first time
Jake thought the little girl was sick because she was laying down. (Can you believe there was no crowd and he got to walk right up to the windows??)
The boys
And his favorite thing to do in Chicago was chase the pigeons. (Can he make it more obvious that we live in the burbs?)

It is kind of nice to be writing about a fun day Adam got to spend with Jake. I have been feeling like many of my entries have been ending with "Adam worked." I went to sub again and my parents spent the day with Abbie girl while Jake, Daddy, & Grandma Kitty went to Chicago. It wasn't too cold and they packed in a lot of fun: the Garfield Conservatory, the windows at Macy's, FAO Schwartz, a visit to Santa, McDonald's, and Daley Plaza. Needless to say Jake crashed in the car on the way home. Next year the ladies of the house will be joining them :)

Snow Much Fun

Jake's first snowball this season
Trying to catch the snow
So happy to be in the snow he did a happy dance.

Jake and I took full advantage of the first snow of December. Abbie was taking a nap and Jake only takes a nap a few times a week now, so it was mommy and Jake time. We made snowballs, a mini snowman, and made train tracks in the snow with a paint roller. The neighbors must have gotten a good laugh at me running down the block with a paint roller and Jake running behind making train noises. We then came inside and put up the Christmas tree. It was the perfect way to kick off the holiday season. Too bad Abbie girl slept through it and Adam worked. She was pretty surprised to come downstairs after her nap and see a huge lit up tree in the living room :)

You never know what is lurking inside of our kitchen cabinets

Just an average morning in our home: Feed the kids & dog, make Mama coffee and then...

Peek-a-boo

I find Abbie hiding in the one cabinet that we can't put a child lock on.

(FYI: That is not mouse poop on the shelf. It is coffee grounds. Abbie likes to shake the bag.)

It is funny because Jake used to hide in there too!

How to win Father of the Year....

Snuggle with you kids

(Geez she looks like Daddy here)

Hog tie them up once in awhile

And give them the keys to your totally rad 2000 cavalier.

Off to Grandma & Grandpa Baby Dog's house for Turkey

We loaded up the minivan for an overnight at Grandma & Grandpa's House. Adam has to work Thanksgiving and the day after so we stuffed ourselves, hung out with Aunties, Uncles, Cousins and dogs, and then put on our PJs and had sweet dreams of Santa coming to town. It was a nice time had by all :)

Party Animals

Daddy & Jake during the Halloween Party
Grandma & Grandpa Kitty during the Halloween Party
Grandma Baby Dog and the kids during the Thanksgiving Party

Jake is fully enjoying his time at preschool. He really likes the party days. I am the party parent for his class and it is fun to help the kids prepare the treats for their party guests. Jake loves to see Abbie, his Grandparents, & Daddy come by a celebrate with him. He loves to show off his school. I hope he is always this excited about school :)

I should probably mention that Jake has named his Grandparents for the pets that they own. Grandma Kitty is Adam's mom and Grandma Baby Dog is my mom.

She's no lady....she's Active Abbie

Fun at the park (notice my chipped front tooth)
Climbing things I shouldn't climb
Silly girl with a big boo boo on her nose
Slide baby slide
I love to play and drool by the looks of this shirt

Oh my little girl is super duper active. For awhile I thought she might be a careful one like Jake, but once she starting walking she was running a few days later. She never did the new walker Frankenstein walk. Abbie is also a climber...couch, table, chair, stairs, you name it she will climb it. She also HATES to sit too long in anything. She wants to be walking just like everyone else. I have to time our stroller time to be around a snack time, so I can keep her sitting with food. She is a busy girl happy to run, jump and explore the dirt. She does have a shoe obsession, so maybe bows and dresses are in the near future. Nahhhh she is MY daughter and I wouldn't have it any other way.