Perfect So Far!

This Christmas has ben much anticipated because it is Emmys first Christmas and Dans fist Christmas Eve and Christmas Day off! Since Dans shifts are 24 hours, it is aoways hard when he has to work Christmas day! When the weatherman predicted snow for today I got so excited! I really hate snow after living here for so long now, but the idea of a white christmas got me pretty excited! Since we didnt have plans until this evening, we bundled up and headed out for a family snowball fight and snowman building! This is the perfect snow for it! We had so much fun having our snowball fight. As usual, I was ganged up on! Cole and I built our first snowmen ever! So fun...we are off to a perfect Christmas, I have the spirit!

And shes off!

The last few days Emmy has been walking more and more. She did just a few steps a few days ago, now to long stretches at a time! If she really needs to get there she says "forget it" and drops to her knees! I hate that it all goes so fast, but Im dying to put her in all of her dresses and she face plants in them if shes crawling because her knees get stuck in the dress! Here are a few clips of her trying, and one of her dancing!

He Brings Me To Tears

I have written it many times before, but Cole has a mind that doesn't quit. When he says thought provoking things, you can tell he has thought of them a million times in his head before it comes out. His heart is so big and fragile. He can be the typical bratty 5 year old at times, and shows a jealous side when it comes to Emmy, but he amazes me with the things he says. Sometimes he will make you cry because of how damn funny he is. He is a witty as the day is long. Other times he makes you cry because of the sweet things he says (introducing Emmy to the world at the hospital comes to mind) and other times he makes you cry because of how hard he thought of something.
Tonight I drove Cole and Emmy around to houses that had their light displays set to music. When we would find a good one, we would all 3 sit in front of the house and laugh and watch. On our way home we were discussing our favorite ones of the night, and the conversation went to Santa, and how he does not die. (that was a previous weeks talk) He then goes on to say when he dies he will get to see him grandpa (my dad) and his great great great grandfather in heaven. Then he says, "Mom, what will you say to your dad when you see him?" I tell him I will say how happy I am to see him again and how much I have missed him. Then he says, "Mom, when you die, I will be so sad. But it will be ok because I will be a grown man with my own children. And on the rainy days I will say "mom, thanks for the rain. And when it thunders, i will wonder if you bowled a strike. And when I see you up in heaven, I will ask you if you won that game." As we continue to drive, I have tears running down my face. Then he says, "mom when I die, Emmy will be all alone. She will be so sad mom. But it will be ok, because she will be like the kid in the movie Home Alone and know all the tricks to do if bad guys come. Mom, I am so excited about Christmas."
I mean, he kills me with how much he thinks through things! And I just love how he brings it back to his age by ending with how excited about Christmas! God love him.

Old Time Christmas

Sunday my mom and I took the kids to down town St. Charles Old Time Christmas parade. Not sure if that is the name of it, or if I made that up. Anyhow, Betsy told me about it and said they were going, so decided to join. Its so neat! Its all the old Christmas characters like Jack Frost, the Cratchets, Sugar Plum Fairy, Nutcracker etc, along with all of the different countries St. Nicks. You just walk long the streets, and you will run into these characters. Each character has a trading card that they will give the kids that tells who they are. It is adorable! Cole loved trying to find them all. Then, they all join in a little 5 minute parade where they come through the streets. We had so much fun, mostly watching Coles face. We stopped in a little cookie shop and had fresh baked cookies and wandered in and out of shops. It was cold, but fun! Cole is already talking about next year and we have read the cards over and over!

The Grinch

Saturday we went to have breakfast with the Grinch! The YMCA hosted the event. It was really cute. You got to have pancakes, go on a scavenger hunt, face painting,crafts, cake walk and of course the picture with the Grinch! Cole had a ball doing the scavenger hunt and the crafts! Emmy at this age is just along for the ride. The last stop there was the picture with the Grinch. They had a professional photographer taking pics so I cannot wait to get those because I am sure he caught even better Emmy screaming pics! Needless to say Emmy is not a Grinch fan! Cole could get her to calm down for a moment, but not long. She wa picture worthy when Dan and I sat too!

Cookie Time!

Cole has been begging to make and decorate cookies! Tonight I knew we were having Allison over while her mom was out for a bit, so I got the essentials so they could have a cookie fiasco! I have like 100 cookie cutters so they were excited to cut out their names and other random shapes. They had a blast decorating and Coles face was covered in icing! They are such sweet friends and play so well together!

Boucing Time

On Tuesday a couple of friends and I took the kids to Jump 4 Fun to let them run crazy and jump to their hearts content. This was Emmys first time at a bounce place. She had a great time and Cole of course had a blast with Allison! When its this cold outside we havet o do something to get the crazies out!

Traditions

A few years back when Cole was obsessed with Thomas a colleague told me about a small mom and pop hardware store that set up an amazing train display for people to com elook at. Cole was 2.5 that year. We took him about 5 different times that year because he could not get enough if it. We have seen it every year since. THis year they moved just the train display out near us in a building. Last night we took the kids to see it. I just love the old mand passion for his trains and the fact that he does this for kids to see. Cole still loves it just as much and Emmy was mesmerized!

First Snow

Yesterday we had our first small snow of the season. We got like an inch, but that is enough to make Cole want to go out and frolic! The kids had spent the night at gigi and papas on Saturday night so it took me a long time to get there with the crappy roads yesterday. I decided to stay a while and let the roads clear some! (they really need to rehire all the layoffs cause that was a joke) Cole and gigu bundled up to go out and get some snow for cole to eat. Today Dan took him out and played and made a few passes on the sled! I took Emmy out on the deck briefly (30 sc) yesterday so she could touch her first snow!

Poor Second Child!

I totally forgot to slap Emmys 11 month sticker on! So, at 11 months and 2 weeks, here it is! Technically she is still 11 months! She thought it was hysterical to run like a maniac from me! Everytime I would try to get in front of her she would turn the walker around and take off laughing! So yes, at 121 months she is full of personality! I love her to death! Shockingly, she is just taking a few steps at a time, but pretty much in a full jog behind the walker! Please ignore the crazy all different color polka dots, too small pants play clothes! lol! It was a day at home!

Party At The Station

Tonight we had Dans Christmas party at the firehouse. Dan was on duty and on the ambulance, so we knew we probably wouldn't get to see him. We had just finished dinner when they all had to leave to go on a call for a full arrest, but thanks to Jake (for taking the next ambulance for Dan while we were there)we were able to see him! Santa came and the kids played like crazy fools! It was a great time!I snapped a few shots of the kiddos before we went to the party too!

Tree Decorating

I was so nervous about putting up the tree early because I was worried Emmy would destroy it all! I finally felt bad for Cole so we put it up and let Cole really do most of the decorations while we guarded the ornament box from Emmy. She could care less about the tree, but was trying her hardest to dump all of the ornaments out! I always love decorating the tree and thinking about all of the stories that come with each one!Cole got all excited listening to the Christmas music and began some crazy dance!