December 2010

Time is flying by and it has been hard to carve out time to keep up with our blog! I think I started this post 2 months ago, anyways....

The whole month of December was filled with fun holiday outings and traditions. We came up with different activities we wanted to do as a family and filled our advent calendar. I was so excited to see Willem's face each morning as he opened the drawer and we read what we were going to do. And then December 1st rolled around... Willem anxiously opened the door and I don't remember what the paper said but I can tell you it did not say "go to the train park". So his look of excitement quickly dissipated. Willem did enjoy the festivities throughout the month but December 9th was definitely at the top of his list when we went to the train park to see Santa and ride the Christmas train. Of course, in honor of Jason's birthday.

Willem also got a kick out of helping Oom Rik put up the Christmas lights.

This was the 1st year Willem was really into all the festivities and he went all out in decorating his tree. Grandma, Willem and I were working on decorating the main tree and he was so excited, he would put a few ornaments on the family's tree and then run to his room to decorate his tree some more and then run back to the family room.

The finished product!

In December, Ellie headed to Vegas with Mom and Dad to celebrate Dad's Birthday. Willem stayed home with Grandma and was spoiled greatly while Ellie enjoyed the town that never sleeps. It seems to be an unintentional family tradition that we take our kids to Vegas in their 1st year, so we kept the tradition alive. Ellie did great on the flight and loved watching the water show at the Bellagio.

Also in December:

-We enjoyed being able to walk over to the APS Light Parade and both Ellie and Willem were fascinated by the floats

-Ellie continued to be our night owl so she joined us at a holiday party with some of Dad's co-workers. She was definitely a hit at the party and was ooh'd and ahh'd over

New Years Eve

Yes, it is cold in Phoenix!! The boys were heading out to the train park, gloves and all we can't stay away from the trains.

December 28th: Ellie's 1st Bowl Game

Too bad Mizzou lost, we had a great time sitting in the Mizzou section. Unfortunately we had some Iowa hecklers with us (Jason and Brad)

Mizzou Pep Rally

Luck would have it that Mizzou played in the Insight Bowl here against of all teams Iowa, so we had to go. We took the kids to the pep rally for their 1st Mizzou experience.

Us with a famous Mizzou golfer we ran down for a picture and then forgot his name.

Willem started Preschool!!

August 31st Willem started preschool! Trains in hand, he headed off to Discovery Tree and has been having a wonderful adventure ever since. That first day was hard for Mom but Willem went into the class, found a train set and was in heaven.

Willem's 1st, 1st day of school picture

"Mom, enough with the pictures!"

Willem relaxing with Ellie after school

He loves seeing Ellie when we pick him up. He'll give me a hug and run to Ellie and say "hi Ellie, hi Ellie". One day I didn't bring Ellie and he said "Mommy, where is my Baby?". He was so concerned that I left her.

According to Willem, his uniform usually consists of a train shirt and his boy shoes (Tennis shoes). Though now as I write this he has moved on to any shoes he can put on himself.

At preschool he likes doing art, playing in the house outside and loves circle time where they read stories. He loves when Dad or Mom are the classroom helpers because he gets to sit on the star mat and be the leader for the day. He's still doing a lot of parallel play but has gained a lot of confidence in talking with his classmates and taking toys away from other as he sees fit(some preschool skills we'd rather not be learned).

Christmas 2010

We had a wonderful Christmas surrounded by family, hanging out in our PJ's and playing with new toys. Unfortunately Ellie wasn't feeling the best that day but she had lots of people attending her every need.

Some highlights:

Willem loved his piggy bank and got straight to work at filling it up! A few months later he told us he was saving for a blue car though the color changes fairly often. Watch out if you have coins in your pocket as Willem "NEEDS" coins.

Ellie snuggling as she watches big brother open gifts.

Willem's reading his book from Mom and Dad about a train adventure where he is the conductor.

"Finally a toy I can work with" -Ellie hanging with Gigi

We were very blessed to get to have Christmas breakfast together as a family and then spend the day laughing, playing games and enjoying the time together. The weather was beautiful and the company was fantastic.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve 2010

Very frustrated with the blog software right now as it keeps deleting my pics, so this story is going to be told a bit backwards...

An attempt at a family picture after new toy overload and a lot of candy. Still Willem's favorite pjs 6 months later!

Heading out to go to Paw Paw and Gigi's house

Ellie loved playing with the wrapping paper and especially appreciated anything that served as a good teething toy. Mom and Dad were so busy trying to figure out how to get Willem's new toys out of boxes that very few pictures were taken of the kids this day.

Christmas Eve our entire family gathered at Paw Paw and Gigi's house for a feast and to celebrate the holidays.

Of course we did the annual reading of "Twas' the Night Before Christmas". This year Tia Julie and Grandma had each person in the family record a page and gave the book to the kids. It's still a little strange when we hear through the baby monitor someones voice who we know is not in town and they are reading a Christmas story.