Keeping up with Fred-n-Sara

So this is it! The last 2011 picture post. Finally, right? Go easy on me, it’s been a busy week; Laura is now 6 months old, we started giving her solid foods, she was baptized, and we had our first real snow of the season (thanks global warming; usually we’re well into the snowy season now). More on all of that later, right now, let’s wrap up the year!

Monday, December 26

Playing with his new headphones. I bed he'd like them better if he plugged them into some music.

Oliver likes his too; they are a lot like Dad's...without the rap music (let's not comment on the pacifier in the over 2 year old's mouth)

Tuesday, December 27

A meeting with the new toys. A meet and greet, if you will.

Wednesday, December 28

Babyzilla attacks the local train tracks. Delays expected.

Thursday, December 29

Tonight we celebrated my youngest brother's birthday. Laura partied so hard she slept in her car seat from the time we left until midnight!

Friday, December 30
Fred’s niece got married today!

The bride and her dad.

We didn’t stay long at the wedding. All the kids and Fred have been fighting a cold. Plus the boys were recking havoc as they do late in the evening, even at home.

Saturday, December 31

Look who woke up just in time for the new year! Not that she cared, I think she was just hungry.

And that’s it, the end of 2011 for our little family. It was a big year for us, some things ended and some new things began, not to mention we welcomed our sweet baby girl into our family. I hope the year was good for you! Let’s hope that 2012 is even better!

This year Christmas at our house was very exciting. Cal really understood it and excited about it and whenever Calvin gets something, Oliver is right behind him. Of course, Laura has a while before she realizes what it’s all about, but I think she was excited too. While this Christmas was not impressively large at our house (not that it ever has been in the past; Fred and I are believers in letting others spoil our kids!), we thought we did pretty well in the gift giving department.  And we tried to teach the boys that Christmas isn’t only about getting presents. We talked about Jesus and his birthday and of course the importance of giving gifts to loved ones too. We made ornaments and picked out special gifts for special people in our lives. So be the time Christmas Eve came around, the boys couldn’t have been more excited. And by boys I mean Fred, Calvin, and Oliver. I don’t know who stayed up later waiting to hear tiny hooves and a “ho ho ho.”

But before the Christmas Eve nighttime excitement, we spent the day with family.

Laura attempted to open a few of her own gifts. And taste them!

The boys had fun giving gifts. And of course receiving them.

Later, at home, all the kids put on their new Christmas pajamas and put out some cookies for Santa.

Truely, our best gifts ever.

Then, in the morning, the real chaos and fun began. We actually had to wake the boys up, since they had stayed awake waiting for Santa so long, they actually slept in. Laura was up early of course, because she was starting to get a cold and was having trouble sleeping all night. No silent night for me this year!

Opening presents

Oliver got a race track from Santa.

Calvin got his train set, complete with 2-d police station!

And Laura got some stacking cups. See what I mean about letting others spoil our kids? (she also got a neat little picnic basket set with plush play food, but I didn't get a good picture of that)

Later we had more family over. But by the end of the day, everyone was really tired and needed a little down time.

The boys, with their aunt and uncle, enjoying a movie.

I can’t even begin to explain how much joy the kids and our families brought us this Christmas. It was probably the best Christmas our family has had yet, and I imagine they will only get better yet!

Friday, December 16

This girl is a master bubble blower.

Saturday, December 17

The starfish is no match for the jaws of Baby Laura!

Sunday, December 18

"Reading" on Fred's smartphone.

Monday, December 19

Oliver has a pet alligator.

Tuesday, December 20

The boys helped me make gingerbread cookies, as one of our Advent calendar activities.

Wednesday, December 21

Visiting Santa.

We took the kids to see Santa today. I’m happy that no one cried, but Oliver could have at least smiled for the camera! And I wish I would have noticed Laura’s skirt riding up to her belly button and showing off her tights and diaper. Oh well. This year, Cal was ready with a list of gifts he wanted; he told Santa he wanted “1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 trucks and a train. Too cute!

Thursday, December 22

This was my pinterest project. A Christmas card wreath inspired by Martha Stewart. I am pretty happy with it!

Cal saw these on the cover of one of my magazines and asked to make them. The most time consuming cookie ever. And most of them crumbled. I will not make these again! Even though they tasted pretty good!

Friday, December 23
I’m so lucky to have such an understanding husband. Every year I plan to make a bunch of cookies because I like to bake and I like to send some home with everyone I see at Christmas. But every year I fall behind for one reason or another. So today, while I decorated and baked cookies and tried to clean up the house a little for hosting Christmas brunch, Fred took the boys out for some last minute gift shopping. So I had a little fun with my cookies.

I had some fun decorating the gingerbread cookies.

"All my mommy wants for Christmas is a silent night."

I want to give Christmas Eve and Christmas day their own post, so I’ll get to them later

Ok, I will finish up the year soon. I promise. I haven’t posted anything about Christmas yet, and I will. Soon. Promise. We all had a great Christmas here. Really. It was awesome. But before I get to that, let’s take a look back at the rest of the month. It was pretty fun.

To prepare for Christmas, we had some fun with our advent calendar. Thanks to pinterest, I found lots of cute holiday crafts and other fun things to do with the kids each day.

Thursday, December 1

Advent calendar activity; have hot chocolate and cookies for a snack. Oliver approved.

Cal approved too.

Friday, December 2
Oops, I forgot to get the camera out today.

Saturday, December 3
Some Christmas Card photo rejects…

See Fred's arm? I have to say, she's even cute not smiling. This was her wedding attire from October, by the way.

He was having fun!

Paper; finally, some real food!

Such a funny guy!

Sunday, December 4

Cal likes to get into my side of the bathroom vanity. Today he decided to file his nails.

Monday, December 5

I just can't get enough of this smile.

Tuesday, December 6
I didn’t get any pictures today. We were busy reading Christmas books…

Wednesday, December 7

What's going to work? TEAMWORK! (thanks WonderPets!)

Moo!

Thursday, December 8

Friday, December 9

Nothing to see here, just playing with my toys!

Saturday, December 10

Our star atop our tree broke, so today we bought a new one!

Sunday, December 11

Working out with Dad, via video games!

Those boys and their excersizing are so funny!

Monday, December 12

Gingerbread play-doh was a hit. So were Lulu's bare feet.

Did I mention today Lulu is 5 months old? She's getting so big!

Tuesday, December 13

So sweet. And he knows it. He laid down next to Laura and said "Take picture Mom!"

Wednesday, December 14

Another Advent calendar idea. Decorating their own tree! They had so much fun putting on the stickers. And then picking a spot for it in their room.

Thursday, December 15

This is a pinterest project. We made a race track for the boys' cars! Fun times

Wednesday, November 16

Fingerpainting!

Oliver wasn't so sure about it.

Then he figured out it was pretty fun.

Thursday, November 17

Nina likes to sleep right outside the kids' rooms. In this picture, she's in front of Laura's door.

Friday, November 18

Oliver is such a caring big brother. He loves to play with Laura.

Saturday, November 19

Just playing with some toys.

Sunday, November 20

Art class with Dad.

Monday, November 21

Good cookies make everyone smile. Especially Calvin.

See? Chocolate = smiles.

Tuesday, November 22
Today I helped out at Calvin’s preschool Thanksgiving Feast. It was a lot of fun to see him in his classroom with his friends. Oliver had a good time too. Now he’s asking to go to school too.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wednesday, November 23

"Hey Mom! Look what the boys are doing!"

Sharing chips. Aren't they sweet? Except they weren't supposed to be snacking right before dinner.

Thursday, November 24
Happy Thanksgiving!!! My 30 days of thanks post had today’s pictures. Check it out here.

Friday, November 25
Since I stopped working retail, I’ve gone shopping on Black Friday. If you plan out what you are looking for and where to go beforehand, you can get some good deals. I got a good amount of our Christmas shopping done today. With the help of my sister and my little shopper.

Bargain hunter in training!

Saturday, November 26
Today’s pictures were posted here.

Sunday, November 27
I can’t really complain about Laura, she’s a good baby. Usually happy. She gets pretty fussy around 6:30, but that’s usually because she’s tired. Because she does not nap. The child will take two 20 minute naps a day if I’m lucky. I hope this changes soon. But like I said, I can’t complain, she sleeps better at night than Oliver did at her age.

So sleepy.

Monday, November 28
Fred had the day off today, so we decided to put up our Christmas decorations. First up, the tree.

Mickey Mouse and Superheros. Two of Oliver's favorite things.

Putting ornaments on the tree.

Tuesday, November 29

With the weather around here, you need to be ready for luaus and winter cold.

Wednesday, November 30

A month later and he's still eating Halloween candy.