Getting ready for Christmas

I really debated putting the tree up since we were only going to be home for a couple of weeks. I decided I had to though cause Cohen is too old not to care. I put it up and put the bow on top then the boys and TJ decorated it as our Family Home Evening activity.

The boys did pretty well. There were definitely more ornaments on the bottom and the colors weren't as evenly spaced as my OCD mind would like. They had so much fun doing it though and I was proud of them for sticking with it till all the ornaments were up. 

I had to include this picture to show what I was doing during all of the excitement. Sitting on my prego bum. Putting up the tree took it out of me so I just watched! 

Bass Pro shop does free pictures with Santa. We had no idea all that went into it though. The place looked empty and we thought it would be a quick trip in and out. Nope. Santa was on break and the next session available was an hour away. Since we drove about 25 minutes to get there we decided to stay. Luckily there was a lot to look at and do. TJ informed me of all the things in the store he wanted to buy when we have money. 

Totally worth the wait. He was such a cute Santa and the boys loved him.

Union Station is beautiful at Christmas time. It is one of my very favorite things about Kansas City. Our friends that we share our Union Station pass with headed down with us to see all the decorations, go to science city and ride the little Christmas train. 

I made this little felt Christmas tree for the boys to decorate and un-decorate. They loved it the first couple of days and played with it off and on after that. It did keep them away from the big tree more, but that could be just due to them being older too.

Peanut came to our house during Christmas again. He's not a super exciting elf, he just hides and the boys find him each day. One thing he did do was bring the boys a gingerbread house he made at the Horrocks' house after they went to bed one night. They were giddy!

I volunteered to make the little boys ties for my sisters wedding. I've seen hundreds of tutorials and figured how hard could it be. Well, for me, the simplest projects become difficult. I figured it out though and they were less than perfect. I did learn a lot though and will probably just be buying ties from now on. 

November 2013

 Ledger has a really good imagination. He is alway trying to mimic his brother in everything he does. He is also very independent. He plays so much better by himself than Cohen does. This also gets him into trouble though. Because he isn't afraid to just do things by himself it often means he is getting into or doing something he shouldn't be.

Panda Express

Our boys LOVE Panda Express. They would eat it for every meal if we let them. Cohen loves the Chow mien, and Ledger loves the orange chicken and spring rolls. And the both go crazy over the fortune cookies and want me to keep their fortunes forever. Usually when we go out to eat we just go to Panda. We enjoy the silence of them just eating and not complaining too much to go anywhere else very often.

We have started finding Ledger in lots of random places when we come in to check on them before we go to bed. This particular time we could not find him, then finally found a leg sticking out from under the crib. I think he has a really hard time falling asleep and wants to find the darkest places possible. 

 Ledger, Cohen, and our cute neighbor Hannah

 Cohen has always come in bed with me in the mornings and fallen back asleep with me. Ever since Ledger joined the morning snuggles he rarely falls back asleep and usually is either into trouble or keeping the rest of us awake. This particular morning he fell back asleep and out slept us all.

I spy...

Ledgie apparently wanted his binki to be nice and cool! At least he was putting something in the fridge and not getting something out! 

Baby Shower

My sweet neighbors Nichole and Rebekah threw me a baby shower the weekend before Thanksgiving. It was so much fun and Baby girl and I were totally spoiled. 

My friend Lisa's due date was the day after mine. It was so fun being pregs together. On the day of my shower we showed up wearing the exact same thing! Great minds think alike!!!

Diaper cake

 Baprons (best things ever) and burp cloths.

Diaper covers and another bapron

 Rebekah, me, and Nichole

We had the best brunch ever. We also made little tutu's for baby girl. It was such a fun shower and these girls really outdid themselves. Have I mentioned I have the BEST neighbors/friends ever!

Thanksgiving

The day after the shower we packed up the car to go to St. Louis for Thanksgiving and went to church. When we got to church TJ noticed we had a flat tire. He left me with the two boys and church and went to get a new tire. He spent 3 hours at Walmart and arrived back at church to a very angry and impatient wife. Poor kid. I was tired, he was tired, and the boys were tired and we were all very grumpy. We got in the car and started the drive. Within minutes the boys and I were out, and much happier for the remainder of the trip. Our good friends the Bartholomew's came to St. Louis to spend Thanksgiving with us. We went to the cabin and the kids had a blast running around, playing in the tree house and Jack and Cohen even got to shoot with their daddy's. 

This was the only picture I took the whole week. We went to Crate and Barrel to spend a gift card we still had from our wedding. Thank goodness gift cards no longer expire.  We purchased and ice cream  maker and we have loved making frozen yogurt with it. 

Family Pictures November 2013

At the beginning of November my good friend Jeannette took our family pictures. I love how they turned out!!!