Christmas of motorized vehicles

Now that the craziness of Christmas is over we can finally find time to update the blog. It has been a whirl wind of time spent with family and friends, which we love.

Do to our crazy work schedule we did not celebrate Christmas until Sunday 12/27 and the following day we went up to my sister to celebrate up there. We had a really nice time and the kids loved playing with each other.

Josh update: Josh's vocabulary is still growing. He can even hold a brief conversation with you now. We are still working on our letters and numbers. Everyday he seems to do a little better. Josh is now afraid of monsters and wants his door cracked when he goes to sleep. We think he got this from his cousin Marianna. We'll just have to get out our monster fighting weaponery. Also, he starting to talk back. Sometimes when you ask or tell him to do something he will yell "no" at you. Of course gets a time out for that. Unfortunately, time outs are funny to him, so we'll have to see how it goes.

On Friday 12/19 we went to Christmas at the Zoo. All the grandparents went except Matt's dad. He decided that he didn't want to push his luck and risk being out in the cold for a couple of hours. The zoo was pretty busy, but we had a good time anyway. Although we didn't get to see Santa. The line was way way to long. Josh really like the Holiday Trainland. Good thing since that's what he was getting for Christmas.

Josh outside Santa's Village at the Zoo.

I love my Grandmas!!!!

I love mom and dad too!!

This was Josh's first time to visit Santa. He wasn't upset or overly happy. He was more like "this is weird." Unfortunately, Santa wasn't very jovial, therefore Josh was not very excited either.

Christmas Morning

When Josh woke up we quickly got the video camera ready to record Josh's excitement about his new train. He ran right to the milk and cookies we left for Santa and didn't notice the train set behind him. We he turned around and saw it he went "OOOOoooo" and ran to it.

Josh absolutely loves his new train, well all of his new toys really. He could, and has, sit and play with with his train for hours. We thought he would like, but we didn't think he would be this crazy over it.

Opening his stocking. Of course there were a few cars in there. What else?

Another favorite gift was his Big Wheel. The only problem is he's just a hair to short. Even with blocks on the pedals to help reach, it didn't matter. He liked pushing himself on his new bike just as much. By spring everyone in the campground better watch out because here comes Josh.

This was just part of the mass destruction from Christmas. Believe it or not we had already cleaned up once that day. Josh is so spoiled. No wonder he is so rotten.

This is a picture of all of Josh's new cars, truck, construction equipment and other vehicles. We know this isn't all of it because there is a giant ladder truck that wouldn't fit in the pictures. Craziness we know.

We can't say thank you enough for all the Christmas gifts and spending time with our friends and family. We love you all,

M, J, and J

Another crazy two weeks

First, I have to apologize that the pictures were downloaded in the wrong order. Blogger must have changed the way pictures are downloaded. Anyway, it has been another crazy two weeks around here. Josh had his two year doctors appointment on 12/9. He was 35 inches tall and 27 pounds. Although everyone that holds Josh thinks he weighs more than that. He was so brave at the doctors office because Matt had told him that he was going to get an ouchie and he faced it like a man. He was his normal happy self with the doctor and asked her if he was going to get an ouchie. She told him no, not yet. When the nurse came in with the shots he started getting upset. He could sit on dad's lap or on the table. He got off Matt's lap and went over to the table. He started tearing up and saying ouchie over an over again. That broke my heart. He cried when he received the shots and then the nurse said "all done." He said "all done?" and the crying stopped. Back to his normal happy self. We did take him out for pizza for being so brave when he knew he was going to get an ouchie.

Matt and I went on a weekend getaway this past weekend in New Buffalo, Michigan. It's a small town near my sister, so she watched Josh for a couple of days. The cousins were so excited to see each other. We went to Wendy's for lunch and an older couple started to make over Josh. Going on and on about how cute he was with his "Cute little nose and slanty eyes." and then they went on to say the other kids were cute but he was just soooo cute. We couldn't believe that they said that, but we let it ride because they weren't being mean. Oh well, at least Josh won't remember it. Despite that Matt and I had a wonderful time and we ate way to much food that weekend. We ate at a restaurant called Timothy's and we had the best sea food. It was yummy. We did get to sleep in too and that was wonderful.

Then on Sunday when we got home, we had a chili party with all our friends from the firehouse. We had a good time. Unfortunately, it was a early night because the kiddos had school in the morning. Hopefully, next year the Christmas party can end up on better night.

Of course, with Christmas coming up the craziness will continue for a little while longer.

Teaching Josh to lick the spoon!!

Matt and Jenny at Timothy's on their weekend getaway.

Josh's first time finger painting.


Of course, he had finger paint all over his face, arms and feet. Don't ask how it got on his feet!

This is Josh playing with some dry ice that came with the new mice for our snake. Matt put it in a cup of water and Josh could not get enough of it. He thought it was really cool.

Our next post probably won't be until after Christmas. So everyone better be good because Santa is watching.

M,J, and J

Oh Christmas Tree!

As is our tradition, we always put up the Chirstmas tree right after Thanksgiving. It was so much fun because Josh now understands Santa, Christmas and presents. He wasn't to interested in putting up the Christmas tree, but he sure got excited about putting the ornaments up. He would pick one from the box and then run to the tree say "there." Josh would then run back to the box for the next ornament. He did the same thing at Grandma's house a couple of days later.

In this video Matt and Josh are dancing to the Beach Boys Christmas. That was a staple at his house growing up at Christmas time.

Watch how excited Josh is to put the ornaments on the tree.

Hope you enjoyed our fun.

Love,

Matt, Jenny and Josh