An Amazing Christmas

I know everyone tells you Christmas through a childs' eyes is magical, but this year we got to experience that in full force. Aiden embraced everything from lights, to Niko Paus coming to opening presents with amazing zest. He was so much to watch and share this holiday with. He was spoiled hopelessly- especially with a birthday 5 days earlier...but we love him. We have now moved everything around, upgraded to the big boy room- no diaper changer either now, and it is off to the world of play. He got trains, cars, bikes, the whole world! Now I get to spend one week with him just being mommy and Aiden...I know it will go too fast but it is nice that we have all these pics to remember such a special Christmas. Love you Aiden and Thank you everyone, I swear thank yous are coming!

Christmas Craze- Gramma Style

So Grandma's Christmas consists of pizza and insane family moments-every year we don't do presents we bring something to "share". This year was by family/couple...really fun!

Here's a run down of things we had.

Moore's- Bumbity Bump Bump Christmas Game

Chandlers'- Balloon Memorial with Messages to Hal

DiMatteo's- Purple Heart Plant for Everyone

Emily & Johnny- Christmas Music Mix UP

Clint & Elli- Pecan Brittle -Yum!

Swanson's and Sarah- Duck Fart Toast (you have to be there)

Westphal's-Wreath Game- in which all my pics are not internet appropriate:)

Forell's- Wrapping Competition- gramma and mom cheated!

Gramma- A Christmas Story

Harrison's - "The New Order of Outlaws" and prospects

What a great Night!

A Beautiful Ceremony for A Great Guy!

Hal's Veterans memoral service was Dec. 23rd. The day started off with rain and gloom, as we drove out in became broken up and by the end of his service the sun was shining through the clouds brilliantly...it was a beautiful day. The service was awesome- Taps, the gun salute, a speech from my Dad and family together. It was a really great thing to be a part of. What makes me smile as I write this is looking at the pics after of those beautiful babies together chasing each other in the sunshine and knowing how much Hal was probably just smiling and laughing as we chased them and got them to say "Cheese" for us :) He would have loved the hell they were all giving us!

Bowling Bash

Family Fun Night of Bowling and Yummy Cake....

P.S.-Aiden loves to bowl!

December 20th 2010

Aiden's Birthday - We have a toddler now, no more saying he is 20 months or 18 months..he is just a 2 year old for the next year. We went to Dr. Lagoc today where Aiden proceeded to test her greatly and then show off immensly and his stats were...

35 3/4" TALL- Kellin is really bummed cause this "means" he will only be 5'11

28 lbs. and 7 oz- 50% percentile

50.7 cm Head- huge head- surprise!

She says he is great and we know he is...he just loves to test us right now so sometimes we forget. Happy Birthday Buggy!

Adorable Cookie Helper

For Aiden's birthday we do go bowling as a family...pics to follow... but on the actual day December 20th I wanted him to get to do something special so he had a few friends over to decorate Christmas cookies with and then let them take them home! It was really fun at the party..pics to come...but my favorite part was the morning before when we made them all together. I think even Kellin, who is not a BAKER, enjoyed the messy, fun of cookie cutting and baking. Aiden thought it was so much fun and loved feeding Jackson pieces of sugar cookie dough...what a little stinker he is!

My little Handy Manny

So we went to Turtle Bay's Members Event last night, we made ornaments, decorated a cupcake, saw SAnta (did not sit with him though) and Aiden made a bird house. It was so cute to watch him and Kellin put it together with the Shasta Woodworkers- he was really proud and keeps saying "I make it" - I of course correct with " Yes Aiden, you MADE it"- the teacher in me loves it so dearly:)

ELF just keeps on hiding!

The ELF just keeps on showing up at our house...and of course he follows Aiden now to daycare too! He is being watched very carefully- (and Aiden loves finding him every morning!)

VIP Christmas Parade

We were very lucky to watch the Redding Xmas Parade under the cover of the DiMatteos new car in the lovely police department parking lot, that sits on the parade route. Kids loved, we were dry and it wasn't cold!

ELF on the SHELF

ELF ON THE SHELF ANYONE?

So Auntie Emily introduced us to the coolest new Christmas Tradition, it is this book called Elf on the Shelf and every night "Santa" gets a visit from our elf (Who Aiden named RED and we registered at the North Pole)- when Red returns he finds a new place to watch how you do all day and reports back to Santa daily. So every morning we go on an ELF HUNT. So far Red has been hanging out in the living room as we read the book more often and get to know him, but Aiden is loving it! So thanks Em- can't wait to keep the tradition alive.

Cutting a Tree- Our "NEW"Way

Sooooooo.....with so much snow and busy weekends we decided we had to get a tree this weekend with no FUN snow trip this year. So it was off to Shasta College for some really cute shots, a cute tree and fun with Aunt Emily. We had a great morning and were home way before normal:)

Now Aiden could care less about the tree, or Santa or anything Christmas related...he just liked the animals, the horse ride and the old fire truck! I guess boys will be boys.

My little man...

So Aiden caught some ear infection, bronchitis fun to kick start December...a visit to Dr. Lagocs, and the good pink medicine and we are on the mend. However in his sickness he decided to slow down a little bit and rest with Mommy ( for once I wasn't second choice to trains, Thomas, CARS, Jackson or a ball!)

November-What happened to you?

So I just logged onto my blog and thought...what the heck happened to November- I didn't post even once! AHHHHHHH! WEll the month blew by, it was report cards, holiday weeks, Thanksgiving, and Aiden time as much as we could. I also took this crazy Boot Camp class...more about that later! Anyways we are alive and now onto December