Merry Christmas

We have been a busy bunch.
November found us sharing sickness, sniffles and tissues.
Thus the lack of posting, we were doing nothing more than laying around the house trying to feel better!

We were thankful to say goodbye to November and welcome December!

Jack found the Christmas stockings hung at the fireplace with care... and decided they belonged on his feet. Takes after his mama on that one, and I didn't even have to teach him!

We opted against a trek in the forest this year, as we were still trying to catch up from "Sick November." We found a cute little tree farm out in Helvetia to march around in and find our tree.

Clearly, the colds had not left completely yet.

Boy was a trooper though.

Mommy and Jack cheering Daddy on as he chops down our tree!

I knew Jack was feeling poorly when he actually fell asleep on me and took a nap!

I get his snuggles often enough, but they only last for about 1.7 seconds, and then he's off on the move again. I didn't like he felt so yucky, but boy did I soak up some good cuddle time!

Jack got some pretty cool toys a week before Christmas during the first of many family gatherings. 

He was clearly THRILLED to get three new "BALLS!!!" for Christmas :)

He also now has his very own tool belt to help Daddy out in the garage!

Christmas Eve found Jack completely enthralled with Stella's viola playing skills and liked listening to everyone sing along with the Chiristmas carols.

And on Christmas morning was thrilled to find his new wheelbarrow, most commonly referred to as a "car" by Jack.

And he got  lots of other much needed toys that are more developmentally appropriate for him than what we had before!

The happy chaos of Christmas morning!

Sitting by the fire with Papa for Christmas dinner.

Here are Jack and daddy building his new airplane from Grammy and Papa. 

He LOVES the drill that actually turns on to screw the screws into the plane to put it together. 

Lord help the person that tries to take that drill away from the boy. 

Total meltdown.

And an end to the evening. 

Jack loves listening to music on Daddy's headphones, specifically, Adele's "Hello."

The kid's got sophisticated taste lol!

We hope you all had a Merry and Bright Christmas!
The only thing ours was missing was SNOW!!!
We have fingers crossed hoping the snow will make an appearance sometime this season.

Trick or Treat

Well our little Jack was feeling kind of puny all day on Halloween, but he rallied (read, Mama made him dress up anyways for the pictures) and did about an hour of Halloween festivities. 

(And Mama got her pictures she planned for.)

Thursday night, Jack and Mama got dirty and carved pumpkins together!

Jack and Bailey BOTH decided to eat some of the raw pumpkin. 

Both had to get their noses right in on the action. 

Yet somehow, Mama was the only one doing all the work!

 Jack is trying to take credit for that "BOO!" pumpkin!

(scary how he almost pulls it off too)

 Posing for an "action" shot. 

He's just adding some final touches to our silly pumpkin's nose.

I only ever carve happy pumpkins.

 

 Here is our little lumberjack! 

Thanks to Jack for putting up with Mama hauling you around!

You'll be thankful later for the memories.

Besides, I think this is the last year I got to chose your costume.

(fine, the memories were more for me than him this year)

 Showing of his 5'o'clock shadow!

 Trick or Treat GG Faye and Aunt Suellen!!!!

Sure, I'll come right on in and relieve you of some candy.

 Cousins showing off their cosumes!

 Waiting to trick or treat at Uncle Rick and Aunt Judy's house!

Group photo:)

 

 And just when I thought we were on the verge of a meltdown, we came home and...

 ... he RALLIED. 

This is not a sugar high. 

This is a milk high.

 Mommy was smiling this big too when the milk stayed down instead of coming back up!

 Bye everyone! Hope you had a Happy Halloween!

Oh and a few extra "tricks" instead of "treats" from the recent weeks.

 The kitchen drawer handles have now become a ladder.

Jack is copying Bailey a little too much these days. 

(I may or may not have had him repeat this action for the picture, and THEN tried to keep him away from Bailey's water dish.)

Boys will be boys.

My defense: It boosts his immune system!

Thanks for stopping by!

Pumpkin Patches and a Rainy Day

We have had lots of opportunities to explore lately, and it's been FUN!

Jack has been to the pumpkin patch 3 times and had a blast each time. 

 Lakeview Farms with Grammy and the cousins!

 .....

 Baggensto's Farm with Auntie Jessica

He was a man on a mission and thought EVERY pumpkin was the perfect pumpkin

 .....

 Next, back to Lakeview Farms!

This time with friends from work:)

 Picking out pumpkins is serious business.

 Jack was unsure about little lady's attention!

 Back on the hunt!

 He's gotten so big!

Lots of adventure around every corner at the pumpkin patch!

Next up? A rainy Monday. 

Mommy tried to let go and let Jack explore and allow whatever happens to happen. 

Jack was intrigued when the rain started falling and I decided to just let him experience it. 

It was bath day anyhow;)

See Bailey drink...

 ...huh...

...Now Jack's turn to explore!

(I was surprised he didn't try to drink the puddle too!)

 My drippy, wet, rainy boy

Getting up close with WET dirt and WET pine needles.

Just making the most of getting dirty

Learning how to catch the rain on his tongue!

JOY!

We're having so much fun watching you grow up little man.