Merry Christmas

We had a fun day together as a family. Here's a few snapshots from the day and a video to top it off!

Jacob is opening his stocking, he had an airplane that he was pulling out here. Then he made a "neeeeeee-ruuuum" sound as if he was flying it.

While doing some snow removal we took Jacob outside for a short time. He loves walking around on the clear pathways and crawling through the snow.

Jacob is playing with a sand/water table that he got for Christmas. There are packing peanuts in it right now. He also got a cozy coupe car and twin cabbage patch babies. So far the babies are his favorite - however he seems to like all of his presents!


Ripping off the paper - he wasn't super amused by unwrapping, but he's take the gift inside and run across the room and put it somewhere else.

Isn't this crazy?! Lots and lots of snow! It's not finished yet, but seems as if by tomorrow the snow should be finished.

A highlight from the day:

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve

Merry Christmas Eve! The snow has bombarded us in NW IA, "the wind is whipping the snow in a furry" (according to weather.com). This morning Jacob needed a change of scenery so I thought that would be my only chance in the next couple of days to take him outside. He enjoyed the snow - even as it pelted his face! His friend Olivia showed him how to make a snow angel and he made one too (my camera battery had died by that point). She took him down her slide into a pile of snow. I pulled him around the yard in the sled. Those tracks are long gone now though.

We thought we would read "Twas the Night Before Christmas" to Jacob, he was much too tired to enjoy the book, so we skipped page 2 to the end of the book!

Then we set out some cookies and milk for 'Santa'.

However, Jacob is too smart to not know what a cookie is and decided he would have the opportunity to enjoy a bit of one before heading to bed! He liked it.

We look forward to spending our Christmas snowed in! The only activity that will be taking place outside will possibly be working on some snow removal or running to the neighbors to hang out together. Our kids can entertain each other. I mentioned that we should hang a rope between our houses so we won't get lost getting to and fro. (Totally Laura Ingalls Wilder reference, but this weather reminds me of the winters they experienced.) It's suppose to continue all day tomorrow with the wind continuing to be an issue. That's ok to be trapped at home.

(For the sake of remembering when the next event happened I'm adding this to this entry...it really doesn't matter to those of you who read this though...) Yesterday, Dec. 23 started Christmas break for MB. I had decided that over break we would break Jacob from the pacifier. He only had it for naps/bed. We really didn't know how this transition was going to go, but we started it at nap time on Wednesday. It took Jacob a little bit longer to fall asleep (roughly 45 minutes as opposed to the 5-10 minutes with the pacifier). At bedtime it took him 15-20 minutes to fall asleep. Nap today didn't take too long either, 15ish minutes with bedtime tonight taking about the same. We just heard him crying a few minutes ago....I wish I had a little camera into his room so I could see him move around and soothe himself. So far this transition has gone better than expected. Good work Jacob!

Good night and we'll try to update tomorrow with Christmas pictures!

Christmas is almost here!

Another winter storm is preparing to attack our area in the coming week, right before Christmas. I really don't mind. School most likely will not be effected and we don't have travel plans. I think the timing is right for the storm. To make people slow down and hopefully focus on the true meaning of Christmas. (Yes, I realize some will not be able to make it to their planned destination and family is very special...sorry if your travel plans are thrown for a loop.)

I look forward to spending some quality time with my family of three, nestled in our home, with the 'pretties on' (christmas lights as Jacob refers to them). He is doing some amazing things - running, talking like crazy, and his love is so priceless. We have been teaching him baby sign for several months now and he's signing (and saying) "more", "please", "cheese", "diaper change" - we're working on others, and when we least expect it those signs will all the sudden appear. He says his own little gibberish prayer, folds hands, bows his head, says things we don't understand, and then "meh-men" and quickly asks for his food! He also enjoys "re-me" time (reading books) and dancing to music

and bathtime is a hit too.

Since it has been awhile since I have posted...here's a few highlights: We made a trip to Husker nation in Nov to watch a great football game. Nate and I enjoyed our time together while Jacob had fun playing with his cousins and splashing them in the bathtub. They however did not enjoy his splashing!


The day after Thanksgiving we ventured out to a local Christmas tree farm to find out 'perfect' tree. We did not have it go flying out of the truck this year. It stayed securely on top of the explorer. Thankfully! We were coming home in the dark, so it would have been very difficult to put it back on. We did have an adventure when we got it home, put the base on, lifted it up (the stop scraping the ceiling) and the tree secured - come to find out, no water was going to touch the bottom of the tree as the trunk was too short. Hmm...power tools in the house and a hack saw later, it's up and good! Absolutely perfect! It's beautiful.

Last weekend we got together with Nate's family. Here we all are!

Jacob got his first sled ride by dad and grandpa also! He liked it and had fun waving to the people inside the window who didn't want to get bundled up. He eventually put his hand in the snow (on purpose), ate a little bit, realized it made his hand cold and got upset and the activity ended. We're looking forward to trying again after our storm hits and clears out in a few days.

Cousin Faith gave it a whirl too!


Merry Christmas to all of you!