A visit with Santa.......poor Santa!

So, we spent the Christmas holiday with G's family in Redmond, Oregon. One of the things I had planned to get done before we left was the Santa photos. Unfortunately, I didn't get it done, so while on holiday, we had to trek out in the snow to get this right of passage done for the little ones. It turned out to be lots of fun....even with a little mischeivious Little J and a not so happy to meet Santa Princess J.

Little J went first, we thought maybe if Princess J saw him with Santa, she might be okay with it. Little J put on quite a show for all the onlookers as he took his Santa photo. First, Little J yanked on Santa's beard. Thankfully, that stayed put. His hat however was not so fortunate. Little J was able to get Santa's hat completely off! Little J was quite excited to hear all of his fans laughing and clapping for him. Once we got him under control and the giggle fest was over, we got a great photo!

Next, Princess J was up to the plate. At first she looked at Santa with wide eyed astonishment, and then she turned her face to the camera and started screaming! Then she stopped momentarily to look at Santa once again and then the screaming started once again and the tear flow was quite abundant. The photographer did a great job capturing the looks at Santa and then the screaming. We opted to go with the crying photo, because.....it was priceless.

All in all, my little ones gave Santa quite a run for his money. Thankfully, Santa was one awesome guy and so sweet and kind to both my little ones even with their mischevious behavior!

Thanks Santa!

Hammy!

I think Princess J has figured out that mommy will always have the camera out. At first she was not too cooperative, but now she is hammin' it up. Today, Princess J went to her first birthday party (Happy Birthday 1st Nathan!). We've figured out that she will like cotton candy (she couldn't take her eyes off of the cotton candy making machine), she will like lumpia (she tried to steal one off of mommy's plate), she's willing to share (she offered up her binky to the birthday boy), and she does not like clowns (a hello from the clown got loud wailing and screaming). So here are a few shots of her dressed and ready to go to her first party.

The annual Christmas Card Picture Party!

Here is a preview of some of the fun we had today trying to get a photo for our annual Christmas Card! None of these are the final selection, so you will just have to wait until your comes in the mail!!

Where have we been?

Actually the question should be where haven't we been? Things have been super busy here, but then again I think they always are super busy. I'm looking forward to the Christmas holiday to sit back and relax a little. In the last couple of weeks, we've been to 3 doctor appointments, registered Little J for school, had meetings to put together his education plan, said goodbye to two great therapists, changed our daily schedule a bit, scrapped a little, cleaned a little, celebrated an 8 month birthday, celebrated a 3 year birthday and had a first day of school! Wow!

We took this photo the morning of Little J's first day of school! He was loving his big boy backpack!!! He turned 3 on Saturday and was off to big boy school that first Monday! I still look at him though and see my little baby boy! His first day of school went really well. He could have cared less that Princess J and I left. As a matter of fact, I'm not sure he really cared that we came back to get him. He was having so much fun with his teachers and his new classmates! Apparently he was quite excited to play in the playgoround during recess too! Can't wait to see him in action there! He seems to be ready to get up and go every morning now. Before going to school, he would wake up around 7:30 am and kind of lounge around in bed until 8am. Now, he's awake at 6:30 and ready to be out of bed by 7 am! He didn't get to go today, because he had another appointment that we couldn't change, and I think he was a bit disappointed.



Princess J is 8 months old now! I cannot even believe it! Her little personality is definately coming out. She loves to scream just to hear her own voice! Her favorite is that high pitched scream for sure. She makes lots of faces from pouty to worried. Of course my favorite are her sweet smiles. I think she's happy that Little J is in school during the morning. She and I had so much fun on Monday going to Barnes and Noble and reading some stories. We also hit Babies "R" Us to pick up a few things for Little J. The cutest thing though was that we walked up to the Starbucks counter inside Barnes and Noble and the cashier said "Hi" and Princess J repeated it back! We haven't heard it again yet, but she's definately beginning to form a few words. It was nice not having to haul the stroller out, since she loves to walk around in the Baby Bjorn! I miss Little J while he's in school, but I know he's well taken care of and having a good time, so I am enjoying my alone time with Princess J! I can't wait to get her signed up for some baby and me classes.

I love these photos of Little J and Princess J. I can't wait to get them printed and do some more scrapping. I have been totally inspired and have so many cool ideas in my head....along with all the things that Rocio enabled be to buy that I really want to scrap. Now, I just need to find the time.