Grace is 15 months!

Grace turned 15 months old on January 17th.  At her 15 month check-up, she weighed 19 lbs 7 oz, and was 29.5 inches long.  I'm not sure how accurate this really is because she was NOT happy to be weighed and measured, but this is what we got. :)  Grace still isn't walking yet, but we really think she could if she wanted to.  She will take five or six steps, sometimes when she's in a really good mood, you can get her to go farther, but again, it all depends on her mood. :)  Sometimes you stand her up and ask her to walk to you and she won't' even stand up for you…. :)  But, she loves to push her stroller around the house like a crazy lady, and she has enough balance to be pushing her stroller one way, stop, swing it around 180 degrees, and then continue on her way going the opposite direction…..yet she won't walk! :)  Grace continues to amaze me with her understanding of what we are saying to her.  She is pretty good at following simple directions and will do what you ask her to do.  She loves to put on other people's things, and you can often find her out in the front entry way trying on hats and mittens. :)  It's really funny to see what she comes out wearing. :)  She continues to love to be doing what Kyler and Norah are doing.  If they are playing in the other room, she thinks she is just the coolest person if she is in there playing with them.  She still takes two naps a day, one for 45-60 min in the morning, and another for 1 -11/2 hrs in the afternoon.  Although, if she sleeps late enough in the morning, its really hard to get her to take a morning nap, so I can see we may be heading in that direction.  Grace still only has 6 teeth, but the two bottom ones on the side are starting to come through and I can fell all of her molars in the back.  She loves to wave at people and say "bee" for bye-bye, any time someone is driving by, she starts waiving at them.  She also is really good at signing and saying "more".  She does this whenever she wants something.  Also, when we were up at the cabin she started saying "Harley" (mom and dad's dog), she says "harlah", it's funny.  Here are some pictures from the past month!

15 months old!

So excited! :)

Wearing a hat and pushing her baby :)

Another hat she found….

Checking out Norah's baby crib

Wearing her "pretties" :)

Found a nice place to sit….in the shoes!

Hi Mom!

Just hanging out….

Being silly :)

 

New Years at the Cabin

The Sunday after Christmas, we loaded up and headed north to my parent's cabin in Minnesota.  We left late morning and got there about 7:00, we actually beat my parents there! :)  We unloaded and got everything settled and had a quick spaghetti dinner before getting everyone ready for bed.  We haven't been up there for New Years Eve since I was pregnant with Kyler, so we thought it would be fun to go back.  Monday and Tuesday were so bitterly cold, like the actual temperature wasn't above zero and then factor in the windchill and it was freezing out.  So, we enjoyed doing some inside activities…..Kyler built some legos, they played with play-doh, watched some movies, and other fun things.  Wednesday (New Year's Eve) it was a bit warmer, so the kids bundled up and headed outside for just a little bit.  They really wanted to go down and walk on the lake. :)  They had a fun time out there, but were then ready to come back inside.  Also, there was hardly any snow on the ground at all.  We were a bit disappointed because there are snowshoes and cross country skis up there and we thought it would be fun to do those things, but you need some snow to do that. :)  For New Years Eve, we headed into town to go out to eat for dinner with the neighbors.  We went in about 6:00 and had a fun dinner together.  The restaurant looks over Leech Lake, which is huge, so it was fun to see all the cars and vehicles out on the lake of the ice fisherman.  After dinner we headed back to the cabin to hang out for a bit, and then head to bed.  (I don't think anyone made it until midnight!) :)  It snowed about 1-2 inches New Years Eve, so on New Years Day, we were able to do some fun things out in the snow.  We walked down to the neighbors to borrow their sleds, and the kids enjoyed sledding down my parent's drive for quite a while.  They also took another trip down to the lake to check it out.  We enjoyed relaxing and watching some football the rest of the day. :)  Friday it was time to load up and come home!  There was a snowstorm in the forecast for Friday into Saturday, so my parents also decided to come home then.  We left about 10:30 and pulled into our driveway about 7:00.  It was a fun time up there!  Although we wish we would have had some more snow, we had a nice time relaxing and hanging out at the cabin.  Here are some pictures from our week!

Happy New Year!

Having way to much fun with the noise makers :)

Grace and Erik 

More noise maker action

Happy New Year from us!

Grace and her best buddy Harley!  Harley's cage is in a different room than the main living room at the cabin.  Harley is still a puppy and gets out of control at times with the kids, so whenever he was in his kennel, and we couldn't find Grace, this is where she was….playing with her best friend. :)

Can't he come out?!

Fun in the snow!

This was Grace's first real time in the snow!

Walking on the lake

Grandpa and Norah

Sledding fun!

Getting ready….

Down they come!

Even Grace got in on the action and LOVED it

Checking out the snow...

Down we come!

Trying a new position :)

Lego fun!

On the sleds on the lake

Enjoying the sunset!

View from the lake….a bit different this time of year!

Christmas 2014

We had a wonderful Christmas this year, celebrating the birth of Jesus and spending time with family and friends.  Our Christmas celebrations began on Tuesday, the 23rd, at Erik's parent's house when we celebrated with his immediate family.  We headed over there as soon as the kids got up from their afternoon naps.  After everyone had arrived, we opened presents first.  The kids could not wait to do this and had been in anticipation all day.  We just let all the kids open up their presents first, and then the adults did theirs in a more "orderly" fashion. :)  When all the presents were done, we enjoyed a wonderful dinner that Erik's mom had made for us.  After diner, we enjoyed some time hanging out and chatting while the kids played with their new things.  I forgot our camera and only have one picture with my phone of the kids opening their stockings, so I'll have to add more pictures later.

Stockings!

Christmas Eve started as any other day.  Erik went to work and the kids and I hung out at home while I did some last minute things.  Erik came home and took Kyler and Norah "shopping" for a bit late morning, and then when they got home, I ran a quick errand before lunch.  We all ate lunch, and then Erik got ready for church.  The kids napped and while they napped, I got ready for church.  I woke the kids up about 3:45 to start getting ready so we could be at church by about 4:30.  I got everyone up, dressed, and we made it there only about 5 or 10 minutes late! :)  We enjoyed a wonderful service with my parents and brother, as well as Erik's parents and sister.  After church, the kids and I headed over to my parent's house for dinner.  Erik was able to come join us by about 7:15 (yay!).  We took some family pictures, enjoyed a yummy dinner that my mom had made, and then about 8:15 my aunt and cousin and her family stopped by to have pie.  We all enjoyed some pie, and then about 9:00, we headed home to get ready for bed.  Here are some pictures form our Christmas Eve!

Looking down our row at church

Kyler with his candle

Our three kiddos!

Kyler and Norah

:)

Ben with Kyler

Ben with Norah

Our family!

Erik and I

My family

Christmas Day started out at our house.  I finally went in to get the kids up around 8:15 or so because I knew that if we didn't get going we would be short on time later.  The kids hopped out of bed and headed straight downstairs in their pjs.  We then enjoyed opening presents as a family.  Grace thought she needed to open everything that was Norah's even though she had her own presents to open. :)  She did such a good job opening this year, she has come a long way even since her birthday just two months before.  

All ready for the kiddos!

So excited!

Checking out their stockings...

A present from Kyler's stocking

Norah's "Elsa" dress :)

Grace's pull along turtle

After we finished opening presents at our house, everyone got dressed, ate breakfast, and we loaded up to head over to my parent's house.  The kids were ready to open again, so we got everything organized and then they went to town. :)  When the kids were done, the adults then enjoyed opening their presents.  After presents, we enjoyed a yummy brunch of waffles and bacon.  The kids were then ready for naps before more fun later.  While the kids and Erik napped, I helped my mom get ready for her side of the family to arrive later on.

All ready to go!

Grace LOVES this snowman at my parent's house.  You push it's hand and it shakes and plays music :)

Kyler with his new DVD :)

Norah with her new baby

A picture of the chaos :)

Grace opening one of her presents, she loved opening!

Erik taking a turn

My mom with the tree Erik made her

About 4:15 we got everyone up from their nap and waited for everyone else to arrive.  Shortly after 4:30, my mom's side of the family started to trickle in.  After everyone had arrived, and we got some of the food organized, we headed downstairs to start opening presents.  When presents were over, we finished getting the food ready for our evening meal.  We enjoyed a wonderful meal of ham, potatoes, corn, green beans, fruit, relishes and deviled eggs.  We were all so full, but it was so wonderful! :)  A bit later we had dessert too. :)  Everyone enjoyed relaxing and talking for a while after dinner, until we decided we better head home around 9:00.  

Erik, Grace, and Uncle Nick ready to open presents again

One side of the room….

The other side!

Ben opening a 'joke gift' from Aunt Mimi :)

Ava and Norah crafting

Norah with her new stamp set

Kyler opening his tow truck that Uncle Nick made him

Grace hanging out in the green chair

Hanging out :)

One of the tables ready to eat!

We had our final Christmas celebration at Erik's grandparent's house the Saturday after Christmas with his mom's side of the family.  We got there around noon, and enjoyed a wonderful lunch of all different kids of soups, sandwiches, relishes, salads, and desserts.  After dinner was over, we hung out for a bit, and then the little kids opened their presents.  When they were finished opening presents, the adults had their annual game of BINGO.  During BINGO, you get to win one gift card and then after that you can pick from the "random $5 gift table". :)  Grace and Norah napped during BINGO, but towards the end, Kyler decided he wanted to try to play.  He had seen a bag of M&Ms on the gift table and wanted to try to win them. :)  Well, after not too long, he had a BINGO!  He was pretty excited with his prize. :)  As soon as BINGO was over, we gathered up our things and got ready to head home.  Again, I don't have any pictures from this Christmas celebration. :(

We had such a wonderful Christmas.  We are so blessed by the generosity of our families and it is so great that we are able to spend time with everyone.  We hope you and your family had a great Christmas as well, and remember the real reason for the season, the birth of Jesus!  Merry Christmas!!