My favorite Christmas shots

Christmas always goes by too fast...After all the cookies have been eaten and presents have been opened, I always have just a tiny tinge of disappointment. This year was extra fun though...Jack loved opening his (and our) presents.  His method was slow... He opened his presents by tearing off the tiniest pieces of paper, bit by bit, so we were able to enjoy a nice slow morning of gift opening along with coffee in hand and a fire in the fireplace. We got to do it all over again the next day with Mimi, Pop pop, and my sister and her family who braved the looming blizzard. 

Jack LOVES is Radio Flyer horse from Grandma and Grandpa!

Trying out his sled from Mimi and Pop pop!

Abstract Christmas Tree.

This shot sums up our Christmas morning nicely.

Jack trying out his new rain boots.

My niece, Maia, in her princess outfit (heels and all) playing with Jack's new vacuum. 

PS...We've decided to keep the kitty...His name is Oliver.

Our Christmas surprise kitty.

24 - Twas the night before Christmas

 Happy Christmas to all and to all a Good Night!

~24~

Jack, snug as a bug in his Christmas PJs, with Daddy for the annual reading of "The Night Before Christmas." (From Pop pop's childhood Christmas book.)

After Jack went to bed, we enjoyed gluhwein and this:

And then we did this:

23 - Santa Claus is coming town...

Today was a crazy day of last minute errands, one temper tantrum, and cleaning....I am so looking forward to relaxing and enjoying the next couple of days with family and friends!

~23~

22 - James Brown

Here are a couple of clips of Jack grooving to James Brown's Soulful Christmas, his favorite song of the moment. 

(Please excuse the mouth full of grilled cheese.) 

:)

~22~

Kitty Update:

I posted fliers around the neighborhood and posted in the lost and found section on Craigslist...so far no calls.  He really is making himself at home...he's been sleeping ALL day. Oh, and Jack was enthralled by him.

21 - House guest

Tonight, just as Rob and I were about to eat dinner, we heard crying from outside our door. We opened it and there on our front step was this friendly guy. It's freezing cold outside, and the poor thing was starving so we let him in.  Not knowing quite what to do with a cat, but not wanting to turn him away, (he doesn't even have a collar) we called Rob's mom for advice.  In the end, Rob went out to get him some cat food which he scarfed down.  Now he's going to spend the night and we'll see what happens tomorrow... we have already named him, though. 

~21~

Our little visitor.

Goodnight Moon

I came across this video and I had to share it.  Jack LOVED watching his favorite book come to life. He was mesmerized. 

20 - First Snow

Even though it was just a dusting, we still bundled Jack up tonight for a short little romp in the snow. He had fun running his fingers through it and checking out his footprints in the driveway. 

~20~

Brrrrr.

Checking out the snow.

Jack didn't want to take his hat off once we came inside.

That's ok.  It's cute on him and he knows it.

Checking on dinner. Is it ready yet???

19 - Sandies

This is my Nana's recipe for finger cookies, also known as Sandies. They are so simple and delicious!  

~19~

Sandies

Makes about 2 ½ dozen

1 cup butter (2 sticks), softened

1/3 cup sugar

2 tsp water

2 tsp vanilla

2 cups flour

1 cup chopped nuts (pecans or walnuts)

Confectioners’ sugar to coat

Cream butter and sugar.  Add water and vanilla. Mix well. Mix in flour and nuts. Chill dough for 3 hours. Shape into desired shape (ball, crescent, log).  Bake on ungreased cookie sheet at 325 degrees for 20 minutes.  Cool slightly.  While still a little warm, roll in powdered sugar.

18 - Family Portrait

~18~

Family Portrait.

17 - Visit with Santa

I guess Friday morning is the perfect time to visit Santa at the mall.  There was no line at all, so we just plunked Jack right on his lap. I wasn't sure how he'd handle it...we've all seen the hilarious pictures of toddlers clawing their way away from the scary guy in the red suit, but Jack didn't mind at all.  To be honest, I was a little (a very little) disappointed that we won't have that story to tell. But we do have a picture of a very smiley Jack with Santa, so I will happily take that.

~17~

Jack's first visit with Santa.

16 - My favorite flower

I am finally starting to feel like myself after this awful sinus infection. Yay!  It's so nice to be back in the land of the living! Jack and I actually got out and did some major Christmas shopping this morning. Jack always attracts so much attention when we're out. He's so content sitting in the shopping cart, flirting with little girls, singing songs, and saying hi to everyone. 

~16~

Rob came home with flowers a couple of nights ago to cheer me up.

15 - Candy dish

~15~

Mint M&Ms.  Yum.

14 - Flashback

~14~

Jack's first Christmas - 2008, Thousand Oaks, CA.

13 - DIY Wreath

Even though I've been sick all week and I've barely left the house, I did manage to finish a little project that I had going on. I worked on it after Jack was in bed (Rob even helped a little). I saw this a few weeks ago, and I thought I'd give it a try. It involved lots of yarn and way more pom poms than I ever thought that I would need.  I am really happy with how it turned out though...

~13~

My pom pom wreath.

12 - Unser kleiner Junge

Today Jack kept a tradition alive...he tried on Lederhosen that Rob's parents bought in Nuremberg in 1975. They were living in Ansbach, Germany at the time when they bought them for Brandon. At one point Rob, then Alex wore them and now it's Jack's turn. 

~12~

Look at those knees!!!

11 - Fresh Air

This morning we finally got out of the house! It warmed up enough to head to the park. Jack was so excited to have a chance to run around, and for me, I was just happy to be out in the fresh air. 

~11~

Wheeeee!

Walking in a winter wonderland (minus the snow).

Shoulders.

10 - Feeling better

Today, after I had a coughing attack (I am so sick of this sinus infection!), Jack said to me in his adorable little voice, "you ok Mommy?" It was so sweet and it definitely made me feel better.

~10~

Rob made these fish tacos tonight for dinner.  They made me feel better too. :)

9 - In the bath

~9~

Mohawk.

8 - Wordless Wednesday

~8~

Up from his nap.

He's excited to show me the lady bug on his window.

A smile on command!

7 - Unrelated picture

Today was a day of waiting rooms and pharmacy stops...We found out that both Rob and I have sinus infections while Jack has a minor cold which explains why he is not miserable like Rob and me. Then, this afternoon Jack had his two year check up. Of course, he was fascinated by the Doctor's light that she used to check his ears out with. 

Here are his stats: 

Weight: 27 lbs 6 ounces (50%)  

Height: 36.5 inches (90%...we all know he's going to be tall!)

~7~

Jack and our tree.

6 - A Pajama kind of day

The three of us are sick. It's one of those days where the PJs and the TV are staying on...Despite all of the sneezing and coughing, Jack seems to be his normal happy self.  He's a little trooper.  Rob and me?   Not so much.

~6~

Jack and Thomas.

5 - An almost perfect Sunday

Decorating the tree, fire in the fireplace, carols playing, gluhwein simmering on the stove equals an almost perfect Sunday.  (Perfect would be if we didn't all have colds...At least the gluhwein makes my throat feel a little better.)   

~5~

Ornament.

4 - Our tree hunt

Today we got our Christmas tree!  Rob's parents recommended Hartikka's tree farm, so for the second year in row, that's where we went. We picked out our tree (a gorgeous fraser fir) and Rob cut it down while Jack was practically running circles around him...I really think that it was the prettiest tree on the whole farm. After we picked out our tree, we went for a hay ride drawn by Belgian draft horses...we were all cuddled under blankets for the ride and Jack almost fell asleep.  But he didn't, and after the ride he was able to pat the horses (they were named Batman and Robin) on their noses. That made him happy.  

~4~

Next to our tree.

Helping Daddy pull the cart. 

Jack exploring.

And I didn't forget that today is the 4th of the month...so I decided to take Jack's monthly photo even though he's beyond the two year mark. Why stop now?  Especially when he'll sit and smile for me. 

3 - Eyelashes

I took this close-up of Jack while attempting to get a picture that would work for our Christmas card. I love how this shot captures his soft cheeks and his never ending eyelashes...

~3~

Jack and his eyelashes.

2 - Countdown to Christmas

We haven't broken out our Christmas decorations from the basement yet or put our tree up (that's what this weekend has in store for us), but that doesn't mean I am not in the Christmas spirit...I've started my shopping with holiday music blaring in the car (much to Jack's disapproval, all he wants to hear is Sandpiper from his Music Together CD).  I have started to decorate though...I found really pretty wrapping paper that happens to match our kitchen...so I hung it in our glass front cabinets...it's much better than looking at boring white dishes!  :)

~2~

Our first holiday decoration.

1 - Countdown to Christmas

I've been inspired by Mila's Daydreams to have a little Countdown to Christmas on my blog...I will try to post a picture every day from now until Christmas.  It will be a fun little challenge for me to keep this up for 25 days in a row!

 ~1~

Christmas Tree.  Bushnell Park, Hartford, CT.

A catch up post

Oh, hello blog...I think this is the longest I've gone without posting...Sorry to those of you that may be having Jack withdrawal!  It's been a little busy around here!  

We have been doing lots of this:

Jack had some fun doing this:

And he was very proud of himself when he showed me this:

(luckily, I got the shot before he knocked it down with glee)

We went to Boston for the day a few weeks ago...

Jack saw Fenway Park for the first time.

And he tried Indian food for the first time...He wasn't really a fan of the curry, but he LOVED the Naan bread and the mango lassi...

Jack was so good all day...He fell asleep about 30 minutes before we headed home.

We had a really fun pre-Thanksgiving with Brandon, Bonnie, Alex and Kenzie (I wish I took some pictures...) before we headed to my parents' for Thanksgiving. As we do every year, we went to the Manchester Road Race where fun costumes and bloody marys are everywhere. Sam ran in his traditional lobster hat. Can you see him?

Maia ran part of the race too in a matching hat!

Dad wore his Hartford Whaler jersey and hat...and he always gets shout outs from the runners who were fans of the whale...

Jack and Maia had tons of fun playing together.

Although Jack decided to be an incredibly picky eater during Thanksgiving dinner (he refused to even taste anything, except for the dinner rolls), he was a seriously good (and especially adorable) boy all weekend!