Cookies

Growing up, I always remember the tradition of making Christmas cookies. Really good cookies. Sugar cookie cutouts, peanut butter blossoms with red and green sprinkles, thumbprints, tortes, and many more. I have felt that since I have my own kids that tradition needs to be carried on. But as cookie time comes around, the perfectionist in me wants to do them by myself so they turn out just perfect. AHHH!! Hard being a perfectionist and mother :) A week ago we had a cookie exchange with the girls in our small group. Whoever came up with the cookie exchange was a genius. Take one kind of cookie and come home with 7 different kinds. Well, needless to say, my cookie making time wasn't the best mother/child bonding time in the world. And I have felt bad that we haven't really made too many cookies this season. So last night Jack (and Cole from the comforts of his highchair) made the rest of our snowmen. Jack helped dip the peanut butter balls in the chocolate and put the hats on. We had lots of fun. The best part is that Jack only likes the marshmallow hat, and I only like the peanut butter ball snowman. Perfect kind of sharing!!!

Silly Faces

I love free time with my boys. Cole started out really REALLY grouchy this morning, and you just never how the day might go. After lots of laundry, cleaning the bathroom (you could eat of it, I cleaned it so thoroughly), and making a last hat for someone, the boys and are playing in the dining room. Cole was having some lunch and Jack decided to show us all the faces and animals he could imitate. Here are a few:

I never thought I would see the day when Jack and Cole would play. Just play without crying to pushing. Laugh hysterically, and rough and tumble each other. I love that they are really becoming best friends.

New Bed Pic

Our Big Walker!

That's right Cole is officially walking. For about a week now. He is cruising all over the place. I think he really feels like he has a different freedom. It's so stinking cute. He is a high stepper and his little knees lift up so high with every little wobbly step. He started really trying earlier this week, and every day now he just walks more and more. As soon as he falls, he gets right back up and goes again. We are so proud of him. I have been eagerly anticipating his walking for about 3 months now. Jack walked the week after he turned one, and Cole has just been on his own little schedule. But it saddens me a little to think he is not my little baby anymore. He is so independent and wanting to do everything Jack does, and have everything Jack has. I've got a video of him walking that I will try to post too.

New bed

Made a purchase today. One of those that was not on our to do list for IKEA this morning. We got Jack a new bed. A bunk bed of sorts. Every time we go there (which is not often) Jack always wants to play with this bed. It's more like a loft really. Bed on top and then a play area underneath. Well, just as finished getting what was on our list, I decided to check out the as is section before we checked out. And there it was!!! His bed on mega clearance. Sooooo, we got it. He helped disassemble it in the store, and put it together once we got home. He love love loves it. Really cute, matches his room so well, and he is so excited to have Grandma Vicki sleep underneath(or at least he thinks she will sleep underneath). I remember when Megan I got bunk beds. We thought we had the best set up in the world. It was a lot of fun, and I hope that Jack will have great memories of his new bed.

I will post pics later! :)

Family Pics

Thanks to my amazing friend Noelle (http://www.2sisphotos.com/) for taking such great pics for us. I am blessed with such a wonderful family. My husband is so thoughtful and kind and hilarious. He is an amazing father to our two precious boys. Jack is so polite, and really wants to grown up to be a farmer. A big thumbs up is always waiting for you. Cole is spirited, and has a twinkle in his eye that is amazing. His toothy grin melts your heart. . He just started walking for real. He will walk half away across a room, then not take a step the next day! True case of they will do it when they want to :)

Family

2 weeks away from Christmas!! Really!!! The last few weeks have been busy. Really busy. My little business that started as a hobby, has turned full time. www.misslis81.etsy.com I never thought in a million years the Lord would bless this to what it's become. I am grateful! I am grateful that I get to stay home with precious boys and help contribute to our family. It's hard to work from home and take care of your kids. I'm torn most days. If I'm not making a hat or blanket, I'm not making money, but at the same time, I'm home with kids and they aren't in daycare somewhere. We have put our shop on vacation for the Christmas season so we can enjoy this time with our family. Jack and I have made some Christmas cookies already, we are having our first Christmas party tomorrow afternoon with our wonderful small group, and we are snuggled in tight waiting for a winter storm to roll in tonight. I LOVE this time of the year!!! Cinnamon candles burning, Christmas lights everywhere, and the excitement in my 3 year olds eyes as he talks about what he wants for Christmas.

Tonight Jack, Chris and I are hanging out on the couch watching a Christmas movie and drinking hot chocolate. As we were putting the finishing touches on our hot chocolate, we saw lights out the front windows and ran to see what it was....and here, only in Newark do we see a parade of fire trucks decorated with Santa and Christmas lights going all through town. I'm sure it wouldn't be hard to rewrite "twas a night before christmas" about this town. :)

Quick funny story about Jackers. As most people know Ron Santo passed away last week, and it was all over the news. One morning, my mom went out to garage to get Jack and he turned to her wide-eyed and said, " Grandma, Santa died!" Could have been a really traumatic christmas. Thankfully grandma explained the whole situation, and Jack went right back to playing tractors.