Saying Goodbye

Jonathan's brother Matt left on Tuesday for Sweden, where he is now going to reside.  It was a bit of a teary goodbye as he will now be pretty far away and someone we seldom see.  The kids now have no uncles that live in the same state as they do.  Matt is pretty excited about what his future holds in Sweden for him, and we are wishing him the best!  We miss you, Uncle Matt!

All I want for Christmas

Justin probably should be asking for his two top front teeth (actually one of the two just popped through yesterday so I guess he's already getting that for Christmas!), but instead he really, really, really wants a BIG yellow and black Tonka dump truck.  Seriously, I am not kidding.  I thought it was a fluke last week when I took the kids to Toys R Us and Justin went nuts over this large yellow and black Tonka dump truck.  Everytime we would walk by it, he would screech and reach for it and scream until I let him put his hands on it.  It was in the center aisle and we went passed it several times.  Each time he had the same reaction.   Tonight we were at Sam's Club with my parents and they had a similar yellow and black dump truck (I think this one wasn't a Tonka though), and Justin got super excited again.  He started chattering and bouncing his legs and reaching for it.  When my mom (who was holding him) started walking away, he was leaning back and staring at it mumbling and reaching for it.  I don't know what it is about a very large yellow and black dump truck- the size?  the color?  big wheels?  I have no idea, but I think Santa better make sure to bring him one!  He may only be 10 months, but he knows what he wants Santa to bring him!  :)

Santa!

Today we went to visit Santa.  I wasn't sure how the kids would do with him this year, but they both did great.  No tears and to my surprise not even any shyness!  Katelynn walked right up to him and asked him where his Santa hat was (he wasn't wearing a hat, and her grandpa had suggested she ask him why so she did!) and then proceeded to tell him what she wanted (which is a Barbie, a Barbie car, and a dog with the "hurt" thing (a little vet shop)).    Justin went up a few minutes later and just stared at Santa.  He wasn't scared at all.  We'll see if next year goes as smoothly with Justin. 

Oh man!!  I got a USB stick with the kid's pictures from Santa.  They took several pictures and I picked out three.  I just realized they gave me the wrong one of Justin.  Ugh!  We had a super cute one of him looking at Santa checking him out and Santa was talking to him and looking at him.  It was soo cute, and the darn lady gave me the one of them looking at the camera instead!  I really want to go back and make them retake it for free, but I wonder if I will have any luck with that?

Two little feet...

..took two tiny little steps today!! 

I can't believe my 10-month old baby boy is about to be walking!  We are in Georgia visiting my parents while Jonathan is out of town.  Jonathan totally called it.  He knew Justin was going to do something big while he was gone, and he was going to miss it.  Sure enough, our first full day here and Justin let go of the couch and took two little steps towards us!  He has taken one to two steps a few times since then, and then other times he is still just standing and going straight to crawling.  Still, I bet it won't be long!!  Hopefully in the next few days I can get a video!!

Not worth the argument...

The older Katelynn gets, the more things I realize just aren't worth the argument.   For example, there are days when I just don't feel like arguing about her shoes being on the wrong feet and how she has to switch them or let me switch them.  Instead I just let her go out with shoes on the wrong feet and let everyone think I'm a neglectful mom.  Oh well.  Some days it's just not worth it.  Tonight, however, it was the "princess crown".  She HAD to keep it on when it was bedtime.  Yes, I know it has long ribbons that could potentially choke her.  That's exactly why I was in her room after she crashed to remove it, but I had to snap a quick picture first!

There's an even cuter story to this crown that she had to wear tonight.  Tonight we read a book about a princess and pizza (Katelynn's two faves- she loves pizza and adores princesses.).  Part of the story is about this princess trying to win over the prince.  At the end of the story, Katelynn asked if she could be a princess and Daddy be her prince.  I asked her what would happen to Justin and I if she and Daddy were princess and prince.  She said, "You can be an elephant and Justin can be a duck."  Wow.  Lucky for me and Justin- we get to be animals while Daddy and Katelynn are living large in a royal kingdom!  :)  I did find it absolutely adorable though that she wanted her daddy to be her prince. 

Elf on Shelf- Day 1

Have you all heard of "Elf on a Shelf"?  I think I learned about it a little late as plenty of our friends in playgroup will be having their elf visit for the second year, but this is our first go around with it.  The story is that Santa has sent one of his elves to our house to watch Katelynn and Justin and make sure they are being nice.  Every night he leaves and goes to the North Pole to report to Santa, and then every morning Katelynn can find him hiding in a new place in our house.  His first spot this morning was the chandelier in the dining room.  It took some help from mommy to find him!  I love this idea and hope that our little elf is going to become a new Christmas tradition around here!

I'm B-A-C-K!!

Phew.. it took quite a while to get caught up around here, but I have finally gotten to that point!!  I promise to post again regularly.  It is so much easier to stay on top of this when I'm not so far behind.  I hope that signing into our blog isn't too much of a pain and that you all will still be stopping by.  Leave me any feedback if you have any suggestions to make this whole going-private thing any easier!  I hope you all are getting in the holiday spirit!  I love Christmas time!  :)

P.S.  I made a lot of posts tonight.  If I'm not mistaken, you may have to go back a page to read all of them and view all the photos!  (And I didn't even post half the ones I wanted to!)