Merry Christmas

Once again, Jenna loved singing with the children for the children's Christmas program at church on Dec. 16th. After the rehearsal, I asked her what she thought and she said, "I wasn't nervous at all. I was just so happy!" We've got to get her on a stage more often! (See "Mighty Day" video in Christmas 2012 folder.)

I started this post on Dec. 20th and never got to finish it. I think it's still worth posting, though. Our attempt at a timer photo didn't work out too well. Kellen was about to make a run for it. But, it's real. The past few weeks have been a little crazy. A few December events: Kellen's 2nd birthday celebrations, two LPHS basketball games; an all LPHS bands concert; a tree that I didn't think we were going to have this year; said tree falling over; some broken ornaments; lots of fun talking about Jesus' birth (almost) everyday with Jenna and doing a little craft; Jenna's first snow day which also cancelled her first school Christmas party; Kevin being sick on said snow day which also cancelled his beginning band concert (many 6th graders so sad to have a snow day!); Jenna deciding to stop sucking her thumb and was successful (4 days). Successful that is until Dec. 21st, when she woke up with a fever the day we were to leave town for Kansas. She was acting fine, though so we decided to go anyway. Just before we left, I started feeling sick and had a fever by the time we got to the hotel that evening. Jenna got better by Christmas eve, then Kellen got sick Dec. 26th. He announced his fever by throwing up in my lap as I was reading him a story for nap. Fun times! Kellen and I are still sick, but glad to be home in our own beds and taking antibiotics. More Christmas pictures and stories will be posted later.

This post was originally intended to wish Merry Christmas to you and yours. We still wish that even though it's past. And, here's to a new year! We are thankful for the greatest gift of all - Jesus!

Kellen 2.0

Kellen is 2 years old today! He weighs 25 pounds and is 32 inches. He is sweet, funny, and opinionated. If things aren't quite right, he will let you know! He only likes to wear comfy clothes and hates jeans. He loves wearing his winter hat and gloves. If he could spend every day in PJs, he would (and sometimes, I let him)!

(favorites: PJs, hat, gloves, and ball)

When you peel a banana for him, you must leave the peel on his tray until he's done eating. Do not try to throw it away right after you peel it! He is saying new words every day and beginning to put a few words together. After he asks for a snack ("nak"), he'll add that he wants "two." Pretty appropriate for being two, I'd say. A typical morning conversation we have goes like this: I go in and say "good morning." He asks, "Da-ye?" (That means, is Daddy here?) I say, "No, Daddy is at work." He asks, "Why?" I say, "Daddy has to work so we can have our house, food, and toys." He says, "Oh." For yes, he says "ah." He is quite the cuddler - love it! Sweet boy. I still suspect that he's going to be left handed and his two best buddies to sleep with are still his puppies "Baby" and "Blue." Here's an example of things he does to make us laugh: (See video 0044 in Kellen folder.)

 And, here's some sweetness: (See videos 0092 and 0093 in Kellen folder.)

We had his birthday party on Saturday. I picked out two cakes that I thought would be fun to make and let him pick. He picked "ah-ee" aka Frosty. He also picked "bee-ba" (pizza) for the meal.

Rainbow chip cake for the snowman, brownie for the hat.

It was fun to do a Snowman birthday party. What other time of the year can you do that?! I found a bunch of plain birthday hats, then got snowman stickers and each kid decorated their own hat.

Sweet 2!

He really wanted to get that candle blown out! And, once we moved it closer, he got it! We didn't even instruct him about that part. I guess he's been watching during other parties. (See video 0057 in Kellen's 2nd bday pictures folder.)

 "Two!"

 I found a pin the nose on the snowman game that was fun.

Although, I think a few of them could see under the mask.

Lots of really nice gifts

Saturday evening, we went to the parade of lights. He really loved the "ma my" (Christmas lights). Tonight, we turned his car seat forward to look at Christmas lights. After all, driving around looking at Christmas lights is what we were doing 2 years ago, just 3 hours before he was born!

Here's a look back:

 The birthday

 One-year party

 One-year-old

My favorite 2-year-old