Family Christmas

Every year Papa Bear's side of the family celebrates Christmas at our house.  This year we got together a couple of weeks before Christmas.  We gathered at our house since we live in the middle of the other brothers.  I love to host - even though it takes a bit of work. We don't exchange gifts with the adults, but we do with the kids and it's fun to watch.  This year I suggested the adults do a white elephant gift exchange for fun.  I put a limit of $10 on it.  It could be either serious or a gag gift.  Anyone who had a gift, could choose a gift.  We all drew numbers to see who would go first.  It was a fun time!!  I got some fishing lures, but luckily my brother-in-law stole them from me as he is a fisherman.  I ended up with a deer calendar which I gave to my hubby.  I think everyone had enough fun with that kind of exchange that they want to do it again next year.  Maybe I will get more creative.

It sure was a blast to see Little Bear with all the presents.  He had so much fun opening his presents and everyone else's too.  He definitely is a blessed little boy along with his sister.  Our family really spoils them both.

excited about his new train set

Opening cousin Jack's present

Aunt Amy putting together your new train tracks

Helping Uncle Jeff opening his white elephant gift

You were excited about the deer on the calendar

Shadow watching all the activity and feeling a bit jealous

Cousin Séamus and Little Cub

Uncle Rob helping you with your new mega blok tractor

Aunt Pat and Little Cub

Little Cub is 4 Months Old

Oh my dear sweet Little Cub.  You are growing so fast.  I really can't believe you're already 4 months old.  Time sure goes by quicker with you since I'm always chasing after your brother.  Pretty soon you'll be eating real food.  I'm not ready for that yet.  You continue to be a very mellow little girl.  You love to smile, laugh, and are jabbering quite a bit lately.  You enjoy playing in your exer-saucer and on the play mat.  You've already rolled over for the first time.  However, I haven't seen it yet.  You did it first at CC's.  I've seen you on your tummy after you've rolled over, but never seen you actually do it.  I'll get to one of these days.  You are very strong and stand on your legs for quite a while when I'm holding you in my lap.  One of my challenges with you lately has to do with sleeping.  You used to do really well with that.  However, the last several weeks you wake up every 2-3 hours at night and almost refuse naps.  I probably didn't help the situation though as I would pick you up right away at night so that you wouldn't wake up your Daddy or brother.  However, I decided that I need to help teach you how to sleep through the night.  So, last night was the first night for sleep training.  And, I'm proud to say you did better than I anticipated.  You didn't go to bed till 10:00 though.  You woke up at 1:30, but that was too early.  So, I let you fuss for a bit, put the BB back in your mouth and you went back to sleep.  You woke up then at 3:30 which I was OK with.  So, I fed you and put you back in the pack n play.  However, you didn't go back to sleep till an hour later.  At least you weren't crying during that time and were just making cute noises.  Then, much to my surprise, you slept till 8:15 this morning.  Today as I'm writing this post, I'm trying to teach you how to take naps.  You're actually fussing a bit right now, but I'm hoping you'll go back to sleep.  I thought you might be a tummy sleeper like your brother, but so far you only sleep on your back or on your side and you definitely like having your BB.

Your brother is getting better and better at loving you instead of hitting you for which I'm thankful.  I think you're going to be one tough girl for all that you endure from him.  Your poor sweet little head has gotten so many scratches from Little Bear.  He loves to give you hugs and kisses now and especially likes to do that before he goes to bed at night.  It's so cute to watch.  I pray all the time that you 2 will have a great relationship and both grow up to love and honor Christ.

My happy Little Cub

Little Bear being all sweet

My sweet babes

Special Kisses from brother

movin' and groovin'

Super happy and jabbering

24 Months - Happy 2nd Birthday Little Bear

My Little Bear is 2 years old now.  I can't believe it.  You are such an amazing little boy.  Papa Bear and I are so proud of you!  You continue to explode with excitement and even stubborn-ness.  Your vocabulary impresses us and you seem to really want to figure things out.  You're into trains, trucks, being outside, torturing our dog Shadow, loving on your sister, and eating snacks.  My boy, you could eat all day long.  Not even an hour after you eat, you're asking for a snack.  What you really mean by snack is the gummy fruit snacks.  I try my best to limit your sugar intake so I don't let you have fruit snacks all day long.  My limit is 2 for now.  I love to cuddle with you in the morning before your sister wakes up.  I can't imagine my life without you in it.  Despite how you frustrate me at times, how you are stubborn and throw your tantrums, I love you so very much and am super glad you are mine.

Papa Bear and I took him to Fritz's for dinner on his actual birthday.  We all had a great time watching the trains go around the restaurant carrying food to people.  Little Bear didn't eat much because he was so excited.  We each ordered a Sunday for dessert - Little Bear's was free.  However, they were big enough that we all could and should have shared one.  After dinner we let him open the gifts we got him.  We had a party for him the weekend after his actual birthday.  We had family and a few close friends over for lunch.  It was a great time and I had a blast watching Little Bear opening his presents and playing with all the kids.  My cousins agreed to make the cake so I wouldn't have to stress over that.  They made a train with a coal car behind it.  It looked amazing and tasted incredible!!

Chowin' down on his cheeseburger at Fritz's - he barely ate anything because he was so enthralled watching all the trains carry the food to the tables

He wore the hat just long enough to let us get a picture

opening presents with Papa Bear and Mama Bear

He liked looking at the doggies on the wrapping paper

"OOO, Choo Choo twain"

He lined all his gifts up and had fun playing with them

Wassup?

He really enjoyed playing with Henry his new train

I so love his big brown eyes

He loved his balloons

His yummy birthday cake made by Wooten's Sweet Cakes

Blowing out the candle

Opening presents

His friend Gabi helped him open some of the boxes so he could play with his new toys

He loved the shoes he got from Grandpa and Grandma

The T-Pee was a big hit

A Break Through

Little Buddy,
Today CC celebrates with you!
Today marks a break through for you.
After lunch we washed hands and then went into the playroom to pick up in preparation for our company coming into town (Mr. Travis's mom and sister). I have really been working with you to learn to pick up and today YOU DID IT! I walked around the playroom with you giving you one task at a time. 1st the Tonka toys, then the magnets, then the "big" trucks, then the plastic dishes. And you did it! Each task you completed by yourself. I was so proud of you. We sang our song as we went along:
Clean up, Clean up Everybody Everywhere
Clean up, Clean up Everybody Do Their Share

Keep up the good work!
Love,
CC

A Weekend Away to Grandpa and Grandma's House

So, a few weeks ago, I loaded up the kids and ALL their stuff and headed to my parents.  Papa Bear was off deer hunting so I thought it was a great opportunity to take the kids to see their grandparents and have them help with the kids while Papa Bear was gone.  I tried to coordinate the drive time of 2 1/2 hours with their naps.  However, it didn't work as well as I'd hoped it would either going down or coming back home.  That's OK, because overall both Little Bear and Little Cub did rather well in the car for me.  Little Bear had his blankie and "BB" and a video of Thomas and Friends playing.  As long as Little Cub had her "BB" she slept the whole way.  Just a few times did I have to pull off the road to put the "BB" back in her mouth.

While at my parents, Little Bear had a BLAST with Grandpa.  Grandpa took him to the park and they played for a long time.  The park was close enough to my parents house that they could walk.  I'm so thankful the weather was decent that weekend.  I stayed at the house with Little Cub and Grandma.  Grandma helped me make some bierocks.  If you don't know what bierocks are, you are missing out.  It comes from our German/Russian background.  It's a mixture of ground beef, cabbage, and spices inside a dough.  It's kinda like a turnover.  It is so good.  My mom makes a terrific dough and the filling is so easy.  I love to have them in the freezer because they are super easy to grab when needing a quick meal or to have to take to work.  I asked my mom to help me make them.  However, in her true fashion, she did pretty much all the work.  She made the meat mixture and the dough.  All I did was cut the dough into squares, put the filling inside, and fold the dough over to close it all in.  At least I did something.  Now my freezer is well stocked.

It was good to be back home and see some people I hadn't seen in a long time.  I think my parents had a great time showing off their grandchildren.  I'm glad they don't live too far away and can see their grandchildren at least once a month.

Bierock - not the ones I actually made, but look exactly like them

Little Bear all ready for the trip

Little Bear helping Grandma do the dishes

Little Bear had a blast with the toys at Grandpa and Grandma's

Happy boy playing outside at the park

He had so much fun going down the tornado slide

He wasn't so sure at first of this bridge, but soon was practically running across it

He got in this tunnel even though other kids were already in there - just one of the gang

He still wanted Grandpa right next to him after a while though

He loved pushing the stroller around

I was impressed with how well he stayed on the horse as it went around

Wheeeee

Little Cub chats with Grandpa

So cute - need I say anything else?

Little Bear checking out the camera with Grandma

No problems on this slide even though it was rated for kids 5 and up

playing in the leaves

Trying to avoid brain freeze while eating a Frosty