Getting Ready for Christmas

This afternoon before heading to the winery for the Pina family Christmas Eve I downloaded the memory card from Jason's camera. I was pleased to find these pictures taken over the month of December as we got ready for Christmas.

On Friday the 10th, I decided to decorate Christmas cookies with Grace and Cooper while Jason and Emma took in a show. Grammie and Grampa joined us for cookies and dinner, and Emma and Jason made it home in time to decorate a cookie or two.

On the 13th we found our Christmas Tree.

Mommy loving on Henry.

Henry sporting his santa hat at Grace's Christmas program.

Years ago Maria gave my parents a stuffed Santa from Canada. Each year the kids look forward to him coming out of storage and taking pictures with him.

Last weekend we finally decorated the tree!

Henry hanging out with Santa and some Christmas lights.

Last night we finally hung up all the stockings for Santa Claus. My great-grandmother made the first one when my mom was a baby. My grandmother made ones for my dad when they got married and then for John and I when we were born. My mother carried on the tradition making stockings for Jason, Tracy and each of the grandkids. Traditionally the stockings aren't done until the baby's 2nd Christmas so Henry's should be ready next year.

I think it is so fun to have all 12 of us here at the house for the weekend!

Decorating the Tree

Grammie and Grampa came over last friday night and we had a great time as a family finally decorating the tree. Grammie had as much fun as the kids putting ornaments on the tree. Grampa enjoyed trying out his new camera and watching the activities.
He shared these photos with me:

The whole family in front of the tree.

Grace with Santa Claus. Cousin Maria sent this two my parents when Emma Jo was just a baby and the kids look forward to him coming out of storage every year.


Henry really wants to be a big boy and he was enjoying standing up watching the kids and lights.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

The Christmas season is quickly approaching. The last few years all the hoopla has felt more like a chore than a blessing, but this year I'm actually looking forward to all the trappings of the holidays. It started when I heard that Silver Oak's Christmas Party included kids this year. I loved buying dress up clothes for the kids. The boys are both young enough that I could buy whatever I wanted and dress them up like little dolls. I'm so excited to show off Cooper in his pin-stripped vest and tie, and Henry in his sweater vest and newsboy cap. Emma Jo is very happy to get to wear her father-daughter dress again and Grace likes any dress.

On Thanksgiving morning we dressed the kids up in their new outfits to try to capture a picture for our Christmas cards.

Before the party this weekend, I'm hoping to do a little shopping. I'm also hoping to string Christmas lights around the yard this weekend and begin to decorate the house. Next weekend, after Jason's 40th birthday, we'll be getting our tree and fully "Christmasfy" the house.

3rd Birthday

Cooper John turned 3 yesterday! I can't hardly believe it. He has brought so much joy into our lives. He is truly a little boy who loves tractors, dinosaurs, trucks, dirt, tools and mischief. He adores his daddy and would spend every waking (and sleeping) minute with him, if possible. He is a handful and proves to me that boys are definitely different than girls. Although he makes me want to pull my hair out I wouldn't have it any other way.

Emma Jo decorated Cooper's cake. He couldn't decide if he wanted a tractor cake or a dinosaur cake, so he got both!

Since Emma won't be at Cooper's party due to a friend's conflicting party, we let Cooper open her present last night.

Toy story is Cooper's favorite movie and Emma knew Woody would be a great birthday present.

She was right!

My Little Indian

Today Cooper is thankful that he is feeling much better today after a week of illness and burns.

Today at daycare he made a paper Indian vest and headpiece.



He wishes you a Happy Thanksgiving.

What a Week!

It is only Wednesday morning, but we've already had quite a week. It started Saturday morning with Cooper puking in the carpet store. Guess we'll have to pick out the new floors for the house another day! Then Saturday night Henry decided he didn't need to sleep. I didn't get him down until 11:30 (he usually goes down around 8!). Then at 2 he woke up and could not be comforted. I finally discovered he would sleep in my arms if I sat in the LazyBoy rocker. We stayed there until 7am. Thankfully Jason was off this weekend and Henry and I got to sleep in until almost 10! I was still exhausted and tried to take the day easy.

Monday I got everyone to daycare and school and was just settling into a groove at work when my phone rang. Cooper was sick again. I hurried to daycare and picked the boys up. By the time I got him he seemed fine so we spent the day lazing around the house watching Bolt. Henry had a doctor appointment in the afternoon and we discovered he is totally "average". He weighed in at 14lb13oz and was in the 50th percentile for weight and length. Monday night Henry didn't go to sleep until 10pm, but he pretty much slept all night (except for a few snacks).

Tuesday Cooper stayed home with Grampa and Daddy while the girls had their Thanksgiving parties at school. Henry was a daycare and it was a quiet day. The quiet ended around 6:30 when Cooper accidentally touched the wood-stove. Then there was screaming and tears. After running cold water on it for 30 minutes and holding onto a Nemo and Lightning McQueen icepack we discovered he was more scared than hurt. He was exhausted from the experience and fell asleep in Jason's arms around 8pm.

This morning everyone seems to be better. Cooper's hand is a little red but I can't see any blisters. Henry is snoozing on the bed. The girls are sleeping in knowing they have a five day weekend. I'm hoping this is a sign that the week is changing and we'll have lazy days and happy kids for the long holiday weekend.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Heroes

My uncle Ranndy is much more eloquent than I am, so you might want to click over to his blog and skip this post altogether.

Today we celebrate our veterans. I say celebrate because we should remember them everyday. They are the brave men and women to put their lives on the line to ensure our freedom and to help those less fortunate than us. They are husbands and wives, sons and daughters, mothers and fathers. They are young and old, proud and scared. They are the heroes.

Both of my grandfathers fought in World War II. One passed away before I was old enough to know about war. The other didn't choose to discuss it.

Unfortunately I don't have any digital pictures of my Grandpa Dick. I do however have a few of my Grandpa John.


My grandpa circa 1960

Grandpa and his three brothers who all served in WWII

They all made it home safe.

To everyone who has served this country, and everyone who has had a loved one serve this country, Thank You. You are the heroes.

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The kids dressed up for Halloween 2010.

Prepared for Raining Days

When the rain started pouring down a couple of weeks ago, I realized that Cooper was going to need rain boots this year. Since all we have by way of hand-me-downs are pink boots, I started searching for the perfect pair for my little man. After a whole afternoon of dragging the entire family from store to store last weekend, I finally just ordered the ones I wanted from the Internet. Last night Cooper's new fireman rain jacket and rain boots arrived!



I think he is just the cutest thing! And I love how his little face just lit up when he saw them.

GIANT Halloween!

I'm not sure what was the best part of Halloween, seeing the kids dressed up having a great time trick-or-treating, or having the Giants win 4-0! Cooper combined the two by sporadically throwing in a "Go Giants" when he should have been saying "Trick-or-Treat" or "Thank you". I don't think anyone minded that he got confused:).

This year was the first year that we let Emma Jo trick-or-treat with friends and no mom or dad.

She was a Green M&M.

Cooper decided on Saturday night that he wanted to be Batman and "save the day". Unfortunately we had already gotten his dinosaur costume over a month ago and there is nowhere to get Batman at the last minute in Healdsburg anyway.

Grace thankfully agreed to wear the Snow White costume that Emma wore at her age. She had just wanted to be a princess so she was happy.

Henry made it through about half of the houses the little kids hit up and then he needed a break for an after-dinner snack. I didn't mind because it meant I got to listen to the World Series on the radio.

Our littlest Dinosaur. All of the other kids were pumpkins their first Halloween, so Henry wore a pumpkin suit under his dinosaur suit.

3 Months Old!

I can hardly believe that Henry Charles is already 3 months old. Time sure does fly!

Henry is sporting his "scary vampire" Halloween outfit that Grammie bought him. I love the little feet.

My Two Boys

Today was my first day back to work since leaving with pre-term labor in July. On Saturday morning I took this picture of Henry to use as the background on my computer at work.

Today as I was staring at it, it reminded me of a similar picture I took of Cooper right before I returned to work with him.

Can you tell they are related?

New Addition

Work is progressing nicely on our new master bedroom and bathroom addition.
On October 8th the floor joists were completed.


By October 19th we had two exterior and two interior walls!

The kids got in on the action of knocking out an interior bedroom wall.

They are very much looking forward to each having their own rooms. Cooper says his is going to be a Dinosaur room!

Henry didn't get to help, but he sure is cute!