Big Boy Status

Eli is growing up and becoming such a big boy.  He has officially moved over to the "big kid" side of daycare, he can now tease and torment his sisters (and get big reactions from J and E), he is getting his 2 year molars in--bottoms are in, not the top and he has been sitting on the potty "just practicing" for the real deal.  

With this big boy status come some big boy changes, like big boy behaviors that require time outs.  He has hit and pulled his sisters hair because he wasn't getting his way so this big guy got a big time-out.  He stood there with a tear in his eye staring at that corner and it was kinda cute so a snapped a pic. 

Being a big boy also means no more Binkies!  It was time, we were done with traveling and he just about 2yo and it was just time.  I am not sure why but I was kinda sad we were taking his binky away.  I never did with the girls.  Maybe because he's not a baby anymore :( and this solidifies that! So he hasn't been too awful without it so far however, he woke me up today at 5:45am.  Don't get me wrong he has cried but since we have been at daycare it hasn't seemed that bad!  So there goes another milestone and less baby in the house.  Kinda sad!

Baby, it's cold outside

We have been hit by a cold blast recently.  It's been -3 and the wind chill makes it feel about -30.  We have had some schools delays because of the bitter cold and a snow day.  We have been able to keep ourselves busy though.  Dad was nice and took the girls sledding and I made sure to have the hot cocoa ready because when they went out it was 6 degrees!  To cold for me!

The girls were invited to a Dinosaur themed birthday party and they had a blast!

 

And we've been robots!!

Being inside all the time has been a little interesting--Here is Eli pushing his sisters around in his dump truck that they were calling their wheelchair. 

And here is Ella acting like her parents...

Some friends have put up a backyard ice rink and the girls were all about trying to skate.  They did great!  We tried ice skating in Ohio when I was pregnant with Eli and they did so good.  We had to hold them up and skate with them.  This time they seemed to better when I wasn't helping or holding on to them so off they went.  Don't get me wrong they feel a. lot! but it was fewer and far between by the end. 

When it was time to go home because it was 8pm Josie says "NO, I want to stay and skate!"  Best response this mom wanted hear ;)

Christmas 2017

Christmas 2017 was a success!!  This is the year that I wasn't STRESSED out of mind, didn't have to hire a babysitter just to get shopping done and was ready for the season.  Yay for 3 days a week of work.  I could actually enjoy the season more this year with out the stress.  This was also the year that we were going to be home for Christmas day but the days fell differently and we made it to Ohio on Christmas day.  Years past we celebrated Santa coming the week before and then did our traveling.  Well, the kids are a bit older and go to school and I didn't want them running into school and telling everyone Santa came and being confused why Santa didn't come for anyone else, so we were going to be home on Christmas day.  Except Christmas fell on a Monday so we celebrated Santa coming on Friday night and opened gifts on Saturday.  I told the girls after school on Friday that tonight was the night Santa came--Josie did say at school the Christmas countdown said 3 more days until Christmas.  With some quick thinking and good cover she didn't question any more. Whew!

So here is what Christmas looked in our house

 

Christmas PJ's in front of the tree picture

 

We went to Holiday Nights and Lights in our PJ's.  We drive thru and fully decorated park and look at all the Christmas lights.  Eli was super excited and LOVED the Christmas lights.  He was pointed and say "oooooo" and the girls liked it, but they liked being unbuckled in the van while we drove thru more.  This is the end tunnel of lights.

After the lights we put cookies and milk out and of course enjoyed some ourselves

 

Santa arrived!  left to right Josie, Ella and Eli

The kids were excited when they woke up and thankfully, they woke up normal times and not crazy early.  With a little prompting from his sisters, Eli picked up present on opening. 

 

Josie opening her Shopkins she asked for

Eli got a roller coaster from Mom and Dad.  He really likes riding this.

The girls got a tea set from Santa, so a Christmas tea party was in order.  I see more tea parties in our future

After tea, we just stayed at home and enjoyed all the family time and playing with our new Christmas stuff.  It was very relaxing and nice.  Lots of great memories were made. 

An.d then on Sunday, Christmas eve, we started our drive to Ohio.  Joey and I had decided that we would stay at a hotel and split the drive up.  We were in a snow storm and the roads started getting bad so it was good we planned to stay somewhere.  We also thought the kids would swimming and we were right. 

A little steak n shake for dinner--not many places were open on Christmas eve

The rest of the drive to Columbus Christmas morning and then play time after that.  The kids enjoyed playing with their cousin and opening more presents, of course. 

Because the kids were completely spoiled by family, we were completely loaded up to come home.  I swear my 3 kids are in the van.  Joey was less than impressed with all this stuff. 

Eli was a much better traveler back to Iowa than he was on the way to Ohio.  Don't let that cute chocolate covered face fool you- he hates that car seat and let us know it.

We made it back just in time for the Ohio State bowl game.  A snow storm on the way back wasn't gonna stop Joey from seeing the game! :)  And that's a wrap of our Christmas.  And now, the tree is down and decorations are put away.  Until next year...