Ryder's First Christmas!

We started off Christmas Eve with a scavenger hunt from Abie.  Brody had a great time reading the notes (can't believe how much he can read!), Addisen had fun running around and Ryder was just along for the ride!  The scavenger hunt ended in the freezer where Abie had left them all new Christmas pajamas!  The excitement continued when Grandma and Bobo arrived to have dinner with us and spend the night.

 

Christmas morning all of the kids were so excited to find all of the presents in the living room!  Brody was at the stage of guessing what every present was before he opened it, Addisen wanted to play with every present that she opened and Ryder just wanted to climb on everything.  It was a great morning!

Wow!  The kids had a lot of presents!  Addisen didn't even open all of her presents that morning.  She said that her hands were tired so she wanted to take a break.  That girl is full of personality!  Some of the favorite gifts this year were:  Brody - Infinity Wii game, Hot Wheels Car Maker, Books (Geronimo Stilton and Dr. Seuss) and the Rainbow Loom (to make rubberband bracelets).  Addisen - Anything Hello Kitty (outfits, dominos, matching game, socks, purse, fruit snacks), Little Mermaid tea set, Doc McStuffins doll.  Ryder - boxes and paper

No walking from Ryder yet, but he can get where ever he wants to be.  On Christmas Eve night he started to push this car around.  It was fun to watch him go forward then move to the other end of the car and push it back.  He is such a happy guy!

Addisen in her Christmas pajamas!

A picture of all three kids on Christmas Eve and it even happened on the first try!

Abie left reindeer food for the kids to put out for the santa's reindeer.  It had special glitter in it to show the reindeer where they wanted to stop.

The weekend after Christmas we headed to Grandma and Bobos to go and look at the Christmas Lights at the local zoo.  It was fun for me to go back to the place that I worked while going through college.  I never imagined having three kids visiting there some day!

 

Silly kids!

Ryder stayed warm in the stroller taking in all the sights!

 

Addisen turns THREE!

One of the few moments these two are smiling while touching each other!  We have definitely entered the age of picking on each other!

Abbey was the first to wish Addisen a happy 3rd birthday!

The birthday girl enjoying her sprinkle pancakes!

We had a quick celebration for Addisen on her actual birthday.  Ryder and her had their Christmas Program with daycare that night...she it was a quick meal and cake!

 

Ryder ringing his bell during the program!  That is his little girlfriend Isabella next to him...they both have red hair!

I couldn't get a good picture of Addisen during the program.  The lighting was bad and there were a lot of people there.  She was the cutest little snowman with her tutu and all!

Santa made a surprise appearance after the program.  Brody was so excited to go and see him and tell him that he wanted hot wheels for Christmas.  Santa told him that he would get them...glad Brody didn't ask for an XBox!

Ryder was so interested in Santa's beard.

As you can see - no pictures of Addisen. She freaked out when we got within ten feet of Santa!

She was willing to sit with the hippo!  So this is our Christmas picture this year!

Yesterday we had planned on celebrating Addisen's birthday with our family.  Unfortunately we got an ice storm on Thursday night and another one last night - so only Grandma and Bobo were able to make it.  It didn't stop me from making her special cake!

Addisen was so interested in watching Grandma and I decorate her cake on Friday night.  She wanted to stay up until it was finished.  I on the other hand couldn't focus on frosting it because she was talking nonstop!  Lucky for me it was bedtime :)

Ryder loved the cake!  He really loves any food!  That boy can eat!

A pretty good picture with Grandma and Bobo - it is difficult to get a good picture of all three kids...so we will take two out of three!

Addisen loved openning her presents.  She would say "OH" and "That's so nice" to all the packages...even the boxes before she could see the clothes in them!  She is so silly!

Abbey had fun with marshmallows this week!

On Monday night Brody and Addisen had a 'last day of being two' jump party.  We had a lot of fun taking pictures mid air and then looking at them.  Those two can be so silly together!

I say it with every birthday - but really I just can't believe my baby girl is 3!  The memories of the day she was born are so vivid in my mind!  That first christmas with her and pretty much the first 3 months of her life feel like yesterday.  How can it be?  I do have to say that I have enjoyed (for the most part!) watching her become her.  She is the sassiest, bossiest, funnies, loving, and intelligent little girl I know.  She has taken a whole different path to growing up than Brody!  She surprises us everyday with all the things that she comes up with.  She has made it a mission to not go to bed, she will find your weakness and then use it until you break!  At the same time she will steal your heart when you are ready to lose it by just saying "sweet dreams mommy" after you have returned to her room 10 times!  I thank God for this little girl and I cannot wait to see what she shows me over the next year!

 

Christmas Parade and Cookies!

The Christmas Parade in Rockford wasn't very snowy but it sure was cold!

Ryder enjoyed the first part of the parade but then got mad!  I think he must have gotten a little frost biten because he screamed and screamed and screamed!

We were at the beginning of the parade this year and the kids got A LOT of candy!  Now we know why we got so little last year when we were over by the library :)

 

SANTA!

Abbey was being silly this week.  He went fishing for goldfish crackers in our toilet!

Then made snow angels on the cabinet. 

Ryder has started with a new look.  It just cracks me up...not sure where or how he learned it!

 

Abbey let the wild animals out of the canister!

We had so much fun decorating cookies this year.  Jim bought us gingerbread men to decorate this year...the kids had a ball!  We decided to keep Addisen's frosted cookies to the side when we realized that she was licking the frosting off her fingers and knife as she went!

Starting to look a lot like Christmas!

Abbey our Elf arrived when we returned from Pennsylvania.  He has been a lot more active this year since Addisen is able to understand the importance of not touching him.  The kids never know where or what he will be doing in the morning!

 

We went to find our Christmas tree during the coldest time of the season!  It was only in the teens when we were hunting for the perfect tree!  It didn't seem quite right with no snow on the ground this year...but we certainly still felt winter!

On the hunt for the perfect tree.

Addisen modeling the Hello Kitty hat that I made her.

 

Family pictures in front of the perfect tree!

 

Ryder with the perfect size tree for him!

 

Abbey was busy the night we set up the tree decorating.

Brody had his Christmas Music program this week.  The High School auditorium was packed!  He did a great job with so many people there to watch!  We were lucky to have Grandma and Bobo join us for the program.  We were joking that in 5 years well will be there all night because all the kids will be in elementary school together for one year!