Back to the Grind

It is all about getting back to the grind today. We really enjoyed the nice long weekend and holiday. It feels like it did go by too fast though! We were back in SoDak Friday and returned home Monday. We enjoyed the time with my family and friends and were overwhelmed with gifts and food. Monday night we unpacked and played with all of Wesley's fun presents. We got prepared for the arrival of Santa by setting out cookies and milk for Santa and a carrot and reindeer food for his reindeer. It was super fun! I will have to post pictures in the next couple days. We spent the entire Christmas Day in our pjs which was such a treat. We (sley) opened his gifts from Santa and us and we watched the Polar Express, surprisingly the whole movie, and continued to play with all of our presents... Seriously, it is almost embarrassing how much Wesley got and worse - we have another round of Christmas on Saturday. We will just have to put away most of his "old" toys for a while.

Exhausted!

I am literally exhausted. Everything is catching up to me. I am looking forward to having nearly a week off of work and hopefully having a couple opportunities to sleep in! There are always so many things that go into planning a trip home to South Dakota. I have a checklist of 20+ items, laundry to do, just finished wrapping presents (that I started a month ago!), I am bound to forget something.

Thought I would post a couple of pictures. Here is a gum drop tree made by Wesley and myself. I am quite fond of it. Also a funny picture of Wesley and Shane's playdoh project from the other day. Seriously, not only did they make my belly big, I am towering over the both of them. Nice! Maybe that means I rank as head of the household!? I will also post a couple pictures to our day with Santa post...

I am not sure that I will update this while we are in SoDak... So we hope everyone has a safe and wonderful weekend. Merry Christmas!

A long day

Today was long for me! Shane was up and adam by 5 or 6 o'clock. He went pheasant hunting with his team at work...sounds like a rough day, huh! So I was up by 6:15 to get ready before I had to get Wesley ready (thank goodness for Shane - that is usually his task)! That may not be early to some, but for me - it was early. I have a long to do list prior to getting off to bed tonight too. I am wrapping up my gift wrapping - at least for this weekend. I also have made little ornaments for some kids/families that has been taking a bit longer than I anticipated. I never did quite finish all of my holiday baking/treat making. But, there comes a point that you just pick your priorities and work on those!

So, I really don't have anything entertaining to share today... The only thing that comes to mind was Wesley and I talking about cats. He said he'd like one for Christmas and I said I don't think Dad would like that, or that I would! Then the baby came up and he said "mommy doesn't like the baby, daddy doesn't like the baby, and wesley doesn't like the baby." It all came about from talking about not liking cats! Anyway, we didn't end that conversation until he said mommy loves the baby, daddy loves the baby and wesley loves the baby. I really felt that I had to make that clear!!! He has showed nothing but excitement for the baby so it caught me off guard. Maybe scared me more than anything about days to come...

A Christmas Survey

Another survey... but with a holiday twist.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping - giving and receiving
2. Real tree or artificial? Real - until Shane cuts me off since he does all the watering
3. When do you put up the tree? As soon after Thanksgiving as possible!
4. When do you take the tree down? I like to enjoy it into the new year - maybe a week.
5. Do you like eggnog? Only when we are at a deck the tree party - has been several years.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? I really don't have a clue.
7. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, I love it!
8. Hardest person to buy for? My manager who has everything and needs nothing...but we always manage to throw money into something that will go unused, unopened or regifted.
9. Easiest person to buy for? Kids - also the most fun.
10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Hmm, that wouldn't be polite. Terrible wedding present - an stinky stale smelling set of kitchen hand towels and hot pads with country apple print - I am still not sure if it was a gag. It has been recycled in a white elephant exchange.
11 Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? National Lampoons Christmas Vacation
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? November, or earlier if I find the perfect gift for someone
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yes, I am this year. I got a jumbo remote control for a work white elephant gift and I think it would be great for my grandma - at the very least for fun!
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Christmas cookies and treats
16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Colored lights
17. Favorite Christmas song? Mary, Did You Know
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Both
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeers? No
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Star
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morning - at our household, whenever we can - for both sides of the family
22. What I love most about Christmas? Watching kids open gifts, starting new traditions, and I'd be lying if I didn't also love a little YHS reunion

Sunday, Sunday

Shane's boot hockey league started up today. Typically they don't play this early in the season but with there actually being enough snow/ice on the ground and it is flipping cold out - it actually started on time.

We also received a delivery today that will surely please Shane - the snowmobiles have arrived. Shane's parents were nice enough to haul them back from Willmar for us. I am sure they will get some use this winter. Wesley has already said that he wants to go for a ride! Someone will have to take mine out so that it doesn't just sit here all winter long.

Tonight we had bowling league. We didn't plan on having anybody watch Wesley and decided to see how well he withstood the bowling alley. It went pretty well, probably would have been better had he napped this afternoon. He always enjoys seeing Ryan and Krissy too. I only bowled one game - first because I am feeling disabled and secondly, I was trying to get Wes home at a decent time. Besides, the dummy score is better than my personal performance the past few months. I have heard that pregnancy makes you a better bowler but certainly not in my case!

Santa was in town...

Wesley telling Santa his wish for presents and candy and that he was a good boy.

Our carriage ride

I love that it looks like the horse was smiling for me!!!

Dasher

We had a lot of fun today. We got up and had some apple streusel pancakes and decided to make our way around town to find Santa. Santa was scheduled to be around the Maple Grove shopping area. The community shops also sponsored free horse drawn carriage rides and a chance to see some reindeer. We thought we'd better get Wesley's haircut prior to a run in with the big guy - we had to be camera ready. Soon after his haircut, we were standing in line for a carriage ride and sure enough, Santa comes out of Panera and over to us! Wesley was super excited. He even got in another couple of kids pictures because he really wanted to sit by Santa. It was nice that they didn't seem to care! Anyway, he told Santa that he wanted presents and candy (which he also told another Santa a couple of weeks ago) and Santa whipped out his bag of goodies and took care of it right there - he got a couple candy canes and a little stuffed puppy dog. We kept telling him that it was pretty amazing that Santa knew exactly what he wanted! Then Santa was on his merry way to greet the other families out and about. We hopped onto a carriage a few minutes later, which lasted all of 6 minutes - just perfect as it was quite chilly out. Then we heard a couple of reindeer were in another location and went to check them out. It was pretty funny to see Wesley get excited about it all. He was really curious where Santa's sleigh was though.

Well, the other accomplishment of the day was printing off our Christmas letters and getting them ready to mail off. We didn't make the cut off for today so they will go out on Monday.

Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer

I forgot to add this picture to yesterday's post. Wesley's teacher, Ms. Julie, emailed us pictures of the kids and their Rudolph faces. Apparently, they would only take them off to eat and nap. Super cute! Also, I bring home a note from Julie every night and for some reason I forgot to read yesterday's note until this morning. Low and behold, it would be a note that I would keep in his files forever. Wesley repeated "Damn it" after one of his friends did. First, I was thankful it wasn't the other way around! Secondly, it will be interesting to see if this is repeated again. Let's hope not.

Today we took our vehicles in for a tune up. Shane needed new brakes which ended up to be quite costly - $580 later. Thankfully, I was told that I can probably wait until next year. Car maintence is never an exciting way to spend money. I just have to keep reminding myself that the truck has been paid off for a long time and needs to be maintained. I am also excited that there are only two more car payments left to pay off the Acura. It probably won't be long before we have to replace one of our vehicles, but it will be nice to be vehicle debt free for the short term.

TGIT

Yeah, I think I just figured out how to post a higher quality picture. Anyway, this is an old picture of Wesley that was on my mom's digital forever - actually it probably still is! I just love Wesley's blue eyes in that picture. Here is a more recent one of Wesley at a near by park:

Today, was a good day at daycare. You just never know what to expect at 5:00. Of course, Wes did turn into a little bit of a beast tonight. Shane's brother was over to pick something up and then our next door neighbors stopped by. I think Wesley was feeling a little unattended to which led to him being a bit naughty come bedtime. He is fighting a cough again too; so hopefully he manages to sleep through the night.

The neighbors that stopped by were super nice. It makes me really excited to be in the neighborhood! They just got back from their honeymoon (married in July) and we kept an eye on their house. They brought over some cookies - friendly neighbors is just such new territory for me! I am loving it!

1st physical therapy appt.

Well, today was my first physical therapy appointment. I was referred by my Ob because of the terrible back pain I have experienced this pregnancy. I cannot say that I was blown away but I hope this will be the ticket. The pain started a couple of months ago and has only increased in intensity and duration. I feel like I am living in a really old body and hate that I don't have control over it.

Wesley had a good day at daycare. He gets a stamp reward on days where he demonstrates good manners, listening ears and behavior. Two consecutive days with stamps! So let's pray the streak continues. His teacher says that he is becoming a leader, which would make some parents very proud. Unfortunately, it is of disruption that he likes to concur! We are really trying to motivate him to set a good example - especially once this baby comes. Of course, we don't really see this side of him in our time with him or when we are with friends so much. Apparently, the peer interaction brings out this character.

Well, I really am feeling the pressure of getting our Christmas letter out. Shane always starts it and I finish it. It is in my hands right now, so I really have no excuses. I am off to work on that very task.

Just starting off here...

Let's see if I can do this! I thought a blog would be the best medium to update friends and family. We'll see if I can keep this relatively up to date because I know life is about to get even busier... It is hard to believe that I am already 29 weeks pregnant! We are anxiously awaiting our February arrival! When we ask Wesley if he thinks it's a baby boy or girl, he says its just a baby. Of course, it is his baby!