Christmas Day...How it was spent...

And this is how our Christmas Day was spent....

What a great Christmas all around! Good friends, family and food (though I was SUPER lazy and didn't even make a nice Christmas dinner.), and no over spending. Perfect!

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas as well!

Christmas 2008!

Christmas morning...started a little earlier than we had hoped (why is it that we, adults, expect to be able to sleep in just a little on the morning after Santa comes? We should know better! ;))...but definitely worth it.

Because Santa brought Nathan a "mega gift", and set it up in the TV room, we decided to open all our wrapped gifts first and then let him see his "mega gift". Its a little backwards from "normal", but I think we are still trying to figure out what OUR "normal" is where Christmas is concerned (things change when you have family in and out, kids, traveling...etc). At this point in our kid(s) lives, they don't know the difference anyways :)

Nathan got quite a few gifts...some Curious George books, a Thomas toothbrush that plays the Thomas song for a good 4 minutes (to which Nathan said "Momma, does it ever turn off?"), some bathtub roller soap...and a BUZZ LIGHT YEAR!

Opening his Buzz Light Year.

"Come on Momma...just open it!"

"Ahhh, come ON Momma!" (still trying to get Buzz out of the package...they don't make those things easy!)

After Buzz was finally free from his packaging, and Jonathon and I had opened our gifts, we took Nathan into the TV room for his "mega gift".

And for the "Mega Gift"

A train table and train set! Just look at that face! Complete excitement, yet disbelief and questioning "is this ALL mine?"....

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve 2008! Let the fun begin!!! We all woke up to a wonderful breakfast from Nathan's Grand Dad and a visit from Gretchen. Nathan wasn't quite sure what all the hoopla was about (I don't think he fully grasped the meaning of Christmas, or Santa Clause. He just knew he got to open gifts...and lots of them). Regardless it was a pleasant morning.

Before noon, we headed to Nan and Paps' house for Christmas Eve dinner and more gifts:

One of Nathan's favorite toys was a large Thomas the Train carrying case, which Nan and Paps bought for him. He LOVED it!

Here he getting a little tired (no nap) but not wanting to give up playing. The floor is oh so comfy!

After a fun filled day at Nan and Paps' house, we came home and started the tradition of making sugar cookies for Santa! Nathan LOVED being able to cut out the cookies:

Making a snowman.

Daddy helping him roll the dough...

Cutting out a candy cane.

It was a great Christmas Eve. The cookies turned out great...Nathan was ready for bed and excited for Christmas Morning and SANTA!!!

Santa Through The Years

Last night we met up with the Freemans and took Nathan and Audrey to see Santa at The Mall. My...how things have changed. Lets recap:

Here is Nathan, back in 2006...his first Christmas, and his first Santa encounter. Completely oblivious...but darned cute!

And who can forget last year's debacle! I am still surprised Nathan actually sat on Santa's lap long enough to get a picture taken. Just looking his this picture, I can actually hear his cry of "Mommy...who the heck have you given me too???? DON'T LEAVE ME!!!"

And...now this year...awww, what a sweet little boy. He was a tiny bit apprehensive, but you could tell he was wanting to be brave. We made sure he saw other kids sitting on Santa's lap, so that he knew that it was okay. We prepped him to tell Santa what he wanted (a train, a Buzz Lightyear...and a Christmas Tree. We have a Christmas Tree, so I am not sure why he wants another...regardless. :)), and he did as he was told. We honestly, did try to get him to smile, but the mere sight of a camera and Nathan shuts down. He HATES to get his picture taken anymore (thanks to me, I am sure)...so this stoic face was the best we could do. :)


P.S. I am convinced this Santa has a twin. Doesn't it look like the exact same Santa in all three pictures? Though...they are each at different malls?

Holiday Dance

You really must watch the following video (thanks Erin for posting this on your site, and hopefully it is okay that I have copied and put it on mine)...Please pay special attention to the one, and only, child in all red running around and dancing as if he is part of the group. I give ya ONE guess as to who that is...

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And, the video cuts off before all the girls run out the door...with the Boy in Red following behind.

Again, you really HAD to be there to witness this...as the video does not do Nathan's performance justice. Lets just say, I pee'd my pants in laughter (umm, not kidding...).

Pickin' Punkins...

Fall Festivities are never ending around here. Last Saturday morning, we met up with the Morten sons at Gallrein Farms out in Shelby County. The more popular place to go for pumpkin picking is Hubers (which we did go to)...so going away from all the crowds was nice. We were the first people there, which made us a tiny bit skeptical...but soon others arrived. They have a free petting zoo, free hayrides to the pumpkin patch, a HUGE haystack to climb all over, and a lazy dog that Alexa and Nathan fell in love with. :) As you can see, above, Nathan and Alexa became a part of the welcoming committee :)

Us...in the pumpkin patch.

SO many to choose from!

How 'bout this one?!?! It has already been picked!

Trick-or-Treat...YMCA Style

Mmmm...candy! Nathan and Audrey test out the goodies.

"Take the candy out of your mouth guys, and smile..." ;)

Audrey, deep in thought as Mini Mouse. (Come on! Isn't she THE cutest Mini Mouse EVER! :))

Let the festivities continue...The evening after the Zoo, the Freemans called us up and invited us to join them at the Fall Festival at the YMCA. That was fun! They had trick or treating inside the Y, which both kids LOVED! Then they also had big, bouncy, blow ups for the kids to jump around in...which I think was more fun than the trick-or-treating part. Both Nathan and Audrey let everyone know they were 2 when it was time to leave (meaning: they cried and cried and cried). :)

Sneak Peak

Nathan in his costume.

Keaton as Curious George.

Nathan and Keaton...goofing.

OOoh Halloween! I have NEVER been a huge Halloween person, until this year. And I still wouldn't call myself a "Halloween" person...I just seem to be more into the festivities than I have in previous years. I think that is because I have a child (children? can I say that yet?). It has been so fun to see Nathan learn the Halloween vocabulary (he has "Trick-or-Treat" down pat!), as well as all the traditional Halloween characters (ghosts, goblins, monsters, etc..), although he doesn't quite care about anything but the candy (which is just fine with me!).

Last week, we took him Halloween at the Zoo, and met up with our friends, the Walkers. We thought, going on a Thursday first thing would beat the crowds. Boy were we wrong! I think everyone in the entire city of Louisville decided to go that evening. Regardless...once we got in, we all had a great time! Nathan really enjoyed the train ride, the candy...and the music. He has totally gotten into music lately...and he LOVES to dance!

Oh yes, as you can see...he is Lightening McQueen! Ka-Chow!

On the hunt!

An orange one!

What do I do with it??

You people tucker me out!

Aunt Sue had Easter dinner at her house, and they had a nice little Easter Egg Hunt, just for Nathan. I think it is an understatement to say that he LOVED IT! He got so excited at finding the eggs, and then seeing what was inside of them (candy and money!). It tuckered him right out on the way home!

Hoppy Easter!

Ready for church!

Mom cleans up well!

Happy St. Patty's Day!

It's Audrey, Audrey!

The best I could get of the both of them...together.

Oh! Audrey, Audrey (or as Nathan calls her, "Auden, Auden").

Audrey, hamming it up!

Christmas Nate!

Last Saturday, Audrey and her parents stopped by for a visit. I do have to say that Nathan and Audrey have really started playing well together (and by together, I mean, BY each other). They seem to be learning the whole sharing thing, and seem to be interested in what the other is doing. At one point, Nathan leaned over and gave Audrey a little kiss on her head. MUCH better than previous weeks when he just hauls off and hits her (and any other little kid around). :)



I really tried to get a good picture of the two of them together, but they just wouldn't stand still (dang kids!). So...I got some good ones of the two of them...separately. :)

Christmas Morning

Its Like Christmas!

Just a boy and his Slinky.

Radio Flyer Fire Engine

Holiday Recap

Whew! January 2, 2008 already! What a whirlwind...at least it feels that way. But, then again, don't the Holidays always feel that way?

Well...let's see...what is new in The World of Nathan? Hmmm...well, he really couldn't have cared any less about Christmas and all the fuss surrounding it. He refused to participate in tearing packages open. It is a good thing we didn't waste our time wrapping his gifts! Most of them anyways!

Nathan's Grand-Mom and Grand-Dad came in for a visit right before Christmas, then his Grandma and his Uncle Zane came in for a few days (and actual Christmas Day). Throw in visits to the Schmoll Family Christmas Party, and the Ice/Rhodes Family Christmas Shindig...and you have one very confused little 16 month old. One that has decided that 1am is a GREAT time to wake up the neighborhood. Apparently, Nathan has forgotten that "night night" means "to sleep for 11 hours in a row". I am not quite sure what is going on with him...although he has sprouted a couple more teeth. Either he is STILL teething (will it ever end???!), or waking a few times a night has become a habit for him. He may have gotten a little spoiled in all this commotion, and realized that if he cries a little at night his parents will rush right in and cuddle with him (how dare us!). Smart kid, that Nathan! ;)

Nathan got some really great toys too! Nobody went overboard and he isn't completely overwhelmed with new stuff to play with. So far his faves are the golf clubs (plastic) that Santa brought him, the tent that Grandma gave him, and the new Baby Einsteins videos that his Grand-Mom got him. However, he has all different toys at his Nan and Pap's house...of which he really enjoys the truck (that plays music) that Uncle Jeff gave him, and the Radio Flyer (picture coming) fire engine that his Nan and Paps gave him. Some notable mentions are the Slinky from Uncle Rob and the shark bath toys from the Frentheway Crew.

All in all, it was a great Holiday season. On to 2008...where we are bound to enter the "terrible twos", a big boy bed, and POTTY TRAINING!

The Christmas Photo Every Kid Must Have

We took Nathan to The Mall last night for our annual "Let's meet Santa" trip with him. We met up with Josh, Jeanne and Audrey...and Audrey had the exact same reaction to Santa as Nathan did....not good!

Remember last year: http://nathanielcharles.blogspot.com/2006/12/santa-baby.html

Ahhh, how things have changed!

Post Thanksgiving Fun!

From the Backside

There are more Halloween pictures at: http://www.dropshots.com/rachbree

Happy Halloweenie Stinky!

Trick or Treat! Something Stinks!