Christmas was really fun this year!  Last year, as a 2 year old, Kade didn't really "get it".  Whenever anyone would ask him what he wanted he'd always answer with some type of food.  This year, however, was a different story!  He checked all the presents under the tree.  He counted down the days til Santa came.  He was concerned about Rudolph and if his nose would hold up.  We sang lots of Christmas songs at bedtime and whenever someone asked him what he wanted this year it was always the same answer, "A blue tractor!".

He was still a little leery of Santa though.  Even though he wouldn't sit on Santa's lap, he did tell him he wanted a blue tractor.  Usually when Kade is being shy he won't even utter a word so that was huge that he talked to Santa.  I think Kade was torn because he really wanted Santa to come so he could get a tractor but he still didn't want him in our house, at night, while everyone was sleeping.  One night, Erik was asking Kade what kind of cookies we should leave out, this was Kade's response, "We don't need to leave out any cookies.  Santa can just eat breakfast at the North Pole before he leaves.  If he wants cookies, he can bring his own."

They had a monster themed Christmas party at daycare this year.

Christmas Paw Patrol on t.v., a fire in the fireplace, feet up in his lazy boy and a candy cane in hand.  Yep, this kid is enjoying the Christmas season!

Louie's (our elf) last night before heading back to the North Pole.  When Kade woke up and saw this he scolded Louie!  "Louie!!  My mom bought that juice for me!!"  Guess we need to work a little harder on sharing :-)

New work jeans!!

Kade and Dad got me new snow pants!  It was time, the ones I had been wearing I had gotten for Christmas when I was 15.  Anyone want to take bets as to when Kade will pass me in height?  Erik is convinced it'll be when Kade is in 1st grade.

Our family picture.  This is as close to Kade as Molly's ever been.  Can you feel the love emanating from her??  I can't either.

New air mattress and sleeping bag, he's ready for sleepovers!!

Showing off a new pair of basketball shorts.  He put them on and said, "I'm a stud mans!"  

These pictures were all taken on the same night but you can't put on basketball shorts with a long sleeve shirt, right?  Real basketball players wear t-shirts....according to Kade, anyway!

The Christmas Crash.  He was out cold about 3 minutes after we left my parents house on Christmas night.

We made a whole bunch of Christmas cookies this past weekend so we've been spending our evenings getting in shape for the long, cold Minnesota winter.  By getting in shape, I mean eating A LOT of cookies after dinner.  You can never pack on too much "insulation" when it's below 0 outside!

Erik's doing a mighty fine impersonation of Kade's signature smile for the camera!

Kade was in charge of the sprinkles...

We were in charge of the balls.  Many inappropriate jokes were made but the end results of our Oreo balls and peanut butter balls was no laughing matter.  Those things are delicious!!

Last Tuesday Kade decided he didn't want to go to Erik's basketball game.  That was a first!  However, he regretted his decision about 20 minutes after Erik left.  This week, when we asked him if he wanted to go, it was a resounding YES!

I am pleased to announce that Kade has worn something other than his work jeans for 3 days in a row!!  I've been telling him I'd wash them for the past 3 days but I haven't gotten around to doing it.  Enough is enough.  He finally took matters into his own hands.  Yes, this is him actually doing laundry almost completely solo.  And yes, those are his work jeans he's pulling out of the washer.  I guess he's learned at his ripe old age of 3 years and 4 months that if you want something done, you've got to do it yourself!

Finally, Kade and I are taking advantage of the heat wave we're having right now.  19 degrees!!  It's downright balmy out there!

Christmas is Here!

Last week was a big week for us as far as the official start of Christmas celebrating goes!  I have so many pictures, I could probably do 3 posts out of just last week alone.

We started the week off by decorating.  (Erik and I had Monday off because, yet again, we had another birthmom change her mind on us!  Seriously.  We had planned on meeting her on Monday, however, over the weekend she contacted a different agency and met a different family that she ended up connecting with and decided she didn't need to meet us.  It's getting a bit ridiculous how many times we've been let down in this process.)  Anyway, back to happier topics...while Kade was at daycare, I decorated the house!  Erik and I both picked Kade up, which is an extremely rare occurrence, and that was enough to thrill him but he was over the moon when he got home and saw the house all decorated.  He was convinced that Santa did it while we were all gone for the day.  We never told him about this birthmom--no need to let him down too--so as far as he knew we were at work.  Thus, it just HAD to be Santa!

Then, Lady A and her mom came for a visit and brought their Christmas gifts.  Now that Kade doesn't require daily naps they can come for a whole day, rather than just the afternoon.  So, Kade opened a few of his gifts, then we all went to the mall so he could put his annual gift under the "Thanksgiving Tree", as he calls it. 

Afterward, "S" treated us to lunch at Kade's favorite restaurant, Noodles, and we headed back to our house for more gifts, food and play.  Kade is in a stage now that whatever activity he's doing he has to dress the part.  So, if he's playing football he has to wear his football uniform.

K & S got him a whole Vikings uniform!

If he's doing work, of course he has to wear work jeans!

His birth-great-grandparents got him this super cool digger!

And if he's playing basketball, he puts on shorts and basketball shoes.  He literally changed his clothes about 15 times while they were here!

Here he is in his shorts, opening his last gift, before heading downstairs for a game of hoops.  

How cool is this trike that Lady A got him?!  I'm so jealous I didn't have a sweet ride like this when I was little!

Finally, we capped off the week with a trip down to LaCrosse to play with Owen, Ellie and Rylee and to see the Christmas lights at Riverside Park.  The weather wasn't supposed to be good so we weren't sure if we were going to attempt the hour drive.  When Erik mentioned this, Kade cried, "We HAVE to go!  I want to play with Owen, he's my best friend!".  And I cried, "We HAVE to go!  I HAVE to play with Megan, she's my best friend!".  Poor Erik didn't stand a chance :-)

The weather never ended up being as bad as it was supposed to be, the kids had a blast playing, the dad's got to watch football all afternoon and I got to spend the day with Megan.  Everybody won!  

Megan and I did a little shopping and found some amazing Christmas apparel.  And, because she is my best friend, she won't mind that I posted this beautiful picture of her in the beautiful apparel:

I might have a similar picture of us, however that post will have to wait until after our Christmas cards go out :-)

When the sun went down, it was off to see the lights and Santa!  Although Kade still wouldn't sit with him, he did make progress this year.  He didn't cry and he even told Santa what he wanted!

Gotta love the look of pure fear on Kade's face!  But no tears!!

Although the week started out a little disappointing, it ended on a great note.  Lady A's visit served to remind us that even though we've had more than our fair share of let downs on our path to parenthood, Kade is the biggest, brightest star to enter our lives.  We are extremely blessed to be his parents!

Happy Thanksgiving: Part 2

We spent Thanksgiving day at my cousin's house.  They have a pretty awesome park right out their back door.  Every time we go there Kade insists on going to the park.  Luckily Lauren is always willing to let Kade drag her around.  He loves his "Wauren"!

Notice the silly headbands?  Kade won them in my Crazy Aunt Rozie's lame prize drawing she insists on having for every holiday :-)  Lucky for her, Kade and Lauren still humor her!

We didn't do any shopping on Black Friday, unless you count shopping for our Christmas tree.

Kade brought his chainsaw to help cut down the tree.

Good thing we had him along to measure all the trees!

Vivienne thought Grandpa needed a good tackle since he was already on the ground anyway!

They're actually sitting down!  At the same time!  Quietly!

Jeremy, Evelyn and Vivienne went home to Kansas City on Saturday.  We were sad to see them go.  Kade absolutely loves when people stay overnight!  He did a pretty good job sharing his toys and he did an amazing job giving Vivi lots of hugs and kisses!

We capped off the weekend with a trip to open gym.

P.S.  Have you noticed in nearly every picture, since the weather turned cold, Kade is wearing the same jeans?  He's worn his "work jeans" every day for 3 weeks straight!  I'm only allowed to wash them at night, when he's sleeping.  He wakes up, runs to the dryer and puts them on immediately.  Yesterday I actually hid them from him because they hadn't been cleaned in a week and I didn't have time to wash them.  When I picked him up from daycare Michelle told me he had lots of tears in the morning because he couldn't find his work jeans.  No worries, they are washed and he is wearing them again today!