The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

We spent the weeks before Christmas celebrating the season in many different ways. We went to Zoo Lights and Peacock Lane (a residential street in Portland that every house is lit up!) with some friends, a few Christmas parties and Josiah & I went to a Santa Claus Breakfast with Grandpa & Nana and the other cousins.

It is important to Nate & I to make sure that Josiah knows what the reason for Christmas is. Because Josiah's birthday was not too long ago we knew he would understand what it meant for it to be Jesus' Birthday.  We would say Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday Jesus!  We aren't anti- Santa Claus in the respect that Santa is a "part" of Christmas and that there was a real Saint Nicholas, however we didn't talk about Santa bringing gifts to our house.

We did go and see Santa and got the annual picture for the book and it was hysterical.  It took us 3 visits before he would actually sit on Santa...with mom and dad.  The first time he screamed and flailed his arms and we had to immediately abort the mission, the second time he watched from afar totally interested but as soon as Santa came over to say "hi" he wanted nothing to do with him (no crying this time).  Later the same day he woke up from his nap asking for "another one Santa".  He wouldn't let it go so Nate & I figured we would run over to the mall and see if he had build up the courage to actually see Santa.  We stood in line and when it was his turn he walked up to Santa with mommy of course and was engaging in conversation with him once Santa offered him a candy cane.  We all sat on Santa's lap and got a picture and Josiah gave him a high five when we were leaving.  We'll need to scan that picture and add it later.

I love this time of year....it is the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

Josiah is protesting our first attempt to visit Santa by laying on the floor!

A few pics from our trip to Peacock Lane

 

The ONLY house that actually had it right!

Imagination Movers

If you are a parent of a toddler you are probably aware of The Imagination Movers, or "Movers" as their most faithful two and three old followers call them.  The beginning of December the Imagination Movers were in Portland at the Rose Garden.  We were watching Emery that evening because Luke & Jenny were at a company Christmas party so we thought it would be fun to take the two boys. As it turns out it was cheaper for us to go as a family of four rather than three.  Any child over the age of one was required to have a full price ticket.  I hadn't purchased our tickets a week before because I wanted to hold off and see if it was in our budget.  When I went to check a few days before they had a family four pack deal.  Four great tickets and hot dogs and a drink for each person all for $92!  It would have cost us more than that if it would've just been the three of us.

I don't think the boys had any idea what to expect.  At the beginning of the concert they watched so intently as if it was a big TV BUT then Mover Rich made his way over into our section singing and give out high fives!  This changed everything for the boys...all of sudden it became real to them and they sat in amazement.  Another one of the Movers came over and patted Josiah on the head.

We had a fantastic time and Josiah and Emery have been more into the Imagination Movers now more than ever!

Passing the time beforehand....

the boys eating their complimentary hot dog and me texting. :-)

"Jump Up!"

"We can work together."

Emery, Josiah & Nate in front of the stage!

Impressive!

The Quest for the Perfect Christmas Tree

One of the things I love the most about Christmas time in the Northwest is being able to go cut down our own Christmas Tree.  There are a number of Christmas tree farms withing minutes of our house.  This year we decided to try a new farm and we will definitely be going back next year.   We were on top of it this year and went the Saturday after Thanksgiving on a beautiful sunshine filled day!

Santa's Sleigh

Daddy & Josiah getting ready to go hunting for our tree.

Off they go.

Josiah insisted to carry the saw.

No Chainsaws were allowed.

Walking through the trees.

Attack of the Canadian Geese!!!

And there she is...our Grand Fir!

Checking out the trunk.

Siah helping daddy assess the situation.

We did it with the hand saw!

Josiah wanted to take a stab at it...fully supervised of course!

Following daddy and the tree back to the Jeep.

Proof I was there.  :-)

Trying hot chocolate for the very first time.

Getting the tree ready to be shaken by the machine.

Netting her up for the ride home.

(Notice the chainsaws they can use but we couldn't)

And we're off!

Candy cane from the nice lady for the ride home.

Checking the lights with dad.

Putting them on.

And the final product!

Turkey Trot & Pumpkin Pie - Thanksgiving Day

 TURKEY TROT

We spent the first part of Thanksgiving Day running the annual 4 mile Turkey Trot up at the Portland Zoo.  If you remember last year, Nate took a spill and tripped over the jogger stroller with Josiah in it and ended up breaking his hip and Josiah's was flipped over landing upside down in his stroller.  Nate really wanted to do it again this year so he could finish what we didn't get to last year. 

We headed up to the zoo bright and early ready for a 8am start time.  It was a very rainy day but we were ready and prepared with rain cover for the stroller.  It was definitely wet but we had a good run and finished without incident.  We ate Cinnabons to celebrate our successful Turkey Trot!

Family pic after the run!

Josiah is in there somewhere.

Good job boys! 

Josiah looks less than happy...he was stuck in the stroller covered up for a while and I don't think he was too happy about it.

Mama & Siah

THANKSGIVING DINNER

This Thanksgiving we ate dinner at Grandpa & Nana's house (Tammi's dad & step mom's).  We spent the morning after our run at Mima & Papa's house (Nate's parents) drinking coffee and eating our Cinnabons before heading home to freshen up and head out.  We didn't see Grandma & Grandpa Mike (Tammi's mom & step-dad) because they were doing dinner with Mike's family out this year.

We had a great time with family and ate A LOT!!!  Here are a few pics of our time at Grandpa & Nana's house.

Sporting his Thankgiving argyle.

Feasting with cousin Christian

Great Grandma & Christian

He's a lefty!

Nate & Tim playing a little tennis.

Fire Trucks, Friends & Music - November 2009

Here are a few highlights from November...Thanksgiving will be its own post.

FIRE TRUCKS

Josiah had his first visit to the fire station.  Our friend, Kris, is a firefighter in Portland and has an open invitation for Josiah to come and visit whenever he wants.  Nate went with Josiah on this visit and they had a great time!

Kris & Josiah

Driving the Fire Truck

Beep Beep!

A "Real" Fireman's Hat!

FRIENDS

Here is a couple of pictures from our first play date with Mikayla & Mia since The Weidman's moved back from Germany after being gone for 3 months.   We are so happy to have them home!

A Duet by Josiah & Mikayla

Shayna trying to "read" to three toddlers! 

MUSIC

You've probably discovered by now that Josiah LOVES all things musical.  I know that isn't much of a surprise to those of you that know Nate & I.  During my pregnancy I had many worship rehearsals and worship services I was a part of and at 8 months pregnant I went to a Justin Timberlake concert. At the JT concert another pregnant lady came up to me and asked if I thought we were hurting "them" (the babies)....I said heck no and that I was hoping he'd have some of that amazing rhythm would pass straight through the womb!

As soon as Josiah was born he would come to worship rehearsals with me and sit in the Baby Bjorn right there with me!  Once he was a little older we would bring his own instruments (drums, shakers, microphone) for him to play with while we were rehearsing.  Josiah really gravitated towards the drums and we bought him his own pair of juvenile sized Pro Marks (drum sticks).  He has gone through a few drums now and looks forward to church every week because he is able to "play" the real drums after church.  Josiah now loves the guitar too and his constantly playing and singing.  We bring both his guitar and drum sticks with us to sound checks on Sunday morning (he now has a babysitter during rehearsals). 

Josiah knows the words to many songs and loves a wide variety of music.  The Wheels on the Bus, Jesus Loves Me and Coldplay songs are a few of his favorites.

Passing time in the car.

At pre-service sound check.

Watching ,Romi, our drummer.

 

Happy Halloween!

Wow...two months since my last post?  This is definitely not what I was intending for my Blog.  I'll try and play catch up which will consist more of a photo blog than a written update.

Halloween was a very busy time full of a lot of opportunities for Josiah to wear his doctor costume.  Auntie Jenny had a fantastic idea for costumes for Emery & Josiah.  They both dressed as doctors and Emery was "McSteamy" and Josiah was "McDreamy".  We chose who was which based on their hair color.  Their costumes were a hit and they were able to wear them out together on a few occasions!  Great idea Aunt Jenny!!!

THE WELL CHURCH HARVEST PARTY

The night before Halloween our church, The Well Community Church, had a Harvest Party.  There were a number of games and activities for the kids that included a jumpy castle, face painting, book walk and lots of goodies!

 Family Photo

Game Time!

Decorating frames with Auntie Jenny & Emery

The one lollipop he got to have from all of his candy.

Mom & dad ate the good stuff and the rest went out to the curb!

TRICK OR TREATING

We went to cousin Emery's house for Halloween night to trick-or-treat in their new neighborhood. Cousin Christian and some of Emery's other cousins joined us too! The boys LOVED walking around and they were a huge hit with all the homeowners.  At many houses they were given a handful of candy because they were too darn adorable!

"McSteamy" & "McDreamy"

Cousin Christian

 "I'll just come in and make myself at home."

BABY BOOT CAMP PARTY

Our final party was the Baby Boot Camp Harvest Party which was the Monday after Halloween.  We had a great time with all of our BBC friends and ate some healthy snacks in place of all that sugar!

We celebrated after our work out!

Josiah's friend, Bear, was also a doctor.  Because Emery wasn't there for this party we said he could be "McSteamy" for the day. :-)