Christmas 2009

Now that the Christmas cards are out, I can post this one! I was really happy with how this picture turned out. Only those of you with small children would understand what it took to get it. I felt like we were running a three ring circus! Brady is getting to be harder and harder to photograph with Alex. He is just not interested in it. It took Andy, both of his parents, me, and two cameras constantly taking pictures for over a half an hour before we got a good one. I was exhausted by the time we were done. I don't know how the professionals do it!

The Boys Christmas Pictures

I wanted pictures of the boys together in their Christmas outfits too. This is Alex right now. Tongue out or sucking on a lip. That's what you get when you are teething!

This one cracked me up. Round little head, big smile, and rolled tongue.

Brady announced as we were heading in for pictures "I don't want pictures with Alex. I want it all by myself." Needless to say...he smiled like a gem for this was and was Mr. Difficult for the rest.
These took a lot of work to get, but they turned out pretty cute.

Brady had to hold an ornament for a while to keep him still. Alex had just woken up from a nap so he was pretty somber.

Alex's 6 Month Pictures

It is so hard to believe that Alex is over 6 months old already! We took him in for pictures a week ago. Here are a few.

Alex and the Nutcracker

Since we are waiting until the move to get out our Christmas decorations we have been helping out at our parents' houses. My family collects nutcrackers and my dad thought that we should introduce them to Alex. So funny to me that they are the same size!

Special Moments with Grandpa

In Spring Grove, MN (where my dad was born) there is a lion. My dad used to sit on this lion when he was little and loved to go see it. While on our way through there for Thanksgiving at my Uncle Joe's, my dad wanted to stop and get some pictures with Brady. It was pretty special for the two of them.

That face is telling you that the lion was a bit chilly to sit on!
At my uncle's we had to go and pay a visit to the tractor. Brady liked to sit on it, but didn't want it to start or to go for a ride.
On a side note, Brady thinks that you have to be quiet around tractors or they might tip over like they do in the movie Cars!

A Visit to Westby

Day before Thanksgiving we headed to Westby to see our good friends the Berges. We had a great day together. Highlight of the day for Brady was going bowling with all his friends. He has talked about bowling with Josiah, Timmy, Lukey, and Hannah at least once a day since we went. We miss the Berges!

Westby has a giant cob of corn...that warrents stupid pictures right?
Ummm...tasty

Sitting up

Alex is beginning to be able to sit up on his own. Yep...that means my favorite little seat is done with.

Lessons for Alex

As you all know, Brady loves music. One day last week while I was still at home, this was the scene in my kitchen. Alex in his Bumbo seat and big brother Brady giving Alex a guitar lesson. It was hilarious. He showed him how to hold it, push the buttons, and strum the strings.

Brady then handed over the guitar to Alex and proclaimed "Yeah, made it!" when Alex was able to "hold it" on his own. Brady told me that Alex had to play guitar so he could play drums and they could be a band.
Here is my newest little guitar player!

Surprise!

I took the boys to surprise both of my parents on their birthdays this year. It was a fun thing to do since I was home. Grandma got flowers and Grandpa got balloons. Unfortunately, I forgot to snap a picture when we went to see Grandpa!

Brady loved playing at my mom's desk at school. Here he is "doing grandma's homework" as he called it.

Packing?

Brady says "I love packing!" aka...mommy packs, Brady plays in the boxes.

Indoor Sports Center

Brady was in heaven last week when I took him to the Indoor Sports Center for their open gym for toddlers. We met several friends there for a playdate. Brady was all about the balls. He played basketball for half of the time. Shooting hoops, taking the balls off the rack and putting them back on...

Alex got to hang out with mommy and watch his brother go nuts!
The other half of Brady's time was spent with the soccer balls. He loved lining them all up and then kicking them into the goal.

After some play time, we had snack with our good friend Madisyn and her mom. It was a great playdate!

Christmas Lights!

Last weekend was beautiful and so my dad thought it would be the perfect time to get the Christmas lights up. Brady was all over that and of course wanted to "help." Here he is, against my wishes, on the roof with Grandpa "helping."

He also made a few trips up the ladder. I felt somewhat better about this. At least it wasn't as high off the ground.
Now of course whenever we are at my parents Brady says "Want to go on the roof with Grandpa!" Thanks, dad.

Teeth are coming

I just loved this picture of Alex cuddling in with Andy!

Precious sleeping baby...did you notice the bib? FULL of drool. Yep, first tooth is in and there are more on the way. I HATE the nasty bib business. Yuck.

My little chef

The play dough was quickly forgotten when Brady saw that I was going to be baking something this morning. He loves to help me cook and jumped at the chance to help make the pumpkin pies for Andy's Thanksgiving lunch at work tomorrow. Brady is a great helper!

Love, Love, Love these two pics!

All smiles! Alex is getting to be so much more interactive! I love his smile and his giggle and thought these two pictures were precious.

Lunch date

Since I am home for a few weeks, we decided to set a lunch date with my dad. My dad and I used to have lunch together all the time when I was in college, but that doesn't happen very often any more due to our work schedules. Friday I took the boys to Concert Choir to pick him up. We got a bonus too...Aunt Jen got done early and was able to join us. Super fun!

Alex napped through the whole thing!

Baby Yoga

My little sister is in town for a few months doing some of her pharmacy rotations, so she has been coming over each day after work and the two of us work out together. Alex has been in the habit of not naping much in the afternoons this past week and is usually pretty fussy (and ready to be held) by the time we get to our Yoga stretch at the end of our work out. Here is Jen doing her Yoga with Alex.

Halloween 2009

Halloween was fun this year! Brady totally gets dressing up, going trick-or-treating, and most importantly what CANDY is all about. Here are my boys tonight...a chicken and a monkey with daddy.

My favorite picture of my monkey. That smile just makes me melt!
My chicken...all ready for trick-or-treating.

The view of that stuffed little body from the back was too cute.

We ended our night at Grandma and Grandpa Schwartzhoff's. These were too tired little boys by this point in the night...as you can see, Alex is asleep.

We will get to trick-or-treat one more time this next week when Grandma and Grandpa Johnson are back from their vacation.

Look what just went up in my yard...

Moving!!!

I am still pinching myself this morning. In the mater of a week, we put an offer in on a new home and sold ours. Yes, sold ours. I know, there wasn't even a sign in the yard. Our realtor knew we were going to list and showed it to a couple who was in town Wednesday and they wrote us an offer! We couldn't believe it! Through this whole house search, we have given this to God and prayed that He would either open all the doors to make this work or to slam them in our faces so that we would not make a mistake...He has clearly opened all the doors. It is amazing what He can do!

So, we are looking at closing on both houses on the same day...December 16. I am not nuts about moving right before Christmas, but that is how the timing is all working out. I told Andy, the first order of business in our new house will be to put up the Christmas tree! It is Alex's first Christmas and he will not have Christmas without a tree in his home! I think ours will fit for height, but I have a feeling that it is way too big around for our new living room. Hopefully we will be able to get a picture that I can post soon of the outside at least. All I can say is WOW...we have a lot of work ahead of us in the next two months!

Jumperoo!

Andy got Alex's jumperoo out this weekend. To date this has to be one of my favorite pictures of Alex. I just love the smile!

Big brother Brady was very quick to teach his little brother how all the toys on the jumperoo work. Alex has it mastered after just a few short days. He was even jumping last night. So fun!