We made it!

December 23 we made it. The tree was up before Christmas. So many people thought we were nuts for putting up a tree at all, but how can you not when it's your youngest's first Christmas and you have a 2 year old in the house!??! Here is Alex helping put the first ornament on the tree for his first Christmas.

This photo about sums up our month of December! We were all worn out! Alex fell asleep in his jumperoo one day. I felt so bad. We were working on unpacking and he was playing. Poor thing just fell asleep right in there. Don't worry, we took him out and put him right to bed.

Here was the finished product. Our new tree in our new house BEFORE Christmas!

More house pictures to come....I haven't gotten around to taking those yet.

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.