Brrr!

A few weeks ago we got our first snow of the season.  Cole wanted to play outside instantly when he saw it.  However, the windchill was way too low for us to play outside!  Poor kiddo.  We tried to make the most of the day while staying in and staying warm. 

 We got to watch the wind whip all of the snow by from the cozy comfort of our warm house!  This day made me so grateful for a home, all cozy with Christmas decor and warm, loving bodies!

Merriest Christmas *2010*

We woke on Christmas morning to find that he really had come...Santa brought the two things that Cole had been asking for on repeat; "Stinky, the Garbage Truck" and a "race track" (a present that Derek had been waiting years to share with Cole, a slot-car track).

There truly is nothing better than Christmas with a child. 
Completely magical.

After we opened gifts, Na & G, Jayjay, and Gigi joined us for brunch.  This is a tradition that I stole from Sheryl because I love it so. 

I cooked my heart out the day before to fill everyone's bellies.   

Cole loved having company to help him break in all of our new toys.  He got a little emotional when everyone left.  I am sure this had nothing to do with the massive amounts of sugar he had consumed within the past 48 hours.

I think Derek said it best when he said that this was the best and saddest Christmas he's had. 
We missed Oma and thought about her so much. Opa kindly gave me a beautiful necklace and favorite ring of Oma's.  We all shed some tears when he gave this to me but then quickly returned to joy watching Cole enjoy the magic of Christmas.  We feel like Oma was with us and enjoyed every second of watching Cole with all of his goodies.
On the other hand, we have always wanted a relaxing Christmas at home.  The joy of being at home and watching Cole enjoy Christmas to the fullest made this the best Christmas of my life.  We are so happy that Opa got to spend a few days here.  It made it even better to have him here. 
I am recovering from the holiday, feeling so happy and full of love.  I can't wait to do it again next year....with a new addition to the Crew! 

Christmas Eve *2010*

With the possbility of bad weather coming, Opa decided to come to our house on Christmas Eve Eve (or Christmas Adam, as our neighbors say).  The snow started falling steadily by 7 am!  Cole tried his hardest to be quiet to let Opa sleep, but Daddy thought it would be a good idea to take him outside.

They had a wonderful time.  My favorite "Cole-ism" of the day was when Derek threw a snowball at him.  Cole's response: "Daddy, can I be on your team?"

(because I will do almost anything for a photo)

The boys ganged up on the dogs for a snowball fight.  Cole even demanded that Derek throw a snowball at ME! 

 After a warm up and a big breakfast, we were all ready for an early nap.

 We loaded up for a snowy, slow, and safe drive to Na & G's house for the afternoon.

We had a wonderful time enjoying the company.  Everyone was able to be there; Na (recovering from her knee surgery) & G, Josh & Courtney, the Albracht's, Jayjay, Opa, and Gigi!  

Na & G generously gifted each of the "kids" a new Wii!  We were all very excited!  I'll blame the pregnancy hormones for the tears I shed seeing everyone so excited.  (sniff)

There was plenty of high caloric yumminess for all to enjoy.  After we snacked the Wii fun began. Cole entertained us all with his flailing arms as he fought "doiks" (aka - dorks) in the Wii Resorts jousting game.  

 All the while, the snow continued to fall.  It made for a truly lovely scene.  And, G's landscape looks wonderful during all seasons...especially magic under a blanket of snow.

We played with Jayjay's photo booth app on her new computer.  Cole cracked us up with his silly faces. 

I am so grateful for our family.

We had to rush home to prepare for Santa's arrival.  Cole put a chocolate covered oreo and glass of milk for Santa and we sprinkled reindeer food in the yard.  Cole was resistant to head to bed but the threat of Santa skipping our house was enough to frighten him to sleep. 

Merry Christmas Eve!

Finnegan, the Elf

Meet Finnegan. 

Santa sent him to our house to watch over Cole this Christmas season. 

Finnegan has been so busy! 

He flies back to the North Pole every single night to report to Santa. 

Every morning when we wake up, we can find Finnegan in a different place.

Finnegan had varied reports to send to Santa...but mostly good we think.
Fingers crossed that we make the nice list!

We'll find out very soon!

Travelin' Christmas *2010*

In honor of sanity preservation, we made our trip south to celebrate Christmas a week early.  This trip still feels hectic but it helps us to relax and enjoy the holidays at home.  Derek and I vowed early on to have Christmas at home for our family.  I hope that these years of traveling have filled Cole with the love of his extended family.  However, I am not sure we can keep this pace in the future as a family of four!  Here's a recap of a fun & family filled 24 hours!

No trip to Grandpa's would be complete without fishing and the outdoors...even if the weather stinks!  Just bring the party inside!

We were up Saturday morning to open gifts.  Cole made out like a bandit.  He is obsessed with loves his SpongeBob fishing pole from Adam & Rachel.  He also got new "blue" light up shoes, a new coat & hat, and lots of great toys! 
Sheryl made the traditional Christmas breakfast meal feast.  We stuffed our bellies with casserole, bacon, sausage, biscuits, and maybe a few oreo balls.  Whew!  I have a little heartburn just thinking about it! 

We got to spend some time with our lovely family that we see far too little.  Cole was Grandpa's little shadow this trip.  He followed G'pa around and even got to sleep in G'pa's bed with him!  This overjoys me.  Remind me though to teach Cole to never talk politics with Grandpa!  ;-)

The weather was icey so Great Grandma Jean was not able to make the trip out to the lake to visit for breakfast.  We made a quick trip in to visit with her.  I was so happy to show Cole her house.  This is the most unchanged place in my life.  I was able to show him where she kept the toys and showed him the doll that I used to 'bathe' repeatedly in her bathroom sink.

We headed further south to Anna to visit Great Grandpa Hood in the Veterans Nursing Home.  The rest of the Hoods joined us for lunch and fun.  Once again, Peyton and Cole took to each other immediately and played with the new goodies they received.

After lunch we packed up and headed home.  Jayjay joined us for the ride and Cole slept some of the way.  After the whirlwind trip we were very pleased to get home (after a detour to South County Mall where we sat in the parking lot for TWO HOURS to pick up a purchase).  Derek and I were amazed by Cole's tolerance for the day.  He had very little sleep but was a joy to be around all day and night! 

Sunday we relaxed and played with all of our new loot! 
We will miss seeing all of the Brenningmeyer's on Christmas Evening but we loved getting to spend time with everyone that we did get to see!

it's almost here...

 ...and we are ready!

Cole's Story Hour

Missed Moments: Boys will be boys

Little Boy Fun

Big Boy Fun

Missed Moments: Summer Evenings

Our first summer in this house was busy in spending our time between work, helping Oma, and trying to make our new house a home.
Cole made sure we made some time for fun as much as was possible. One of his favorites over the summer was helping to water the few plants we had around. I hope that he will carry his 'helpful' spirit with him for many years!

Missed Moments: Saturdays in June

We spent our weekends in Carlinville following Oma's diagnosis this summer.
These days were sad ones.
However, they were also full of all that is good.

Cole and I often spent our mornings outside to burn some energy and soak up some life.  
Our evenings were spent with Oma & Opa; playing, talking, and enjoying eachother.

Everything was shadowed by how ill we watched Oma become.
But, looking back - those days were really wonderful.
We had everything we needed.

Missed Moments: Rocky Top, Tennessee

Our annual vacation with the Hoods led us to Gatlinburg, Tennessee in the Smoky Mountains. Grandma Hood/Gigi is so generous and thoughtful to provide us this time each year. This was our only 'get-away' this summer so we appreciated and enjoyed it that much more!

It's a long drive to Tennessee, so we broke our trip down into two legs.  The first led us to Goreville to spend the night with Cole's two uncle-friends!  (and Grandpa & Grandma too!)

 Day two of our travels were spent resting, watching movies, and being silly.  (and cautious driving on Daddy's part!)

 Arrival found a wonderful house tucked in a nice resort area...full of..."amenities!"

 Cole quickly latched onto his cousin, Peyton.  They had so much fun together!

 The time we spent there was really HOT!  But we got ourselves out and into the heat early to catch some of the sights and shopping.

The skylift was a must....

And, despite my fear of Cole (or me) falling out and to our death...the view was totally amazing and worth the clenching up that my body was doing with anxiety!

We came back 'down' to earth and tried to keep cool while shopping and walking a bit more.

We had lunch at a little seafood restaurant (because even in the landlocked mountains, we were on vacation!)

The boys had fun...whatever they were doing, they were together and enjoying it.  That's what cousins are for, after all!

Thanks to Gigi for this wonderful get-away filled with family, fun, and love!

Missed Moments: Surprise to me

One day this summer....

...JayJay babysat...

...Cole had fun...

...JayJay found my camera...

...and captured some moments...

...such a wonderful surprise to me....

..Thank you, JayJay!

Missed Moments: whatever he wants to be

Missed Moments: Unexpected

Our Independence Day was spent in the hospital.

A pleasant surprise was the display we got on our way home through the rain.