Our Weekend

The weather in Michigan this week, was absolutely beautiful!  We spent the entire weekend outside playing.  Saturday, Karson got to see Bumpa's "Big Truck" for the first time.

Karson named my Dad "Bumpa" a few months ago.  My Dad drives semi trucks.  He drives cows from one farm to another, to visit their friends.  Yes, that is what we tell Karson. :)  Karson loves to point out semi trucks to us.  He always yells "BUMPA!" whenever he sees a semi truck.  When we are driving and he doesn't see any, he says over and over again "More Bumpa. More Bumpa!"  He can spot a semi truck a mile away!

Karson had never seen my Dad's semi before.  He got to sit on Bumpa's lap, and drive Bumpa's truck.

My Dad showed him how to use the radio...

Then my Dad honked the horn, and Karson got so excited!!

Thankfully, my Dad's semi is out in the country.  So only a few people heard the 2 year old honking the semi horn over and over again.

Karson & his Bumpa in front of Bumpa's Big Truck.

Sunday was even more beautiful than Saturday!  It was also my 25th Birthday.  DJ had to work, so before lunch DJ and I headed to Nana & Bumpa's house.  We played outside all day! 

We are usually really strict about nap time, but I just couldn't bring myself to take him inside, so he got a late nap.  It was absolutely beautiful outside!

He cheers for himself each time he makes a basket. :)

Picking up the pine cones, my Dad through in the yard for him.  He had so much fun!

It was, of course, necessary to dump them down the slide each time he filled up his bucket.

Aside from the fact that DJ had to work all day, it was the perfect birthday!  I loved getting to spend the day outside with my family, and Karson was so much fun!

he looks so old to me in this picture!!

The weather is supposed to be warm all week again.  I am praying we have a nice warm day when we get to bring Sister home.  Getting to sit outside snuggling a newborn, while Karson plays sounds like Heaven to me!

Lately...

Santa Tree Topper

Growing up, we had a Santa on top of our tree.  We each took turns getting to put him up.  The last two years, Karson has helped Nana put our very old Santa on top of the tree.

Doh, Mommy, doh!

Don't buy playdoh again.  Google a recipe, and make it.  So easy, it takes 2 minutes.  If it wasn't for the fact that I am comfortable in the rocking chair right now, I would post mine.  But it is in the kitchen, and it is a rare case in the evenings that I can actually get comfortable.  

 

Karson asks for his doh all the time!

This face usually follows the 'oh wow oh wow oh wow.'

December/Spring Weather

I would like to send Mother Nature a letter, and remind her that it is DECEMBER in MICHIGAN.

And while Karson has a had and gloves on in these pictures, it was in the 50s this weekend. 

It is December....we need snow!!

have i ever mentioned how much i love his blue eyes?!

Daddy cut down my parent's neighbor's tree the day after Thanksgiving.  If everything goes well with our fireplace inspection tomorrow...we will have a fire tomorrow evening!! Not completely random...Karson is staring at the cut up tree on the side of the house, and signing his version of 'tree.'

 Karson and I took Nana and Grandpa to the airport last week.  Karson LOVES airplanes, we were all excited to see his reaction when he saw them.  He totally didn't get it.  The planes weren't in the sky like they were supposed to be...

this picture cracks me up...Nana & Grandpa pointing out the plane...Karson looking at them like they are crazy

Jesse Advent

 I have said this many times, but I am a huge believer in incorporating both the magic and miracle into Christmas.  I love all the magic that Santa brings, but I want Karson to understand the true meaning of Christmas as well.  We started doing the Jesse Advent Tree this year.  Except we didn't do a tree, because I have ocd and wanted them in chronological order.   I bought this book last Christmas and we have been following the devotionals for kids.  It is way over Karson's head.  He understands where we put them each day, and loves to show Daddy his ornaments he makes when he gets home.  That is about all he understands.  For the most part we have just been asking him, "Who made the Earth?" and "Whose Birthday is it on Christmas?"

 

He colors an ornament I make each day, and we hanging it on a ribbon in the living room.

The first day, I printed off a picture of the Earth.  He insisted on only coloring the back, so I have a blank circle with Karson's artistic work hanging up, with the Earth side glued to the card stock.

Our Jesse Advent Tree so far.  I have to come up with a new way to hang them soon, because I only have a few clothes pins left.   I love that the book goes through the Bible from the beginning, to Jesus's birth.  It is a fun tradition and a great reminder about the true meaning of Christmas.

Before Nap Snuggles

Depending on how early Karson wokes up, I will sometimes let him watch a few minutes of a movie before nap.  He and Molly usually snuggle up on the couch together while I pick up lunch. 

Tripod

It came with my Camera, I have had it for over a year, I have never take it out of the box.  We took it out a few days ago, to get some family pictures, and this was my first attempt and figuring out the self timer.  Karson thought counting to 3 and running was hilarious! 

Bedroom Play Time

I love it.  

Tired Munchkin

We do NOT mess with Karson's nap.  Ever.  Bad things happen when Karson's nap gets messed up.  He went down relatively late for nap after church yesterday, because he fell asleep on the way too church, and was wired when we got home.   Poor Munchkin had such a rough evening yesterday.  Every little thing made him completely melt down.  He handles lack of sleep like his Mama. :)  He was still tired today, and even asked to get in his crib at 10:30...nap is at 12.  We settled for The Grinch and a comfy spot on the floor by the tree instead.

St. Nick Night

It is St. Nick Night.  Karson put his shoes by the door before bed, so St. Nick could fill them while he is sleeping.    St. Nick has already visited our house...he must be running a little early this year...

I can't wait to get Karson out of bed in the morning and see his reaction when he sees his shoes by the door.  Click HERE to see more on our St. Nick Night tradition.

Thanksgiving 2011

I love holidays.  I love them even more now that I am a Mommy.  I love making little things extra special for my Munchkin.  Growing up, we didn't have family in Michigan.  Which meant holidays were just us.  Which meant we never left the house on holidays, and my Mom was in charge of the entire holiday meal.  I loved helping my Mom make Thanksgiving Dinner.  We have always prepared a lot of the side dishes and pies the night before.  Wednesday night, Karson and I headed over..around the corner...to help Nana.  I figured Karson would just play in the living room while we baked.  I was wrong.  He spent the entire night sitting on the counter helping us.

 What started out as just a night of preparing food for Thanksgiving, turned into a night my Mom and I will likely never forget.  He had so much fun.  He mixed, and stirred, and helped Nana  flute the pie crust.

Of course, I didn't have my video camera or my slr with me.  Because, after all, we were just baking.  Karson has this shy grin and laugh when he is really excited about something.  He loved helping Nana with the pie crusts!

It may have taken us twice as long to make the pies, and the cake, and the corn, but oh my word he had so much fun!

And our pumpkin pies had the cutest Karson finger prints in them!!

Karson didn't sleep thought the night, and after tossing and turning for a few hours after DJ got K back to sleep, I finally got out of bed at 5am.  EARLY!  I had planned on getting up early to make cinnamon rolls.  I just didn't plan on getting out of bed at 5am, after being awake since 3.  But...I wanted my baby to wake up to my Mom's homemade cinnamon rolls on Thanksgiving morning.

 

Someday, I will post the recipe, they are relitively easy, and after growing up with them, even a Cinnabon Cinnamon Roll doesn't taste good!

Nana and Grandpa came over for coffee and a cinnamon roll  in the morning.  It was the perfect Thanksgiving morning.  Have I mentioned I LOVE living around the corner from my parents?!

We watched the parade for a while with my parents, and headed to DJ's parents for lunch.  We ate, Karson played with his cousins, and we headed back to my parent's for Karson to take a nap.  Holidays are hard on little ones, and we are sticklers about Karson's nap! When he woke up, Uncle Steve & Aunt Jenni were over, and we ate Turkey Dinner.  The best part about being pregnant on Thanksgiving...I don't feel full.  I ate a lot...a lot a lot.  Plus, maternity pants =  elastic waste.  Fabulous!  

Our Thanksgiving was wonderful.  I was having so much fun (and was absolutely exhausted :)), I totally forgot to take any pictures after breakfast. We have so much to be thankful for this year!!  I can't wait until next Thanksgiving...when a sweet baby girl will be joining us at our Thanksgiving Table!