Holiday Fun!

We have had a busy and fun-filled month since my last post!  Everyday Cooper would ask if it was Christmas because we seemed to often have some sort of Christmas event or activity going on.

We headed up to Duluth with Caruth's, Springer's, and Klocke's for the weekend and saw the Bentleyville Lights on Friday night, and once again rode the Polar Express on Saturday.  A great time was had by all and we were thrilled to spend time with our friends Brian and Lindsey Jungman who moved to Duluth this summer after teaching for several years in Africa.  The kids loved all of the Christmas lights, swimming in the pool, train ride to Santa, a movie at the theater, and 2 nights of sleepovers with their buddies.

Cooper admiring one of the light displays at Bentleyville

Jennon and Drew snuggling on the train ride

Listening to the reading of The Polar Express

All the kiddos actually sitting in the same spot while at the Polar Express!

Cooper had his preschool Christmas program.  Too cute!!!  I was so excited to watch him sing all of the songs that he had been singing around the house for weeks.  There were also two little poems they chanted that we practiced daily.  The little guy hardly made a peep when it came to the big production!  I think he was a little overwhelmed by the large audience.  At one point he put his hands over his ears!  The little girl standing behind him definitely did not hold back when it came to the volume of her singing ; )

A time during the Christmas program Cooper was actually singing along and doing the actions!

The boys have been able to spend a lot of quality time with all of their cousins which has been so much fun for everyone.  Drew and William have really hit it off this visit and it has been so neat seeing how they interact and play with each other.  William calls him, "Dew."  We were getting out of the car at my parents house and sweet little William was standing at the front door window in his Christmas jammies with a huge smile on his face shouting out, "Dew! Dew!"

Drew and his cheesy grin ;)

Cooper seeing Santa's empty cookie plate and the note he left.

The boys playing with the new car track Santa brought Cooper.

Caruth family Christmas was spent up in Minnesota and the boys once again had a great time playing with their cousins, grandparents and new toys.  Cooper got a new sled from Grandpa Carroll and Grandma Cyndie so we put it to good use that afternoon at the school near our house.  We had such a nice time all together.  Cooper also got to have a sleepover in his room with Owen and Gavin for New Year's.  Although it took a few trips upstairs to actually get them to stop laughing and fall asleep they did great.

Drew trying on Uncle Joel's new snow boots!

Drew and his new John Deer Gator from Grandma Cyndie and Grandpa Carroll

 

We wrapped up the holiday's with a trip to Manny's Steakhouse to celebrate my Dad's retirement.  Great food, wonderful company, and lots of laughs.  So proud of you Dad, enjoy yourself, you deserve it!

Happy Thanksgiving

We have so much to be thankful for this year and had a wonderful time celebrating the holiday with family and friends.  The week prior Cooper had Thanksgiving Feast at school, so he kept asking, "Is today Thanksgiving Feast?" as we celebrated with our families.  We traveled to IA on Wednesday and had so much fun with the Caruth/Staples clan on Thursday.  The boys had a great time playing with their cousins and seeing their Grand/Great Grandparents.  Owen, Gavin and Cooper had a sleepover in the basement both nights and it was a surprising success!  We headed home on Friday and spent the rest of the weekend getting our house transformed into Christmas!

I must have lost my mind because we decided to put up two Christmas trees this year.  Considering we have a toddler who has the nickname, WOMD (Weapon Of Mass Destruction) because he likes to tear apart everything he sees, we'll see how long the trees stay as they are today.  Both boys love looking at the trees and Cooper was thrilled to discover this morning that or Elf On The Shelf Frederick has returned.

Prior to Thanksgiving we spent a fun morning taking the boys bowling for the first time with their friends.  Both boys had a great time and we will definitely be breaking out our bowling shoes again soon.

Drew is now 15 months old and has made fantastic improvement in his walking abilities.  Although not yet his preferred method of transportation just over the weekend he has started making great strides, literally.  He will now take steps on his own at times without us even trying to coax him towards us.  I know he will be running after Cooper in no time.

Both boys LOVED the pie!  Drew above enjoying some with Daddy and Cooper below patiently waiting for his piece to get served.

Drew was thrilled to be hanging out with the Big Boys at Grandma and Grandpas.

 Just a recent pic that I wanted to include of Drew helping himself in the fridge.  We have the exact same pictures of Cooper at close to the same age.

Striking a pose for the camera :)

Our first real Christmas tree!

Happy Halloween!

   We had a fun-filled Halloween.  Jennon's office had a great party this afternoon with games, crafts and lots of candy.  The boys had a blast.  Quick photo shoot with Owen and Gavin and then off for some trick or treating in our neighborhood.  Cooper continues to be super surprised and excited when he actually gets candy at every house ; )

The boys had a fun-filled Halloween.  Jennon's office had a great party this afternoon with games, crafts and lots of candy.  The boys had a blast.  Quick photo shoot with Owen and Gavin and then off for some trick or treating in our neighborhood.  Cooper continues be super surprised and excited when he actually gets candy at every house ; )

Fall fun and LOTS of pics

   We have been thoroughly enjoying fall thus far.  Lots of fun outside at apple orchards, pumpkin patches, collecting leaves, hay/wagon/train rides, and carmel apples!
   Drew is doing really well and making some great improvement adjusting to his, "school environments," on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings.  His vocabulary continues to grow each day and although not yet walking he spends a lot of time walking along furniture and behind his push toys.  Climbing the stairs is still a great past time as well.  He is quite the snuggle bug and we often spend the first 20 minutes of each morning cuddling once Drew has woken up.  We both like to ease into the day ;)
  Cooper is doing great too and loving preschool.  I am so impressed with his school, the administrators and teachers have all been fantastic.  Cooper comes home each day happy to   share what he did at school with his friends.  He can also recite the pledge of allegiance!  He gets a little tripped up at the "indivisible" part and usually says "invisible," but it sounds absolutely adorable hearing it from his sweet little voice.