Christmas catch up.

So I am so far behind it is a little daunting to catch up but here is my attempt.

Christmas was a blast.  We celebrated early at Grandpa and Catherine's.

We spent the Christmas Eve morning visiting Santa before he headed to the North Pole.

Then had our annual Christmas Eve at Nene and Duke's with a huge crowd as always.

Christmas Eve traditions included milk and cookies for Santa, reindeer food sprinkled, and The Night Before Christmas read.

Christmas morning at home.  Santa continues to surprise us and it is a magical morning.

And finally Christmas Day with Nana and Papa.

Holidays.

The holiday season has started and we have checked some of our holiday traditions off the list.  We went to the lighting downtown (it was wet and we don't have any pictures because our camera would have died in the downpour.)  But these pictures are from our drier traditions.

Hadley and mommy went to the Nutcracker.  Hadley's favorite part is getting dressed up.

Clip on earrings from great grandma Lois.

 We visited the tree farm.  We searched the fields for a tree but mommy's need for a large tree lead us to the barn to pick one out.  I thought this one was a winner...maybe next year.

 Here's the winner.  It turned out to be really really round.

 Santa Ollie.

 Tree decorating.

 Annual picture in front of the tree.

 Santa brunch.

 Oliver loved him this year. 

 Didn't want to leave.

 Hadley made sure to tell him EVERYTHING she wanted.

 Family pic....you get what you get.

Oliver's birthday post.

To my sweet Oliver---
You may have started out life with a bang and every day since has been an adventure.  Not much slows you down or phases you in the littlest bit.
You are tough.
You are strong willed.
You are a lover.
You are perfect.

A normal day with you involves racing up and down the hallway (at full speed).  Bouncing on Rody who is winning in the bucking contest (he sent you to get your eyebrow glued shut not too long ago) but you still love him.  Riding your toys outside with wild excitement.  I have come to believe you should probably wear a helmet 24 hours a day.  But you like to wear a yellow construction hat, a fireman's helmet, or a Colts' football helmet more.

You do slow down for a sippy cup of milk.  A book about animals or trucks.  Playing with your new car race track. A bowl full of goldfish.  You are a little one that knows what he wants and your sweet little face often gets it.  But you don't use your words much right now.  There is a bunch of pointing.  Grabbing us by the hand to lead us to what you want.  Hadley telling others exactly what you need (which could be one reason for your lack of words).  Or yelling (yes yelling) 'mommy' or 'daddy'.

You give the sweetest little kisses although sometimes you say 'nah' (no) first.  You love to wake up with a hug.  A full on arms around the neck, head on the shoulder hug.  It is the best way to wake up.  You love to snuggle on the couch.  My most favorite thing is when you jump up and down into Rice's arms after he is done with school for the day.  You love your brother and sister.

This year of 2 will be a big year for sure.  I am sure your vocabulary will take off.  You already say new words almost daily.  You will be a little closer to being the big boy you crave to be.  You may learn to swim.  You may learn to climb almost anything at the park (you are awfully close already).  You may learn to ride a bike.  I don't know all the things you will learn to do but I do know you will do everything with passion.  A passion for fun, for excitement, for life.  I don't want you to lose that passion or drive.  It will serve you well in life.  You will go far.

Here is to a great year of being 2...may the crying fits be few and far between and the smiles and belly laughs stick around forever!

Someone is 2

At the beginning of the month, Oliver turned 2!  Two years of greatness in the books for this little guy.  I am not sure he knew what it meant to have a birthday but he sure did love the presents and the cake.  We had family over to celebrate.  But Oliver's most favorite thing may have been his birthday balloons.  It's the little things for sure.

 A few morning presents from us!

 And some more presents later in the day without pjs.

 He was a pro at the cake.

 Bubble blowing helped him master the candle trick.

 And cake.

Happy birthday little bro!

Trick or treat!

 Halloween.  One of the best days to be a little kid...or a big kid that likes to dress up.  This year we made a quick stop at Nana's house on the way to a little Halloween party and some trick or treating with friends.  Oliver still wasn't quite sure what this all meant.  He didn't want to be left behind anywhere but he loved to get the candy.  That boy can eat candy like nobody's business.  Hadley can be convinced to be anything for Halloween as long as it means she gets to dress up so this year she was my sidekick, a Colts cheerleader.  I was Andrew Luck.  And Oliver, since he can't talk, got to be a dinosaur because the costume was laying around and feeling neglected.  He does love dinosaurs though and can growl pretty loudly.

Trick or treat

I underestimated what it meant to wear a football helmet all night.  So Nana got to see but not too many others after her house.

 Oliver in search of candy!

 Score!

 Off to see friends and play in the park a little.

 Oliver didn't like to wear his dinosaur hood either.

 Go Colts!

Just playing a little football with Michael Jackson. But I think that dinosaur stole our ball.

 Candy monster back at it.

 Mommy's attempt at documenting the day.  Halloween 2015 in the books.