FTPDF: The Last Post of the Year

Hi Friends!

I have blogged 8 times in the past 8 days.  My heart is full, but my body and brain are tired.  Therefore, I will be taking a week long hiatus from blogging, and will return sometime in the early New Year.

But before I go, here is my last FTPDF of 2014.  You'd think that since I have blogged so often, I wouldn't have too many pictures left to share.  That is not the case.

Favorite Thing #1: More birthday pictures!
Sisters playing, hide-and-seeking, toddlers drawing, spouses playing duets...
it was quite the event.

Favorite Thing #2: Playing at home

Favorite Thing #3: Playing at the indoor park

 

Favorite Thing #4: A quiet Christmas Eve morning with Kona and Maya,
Chris and Callie saw a movie (NOT Cinderella, but the poster was pretty cool).

Favorite Thing #5: Opening presents before church on
Christmas Eve, wearing my Grandma's butterfly pin,
getting all the Santa gifts ready.

Favorite Thing #6: Santa came!  Christmas jammies!

Favorite Thing #7: Christmas morning with Pa, Auntie Cat, Uncle Dan, and Hanna.
G-ma was sick and we missed her!

 

Favorite Thing #8: Christmas night with Boom, Bops, Auntie Yoda, Craig,
Auntie Mari, and Josh.

Have a wonderful week and a happy new year!!

TBT: The Merry Christmas Edition!

You might remember my Christmas post from last year.  If not, check it out...seriously.

We have a repeat performance this year.

And, just for full effect, here are is my first Throwback:

Last year during the Christmas Eve service, we got to be the Holy Family.  Chris and I dressed up as Mary and Joseph, and Maya was Baby Jesus.  This year, I spent most of the service wrangling a CRAZY toddler.  We were able to stay in the pew only minutes at a time before she would take off running up the aisle.  So I had to chase her, we'd do a lap outside the sanctuary, and then come back for another couple minutes before she'd do it again.  There were lots of "she is so adorable" murmurs as we walked ran around the church.  And she was.  She was also exhausting.  So my next Throwback shows the difference between Baby Maya at church on Christmas Eve, and Toddler Maya at church on Christmas Eve.

On one of our last laps, we passed this year's Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus in the back before they had to walk down the aisle to the front of the church.  As we sped by them (me frantically chasing a wobbly 17-month-old) I casually said, "She was Baby Jesus last year!"  They said something like "Oh, how sweet..." I may have noticed a glimmer of terror in their eyes, but it was probably just nerves about whether or not their sweet baby would lie quietly in the manger, and not them fast forwarding a year in their heads and imagining their exhaustion after the Christmas Eve service of 2015.

Right?!?!

Anyway, as I look at these pictures, I think back to our very first Christmas as parents.  Our baby was 2-3 days old.  We were exhausted.  I could still barely sit down.  But the joy and happiness that babies (and now children) bring to our holidays is beyond measure.

We sincerely hope you have a wonderful and blessed Christmas.

Merry Christmas Eve...with Videos!

It is finally Christmas Eve!

To mark the occasion, I took ssome videos of the girls doing Christmas-y things.  I was only going to post two of them, but couldn't decide.  So here are four.

First up, Callie singing "Hingle Bells."  Yes, "Hingle Bells." 


IMG 2504 from Baby Goose on Vimeo.

This was take two.  The first take was "Hingle Hells," but thought it was a little inappropriate on a joyous holiday like Christmas.

Here we have Maya playing peek-a-boo with our Rudolph book.


IMG 2491 from Baby Goose on Vimeo.

As you can see, her new words are "Santa" and "Up."

Next we have "We Fish You a Hairy Christ-Moose."


IMG 2505 from Baby Goose on Vimeo.

That one was a big hit at the Christmas Program this year. Lastly, we have Maya, wearing Callie's hat, sitting next to Kona and trying to say Christmas-y words.


IMG 2498 from Baby Goose on Vimeo.

So, like she said...we wish you all a Merry Christmas!

17-Months-Old!!

This one.

I don't even know what to say about her, besides I just want to be around her all the time.

And she wants to be with me, too. She expresses it my running to me, shouting "MAMA!" and slamming her head into my knees.

It is the cutest thing ever and I love it.

Love her!

Insta-Birthday: #CJGturns5

Surprise!  A 2nd blog post today!  I realize that I already posted my usual birthday blog this morning.

But I had a really fun time documenting the 5th birthday on Instagram today: with #CJGturns5.

And, with this being a very busy week (in real life, and therefore, the blog), I decided to do a double post because these pictures are just too fun to be buried in a wrap-up later this week.

It's gonna be a fun day! #calliejoy #CJGturns5

Playing with the birthday streamers.  #calliejoy #mayaleigh #CJGturns5

Birthday brunch with bacon! A birthday girl favorite.  #calliejoy #mayaleigh #CJGturns5

Birthday movie date!  #calliejoy #CJGturns5

Some quiet playtime before the fam arrives...Princesses and monster trucks.  #calliejoy #CJGturns5

Waiting to greet her guests with a tiara.  #calliejoy #CJGturns5

A successful birthday party includes yummy sandwiches, delicious gluten-free cake
(made by Boom), presents, and a rousing game of hide-and-seek.  #calliejoy #CJGturns5

I think it is safe to say she had a really good day.

5!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CALLIE JOY!!!!

I don't know why, but 5 seems crazy to me.  Like half a decade crazy.

Five years ago she made her debut.

Hello World!

And then came 1...2...3...and 4.

And then I blinked and now this beautiful little baby of mine is 5 and I can't believe it.

Happy Birthday Punkin' Head.

Weekend Wrap-Up

Happy Sunday!

I can't believe how happy a Sunday it is.  Two weeks off, a big birthday tomorrow, and Christmas shortly after...we are SO happy this time of year!  And tired.  But mostly happy.

Saturday

Callie had her Christmas "Dance Show."  It was just like a class, but more people could come (only Boom and I were allowed this time).  She got a new ballet outfit for the occasion.

Here are a couple of videos of some more Christmas dances (sorry the sound is so painful to listen to...as Connie told the adults, this tape (yes, tape) was actually recorded from her old 45s and records from when she was a little girl).


IMG 2264 from Baby Goose on Vimeo.


IMG 2266 from Baby Goose on Vimeo.

And then they do mat time every week where they work on sommersaults, cartwheels, and (my favorite) bridges. She rocks at the bridge, just like her mama. I can still do one too.

 
IMG 2270 from Baby Goose on Vimeo.

On Saturday night we decided that it as time to try ice skating.  We hadn't ever done it with Callie before.  YEARS ago, Chris and I took our goddaughter, Christine, when she was about Callie's age.  So I was excited to do it again.

I didn't really get to skate, because a certain SUMMER baby would have no part in being in the cold.  She started freaking out at just the sight of her snowsuit, and then didn't really "warm up" to the idea of being outside in the chilly air.  She occasionally watched her daddy and sissy on the ice, but mostly was just crabby.

Our winter girl, however, LOVED it.

We weren't out there very long, so we'll have to try it again when we can leave the little one somewhere else.

Because, the little one much prefers the warmth of our house.  And food.

And sometimes double fisting drinks.

Sunday

The big event on Sunday was our first (of MANY) hosting events of the week.  We had the Hendersons and Johnsons over for a Christmas gathering, and it was a blast!!  There was lots of yummy food (not all prepared by me, thank goodness!) and so much love and laughter.

Johnsons: Peter, Amy, Emily, Andy, Beth, Donald Frederic
Hendersons: Lee, Polly, Kati, Chris, Callie, Maya, Laura, Craig, Mari, Josh (and Kona)

At the end of the evening we took some group shots.  They went as well as can be expected for a large number of people, sometimes including children.

Top: Henderson and Johnson Cousin Kids
Middle: H & J Cousin Kids + Parents
Bottom: Oldest Henderson/Johnson kids + spouses + kids

Finally, our elves have been up to their usual antics.  It is hard to believe we only have 4 more days with them in our midst (*cough* THANKGOODNESS *cough*).

Playing in a ball.....eating the gingerbread house.....hanging out with the shoes.....getting into the mail...

Bringing reindeer eggs......sitting with new friends.....sneaking all the popcorn.

Hope everyone had a lovely weekend and an even lovelier Christmas week!

FTPDF

WINTER BREAK.

That is all I have to say right now because I'm in a state of gleeful shock that it is finally here.

So is Maya:

WINTER BREAK?
SERIOUSLY?
#finally

Callie is in full gear-up-to-birthday mode.  She is ready to be 5, and we are ready for her to be 5.  More about her on Monday.

Maya is hilarious.  I can't even tell you how much I love watching her do everything.  Her excitement for the littlest things is amazing.  And her opinions are becoming stronger.  Uh oh... For example, she HATES getting her teeth brushed these days  Like, super duper HATES it.  So I have to pin her down and pry her mouth open to get it done.  Hopefully she won't have an aversion to toothbrushes when she is older.  Also, she demands that we take her socks off in the evenings.  After we get home and take her shoes off, she points to her socks insistently until we remove those as well. 

As for the week in pictures...here they are:

Favorite Thing #1: A Preschool Birthday Party

Favorite Thing #2: Finding this on Instagram on Tuesday.
It captured my exact sentiments.

Favorite Thing #3: DADDY IS HOME!
We went to the Holiday Market on Tuesday evening.
It was cold (and kind of lame) but the girls had fun on the carousel.

Favorite Thing #4: Outings with the Grandparents
This week: Lund's, Como Park, Music Class, Library, Elf Show.
Those girls are LUCKY.

Favorite Thing #5: Things at home
The girls playing together, Maya mastering the fork, Movie night

And lastly, we have a video directed by a certain preschooler who shall remain nameless, but who is definitely bossy.


IMG 2216 from Baby Goose on Vimeo.

A big announcement in our family is that there is going to be another wedding!  Mari and Josh got engaged last weekend! 

The upcoming week is going to be crazy busy fun.  Stay tuned.

TBT

ONE DAY.  We are one day away from winter break.  I can almost taste it.  And it tastes like a lot of wine that will be consumed tomorrow evening.

Anyway...here are the throwbacks!  Since last Sunday was the Christmas program, I thought I'd do a couple program throwbacks.

We've got Charlie and Callie- starting with the first day of Sunday School as
2-year-olds, to now as almost-5-year-olds.  CRAZY.

Here we have Maya watching her sister's Christmas program.  Last year she was
happily sitting with Boom.  This year she was happily running away from me and
getting into all kinds of trouble.  But the cheeks- they are the same.

This time of year just really is the Callie Show...so my last throwback is all about Callie's birthday at preschool.

Preschool birthdays are the BEST!

A Birthday at Preschool

The 5th birthday is a week away, but the party has started.

Today was the 2nd year in a row I have been able to spend the morning at preschool for Callie's birthday celebration.  (See this post for last year's pictures).

First, she got to be STAR OF THE DAY, which is totally a big deal.  She got a birthday ribbon, got to pick out of a prize box, AND she got to ring the clean-up bell, choose songs to sing, help with calendar, be line leader, etc.

A little shy at first...

...but over it quickly to help Mrs. Amy with the calendar.

She also got to share the things she brought in the birthday share bag.  Last night she took some time to think about it, and decided to put in a couple stuffed animals, a couple personalized ornaments from our tree (a "Princess Callie" crown and a "Kona" bone), and the Santa picture from this year.

During play time I got to lead the Gingerbread House craft. All the kids got the chance to put a few candies on the house. Callie and a couple other little girls helped a lot. It turned out awesome, if I do say so myself.

Then it was snack time (we brought fruit snacks for the class) and Callie got to blow out candles on a fake cake.  She even let them sing "Happy Birthday" without any weirdness.  It was amazing.

Her next job was to be line leader on the way to the gym.  Once there, she helped lead her class in laps around the gym and other exercises.  Adorable.

The morning ended with talking about the Christmas story, singing some songs and decorating a class Christmas tree.  Callie got to put the first ornament on.

I was so proud of her all morning, and I could tell she was so proud that I was there with her.  It was really special for both of us.

And now I'm all teary and sappy.  I just can't believe that in one short week my baby will be 5.