Breakfast with Santa

Saturday morning Cole and I went to the Officer's Club on base for a pancake breakfast with Santa. Cole was not on his best behavior (or even mediocre behavior for that matter) on this morning so it turned out to be almost more trouble than it was worth.

I should have had a clue as to his behavior to be when he was doing this right before we left:

And this:

I did get him to pose with me though.

And he smiled with Kaden too.

Thinking about what he can get into next.

Decorating a bag to hold all his crafts.

He didn't want to sit in Santa's lap, so he just stood next to him instead.

That afternoon we headed to the UCM bowling alley to celebrate Andrew's 5th birthday. Cole chowed down on some Chick-fil-A nuggets and fries, as well as a huge piece of chocolate cake.

For party favors Carisa made all the kiddos Superman capes since superheroes are all the rage right now with the boys.

Cole loved running around in his cape and shouting "Superman!!"

On challenging days like these I remember and recite my most favorite parenting verse.

"Let us not grow weary in doing good, for in proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

Galatians 6:9

I am hopeful that in due time I will reap a harvest and see the fruits of my labor. This thing called motherhood is just flat out hard!

Crown Center

On Monday Cole and I met Katie and Ty at Crown Center in Kansas City. They had lots of fun stuff for the kiddos to do and Cole got to sit in Santa's lap.

Cole was enamored by this huge Gingerbread Village and the trains going through it. I must say it was pretty cool!

Check out all the ingredients and time/hard work that went into making this display!

In the Crayola play area getting to slide on a big box of Crayons.

With Ty in the crayon house.

Mommy and Cole

Katie with Ty and Cole in front of the laughing Santa Claus. Cole wasn't so sure what to think about this.

Waiting to eat lunch at the train restaurant, Fritz's.

You place your order by using the phone.

After lunch we went outside and played on all the equipment they had set up. Cole was in the spaceship getting ready to take off. :-)

He liked riding the horse.

We topped off our trip to Crown Center with a Peppermint Pothole from Sheridan's. It was so good! Cole and I shared it, but we were only able to eat about half of it.

Thankful for good, fun days like these, even if they feel like they are few and far between. Looking forward to better days ahead!

Joy

Nothing quite brings me

like this little guy!

How can you not smile when you see this silly "cheese" face?

Or this one?

Looking off with amazement...we were heading to see Santa.

"Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."

Nehemiah 8:10

Sunday Best

Here some pictures of my cutie (silly ones and all!) before we headed to church Sunday morning. I believe winter is here because it has been down right chilly the past few days. Let's just say I am happy to be heading to Alabama where the temperatures are not near as cold.

Tree Time

On Friday I was feeling in the Christmas spirit so Cole and I decorated our tree. Let me start by saying that our tree is kind of sad this year which is a good representation of my feelings this holiday season. Just kind of sad.

The past couple of years we have gotten a nice, big, beautiful live tree, but I knew I couldn't tackle that on my own. So, I went to Ace and bought a 6 ft. Gatlinburg tree. It turned out pretty cute and I can use it in another room in the years to come.

I cranked up K-Love and Cole and I got to work. He had so much fun helping me. I am pretty anal about these sorts of things, but this year, with this little tree, I just didn't care as much. I let him hang ornaments where he pleased and we just had fun with it.

The finished product. Not sure why it is leaning to the right, but I can't get it to stand up straight so I gave up. I think it gives it character. :-)

The stockings were hung...

After our hard work we had some pizza and a picnic in the living room.

Christmas is such a special time of year. My theme word this year is JOY. More to come on that later, but you will find this word throughout my house in my decorations.

Merry CHRISTmas!!

Rain, Rain Go Away

Cole wants to go outside and play! Once the rain stopped Wednesday afternoon it was the perfect weather to get outside and splash around in. It was around 60 degrees so the temperature was great for a late November day. We take advantage of any opportunity to play outside so weren't going to let a little water stop us.

Cole put on his rain boots and was ready!

In action splashing down the gutters where the most water was.

Bryce came down to play.

And Kaitlyn too.

He even took a picture with me.

And this last one is a little x-rated, but too cute not to share. He put on my rain boots when we came back in. I had to get a picture, but I did ask him to cover his "private parts". ;-)

And a random picture of his new, super cute shark hat. He was so proud of it and wore it all afternoon, even to Wal-Mart. Not sure what Roxy was thinking in this picture. That we are crazy, maybe? :-)

Having a little boy in the house adds a different level of fun (and stress at times), but I sure wouldn't change it.

Thanksgiving Day

Cole and I started our Thanksgiving out in the kitchen. We made pumpkin pie, sweet potato casserole and mac and cheese.

He was very happy to be helping me. This is his newest smile when I tell him to say cheese. It cracks me up. You will see it multiple times in this post alone.

And here he was eating pure sugar. I stopped this shortly after the photo. The last thing a high energy 2 year old needs is pure sugar!

Getting ready to head over to Carisa's for lunch. The cheese face again. :-)

Showing off his cute turkey shirt courtesy of Etsy.com. I love that site!

Cole, Andrew and Adam eating the sugar covered pecans. They sure were good!

Mommy and her turkey

Topping off the meal with a turkey cookie

Getting ready for bed in his new Christmas PJ's. The shirt says, Dear Santa, Define Good. Very appropriate for this mischievous lil' guy.

We had a good Thanksgiving and are so, so blessed! I will admit it was very hard being apart from Jonathan today. After 10 years together we have never missed a holiday so this being the first was especially tough.

I am looking forward to spending Christmas in Alabama with all of our family!