climb on

Dennis loves climbing. In fact, he has begun climbing up onto the dining room table, and the most recent one has been the rocking chair. He was so proud of himself. I was too-until he stood up and started dancing on the chair as it rocked back and forth. Yikes. Grandma and Grandpa got Dennis a table and chairs for Christmas! We put them together and we love them! Dennis really enjoys playing at the table.

Thank you!

Christmas Craft #2

Earlier this year I noticed a quiet book at church that my friend had for her daughters and I fell in love with it. So much that when I decided that I was going to make one for Dennis for Christmas, I also decided that everyone needed one of these. So, guess what?! I made 5 of them. Not really realizing what I was getting into. But they were just so darn cute-
So, I made one for Dennis, one for my brother Reed's kids, one for my brother Randy's baby who is on the way, one for Ryan's brother Taylor's kids, and one for Ryan's sister's future kids. Really. Why? I don't know. Are they even planning on having kids? I have no idea... but hey I was already making 4... why not 5? So, you are getting these in the mail... surprise! I know... way late for Christmas. oh well. As you can see it totally took over our lives for a good month.
I was so proud of my made up pattern for book covers!

Here are the pages:

each page has pieces that go with it but I didn't take pics of those.

This family tree page you will have to finish yourselves. Just add laminated pictures of you, and your parents and your child/ren with velcro like the first page people. It will make more sense when it comes in the mail.

There are a couple of insert pages coming but I didn't get them done in time. The nice thing about these quiet books are that they are in a 3 ring binder so you can take out and add pages. Brilliant.

framing

I got my paintings framed for the art show this saturday. They look so good. Dennis thought so too- he spent quite some time looking at his portrait and then he gave it a big kiss. Too cute.

Christmas Day!

Christmas morning we wake up to our stockings and presents under the tree! I got to fill stockings this year for Santa... that was fun. Our traditional up north, charlie brown, closest tree to the cabin Christmas tree! We put up the tree on Christmas eve and wake up to presents filled under the tree. I once again was Santa's helper and gained a greater appreciation for my parents. Growing up, our cabin was quite a bit smaller with only 1 bedroom. So all of the kids slept under the tree. It was so magical waking up with presents all around... and we never woke up! I don't know how long we will last all together under one tree-we were filled to the max with presents and I only have 1 kid and Randy & Chrissy haven't even started yet! This year there were only 4 grand kids at the cabin.

playing with the toy from Santa the night before.

It was so fun watching the kids play together. Dennis wanted to help Norah any time that her pacifier was out of her mouth, Dennis was there to put it back in. Norah is 8 months old and she wears the same size clothes as Dennis. Haha.

Then we hurry out the door to Grandma June's party (my mom's side). Where we eat Lasagna, play games, make a video and have Santa come again!

Dennis didn't like the idea of sitting on Santa's lap very much.

But didn't mind looking at his beard.

He never really got used to it.

I miss those curls!!!

With the combination of so many new things, new people and places and getting some molers we have very few pictures of him smiling during this trip. Here is a good one- I'm glad he still has one.

Here is Dennis's cousin Norah.. she is just so pretty that I had to include a picture of her.

The family.

my mom's family.

Dennis got dressed in his jammies and had a bottle in preparation for the long trip back to the cabin.

Thanks Grandpa.

Grandma's Camp

Growing up I was a serious dreamer. I would dream of everything possible- including getting my kids together with their cousins at the cabin for "grandma camp" (my mom's dream). So, this year was my mom's first run at getting all of the grandkids together even though it wasn't at the cabin. First we had some chicken noodle soup for lunch. (yes, I know it looks like I just woke up... I don't think I got a shower in that day)

And we all crammed into the car.

And went to the Aquarium in the Mall of America.

Dennis loved to see the fish that moved.

He especially liked the "Finding Nemo" tank. Or, I should say, that they liked him.

It was a good thing that I went along... it was enough work with two adults- I can't imagine doing it all by myself! We almost lost a kid twice and had to return to the gift shop to return some items that were not meant to be taken.

Back at the house Grandma and Grandpa with ALL of their grandkids. Left to Right: Noah, Norah, Kevin, Dennis, Brooklynn, Rosalyn. (notice Kevin is holding Dennis's head!)

Later when just Dennis, me and Grandpa were left at the house Dennis decided that he would help himself to Granpa's lunch!

"Thank you... I'll have that one."

You can't stop a boy from getting his green beans.

First Hair Cut

Talk about getting hit with a ton of bricks. I didn't see that one coming.
Dennis's hair was becoming a disaster... Ryan had wanted to cut his hair for a long time now, but I loved his little curls in back- they were so adorable. But, I think I pushed the limit of adorable hair too far. The back of his head became so frizzy and damaged that I couldn't get it to curl even with a bath and product--and the sides were getting too long that they just looked straggly. I knew the time had come... and I thought I was prepared... I guess not. I couldn't even look at him because he didn't look like my little baby anymore. All of a sudden he was a boy.