It's starting to look a lot like Christmas!

 

 

The Christmas Season is so much fun with the kiddos and we've been keeping ourselves busy with fun activities! Chelsea and Tyler are at such fun ages right now and are really getting into the season.  Chelsea has been asking so many questions about Santa and Jesus.  I'm starting to feel a tad bit guilty about all the Santa fabrications!  They are both very excited to go to the "big church" (not church school) on Christmas Eve to celebrate Jesus's birthday.  They are also excited to leave cookies and milk for Santa and sprinkle reindeer food on the driveway for the Reindeer.  Their joy is so contagious!

 

 

We took the kiddos to see Santa in Corcoran.  The Jaycees host this event and it's our third year going.  We love it!  We bring canned food donations and the kiddos get to see Santa, snacks, a gift from under the tree, a chance to win a big gift and reindeer rides!

 

 

 

We were checking out the big prizes when Tyler wanted to get a closer look.  Big sister Chelsea helped him out by lifting him up!  I love their love for each other!

 

 

Tyler is very picky on what he wears.  We pretty much have no say on what goes on his body!

 

Santa!

 

Tyler checking him out

 

Tyler finally agreed to sit on his lap but you can tell he's very uncomfortable with the situation because of how he is sitting.  Although, it looks cute!

 

After seeing Santa an elf helps the kids pick out presents from on the tree.  Tyler picked out a Spiderman Puzzle!

 

Chelsea picked out a crown!

 

The Reindeer!

 

 

Off they go!

 

Tyler and I were pretty lazy after visiting Santa so watched some TV and snuggled on the couch!



 

 

I had some friends over for a small Christmas Party a couple weeks ago.  I always have fun setting up for parties!

 

 

Tyler loves to take selfies. He will (usually) only look at the camera / phone if he can see himself in it!

 

Chelsea started attending Church School this year and really enjoys it.  The kiddos worked hard practicing a few songs and performed them for the congregation yesterday morning.  It was really well done and Chelsea enjoyed herself!

 

A video of Chelsea's Christmas Performance in Church!

 

 

I'm not much of a baker but wanted to take part in a cookie exchange this year.  I figured no bake cookies were the way to go.  I didn't expect these chocolate covered peanut butter ritz cookies and almond bark pretzels to be so messy and time consuming!  whoops!  BUT - they turned out well and I'm looking forward to coming home with 12 different kinds of cookies tomorrow night!

Friends, Basketball, Stages Theater, Family, Dance and Lots more Fun!

 

We have been slowly redecorating rooms in our house.  I hadn't ever been to Ikea so wanted to visit it to see what all the hype is about. After dropping Chelsea off at Pre-K one Tuesday Tyler and I headed to Ikea to check it out!  The store is unbelievably huge, but it's set up so it's easy to navigate for a first timer. Tyler and I walked around the entire showroom and I was pleasantly surprised by our experience there!

 

Tyler enjoyed jumping on all the beds on the showroom floor.  He snuggle in and pretend to snore / sleep!

 

Both Tyler and I found some great items to purchase!  

 

Mina loves to eat.  Her internal clock knows when it's feeding time and she's relentless.  Here she is waking me up from a nap to tell me it's time to eat!  Little stinker...

 

Birthday Party Fun!

 

My picky eater discovered a love for bagels!

 

We took the kiddos to their first Timberwolves game!  Some of the cheerleaders were there to greet us right as we were walking in.  Chelsea loved them but Tyler was shy.

 

 

 

Future Cheerleader?!

 

Tyler had enough of the cheerleaders and wandered over to play a little bit of basketball

 

A blurry family selfie!  

 

The kids were in awe! 

 

Mascots scare Chelsea....

 

We attempted to potty train Tyler a couple weeks back.  After about 5 hours we gave up and decided he wasn't ready.  But look how cute he looks in his undies!!

 

We haven't had any real accumulation of snow yet, but that doesn't stop the kiddos from wanting to go play outside in what we do get!

 

I think this snow lasted a few days before it melted.  Ben took the kids out to build the first snowman of the season!

 

The kiddos wanted to pose by this sign at Lifetime.   

 

Tyler trying out some crafts at ECFE.  

 

After that ECFE class we headed to my Chiropractor which happens to be right by Noodles.  Of course, walking out of the Chiropractor's office Tyler see's Noodles and says "me want mac cheese mama, pleeease!"  How could I say no?! 

 

Heading out for a Christmas Party!

 

The kids always like taking pictures with us before we leave the house without them!

 

My friend Andi finally moved back from Seattle.  We used to meet up at the MOA a lot before she moved so it seemed appropriate that our first play date would be at the MOA.  The kids had a blast and there were so many beautiful decorations to check out!

 

Hugs all around!  The kiddos were happy to see each other

 

Time for some random yoga

 

Throwing pennies and making wishes

 

Ben and I took the kiddos to the Charlie Brown Christmas performance at Stages theater.  It wasn't our favorite Stages performance but the kids seemed to like it.

 

waiting for daddy!

 

I took the kiddos to Panera for lunch after the Charlie Brown Play.  Panera is one of their favorite places to eat solely because of the mac n cheese!

 

Tyler stealing all my kale chips!

 

Chelsea and I waiting for her swim class to start! she was in a silly mood!

 

My parents stayed with us on Tuesday night so they could watch Chelsea's Christmas Dance Show / Party on Wednesday morning.  They had just flown in from a week long trip to Arizona so they were sleepy!

 

Grandma snuggle time!

 

 

Chelsea before her dance show!

 

My beautiful little girl!

 

Chelsea did awesome at her show!  Last year she refused to dance, kicked off her tap shoes, sat down on the floor to suck her thumb.  It was pretty comical.  This year she was a pro!

 

A video of one of her three dances

 

Santa came to visit!

 

Chelsea and Tyler wearing the Cute T-Shirts that Grandma and Grandpa bought for them at the Arizona Zoo!