December 2014 Highlights

I can hardly believe that it has been nearly a month since Christmas. December was packed full and it really feels like such a blur. As much as we looked forward to celebrating the holidays we were really looking forward to the end of a hard year and the beginning of a new, hopefully more rewarding, year. Here are the highlights from December:

* Snowflake, our Elf on the Shelf, returned for another year. This year she didn't bring any funny business. She mostly watched, moved around the house, and wrote letters back and forth with the kids.
*One lowlight came with the arrival of Snowflake. Harper decided she no longer wanted to sleep through the night. It's rough going back to no sleep and being up for 3-4 hours a night. We calculated that the only night that she slept without waking during the month of December was Christmas Eve.
* Harper had her very first school holiday program. Sadly, I was the only one that witnessed it. She spent the majority of the program staring at the crowd and waving to her brother. No singing this time around.
* Brett and I both were able to volunteer at Riley's holiday party at school. She loved having us there and it was fun to see her interact with her friends. She is definitely one of the mature kids in the class. We helped get everything set up and then ran one of the stations. Kindergarten teachers are true blessings!
* Riley and Harper both sang in the Christmas Cantata at Hope. Sadly, I was sick and didn't get to see it. I'm impressed that they were able to stand in front of so many people and sing (or stand there like Harp)!!
* Aunt Libby and Uncle David were here for the week leading up to Christmas. The kids loved having them here. They kept us busy with a Bucs game, basketball games, brunch with Santa followed Polar Express at the iMax, and Christmas Eve service at Hope.
* A trip to see Santa at the mall. Riley sat next to him, Cole gave him a high five and hug, and Harper wanted nothing to do with him.
* We celebrated Christmas with the Consolver side of the family. It was fun to have my aunts, uncles, and cousins together and a reminder that we don't get together often enough.
* Christms Eve we did absolutely nothing and it was GREAT!
* Christmas! What a fun day. The kids slept until 7:15 which was an unexpected surprise. We decided to follow the four gift rule (want, need, something to read, and something to wear) and will definitely do the same going forward.

Cole Carlson: Two Years Old!

This boy!!! Cole is two years old. How time truly flies! I can hardly believe it when TWO comes out of my mouth, but the minute I'm in his presence I'm fast reminded that he is TWO indeed! Terribly two. :) We are in full swing of the fun 'terrible two' stage. But along with that comes his sweet, charming, and loving personality! Here is what he's up to at two years old:

* he is talking up a storm. He asks HOW in addition to WHY. Usually one after the other, repeated several time.
* Thanks to two big sisters he is identifying colors mostly as purple and pink. But more colors are starting to come along.
* He visited the dentist for the first time. The goofy front teeth we thought for sure would need some work, were normal for baby teeth. He hated the dentist, but loves his goodies.
* He is wearing  size 5/6 shoe. Size 18 months pants and 2t shirts.
*he almost always takes his socks and shoes off when he vets in the van.
* he is a little guy weighing in at just 22 pounds. He is a picky eater...he picks at everything unless it's a snack. Cookie, candy, chip, dip, and snacks are some of his favorite words. He loves to snack.
* he has an ornery grin that is so stinking cute.
* he still prefers to play with balls and trucks. He does still like to play with Harper's dolls.
* he likes to steal his sisters' toys and runs away laughing.
* he isn't potty trained yet, but does identify when going and will sometimes go on the potty.
* he is known to color on the walls with his big sis, Harp.
* he will do just about anything that Harper tells him to do...not good.
* he loves gum.
* he sleeps well. Two hour afternoon naps and sleeps through most nights. He still uses his paci when sleeping. We weren't ready for that fight!

He is such a fun boy. Even though we end each night exhausted and drag our tired bodies out of bed each morning, we are so glad to have him in our family!

Cole Carlson: One Year Eleven Months

Cole is just a short few weeks away from turning two. How can that be? He has grown so much this past month. He is ornery, funny, loving, happy, and just the best little boy for our family! We have had so much fun with our little boy. Here's what he's been up to:
- he weighs a whopping 21 pounds.
- His favorite word is why. I thought we had at least another 6 months until we had to answer to that with him.
- he still loves to play with balls. He also is starting to love his cars and trucks. He likes to play with Harper's dolls too. It is so cute watching him feed the babies.
- he loves to see the construction vehicles out and about.
- he still loves his sleepsack and paci. He calls his sleepsack "purple." He thinks the color blue is purple.
- when he cries he cries for Riley. We sometimes hears him saying her name in the middle of the night.
-He thinks that Harper is the funniest thing ever. He follows whatever she does or tells him to do.
- he has gone poop on the potty several times and peed on the potty quite a bit. Harper thinks he is her little doll and is constantly asking him if he wants to go potty. So, its not unusual to find her helping him onto his froggy potty several times a day!!! Ugh...
- he is on strike from his booster seat. He only wants to sit in regular chairs. He also wants normal silverware.
- he throws everything.
- he continues to be a great sleeper.
- he is talking up a storm.

October 2014

It's hard to believe that October is over and we are half way through November already! I feel like we were so busy with fun stuff that I hardly had time to even take pictures. Some highlights:
* Daddy's birthday
* family pictures
* a trip to the science center with the whole family.
* Night Eyes at the zoo.
* Dinner at Uncle John's and Aly's.
* Riley has been attending Brava and loves it!
* I was lucky enough to volunteer at Riley's fall party at school.
* Halloween and Trick or treating!

Here's our fun in pictures:

Cole Carlson: 1 Year, 10 Months

Our little Cole buddy is growing so fast. He is such a neat little boy and we love him so much. Here's what he's been up to this past month:

- He is still a little peanut. There is no fat on this little boy. He is in a size 5/6 shoe and swimming in 18 month pants and 2t shirts.
- He eats like a bird, and definitely likes to snack more than eat a meal.  He likes his fruits and veggies more than anything.
- he is still obsessed with balls. He points them out everywhere and plays with them as much as he can.
- He loves balloons, which he calls pops!
- He loves bubble gum and always asks for "bubble" when he sees it.  Of course he eats it so we don't give of to him very often.
- he is talking so much now. Not full sentences, but sometimes two words together. He has the sweetest little voice and definitely makes himself heard!
- he is so friendly and gives out hugs to everyone.
- he is starting to notice trucks and big machines.
- he points to every red car and yells "Daddy!" Over and over.
- he has been teething for several weeks. We haven't been able to take his paci away just yet. He only uses it at night. We notice that he chews his clothes and puts his fingers in his mouth the more we take away his paci.
- he is a total Daddy's boy. He loves him and wants to be with him always.
- he holds a marker better than his sisters already. He loves to color alongside them.
- the last couple weeks he has been a terrible sleeper. I'm hoping its because of teething!!

Harper's First Field Trip

Harper has been loving school and had her first field trip. I was able to help out and bring Cole along on a nature walk a few blocks away from the school. We had a great time and the teachers were so kind to let Cole join the kids for snack!

Brookview Carnival 2014

Riley's school held their school carnival lat week. I had the opportunity to volunteer and help set up the carnival. I loved being involved and am considering accepting the offer to join the carnival committee for next year. The kids had a blast moving from one room to the next and playing all of the games. We came home with a lot of little trinkets, spin art, painted hair, a cupcake won at the cake walk, and balloon animals. The PTO sponsored the carnival and provided pizza, hot dogs, popcorn, apples and drinks. And to top it off, Riley's name was drawn for one of the raffles...a basket full of art supplies!