Holiday Traveling and Family Time

Since Papa had to work, the kids and I went to my parents' on Friday morning to celebrate Christmas. We were so excited that my younger brother and sister were able to be there as well although we missed my older brother and his new wife. The kids got to have some much needed quality time with Tio C since they haven't seen him (other than through Skype) in months. 

This is what happens when we try to get a good picture with all three kids....

Tio C and Pequeño 

After a little while, we walked next door to visit Mema & Pop-Pop. The kids were so excited to get to see them and they had brought them a special photo book that we had made for them.

 Once Abuelo came home from work, we did our gift exchange with Abuelo, Abuela, Tio C, and Titi.(In the words of my mom, Mama Mia! They certainly spoil the kids (and my husband and me). In all honesty, the kids receive more from relatives than they do from Santa Claus around here.

Opening gifts

A cute lion hat for Pequeño that roars when you push a button

Little Bear got an Innotab 3 from Titi and her boyfriend

When he first opened it, he said "E likes video games so he's going to want to play this with me
and Titi likes the color orange"(The case is orange.)

Pudge and his new dinosaurs!

 The kids also loved spending time with the dogs and constantly ask us if we can get one. Not happening anytime soon, Kiddos!

On Saturday, Papa drove up and we received an amazing gift (picture to be posted later!). 

 Then we went to his mom's house to celebrate with their family as well. While we were waiting for Papa's sister Aunt J to come over, the older kids were able to open their birthday presents. 

Little Bear was really excited to get an art set and journal and began making pictures as soon as he could.

 Pudge got a cool truck which you can put together and take apart with the giant tool that comes with it. (Unfortunately I don't have a picture of it on my phone)

Pequeño spent a lot of the time playing with the dog.

 We were also able to get a picture of 4 generations!

 A little while later, we sat down to eat. Aunt J and Uncle B arrived soon after and joined in. 

Pequeño licking his face for any remnants of squash or applesauce! He loved it!

 After dinner, it was time to open gifts. The kids were so excited about everything and especially about their gift from Aunt J and Uncle B- Moose Poop and Bear Poop!  They thought that it was hilarious and wanted everyone to try some.

Pudge was tuckered out from all of the excitement and took a snooze on the couch 

 Later that night, We drove back to my parent's house and put the kids to sleep there. My mom had agreed to watch the kids for us while my siblings, Papa, and I went cosmic bowling.

Saying goodnight to Titi

Tio C sneaking food to Pudge before bed!

Once the younger kids were in bed, my mom said that she was going to let Little Bear stay up for a little while so we headed out. We decided to go cosmic bowling but weren't sure if we were going to go anywhere else afterwards. Unfortunately, there's not too much to do in the area that we're from so we didn't end up doing anything else.

Love you guys!

Although we didn't get to see all of our relatives, I'm so glad that we got to see as many as we did. Our family (Siblings, Cousins, Aunts/Uncles, Grandparents) has always been so incredibly close that it's really hard for me to have everyone so spread out now. I'm so grateful for all of the times that we get to be together and that the kids are able to have so many people in their lives who care about them so much.

Little Bear is 7

Somehow, Little Bear turned 7 today. 

His favorite things are:

Police
Science
The Army
Paleontology
Solving mysteries
Playing outside with his friends
Skiing
Exercising

For his birthday we let him choose his cake. He asked for a cake with oreos, doughnuts, and strawberries "To make it healthy". So we did just that.

Happy Birthday Little Bear! We love you!

Christmas!

Due to Papa's work schedule, we needed to have our family Christmas a little early. Our Christmas Eve was on Dec. 23rd. The kids were so excited knowing that Santa would be coming that it took them all a really long time to go to sleep. Pequeño ended up being removed from his shared room because he wouldn't let Pudge go to sleep. So he had to sleep in our room in his pack and play.

 In the morning, the older kids woke up extremely excited and they came into our room to wake Papa and I. Then we all brushed our teeth and got ready to go downstairs. Papa went down first so that he could plug in all of the Christmas lights and get a picture of the kids coming down the stairs.

 The first thing that the kids saw was their filled stockings which were hanging on the playroom gate.

Pequeño got a much desired Pluto which he almost tore his stocking apart to get out. He was beyond happy to have his very own Pluto and kept hugging him!

Pudge found a Jake and the Neverland pirates spinning tooth brush and lots of candy which he promptly started eating!

Little Bear was most excited about the two different types of flashlights that were in his stocking as well as a toothbrush that sings "What Makes You Beautiful" by One Direction while you brush.

 Then they moved on to the Christmas tree

 In front of each of our spots there were different Nerf guns. We also received a family gift of Disney Eye Found It which I can't wait to play on a family night!

Little Bear received a lot of science related items such as experiments and inventions, a spy alarm, books and a large kite.

Pudge received a furreal cat, Jake and the Neverland Pirate themed items, a large kite, and books.

Pequeño received a bike (his big present) that changes to have pedals, a puzzle, and tag along ducks.

This was Pudge's big present was a big helicopter from the Disney movie Planes which also came with a small plane.

Little Bear's big present was a briefcase. It was the only thing that he asked Santa for and was VERY excited to find that it has number locks on it to keep spying eyes out!

 Once the kids were done opening their gifts and were playing, Papa and I opened ours. Little Bear had gotten Papa a big bar of soap because he said that it looks like Army man soap.

I got him a sweater, work pants and shoes, work gloves, a few other things. 

He went above and beyond with my gifts and gave me two of my favorite candle, new Reebok sneakers, an Adidas sweatshirt (which matches most of my current workout clothes and both pairs of my sneakers now), dumbells, Olymic Rings for the basement (we'll both use these), a jump rope, resistance bands and the greatest gift....He registered me for my first half marathon which he is going to run with me!

Pequeño taking his ducks for a walk

Pudge trying out some of my weights

Christmas Tree Hunting 2013

Last year, we (by that I mean Papa Bear) decided that we wanted to start the tradition of picking out our own Christmas tree, cutting it down, and making a day of it.  The place that we went to last year was wonderful and we chose to go there again this year. 

When we first arrived, we needed to get all of the kids into their snow suits since we had a snowstorm yesterday. This was an adventure within itself because we did this inside the van.

Then we hopped out and saw that Santa was sitting near the entrance to the tree farm! We had been hoping that he would be here again this year! I was surprised when all of the kids were willing to get their picture taken with him. When he asked what they wanted for Christmas, Little Bear said " A breifcase" and Pudge said "Presents!"

Then we started our trek. We had brought the infant sled along in the hopes that it would make our lives easier to have one child in a sled since we would likely have to alternate carrying Pudge and Pequeño.

The sled idea only worked for a few minutes before Pequeño decided that he didn't like it. So most of our trip uphill was filled with people "Aww!" ing at him while he had a tantrum in the sled.

We then put a face mask on him to see if that would help and it did for a while. Apparently he,like me, is not such a fan of the cold.

Once we got about 3/4 of the way up the hill, Pequeño decided that he couldn't take the sled anymore and started in major meltdown mode. We attempted to put Pudge in the sled which was even worse. So, the sled ended up hitching a ride on the tree cart while Papa and I both carried children uphill and Little Bear was free to run ahead of u (as long as he stayed on the open path where we could see him)

Once we got to the general area where the tree that we would want  would be, we let the kids start hunting for the tree. Here lays the problem. Little Bear and Papa were on the hunt for the perfect Christmas tree. This means that it had to be taller than papa (6'4") could reach, a certain kind of tree, triangular shaped, and without any noticeable holes. Our options were pretty limited with this criteria and we wondered around for what seemed like forever. The kids had a blast and Papa and I had a lot of fun watching them.

The view was gorgeous

and the kids started playing games in the snow

When we finally found the tree that we wanted, Papa had to walk down the hill a little bit to get the cart and saw from where we had left it  so the kids and I checked out some of the smaller trees.

I didn't realize that Pequeño's eyes are almost all of the way covered by his mask until looking at the picture later and this is the only one that I got of the three of them in the trees. whoops!

Then we joined Papa at the chosen tree to help cut it down.

As with last year, the boys wanted to help cut down the tree so they each got a chance to use the saw with Papa.

Pudge helping Papa cut down the tree

Little Bear's turn to help Papa 

While Little Bear was cutting down the tree with Papa, I heard Pudge say "Mmmm!" and turned to see him laying belly down and eating snow.

A few seconds later, Papa cursed. Uh-oh. The saw had broken halfway through the tree. So he had to walk back down the mountain (taking Pudge along with him) to get another saw. While he did that, Little Bear, Pequeño and I stayed with the tree and played games in the snow. Pequeño was very tired at this point and started whining so I put him inside my coat and sang him to sleep. Papa and Pudge came back a little bit later and the tree was quickly cut down.

The next adventure was getting the tree down the hill. At this point, Pequeño was awake and angry that he was while Pudge was upset because he didn't want to walk OR be carried OR ride in the sled. Having run out of options, we put him in the sled for the ride back down. All was well until we started walking down the hill. Then, the wheel broke on the cart. We were standing next to another group when this happened and they said to leave the cart and they would bring it down with them since we had our hands full . So Papa ended up sliding the tree down most of the hill and was then helped at the end by someone else while I carried an sleepy, whining child, pulled along a tantruming toddler in a sled, and had to keep reminding a another child to watch where he was going and to stay within my sight.

It was a LONG trip down.

When we got to the end, I took the kids to get hot chocolate and star shaped cookies while Papa went to get the car to put the tree on top.

Then we drove home to put the tree in the garage and change clothes before heading out to dinner at the same German restaurant that we went to last year. This tree finding trip took us THREE HOURS.