Family Update 12/29/12

Well, here's the last family update for the year.  It has been a fun filled very packed week with Philly being on vacation.  Christmas eve was amazing this year, especially since it actually snowed and we were able to have a very white Christmas for once.  It seems like for the past several years its been in the 50's with no snow on Christmas day.  This year was nice and cold with wonderful fluffy white snow.  We had a fun family outing at the Unity holiday music performance which was a great chance to get the kids all dressed up in some cute Christmas clothes.  I know I'm biased but we have some really cute kids.

A little laughter goes a long way.

Some great smiles.

Melting Daddy's heart!

Christmas day was a lot of fun this year, Logan is starting to really get into it and Nyah was able to open her own gifts.  Seeing the looks on their faces is just priceless.  Philly and I were feeling a little guilty that we don't have a proper fireplace to hang the stockings from.  We had to tell Logan that we left the door unlocked for Santa since we don't have a chimney.  He believed us, this time.

The new bike studio decorated for the Holidays.

Tux checking out the tree.

Nyah trying to ride her new horses. The girl is awesome!

Logan excited with new watercolors.

Anticipation........

A new truck!

Nyah loved her new car.

My beautiful ladies, I'm so lucky.

You might have noticed I'm putting a lot of pictures in the family updates.  Since I dropped Facebook, this is now the family source for photos at the moment.  I may find a different way of doing it but for now this is actually a lot of fun.
Well, after the fun holiday parties Philly and the kids got a chance to play in the snow together.  We are loving the cold weather and the fact the snow is sticking around for once instead of melting right away.  

Snow sliding instead of sledding.

Proof that Logan can be a little angel when he wants to be.

This has been a really fun vacation so far, we even braved the crowds and headed to the Children's Museum of Denver.  It's such a great place and has something for everyone.  I'm a little nervous about when I have 3 little ones to take there by myself.  I'm sure I'll figure it out one way or another.

Our budding little artists ; )

It's a mad dash to fill the carts!

Well I think that brings us up to speed, its time to wind down a little and get ready for the new year.  It is a little hard to imagine that this year is already wrapping up.  It feels like just yesterday Nyah was born and now we are going to welcome another little life into the family.  Crazy how fast time flies, make sure to enjoy every second.  See you next year!

Cheers for now,

Aaron

Family Update 12/22/12

It's been such busy time I didn't even get to post last Saturday. We've had a great time so far this holiday season.  It started off with a whole lot of cooking and baking.  From Gingerbread cookie with butter cream frosting to Homemade Chili and cornbread.  The house has been smelling great lately, especially with a fresh cut tree in the living room.  In addition to the cooking we have had lots of activities to keep us moving.  Logan had his first Gymnastics "mini-meet", a great gathering for all the families to watch their little ones perform in front of everyone.  This was followed by a cold but very fun time watching the Olde Time parade in historic downtown Golden.  We also were able to enjoy the wonderful holiday sign along at the golden recreation center together as a family.  Unfortunately we have also all been battling the sniffles, coughs and associated health joys that come this time of year.  A big thanks to Grandpa Mo for a wonderful trip to the Children's Museum of Denver and the awesome gift of a family membership.  Logan and Nyah really enjoyed the afternoon with Grandpa Mo and we will really get great use out of the membership.  Thanks Mo!  
We were fortunate enough to finally get some snow and amazingly there is still a little bit left on the ground as I'm typing.  Logan made his first snow angel of the year.  Unfortunately the snow was too fluffy for snowman construction.  Here's a little visual sample of the past 2 weeks:

Gingerbread cookies fresh out of the oven!

The cornbread went crazy in the pan.

Perfect meal for a cold winter evening.

Time to sugar up before brushing our teeth ; )

My little cutie ready for some snow.

He had been talking about snow angels all morning, Love it!

Today is a great day because it means Philly is officially on break from work.  A much needed break I might add for the whole family.  As we head towards Christmas day and New Years it is always so important for us to slow down a little bit and enjoy each others company and reflect on the year we've had.  What a year its been too, lots of activity and news to share.
On that note, we recently sent out our family holiday cards.  Now this may seem like a random transition, which it is. (If you've read many of my posts you're likely used to it.)  Our holiday cards this year included a hidden message.  To us it is obvious, but for others it has taken a little time to realize the meaning.  I have put a picture below for reference:

Logan picked the snowman for the occasion.

Wait for it....

Wait for it.....

That's right, our third bundle of fun will be joining the party in July of next year!!

I think we really caught some people off guard with this surprise.  I was lucky enough to be on the phone with my mom when she actually figured out what the picture meant.  Lets just say she was so shocked I can't repeat the actual first words she used. : ) (Sorry mom but it was too funny not to mention)  After that initial reaction she was clearly happy about her extra little gift.  I know some people are ready for anything from us at this point.  After all we are the couple who said, "We'll never have kids".  Well we made those statements while we were young and foolish.  Once you have one kid it's hard to explain the absolute joy and wonder you experience every single day.  Even on the really hard days there is always at least some little tiny moment that melts your heart.  Now that we have number three on the way our family feels like it will finally be complete.  I was one of three kids and I personally feel like that is a good number.  We are only slightly outnumbered now.  As one of my best friends pointed out, "You're going from man to man defense to zone defense now."  It was an interesting way of looking at it.  
And for any of you out there who are saying, "Next comes a minivan".  Not so fast, I've already test fit 3 car-seats in the second row of my truck and they fit perfectly.  Now if for some crazy turn of events we end up with twins, then I guess I'll have to think hard about it.  No the twins reference doesn't mean anything, it's just kind of a running inside joke.

I think that pretty much sums up the past two weeks.  I'm hoping to get into a rhythm and actually post every Saturday morning.  But plans change with kids I guess.
Cheers for now,
Aaron

Family Update 12/8/12

What a week we have had!  Logan is doing great in gymnastics these days and is almost ready for the second level class.  He has come a long way in the past 8 weeks, from not even getting off the bleachers, to excelling at almost every skill.  Grandma Ellie has been taking him each week.  Next Saturday is his "Mini-Meet" so we should have some good pictures to post later.

Both kids are doing amazing in their music classes as well.  Nyah is getting more brave every class and loves cleaning up after each different activity.  

Nyah and her PomPom

Logan has been doing really well in his 2-4yr classes as well.  He is doing great with his sharing and has really begun to develop some rythym.  He is also getting more involved in the group activities.  It's crazy to see Logan as one of the biggest kids in class.  I'm not really sure where he gets his height from, but he's getting so tall.  I am so proud of both of them and how much they are growing and changing each day.  It seems like only yesterday Logan was barely speaking and Nyah was still just crawling.  They grow and change at such a fast rate.  

It's moments like this when I get to sit down and write that I can reflect on what has been happening.  All too often the daily routine is all I can think of.  I run my mental checklist everyday and check the calendar, do the laundry, dishes and so on. I think as parents (all parents) we are so worried about making sure the kids are in activities and giving them all the experiences possible.  We worry over whether or not they hit the "developmental milestones".  We try to ensure their success in the future by helping them become well rounded.  Early on, we worry about them not saying enough words by the time they are 18 months, only to realize that they don't stop talking by the time they hit three and a half.  As parents we worry a lot and usually about everything, even if we have absolutely no control over it.

In doing this we almost miss experiencing our own kids.  We might miss that sweet moment when brother and sister share a quiet moment playing nicely together.  Or we might miss the chaos resulting from turning a box of tissues into snow.

Tissues becoming "snow"

I think kids are teaching us the most important lesson of all, slow down and enjoy the little things.

That will do for now as breakfast needs to be made and we all need to get ready for the kids holiday party at Philly's work.  There we go running off again : )

Cheers for now,

Aaron