Thad's Christmas Program

Thad had his Christmas program last night at school.  It was so cute hearing all the Pre-k classes sing their Christmas songs.  Thad has been practicing his songs at home and they all did so good singing.  I recorded it on my video camera which isn't compatible with our mac so I recorded it from the phone and uploaded it! It might be a little jumpy because I was sitting on the floor with my big ol belly with an 18 month old also sitting on my lap! Thad spots us about the second song and keeps waving throughout it.  It was so cute! He is the one with the white shirt and black vest.  It's worth the 2 minutes to watch!

This is one of Thad's best buddies Brennan.  They get along really well together and always giving hugs!

Christmas crafts/pictures

Each year we make a fun Christmas ornament to put on the tree.  Last year we did rudolph hand prints and this year we decided on Santa handprints! They were easy to make and funner for me to paint! Thad painted the hand peach on his and then I took over and painted the rest.  Thanks to pinterest we always have cute ideas to make!

Thad had fun helping put all the ornaments on the tree. He likes to find the ones that say his name on them.  He probably asks me about 5 times a day, "Is this one mine, and this one Oliver's?"

 My two sweet boys! Can't believe in a few months we will have another sweet boy in the family.  Next Christmas will be extra special and fun.

Thad loves Santa! He loves seeing him and telling him what he wants for Christmas.  Adam and I had to be in the picture because Oliver didn't want anything to do with the big guy.  The minute he saw him he held on tight and wouldn't let go! I think it's so sweet how Thad is sitting on his lap holding Santa's hand with that sweet sweet smile of his! 

We hope you all have a Merry Christmas and safe travels to be with your family.  

All Aboard.......the Santa Express

We are so fortunate to live in a city that has to many fun things to do with kids! We went on the Santa Express Train to the North Pole thanks to the Starlight Foundation.  It is an organization for kids who are born with defects, and have life long illnesses.  They do "great escapes" throughout the year and this was one of them.  

The train left from Canon City which is about a 40 minute drive from the Springs.  The train takes you to the "North Pole where you see all the buildings lit up and Santa is waiting to board the train! 

Oliver loved looking out the window.  He had to bring his care bear for the ride too :) 

Thad was super excited! We only told him that we were going on a special surprise.  I finally told him a few days before that we had to take a train to get there and then he found out Santa would be on the train!

It's encouraged for all the kids to wear pajamas! Thad thought we were spending the night on the train since he was wearing his PJ's.

The ride to the North Pole was about 45 minutes.  We picked up Santa and brought him on the train so all the kids could see him.

He was so excited to see Santa! He told him right away that Oliver wanted a stick pony and he wanted a cash register! 

Santa gave each of the kids a silver bell so we heard plenty of ringing after that with all the kids jingling their bells.

Thad told Santa "Hey, we both have Santa hats on, but I don't have one of these (pointing to his beard) but my papa does!

Oliver didn't know what to think about Santa.  He was a little scared and came closer to me.

I love my boys so much.  They are both so different and so sweet.  Thad has grown up so much in the past 6 months and has become a nice little man.  Oliver is so sweet and loving and looks up to his big brother.

Sweet Santas!

We had a good seat on the train so the kids could see all the lights and buildings.  All the staff was dressed up like elves and they were all so friendly!

We all got cookies and hot cocoa.  Thad loves hot cocoa and thought that was pretty neat he got to drink it on the train!

We had a great time and it will be special memories for our boys.  Thank you Starlight for allowing all the kids to have a great escape!

Bouncing Baby BOY!

We had our fetal echo yesterday where they had a good look at the baby's heart.  I'm so happy to say our baby boy has a perfect heart and is very healthy! In fact they said it a few times about how BIG he is already and that he is in the 95th percentile.  He is over 1 lb but I guess at this stage that's big! They also said I was measuring about 1-2 weeks ahead of my due date.  My due date was March 8th but that could change once I talk with my regular OB.  I've gone 1-2 weeks early in the past so this could be a February baby.  The heart looked perfect with the four chambers and perfect aortic arch.  Those are what we can recognize for sure because of Emma and Thad's past history.  As of right now the Dr. didn't think we needed any other follow ups with our Cardiologist because they didn't see anything that concerned them.  He was very active today and moving all over the place.  Adam and I feel so blessed to have another miracle on the way.  It's such a relief to hear your baby is healthy.  We thank God for the gifts he has given us.  And it's another BOY! I'm really out numbered now. I was sure it was a little girl,  I had several dreams that it was so maybe my other little girl is down the road.....right Adam!?!? I love my boys and can't wait to add another crazy boy to the mix! Thad had wanted a brother all along but I was trying to prepare him in case it was a little sister and when I told him he was having a brother he said "but I thought you wanted a sister!?!?!" It was really cute how he said it but I told him we take what God gives us and God thought we needed a brother so we are so happy!

I have to share a story with you.  We really haven't picked any boy names out but have liked a few over the years.  We liked Ethan, Thomas and Andrew.  A lady we know from our church just by saying "hi" every week saw Adam at the Y one morning and came up to him and told him she had a dream about us last night.  She dreamt that we needed to read Mark 3:18.  She didn't know why and didn't even know what it said but for some reason that bible verse was sticking out in her mind for us.  Adam told me about it as we were sitting in the waiting room of our appointment and once he started we got called back so I didn't get a chance to really read it.  All he said was Thaddeus's name was in it.  We read the verse later and here is what it says:

Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Cananaean

It doesn't say a lot but has all boy names in it.  I think she knew we were having a boy and the first name on the list is Andrew! I told Adam maybe we should choose a name from this list but my number one would be Andrew! We are sticking to our Saint names so whatever name we give this baby it will be a special meaning with a Saint name.

Thank you for keeping our family in your prayers.  Prayers are so powerful and we appreciate all of them.  We are so excited for our new addition.

Kansas trip

The boys and I went back to Kansas for a quick weekend with Papa and Grandma.  Thad always has to go by the fire station and sit in the trucks! 

We also went to the pumpkin patch.  I told Thad to hold on to Oliver so he didn't fall and he really had a hold on him! Poor Ollie didn't know what to think.

All the cousins made it except for Dawson.  It's always fun getting them all together.

Such a squeeze!

They have a neat little tractor ride and Oliver got to go.  He didn't know what to think about it at first but had fun.  

Thad found the perfect pumpkin! He wanted this one so bad and actually carried it on his lap the whole way back to Colorado! He named it Pinkey.

We always have to get a motorcycle ride with Papa.  We have a big lot next to my parents house and Papa takes him around the lot a few times and Thad loves it!

Oliver even got to go around once!

I love this picture of Pap reading to Ollie.  He was reading him "Good dog Carl" Right now it's Ollie's favorite book even though I think Carl is a bad dog!

It was a short trip but we always have so much fun.  Thad cried when we had to leave.  He loves playing with his cousins and Grandma kind of spoils him!

Fall Festival

I love going to all these Fall events.  Thad's school had it's Fall Family Festival and it was so much fun. Thad is the perfect age for these events and loves playing all the games.  

We ran into a few of Thad's friends.  It's Peter! Thad's good buddy from church.

Buzz and Batman! 

Thad was very proud of himself because he hit the ball in with only two tries! He was so happy and kept saying "I win!" 

We did the cake walk a few times but didn't win.  Thad didn't understand it at first and thought everyone won a cake! He was sad at first because we didn't win but they had cookies next to it for sale so we got those instead.  He told Grandma about it and Papa said he would buy Thad his own cake! 

We had a fun time and it was nice seeing Thad interact with his friends from his class.  We ended up with too much candy which means this pregnant mama will be eating some :)

Boo at the Zoo

We love going to Boo at the Zoo.  It's fun for the kids and they get to go trick or treating at the Zoo and see some of the animals.

We ran into some storm troopers and Thad wanted candy!

Oliver didn't know what to think of him.

Sweet Buzz and Woody! They make quite the pair!

Woody didn't like his hat so I only got a few pictures with his hat before he tore it off!