Preschool night.

Last night was Adler's Preschool Christmas Activity Night.

He's been practicing his Christmas songs for weeks.

And I know he knows them, because he sings them

in bed at night.

G & G Johnson & Gabe came to celebrate with us.

We ate at our favorite eatery...the Ranch!

Then we drove to the church/preschool

for an evening of songs, crafts, & cookies.

Adler mentioned earlier that night that he was not going to sing.

I told him it was his special night & that we're all coming to watch him.

He told me on the way into the church that he didn't want

us to laugh at him.

Poor kid.  I suppose when you get all those grandparents

& parents together for this kind of deal they all

smile, laugh & ahhh over their kids.

I think we did that to, but we couldn't show Adler we were smiling!

Regardless, he stood up there with his hands crossed

& didn't sing one word!

Ahhhh he's something. 

 Just like his dad when he was his age. 



This is the quilt that Adler's class made.

They each made a square on the quilt.

Adler's is right above his head.

Then the boys had to play with this strange pool game

that is sure to cause many blood blisters!



It was a sweet night.

Our first recital of many to come!

Today.

Today has been quite the adventure.

The boys talked to each other until 11pm last night in their bunks,

which means they woke up pretty late this morning.

That would be okay, except Adler has swim lessons

in the morning.

So what other option do you have but to drive to

Don's Bakery

& get some donuts for breakfast!

Adler had his last day of Eel swim lessons

(until they start another session in a few weeks)

& passed with flying colors.

He even did the back float by himself

for a LONG time!

I can't wait to see what he will learn in Pike class.

But we will miss our favorite instructor....Doug!

Brock decided to fall out of the bunk bed on Saturday night

and I'm not surprised that Adler didn't follow.

They play, giggle, wrestle, & do anything they're not supposed

to while they lay in bed to try to sleep.

So he started to say his wrist hurt when I'd strap him in the carseat

 or swing his arm while walking. 

But he would only said ouuwww.

We didn't think much of it.

Today, 4 days later, he's still talked about it hurting.

So we x-rayed his arm.

Yes, it's broken in 3 places!

Time for a cast.

Here the boys are in the procedure room

getting ready for the big event to take place.

A Dr. & a P.A. getting Brockie fixed up at the clinic!

And thank goodness Luke works there because we

couldn't afford the damage this kid can cause himself!

He has not been too pleased with this 'tight' thing

on his arm.  He says it's heavy!

But he's enjoyed being able to write all over it.

His brother had to check it all out.

The clinic gave the boys free DQ coupons for being such

good patients.

So of course we had to stop there on the way home.

That was a whole nother mess to clean up at home

despite my best napkin efforts!

And I got to put my 'I love you's' on his cast too!

(p.s. when I got a cast when I was little I never let anyone write on it!?)

Day-to-day.

It's the holiday season

which means there is a lot to do

around the community for Christmas festivities.

To start the season right....Brock completely moved into Adler's room.

His clothes are in the closet, his blankets are on the bed,

& his toys are on the shelf.

He loves being a 'big boy' like his brother.

And now we have room for the baby!

I always remembered the Schwan's Holiday Ice Cream Tin

that grandma Pearl always had during the holiday's.

So needless to say, when the Schwan's man stopped by

I ordered the last tin in his truck.

It is spendy & it is worth every bite

thinking of grandma!

(plus Luke spoils me and adds snickers or butterfinger chunks

to my ice cream!)

Brock is now potty trained....but just like his brother

when he was learning, the #2 part of the whole thing

can be a little tricky.

His brother sure helps out with his encouragement

& bringing in books & toys

to keep him sitting on the potty until the job is done! 

And if Adler is going to the bathroom

his brother is right behind giving the same support! haha

Playing around the house

with NO clothes on.

Like everyday!

I barely get clothes on them to go to the Y in the morning

& as soon as we get home

the clothes are OFF.

Ohhh well.

(So if you ever come over, you'll find them looking like this!)

The boys put the nativity scene together this year.

We got to talk about Christmas story & every one involved.

How Mary rode the donkey,

the wise men came on the camel,

the shepards & their sheep,

ohhhh they loved the story

& what a good story it is! 

We spent the morning at the Y decorating cookies,

making crafts, watching movies, & visiting with Santa!

Santa was actually Doug, Adler's swim instructor

who does resemble Santa.  It was so funny.

Adler had no clue!

On another night Luke and I took the boys to the library

& we decorated gingerbread houses.

By the time we got home there was NO candy left on their homes!

O Christmas Tree.

We had a great time visiting family

for Thanksgiving.

We spent Thanksgiving at the Herdina's

& spent the night at the Johnson's

to wake up for a day of black friday shopping

& a visit to Turck's Trees.

These two are quite the pair when they get together.

Adler just LOVES his cousin Sam.

Every year we go to Turck's Trees

to find mom & dad the perfect 'ugly tree'.

Mom usually gets a combination of a couple trees

that have lost half their needles, are lopsided

or anything of the sort.

Joan keeps one special just for mom.

But this year was different.

We decided to drive through the fields & look at all the trees.

Then I fell in LOVE!

This beauty of a balsam was calling my name

& it was the perfect size for our living room.

(I love tall & skinny & balsam or fraiser).

So none other than daddy got the honors to saw down our tree.

The boys were so amazed watching him

actually cut down a tree.

I think it's something we might have to do every year!

Then mom decided she would walk around and see if there was a tree

she liked. 

WELL.....dad showed up right about that time & picked out a tree

& told mom that's 'the one'. 

Mom didn't argue (but thought there was better out there)

& she had a helper cut her tree down.

Luke told her to get her butt down there

if she wanted the tree!!! haha

Then the boys got to watch

 the whole shaking, baling, & strapping to the top of the car experience.

Grandpa Wayne bringing the boys to find goodies inside.

On Saturday when we left for home

we got a visit from these sweet girls.

And they came just in time to help decorate!

Our Christmas Tree is SO pretty.

I tell Luke every night that this is the BEST

tree we've ever had. 

I love, love, love Christmas!

#3.

Sometime early October Luke came hom for lunch

with a little surprise waiting for him!

YES, baby #3 should be arriving sometime early June.

We're VERY excited

& Adler just told me last night how he's going to help

change poop diapers!

And I'm going to remember that!

p.s. the boys both think this baby is a boy....and I'm sure they're right.

Luke & I have always said we'll end up with 4 boys!!! haha 

Time will tell I guess!

(You could keep your fingers crossed though!)