Merry Christmas 2010!

Christmas 2010 was another great one. We started the celebrations at Jason's parents' house for the annual Swedish Christmas Eve dinner. The boys had a great time. We got home a little late, but the boys were great and went right to sleep in fear that Santa would miss our house if they weren't sleeping. This year the boys were VERY specific on their wish list. Aidan asked for Star Wars action figures and lego duplos. Carson asked for Lego Duplos animals and Toy Story.

The boys and Payton are excited to come down the stairs to see if Santa visited.

Carson is waiting patiently
The boys were given the go-ahead and raced downstairs in their matching Star Wars pajamas!

Santa brought the boys legos, just what they asked for. Aidan received Star Wars themed legos and Carson received Toy Story themed legos. Looks like Santa brought them just what they wanted!

Brotherly love! This was after Aidan opened the gift Carson picked out for him....Diary of a Wimpy Kid book. They both love those books and the movie.

Opening more presents.

Carson received Toy Story action figures and some small plush animals. He was playing with them as soon as Jason could get them out of the packaging!

Due to the winter storm that went through the area on Thursday and Friday, Jason's grandparents were snowed in, which means we couldn't get out there to them on Christmas Day as we usually do. So Jason and I hosted Christmas Day again this year. Due to snow and ice storms, we have hosted 3 years in a row. Instead of a turkey, we made a ham this year. It was delicious! We also had some mashed potatoes, stuffing (new crockpot recipe that was quite yummy!), green bean casserole, 2 kinds of cranberries and buns. For appetizers we had some snacks, including the picture below of the igloo cheeseball I made. I saw a picture of this online and thought it was too cute not to try. The hardest part was stuffing those tiny olives! I had some extra cream cheese so I made a snowman with a top hat, bowtie and shoes! I also made an apple pie, cherry pie, pumpkin pie and an oreo cream pie. Yummy!

Payton enjoying the craziness on her spot on the couch.

The craziness! Legos everywhere and movies on the tv.

Opening presents with Grandma Jeanne and Grandpa Scott, Aunt Kerstin, Uncle Kris and cousins.

Carson playing with Aidan's Star Wars toys

Carson's favorite toy? His new remote flying helicopter. Mommy's least favorite!

Aidan has really gotten into Star Wars this past year. He received the DVD's from Santa, so I'm sure those will be on often! Jason loved Star Wars when he was a kid and his parents still had his Millenium Falcon ship. Grandpa Scott cleaned it up and gave it to Aidan this year. He also received several action figures. His goal is to collect all of them.

Aidan also received a new toy chest this year. Perfect for all of the new toys!

It was another great year! We are planning on having another Christmas out at the Farm Monday, so hopefully the roads stay clear.

All Aidan wants for Christmas is his front tooth!

Aidan lost another tooth on December 16th (it fell out at school). One of his top teeth came out and now there is a huge hole in his mouth! His other top tooth is already loose too. He is a picture of the proud, toothless grin! Since Aidan lost his tooth at school, they gave him a treasure chest to keep the tooth in until he got home.

Fred the Elf

This year we were visited by Fred the Elf on the Shelf. (The boys named him on his first night) He visits after Thanksgiving and observes the boys' behavior. He reports back to Santa each night and comes back into the house in the morning in a new place. It is a game each morning to see who can find him first. But, he doesn't come back to the house until 7AM, so the boys had to stay in bed until then and couldn't look for him before then. When the Elf hears Santa's bells, he goes back to the North Pole. He will return next Holiday season.
Here are some pictures of the Elf's hiding spots throughout the holiday season. He started out in the Christmas Tree.

We found him one morning on the kitchen lights.
He spent some time on the mantle on the Christmas pictures.

He was even on the shelf in the bathroom one day!

He was on top of pictures on the walls

On his final day in our home this year, he was back in the Christmas tree (probably to make sure Santa doesn't forget him tonight!)

The Elf was a good visitor this year to keep an eye on the boys and was a reminder that they need to behave and follow the rules. Merry Christmas!

Carson's 4 year checkup

Carson had his 4 year checkup this morning and is growing tall! He measured 41 inches tall and 40 pounds! (This puts him in the 75th percentile for his age)
He has grown a lot in the last year. He also had to get 4 shots this time around and was not too happy about it. He was reading a book and was distracted when the nurse started but once that first shot when in, he was mad! I am writing this about an hour after the appointment was over and he is still mad about it. His bottom lip is out and everything! So we are relaxing on the couch and snuggling, making the owies go away.

The first snowfall of 2010

We had our first big snowfall of the year on Saturday, December 4th. We got about 6 inches once it was all said and done. So even though we had some coughs and runny noses, we bundled up and played in the snow.

Carson all bundled up and ready to roll.

Aidan is ready for the cold.
Carson thought he would taste the snow. I guess no harm was done since it wasn't yellow!

Carson went right out and made a snow angel. Just last year, he wouldn't go into the main part of the yard when it snowed and now he is diving in!

Carson had snow everywhere on him!

Aidan took a break from shoveling the walk to throw a snowball at Jason.

I loved the smiles on the boys faces. They had so much fun!

Jason decided to fire back in the snowball fight.....with the snow blower. Personally, I thought that was cheating but the boys thought it was pretty funny.

Aidan trying to do a sneak attack

It was a fun day but too cold to stay out too long. I guess winter has officially arrived! Hurry Spring!

Fall 2010

Since I have been neglecting my blog, I am going to sum up all of our Fall activities into one post.

This is how our neighbors wished Jason a Happy 34th birthday at the end of August. Yes, this is our roof! We tricked Jason with candles that wouldn't blow out. Aidan still talks about it!

We went to see the Wiggles in September. Carson loves the Wiggles and Aidan loved them when he was younger. We all enjoyed the show as they were very entertaining.

Carson, my cool dude, walking the plank on the pirate ship at Edwards Apple Orchard.

My little Turkey at the Apple Orchard My other Turkey

The boys at the Apple Orchard

Aidan played flag football this year and loved it! He says he wants to play tackle next year but I don't know if Mom is ready for it!

Carson's edible haunted house.

The great grandkids, grandkids and Grandpa Butch out at the Farm. We celebrated Grandpa's 86th birthday and Brianna's 16th that day

Great Grandma and Aidan

Carson measuring up at the Pumpkin Patch

Aidan is getting so tall.

My crazy boys at the Pumpkin Patch

Jason and the boys at the pumpkin patch

The pumpkin patch had a porcupine this year.

Aidan rode a llama at the Pumpkin Patch

Carson rode a pony in his Woody the Cowboy shirt at the Pumpkin Patch.

Aidan doing the pumpkin launch

Jason helped Carson do the pumpkin launch.

Jason and the boys launching a pumpkin

Aidan found a friend at the pumpkin patch

Carson is ready for the Bears game.

Halloween 2010. Aidan was Darth Vader and Carson was Woody the Cowboy from Toy Story

Carson is a pretty slick dresser. Here is a picture of him with his favorite suit jacket on. And if you look closely, yes, he does have the Woody shirt on again. He loves that shirt!

It was a busy Fall. Jason has been busy this school year, Aidan has been learning a lot at First Grade. Carson started preschool 2 days a week and is loving it. They went on a field trip last week and Carson is still talking about it. Hard to believe Fall is nearly gone and snow is on the ground already. Hopefully winter will pass quickly and the warm Spring season will be here before we know it!