Alayna - 23 mos

Crazy that just one short month from today - Alayna will be TWO YEARS old! Can't believe it - the time goes so fast. Alayna's a spunky little girl! She's full of life and we love her! She definately has a sassy side to her, but two minutes later makes you laugh by her big fake belly laughs and funny singing. Everytime we ride in car she asks for Veggie Tales or Little People before she's even buckled in her carseat. She likes to get her hair combed in the morning and picks piggies or ponies...often asking for "hairdryer mommy".

Other "things to know about Alayna at 23 mos":

- size 4 diapers

- size 18-24 mo clothes

- when shown big girl undies and asked if she wanted to wear them - quickly replied "no!" and ran away...

- loves bathtime

- playing in the snow - she usually likes it, but likes to do the summer outside things - playing with Mater and the activity house. Just this week, she finally decided she enjoys being pulled on the sled.

- common saying "myself Mommy" - in the last week has become very independant

- VERY attached to her nukie for bedtime and nap

- likes playing with her babies, pushing strollers, carrying bags

- LOVES sillybands and other bracelets

- enjoys playdough, coloring and drawing with pencils

- LOVES to bye-o-bye in the chair before bed (or she's caught on the stahling - but I know she won't want it forever - so I keep doing it :) )

Happy Birthday Daddy

Daddy celebrated his 32nd birthday on January 14! Happy Birthday Daddy! We had fun celebrating with you!

We made Daddy a cake

Grant thought he would like a Curious George cake, just like he had :)

Candle blowing assistants

Great Grandpa and Daddy celebrate their birthday together every year because they share the SAME birthday! Pretty cool huh?

Snow Day

This "snow day" is from before the BIG BLIZZARD last week. We really enjoy playing in the snow - well most of the time. Sometimes Alayna's not such a huge fan. At least she finally decided she enjoys the sled!

We were trying to get all the snow off the driveway before it got soooo cold

Well....here she's not having such a great time I guess

Sometimes Alayna just likes to do the "normal" outside things like playing with Mater and her summer toys - that makes her happier than the sled :)

This truck can haul LOTS of snow :)

Totally unrelated to our snow pictures, but at the end of a hard day of working in the snow...some of us need a little beauty time!

New Years in the North

We spent the week between Christmas and New Years "up north" with Brian's family. It was not such a great week for snowmobiling! They rode one day and the following it rained - so no more riding! :(

Grant got to go on his first real ride for a snack (water and chips)
He was pretty excited!

The "crew" who went for a snack

Daddy and Grant all ready to go

So...no snowmobiling...we went to the Y to swim! WHOO...HOO...

AND on New Years Eve day we went bowling...Grant got to have root beer - for the first time!

Owen (7), Macey (5.5), Alayna (22 mos), Grant (3), Nolan (3.5)

Christmas

This year we woke up at Grandpa and Grandma Kok's house on Christmas Eve morning and headed back home.

First - Daddy and I shaved
Then we got in the car for the drive

Here's all the stockings

SANTA came while we were gone...lucky we left out the milk & cookies (and carrots for Rudolph). We got to open our gifts when we got back. Some were from Santa and others from Mommy and Daddy. I got this really cool barn. Great Grandpa Meidam made it for Papa, Papa gave it to Daddy and Daddy gave it to me! How lucky am I?

And I got this really cool kitchen. Check it out - Care Bear theme. This kitchen used to be Mommy's. Grandpa Kok made it for her when she was a little girl. It has had many hours of play!

Here's what we got from Santa - Alphi (for Grant) and dolls with snap clothes (Alayna)

She's always in our hearts and minds

Alayna standing RIGHT NEXT to the ornament she got - a purse - fitting for her for the year 2010 :)

Grant putting his Curious George ornament on the tree

A present for Daddy and Grant. A shirt for Grant that says "I wanna drive the ZAMBONI!"

Alayna playing with her kitchen

AND the best present of all..........this great box :)

It was a lot of fun spending Christmas Eve at home as a family this year. We opened gifts, had lunch, the kids napped and when we got up we headed to church for Christmas Eve service. Brian and I were on for nursery duty and after that we headed home for a little Christmas movie time. Grant and Alayna were at such fun ages for opening gifts this year. Getting excited when it was their turn, etc. Fun for me :)

Remembering the "Reason for the Season" - We have so many things to thank God for this year. Not only at Christmas, but this is a pretty special time to remember. Happy Birthday Jesus.

Christmas with our Grandparents

We had so much fun this Christmas! We sang Happy Birthday to Jesus (and that is still what I (Alayna) sing when singing it just for fun!) and celebrated his birthday with lots of Christmas parties. We saw all of our grandparents and aunts, uncles & cousins and lots of great grandparents and extended family. It was so much fun! We received a lot of really nice things! THANKS EVERYONE!!!
OH - and Mommy got a new camera right before Christmas. It was the camera they were supposed to get last year for Christmas and really procrastinated on! YIKES! So - she did a lot of testing over Christmas. Now that she finally figured out how to make the files smaller - we can start posting again :)

Tinker Toys! (Mommy says they used to be wooden - those must be the good 'ole days!)

Uncle Cory
Hmmm...this ribbon from my present would look really nice on here somewhere :)

At Grandma and Grandpa Kok's house

Bedtime stories

We're so excited....

Aunt Jayme

Thank you Papa

Jammin'

Just takin' after Papa

Grandma & Papa Meidam's

WOW - it's been a while...

So - we got a new camera for Christmas and I've been having a hard time getting pics loaded b/c the size of the files are huge! SO...I've finally received some coaching on how to make the files smaller - so I can get this blog updated! Stay tuned :)