Christmas Vacation – Mason City

We headed for Iowa a day earlier than planned, so we could beat the snow coming in. We didn’t make it back to Iowa last year because of the weather, so we were not going to miss it again!!! We got to Rick’s parents on the 23rd and the kids traveled great!!!! We stopped in Des Moines to eat and to let Noah run around for a little bit. I think Faith was just as excited to get out of her car seat because she crawled all over the place when we stopped! We opened presents that same night. Here are the presents the kids received:

Here is also what Faith accomplished while we were in Iowa. Rick seen her climb a couple of stairs while we were still at home, but when we were at his parents, she climbed all the way to the top! Once she got to the top, she would pull herself up at the windows and look outside. I think this is the favorite place in the house for the kids. Noah loves looking out the window, watching the cars go by.

On Christmas Day we played outside for a little while in the snow. Okay, so it was mainly Rick and Noah outside! They went for a sled ride down the sidewalk and played in the piles. We also got to meet up with Renae and her family as they were headed to her in-laws for Christmas. We met up at a hotel and the kids could run around. I think Noah liked playing with his cousins because all he talked about after leaving them, was Kahle and Bodee. We couldn’t see them soon enough again!

The 26th, we spent just relaxing. Rick was in bed most of the day, but not really relaxing. He had the flu, so he was pretty miserable. He was in Noah’s bed, so at nap time, Noah didn’t have his bed to go to. I tried to tell him that he could sleep in my bed, but he decided that he was going to sleep on the floor outside his room. I guess whatever works!!

It’s Santa!

Well, Noah seems pretty excited to see Santa and tell him what he wants for Christmas. During breakfast this morning, he was going thru all the trains that he wanted…Hiro, Duncan, Salty, Cranky and Edward. I’m pretty sure Santa is only bringing him the first two…hope Noah is okay with that!!!! He keeps adding to his list, how can I keep up!?! He also wants a red car, blue car, green car, yellow car, a police car, a fire truck, an ambulance, and a school bus. So he was all prepared to talk to Santa…

So off we went to Bass Pro Shop to talk with Santa – they actually give you a picture for free…and you can take your own! This is the picture that I took of Noah…he was busy telling Santa where the train is at. I didn’t get a picture of Faith…she was too busy crying. The picture we got from Bass Pro Shop, is a pretty good one of her crying!

We spent a lot of time by the train track and we also wrote a letter to Santa, colored a picture and had a fresh warm chocolate chip cookie (I think Faith had more than anyone!). Here’s a few more pictures from this morning.

Getting Ready for Christmas

Well, we are getting in the Christmas Spirit at the Nielsen household. I have not baked as much as I normally do…maybe we’ll do some more this week. I better make some Peanut Butter Balls for Rick so he doesn’t dis-own me! Noah and I did make some Creme deMinthe Bars and a Birthday Cake for Jesus this last week. Noah wants to stir and help mix and pour and lick the beaters!!! He is SO my kid!!!

Noah also thought Faith needed something to snack on too. I had the container of puffs sitting on the table and Noah dumped about the whole thing on her tray. Not sure how many she ate before I noticed, but she was shoving them in by the fistful!

Noah was pretty excited to eat the Birthday Cake we made for Jesus. He also licked the beaters…and the bowl when we made this. He tried to go straight for the batter in the pan, but I thought that was maybe a little too much!!

Rick thought Faith NEEDED a Christmas dress, so here it is. I think Noah is even wondering what is going on with her!!! He kept looking at her shoes, like “These are not her tennis shoes…what are these things?” Actually, I think I wore these shoes when I was little. They were in the closet with some other things my Mom pulled out of her cedar chest. They fit Faith and I didn’t have to go shopping, so it was good!!!

First Snow

Faith has officially been in her first snow. We woke up yesterday morning to the white stuff covering the ground. Okay, so it’s nothing like you guys got up north…ours was just barely covering the grass. You could actually still see some grass sticking out, but we had a little “drift” in our front walkway and had to take a picture. I just told Rick to grab Faith and we’ll quick snap a picture and come back in. So that’s why she doesn’t have a coat on…I know, I know, I can about hear everyone yelling already!! It was actually a little colder out than I first thought, so maybe I should have put one on her!

She’s Standing

Well, Faith is officially pulling herself up to stand…using about anything she can! She’s been trying to pull herself up for a little while now, but she mastered it last week in her crib. I went to go get her from her morning nap and there she was, pulling herself up on her knees. I watched a little longer and she pulled her knees in and then stood up. It was probably a good thing I was standing there because the crib was still at the highest position and she looked like she could have fallen right out. I decided to forgo trying to get a picture and risking that she might fall out of her crib…I know, I know, I’m such a good mom!!!

So ever since, she has been pulling herself up on everything. I’m not sure if Noah is too excited about her new accomplishment because she can now pull herself up and stand at the toy table…which is where some of Noah’s trains and cars are usually at. If he doesn’t want her to play with his toys, he’ll get her basket of toys and dump it at her feet and try to push her down so she plays with her toys. Speaking of which, sounds like I better go check on them…I’m hearing a lot of “No Faith, my trains”.