Putting it to bed.

I'm feeling pretty pleased with our sleep situation right now.

We have established a bedtime routine.
*Dinner between 4:30 and 5:00
*Play until 6:00
*Pajamas and bottles and story time at 6:00
*Rainbow Connection at 6:55
*In bed, doors closed at 7:00

Sometimes you can hear them still awake in there- but they aren't crying. Sometimes Lincoln knocks on the door to let us know he's still up (he does this at nap time too) but no crying and they are usually asleep within 15 minutes. Some days Wyatt wakes up around 3:00 but he can usually settle himself back down. Surprisingly Lincoln sleeps through it.

We have established two simultaneous naps every day at 9:00 and 1:00.

Soooooooo

This is it.

No more sleep talk.

I'm sure there will be bad days here and there but right now- this is what we've been waiting for.

Thanks to everyone who encouraged us to push through the rough spots. We wouldn't be sleeping through the night without all of your expertise!

Hey Santa

We went to visit Santa and to see the 8th floor at Macy's last weekend. We were very brave and didn't cry at all when we gave Santa our demands, er christmas lists.


This is how the Christmas lists get to Santa. We think airplanes would be more efficient but then again we are more partial to airplanes because of Grandpa C.



Ooh a winter wonderland.

Dear Santa:

I have been much better behaved than Lincoln all year and should be rewarded accordingly. Warmest Regards,

Wyatt

ps My brother makes fun of you constantly. Just thought you should know before you deliver any presents to our house. If you have already made his presents I would be fine with you giving them to me to teach him a lesson.

Dear Santa:

My brother Wyatt is turning the North Pole into a house of lies. I have been the good one all year and should get more presents. I will also make every effort to avoid eating the cookies left out for you this year (I do enjoy them so).

Cordially,

Lincoln

ps. Will I get more presents if I help you put people on the naughty list. Someone comes to mind and he looks just like me.

5 Minutes of Fun.

Today we took the boys out to play in the snow (what's left of it anyway) and maybe take a ride in their new sled.

They weren't impressed.

Lincoln isn't too fond of the lovely snowsuits and layers of clothes he had to adorn. And Wyatt? Well, after taking a face plant off the sled he isn't too fond of the snow. And rightly so.

It took about 45 minutes to get everyone bundled up and out the door. After 5 minutes everyone was ready to come back inside.


Lincoln says: I don't like it.


Wyatt says: What's his problem? This is great!


Wyatt is wondering A) why his Dad dumped him off the sled and B) why we don't live somewhere warm.


Back in the Sled of Doom.


Lincoln, noticing how warm his bum is compared to his cheeks reconsiders his stance on the snowsuit.


Lincoln asks Dad to play it safe and "Push don't pull!". Lincoln avoids a snow mask.


Wyatt contemplates the whereabouts of his thumbs.

Christmas Traditions!

I've seen a lot of discussions and blog posts about Christmas Traditions in the past few weeks and I thought I'd share a few of ours- we seem to have a lot!

From my side:

8th Floor Auditorium at Dayton's (now Macy's): I loved this growing up and have gone every year that I could (unless I wasn't in the state). We took the boys last year when they were just a month old. They didn't get much out of it but we sure enjoyed it. After we journey through the display we head down to the section they have the Christmas tree ornaments in and buy a bunch for next years tree. I love collecting ornaments and you get a parking validation if you spend $20 so it's a win-win for me. A bag of Sponge Candy for the road is also a must.

Christmas Cookies: Growing up my Mom always baked an obscene number of Christmas cookies. I remember poring over her cooking magazines for the perfect "new" cookie to select for the year. Now I'm most happy making the oldies but goodies- Russian Tea Cakes, Melting Moments, Swedish Sugar Cookies (I consider this a Christmas cookie Mom!), Krumkake and English Toffee.

Christmas PJ's and Stockings: My Mom always makes sure we have new jammies to wear to bed Christmas night- she even gets the big boys (Mr. Wonderful, TJ and Sam) matching ones! In the morning we all get up and open our gifts from Santa. The Santa gifts are sometimes the most agonized over gifts- they have to be just right. After that we have a nice relaxing brunch complete with Mimosas and Bloody Mary's.

Most year we try and get to see The Christmas Carol at the Guthrie theatre. I think this year we are going to see the Jim Carrey movie instead.

From Mr. Wonderful's side:

Christmas Eve Tamales: this is traditional in San Antonio where they were stationed for awhile with the Air Force. We've done this for Christmas Eve since our very first Christmas together- it was quite a disaster me making Tamales on Christmas Eve. We've done it every year since and I now buy mine from La Loma- they are fantastic!

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation while decorating the tree (and on Christmas Eve, and on any other night between Thanksgiving and Christmas): It's a family favorite and now I can movie quote right along with the rest of them!

White House Christmas ornaments: Our first Christmas together my MIL gifted us an ornament from the White House. It is by far my favorite gift every year. I've come to know that box so well, I save it to open last and try really hard to not peek on the website to see which administration has been featured this year...I TRY anyways! This year it's another Grover Cleveland ornament- 2007 is also GC and it's my favorite one so far!

So, those are a few of our traditions, what are yours?

You've got mail!

Today we got some big packages from out East AND out West!

Mom is really rethinking the unpacking of all of he presents right now- many of them are already missing their tags (Thanks to Lincoln) and bows (Thanks to Lincoln) and she has a feeling we'll be pulling presents from all corners of the house on Christmas day since we've been busy "redistributing" them to better locations than their new home under the tree.


Sorry Aunt JuJu, the wrapping was exquisite as always, I just can't help myself...


It just never ends!


Dad showing off his amazing snooping skills. Mom still holds out hope we'll take after her and be patient and surprised on Christmas.


Stray gift tags.


We even played in the box for awhile. Until we started eating the packing peanuts. Mom said they aren't for eating...we disagree.

We haven't been outside yet in the snow, we both had really runny noses this morning so Mom decided to keep us in just in case we're coming down with something. It was pretty cold out there, not as cold as it's been in Montana, but pretty darn cold. Audrey's even been sleeping in her favorite cold weather spot- by the radiator in the kitchen. Cats are funny like that.

Ooops...gotta run, brother just found the tissue paper and is pulling it out of all the gift bags!