Ice Skating

When Jess and Calvin were here at Christmas time, Calvin really wanted to go ice skating. He played hockey growing up, so he wanted to show Tyler how to skate.

Tyler didn’t quite understand how everyone else was just skating around with no problem, when he couldn’t stay up.

We almost had a meltdown, but Daddy convinced him to keep trying.

(Warning: Grandparents may want to look away for these next two!!)

He ended up on Mike’s shoulders for most of the time.

They didn’t have any little skates to fit Kalen, but she still got to get out on the ice.

Everyone took turns giving her rides around the rink.

 

She loved it! Every time someone dropped her back off to me she was reaching to go back out again!

My dad even got out on the ice too!

Then at the end of our time Tyler got a little better and was skating from Mike to Calvin while holding on to the edge!

We had such a great time! Mike was reminiscing about all the hockey games he played with friends on the lake growing up.

I’m sure we will be doing this again when Tyler gets a little older!

Tyler’s 4th Birthday

This little boy turned 4 last week!

I guess I can’t call him a little boy anymore.

    

A couple months ago Tyler requested a “tool” party for his birthday. We decided to have the party at the indoor playground at church.

I have made a few collages from the party so I could get all the good pictures in.

Here are the decorations.

We went with a yellow/black color scheme, had brown paper goodie bags filled with tools, and DIRT cupcakes!! Tyler has been telling everyone about those cupcakes, he loved them! All I did was roll the tops in crushed Oreos after I frosted them. I used the Cricut to cut the signs and the cupcake picks.

Happy Birthday to You! Tyler loves it when everyone sings to him. 

And he got a lot of fun presents!

Everyone had so much fun playing and running around, and us Mom’s and Dad’s enjoyed talking. This is the first time that we didn’t have a party at home, but I think I liked it and Tyler did too.

And you know I can’t leave out Kalen. Her shirt says it all!

She got her fair share of cupcakes!! I just love that picture!!!

Thanks so much Jamie for getting that one, and many others including this next one! We love you buddy!!!

Christmas Day

Grandpa Bob, Grandma Angie, and Grandma Kloote (who drove up with Jess and Calvin) all came over for breakfast and to open presents.

Here is a collage of some of the pictures we took.

The kids really enjoyed opening all their gifts. Kalen especially loved all the dolls she got, and Tyler liked all his “boy toys!”

Then we settled in to play with our new toys and take a nap and then went to Dad’s later that day for Christmas dinner.

We had a wonderful time visiting with family. I think Christmas gets better as the kids get older! Tyler is learning more and more about the real reason of Christmas and we enjoy experiencing it through his eyes.

Stockings

When the kids woke up in the morning they had a couple surprises. First Aunt Jess and Uncle Calvin were here! They drove all night to make it by Christmas morning! And then they had a couple stockings filled with goodies.

One of the only things Tyler asked for was an umbrella and he was so excited when he found one in his stocking.

Then he found the sword.

Daddy found one in his stocking too.

Kalen found all things girlie in her stocking.

She loved getting her own lipstick!

Then I got busy cooking a breakfast casserole and monkey bread.

Christmas Eve

Even though it is way past Christmas, I am still going to try and recap in these next couple posts. I know at least the Grandparents want to see pictures!

We love our new tradition on Christmas Eve of going to the Vesper’s Service at church and delivering blessing baskets to the local service workers that have to work that evening.

Kalen had to put on her pink sparkle santa hat.

Too cute!

Tyler enjoyed sitting with his friends at church.

And Kalen with her daddy, don’t cha just love that smile?!

The kids enjoyed listening to Pastor Jackson read the Christmas story.

Then we delivered some goodies to a local HEMSI who had to work on Christmas Eve and then went home to open one gift each.

This picture says it all…

He said, “Oh, nice…I wanna open another one!” HA!

Kalen liked her jammies!

And Daddy liked his coffee.

Then we got a couple pictures by the tree.

And then headed off to bed!