Christmas Break

Boston is back in school after a 2 week (and an extra day off on Jan. 6th because of the freezing cold temps!) break, and we sure do miss him being home all day!  We stayed very busy with all of our family Christmas gatherings, but we did manage to do some other fun things too!  Boston had two birthday parties to go to last week. His friend Jackson's party on the 2nd was at the Wellness Center, so they kids got to swim and play basketball for an afternoon, and his friend Brayden's party on the 4th was at Sky Zone!  Two very fun days for Boston!  One of the most exciting things for B was that he lost his 3rd tooth!  Front & center!  I call him toothless :)  Mom forgot to put his tooth in his tooth fairy pillow at bedtime, but Boston remembered!  Thank goodness the tooth fairy is as sneaky as she is.  She quietly tiptoed to his room while he was watching cartoons and snuck a few dollars in his pillow!  

And now on to Brigs:
On December 18th, I took the boys in for an eye exam.  Derek added them to our vision plan in 2013, so I wanted to get them in before the end of the year to use up our exam benefit, and it's a good thing I did. Boston's eye's checked out great, however Brigham's did not.  We were so shocked, and it honestly took me days to come to grips with the fact that I would have a child in glasses.  I know it sounds crazy because having a child in glasses is such a minor problem and I am so thankful it's an easy fix, but it just hurt a bit that it would be a noticeable imperfection for him.  He is very far sighted (so he cannot see things up close) and also has an astigmatism in one eye.  We were busy with Christmas, so it did take us a bit to do some shopping around for a pair of frames that we liked, but we did get a super cute pair picked out, and now Brigham wears them proudly!  He has done SO well with them.  He puts them on first thing in the morning, and if he needs a break from them, he will say 'I please take my glasses off, I need a break?'  He has never once just ripped them off and thrown them some where, so I am so thankful for that!  It's been a week now and (knock on wood!) they aren't broken!!

Yesterday I decided to start working really hard at potty training Brigs.  He has little to NO interest, but I feel like I need to get him going or he'll be wearing diapers to Kindergarten :)  It's hard to know if he's not getting it because he's just not ready, or if he's peeing in his diaper (and pooping in the shower!) because he can..and that's just his stubborn personality at it's finest!  I made a sticker chart that we hung in the bathroom, and he does get excited about getting to put on a Disney Planes sticker if he goes potty.  He's in a pull up today, and so far so good.  I'm not expecting a miracle to happen over night, but it sure would be nice to only buy diapers for one kid!

We recently got Netflix and Brigham loves to watch movies on the iPad now.  Mom & Dad are also loving it!  We are now on season 3 of Breaking Bad!  

 Boston working hard on writing Grandpa Ron's poem.

 Love this shirt! 'On Every Lady's Wish List'  :)

 Bath's are a lot more fun now that the boys got several new bath toys for Christmas!

 Boston's very own (pretend!) shaving kit!  He thought he was pretty cool stuff.

 Brigham trying out his new bath paints!

He's a rookie.  He now knows that men do NOT shave their arm pits!

 This is just so sweet.  He was so snuggled up & peaceful.

12/26:  I took Brigham to try on some frames at a different eye clinic.  The office we go for our exams just didn't have any kid frames to chose from.  We found a pair we like!  He's so darn handsome!

12/29:  Boston and I went to an early Sunday morning movie while daddy worked & Grandpa Ron & Grandma Lisa took care of the little boys!  We saw the movie Frozen and it was SO cute!!

12/30:  After a Ninja Turtle sword to the mouth (thanks to his brother!) he managed to lose another tooth after just a few days of wiggling!

 It's out!  And the new tooth is already coming down!

1/2:  First day with his glasses!  

 My boys.

We have done lots of rubber band bracelet making with Boston's new loom!  Who knew that there were so many different ways to make one!  You Tube is full of video's!  Boston also got the game Monopoly Junior for Christmas, so we play that just about every day.  It's one of my favorites, so I don't mind!

1/6:  Doesn't he look so cute in his glasses!

 1/7:  Boston loves to stand & hold Bronx!
He is only allowed to do this when I am right next to him!

 1/8:  Brigs has gotten into the habit of sleeping in until 8 or later!
Now, we just need to teach Bronx to do that and mom may actually be able to catch up on some much needed sleep!

 I told him last night at bed time that it was just a mommy, Brigham & Bronx day, and that he could play with his new playdoh when he woke up!  The playdoh was out by 8:10!  

 Brigs is so proud of his sticker chart!  I've been telling him over and over again this morning not to pee or poop in his pull up or it will make mommy sad.  

He said 'I not make my mommy sad, she my best friend!'   Melts. My. Heart!

Gerdes Christmas/New Years

On New Years Eve we hung out with some friends & all of our kids.  It was nice to get out of the house and do something fun with other couples, that didn't involve needing to find a babysitter!  The kids had a ton of fun playing together, and the adults even joined in for a game of hide and seek!  I had one of the winning hiding spots...behind the dining room curtains!  We didn't stay late enough to ring in the new year, but it was still a late night for the boys and I!

On New Years Day, we hosted the Gerdes Christmas at our house.  Everyone starting coming around 10:00, and brunch was served about 10:30.  It was delicious!  Fun to have a different type of meal each year!  There was a ton of food and a large variety of things to try,  After brunch, the kids opened gifts and we did an adult gift exchange game, then played Family Fued and Poor Mans Taboo and ended the night with cake for Adriel's 1st Birthday!  Before we knew it, it was 7PM!  The day flew by!  

We got group pictures out of the way first thing!  These are all the Gerdes grandkids, plus the Mesman grandkids that live in Sioux Falls!  So glad they can be a part of our family get togethers. 

Just the Gerdes grandchildren.  Last year at Christmas there were 5, this year we have 7!

Grandpa & Grandma and all the kids!

Grandpa Les is such a trooper!  He wrestled with all the kids.

The kids all sitting nicely, waiting to open up their gift for the cousin exchange.

Boston & Landon were anxious to see what Brigs got from the Eisenga's!

Boston opening his gift from Lindsey & Landon.

New books!  He has really picked up on reading in 1st grade!  It amazes me what a difference 4 months of school has made!

A new Captain America shirt!

Waiting to open gifts from Grandma & Grandpa!

New bath toys!  These were originally purchased for Bronx but Brigham saw them & talked about them for days..so we changed things up a bit!

So excited about another Ninja Turtle!  

Fish Face!  The last one to complete Boston's collection of all the TMNT guys!

Let's hope he loves to play Monopoly as much as his mom!  

Lacey & I played Monopoly Junior a lot as kids!

I quickly put together a poem for Uncle Jason.  Boston hand wrote it and then we framed it.  Jason (and Shana & Alliana too!) is SO good about attending Boston's sporting events, and we wanted him to know how much Boston appreciates that!  

Everyone checking out the gift!  Shana read it out loud for everyone and got choked up.  It was a pretty special gift!

The girls waiting for Family Fued, boys vs. girls to start!

Tim & I were up first!

Chels did a great job putting the Family Fued game together!  The girls won the game!!  

Grandma & Grandpa opening their gifts from all of us kids.

 A wireless printer & a new Willow Tree Angel for Glady's nativity set!

Alliana was so sweet sleeping on her mommy!

My sister in law thought it would be funny to post this picture on Facebook...

That is me doing a head stand.  I think they were all a bit shocked that I had a hidden talent... of standing on my head for a LONG time.  I even did some 'tricks' for them!  Shana, if you are reading this...pay backs are a $itc#.  :)

Glady took all the kids in the toy room for a craft.  They each put together a nativity scene with stickers and then they all song some Christmas songs for the parents.  So cute!

The kids walking out to show their parents their craft!