19 Days and a promised video

First the video.  Jingle Bells.  A la Mom and Tater.  As funny as this is... think how much more funny it would be to have Aiden WATCH this video.  I have to figure out a way to record him watching this.  SO stinking cute.

I totally cheated tonight.  First of all, Mondays are really hard for me to do anything with Mister other than sit exhaustedly on the couch and read stories.  BUT!  'Tis the Christmas Season, so that would not do.

We wanted to go to the Festival of Trees this year, but it was such a drive and Mister probably would not have enjoyed it much.  So, what to do... what to do...   We kinda did our own Festival of Trees.  We went to Tai Pan Trading and saw all the decorated trees there.  Honestly, I think Mister enjoyed it more because we could touch things, pretend like we might buy them, then put them back.

For anyone with a toddler, try it!  It is great fun.  And there were not BILLIONS of people there.

20 day and counting

We stayed in and didn't do much of anything last night, but we did read stories.  Lots of Christmas stories.

We read these books.  Some of them were books that were read to me as a child, but they are all wonderful, tender books.

Try some of these.  They will definitely bring the Spirit of Christmas to your home...

21 Days

On Saturday, Aiden arguably had the best 30 minutes of his life to this point.  Newgate Mall has this totally wicked train that goes around and around the mall.  We HAD to try it.  (Thanks, Steph, for telling me about it.  It was truly the best!!!)

You see, Aiden has this thing for trains.  He saw the train and went CRAZY.  Truly crazy.  We were lucky enough to get to the train while the conductor was on break, so we could spend about 15 minutes climbing around it and loving on it.  I think there was even a kiss placed at one point...

So just sit back and enjoy the pure bliss...

22 Days - and internetless

Our weekend was great.  And I took pictures.  Unfortunately for me, the person or people supplying my unsecured internet have decided to wise up and secure their connection, or didn't pay their internet bill.  Either way, I was without internet this weekend which was sad.  I couldn't update this blog and we were severely limited on which Thomas movies we could watch.  (I love you, Netflix...)

So, on to the Christmas Fun.  Friday night was AWESOME. Toddler + Gingerbread House = hysterical laughter and sugar overload.

Bad Mom of the Year award... frosting right from the tube.  Ah, well, he loved it.

Started off innocently enough.

It was about this point that Aiden realized that these things he was placing so nicely on the roof were edible. 

And he began to eat the shingles off the roof.  

He tried to eat more icing by himself.  Ended up looking like Don Quixote

Finished product...Toddlerized.

Only about a third of the candy actually made it onto the Gingerbread House, but we knew that going in.

23 Days before Christmas

Lest you think we forgot an activity last night... wrong.  We had the best time.  We had pizza for dinner, then watched the new movie Thomas the Tank Engine and the Merry Winter Wish.  Riveting.

Aiden has learned some new Christmas-related tricks (I know he is not a dog, but go with me here...).  We sing Jingle Bells and he rocks the "Hey!!" part really well.  Stay tuned for a video about it.  

He also knows that Santa says HO HO HO and he can almost get all of the "La" parts to Deck the Halls.  And for good measure he always ends the verse with a giant "Hey!" leftover from Jingle Bells.  

Yesterday I was informed that Uncle Chris has indeed purchased my little man cowboy boots from IFA.   Sadly, we will not see Uncle Chris on Christmas Day due to his working schedule in Saint George, but the boots will quite possibly be the coolest thing ever that morning.  (along with the pleather bomber jacket that he also got for Aiden).  Along with several other toys which may or may not include a Mickey Mouse something...

So what will today bring?  Stay tuned.

24 Days until Christmas

24 Days 'til Christmas!!

The Countdown has begun!

We took Uncle Chris to the Layton City lights last night.  He saw his Christmas present.  Sad face.  But he liked it.  Happy face.  

It is very hard to see Aiden in these pictures on account that he is bundled up with warm clothes, winter coat,  Fargo hat, mittens, and 2 (count em' - 2!) blankets.  

He had fun, though.  This is year two for us which makes it... a tradition!!!

He is actually saying CHEESE in this picture.  Awesome.

Ok, so we call it the Fargo hat because, in case you can't see, the hat Aiden is wearing looks like this:

Best purchase ever.

Sad, but true

Aunt Kari made the comment that Aiden no longer looks like a baby - he looks like a kid.  Even older than a toddler.  It is sad, but very true.  Mister is a little man now.  Independent, stubborn, decisive, and getting older.  Does every Mom go through this hard transition kicking and screaming like I do?

I love my little man and this stage. But it reminds me that one day he will be 16 and driving (and dating - GASP), then will be 18 and graduating from high school, then 19 and a missionary.  Then married.  Then children.

And it gets overwhelmingly lonely to think of him somewhere else besides right in my arms.  All things in their season, I suppose.  But for the moment, I will really enjoy him the way he is.