NoDak Christmas

Ok, here it goes.....

Last weekend, after we went to the Llama Llama play, we did our Krump family Christmas with just the four of us.  We upgraded to the Hot Seats for the Holidazzle parade this year.  Why didn't I really know about these before the final year of the Holidazzle?  You get to sit in a tent that's pumped with heat, hot cocoa, and apple cider!  They literally sell out for every night of the parade within a couple hours of when they go on sale back in November.  I was too slow that day, but thank goodness for my friend who ordered a few extras, we were able to get our hands on some :)  Henry got to sit down in the front row with all the other little kiddos.  He loved it!  Lydia snoozed in my arms, as it was about 100 degrees in there.

We opened up a few gifts that night as well.  Gotta love this age - he really would be just as excited to open a present whether there was a pencil in there or a million bucks!

Then we took off for Jamestown the next morning.

We had to make a couple stops to eat and get out of the car seat.  Lydia even got her turn at the wheel :)

Helper Elf made the trip to Grandma and Grandpa's, too!

Yep, it was a balmy -22 degrees when we went to Bismarck the next morning, and that was just the raw temperature.  It was brutal!

We made a couple stops in Bismarck - first up, seeing my cousin's daughter, Hadley, as well as my dad's brother and sister.  

For lunch, we had a Christmas pizza party at my grandma's nursing home.  Henry was as pumped as could be to play with his partner in crime, Auntie Jackie.  Those two sure do love to get into trouble :)  She definitely spoils these kiddos!   

"Don't worry, I won't drop her.  I've had 7 of these you know!" says my Grandma.  

four generations 

all smiles for that Papa 

And now - Christmas Eve.....

Papa had the fabulous idea of checking out the fire station in the morning.  Henry got to sit in all the trucks.....

.....and pose with the Fire Chief!

We had to take Henry to the best sledding hill in town - Hillcrest Golf Course.  We braved the wind (yes, it was below 0 wind chill) and took a few trips down the hill.  We were the only ones there, which totally surprised me!  Apparently, we were the only brave ones out that day!

We could only take 3 trips down the hill before needing to head inside The Bunker to warm up and drink some hot cocoa.

Then after 3 more trips, we had to head home - too cold!

Henry sure was spoiled this year with Christmas presents from Grandma and Grandpa - lots of trucks and construction equipment, Legos, puzzles, clothes, and much much more!

This is how our conversation went at about 3pm on Christmas Eve.....

Me to Phil: "You have the Santa presents in your suitcase, right?"

Phil: "No, I thought you did."

Me: "No, I thought you did."  

Oops!  Thank goodness Grandma had a few extra gifts and we were able to borrow one "from Santa!"

Henry put his reindeer food out on the snow and his cookies by the fireplace.  When I was tucking him in that night, this is what he said - "Ok, Mommy, this is the plan for tomorrow.  I will wake up and go straight downstairs, turn the light on, wait, is there only one light or are there two lights?  Then I will SEE WHAT SANTA BROUGHT ME!  Then I will put his plate in the dishwasher for him.  And if he didn't finish his cookies, I will throw them in them in the garbage."  Ok, then.  He really did go right to sleep.  We've been talking all week about how Santa doesn't come when you're awake, and you have to go to sleep right away :)  

We headed back to MN on Christmas day.  That way, we had a couple more days of family fun before Phil heads back to work!  

skating

 I signed Henry up for ice skating lessons this month at the Andover Community Center.  He's in a class with at least a dozen other little ones his age and it's the cutest thing to watch.  They make it really fun for the kiddos - drawing with markers on the ice, pushing around traffic cones when they're up on their skates, parachute games, and much more.

On Day 1, I'm pretty sure nobody was up on their skates for more than .5 seconds.

It's crazy the improvement they can make in just 3 weeks!  He'll be loving getting out on the ice with all the neighborhood boys this winter :)

Next month.....swimming lessons!

more Christmas fun

We sure do love the Gillespie's gingerbread cookies at Christmas time.  This year, we won't be seeing them until after Christmas, so Henry and I tried our luck at making them.  Henry was so into it, helping out every step of the way.  

Look at him, just admiring his hard work :)

While we were letting them cool, we decided to get outside to do some sledding - the first time this year, I believe.  

Lydia wasn't into it as much as Henry :(  Poor thing could barely open her eyes, as it was soooo bright out there.  

I'd have to say, I'm pretty impressed with the final product.  They're really good!  As you can see, no shortage of sprinkles here.   

This morning, we went to our first play - Llama Llama Holiday Drama, at the Stages Theatre Company in Hopkins.  We do love the Llama Llama books around here.  It was a really cute play, glad we went! 

Advent calendar

The Advent calendar has been a big hit around here this month.  It's sure kept our mornings busy, as it's the first thing Henry wants to do bright and early at 7am (after he finds Helper Elf, of course).  He's even getting a little picky - one morning after I read him what our activity was going to be that day, he said, "I don't like that idea; can we do yesterday's project again?" 

Here are just a few.....

pajama storytime/Christmas party at our local library with a special reading of "The Polar Express"

making gingerbread houses after church last Sunday

Santa faces

cutting, coloring, and glueing the body parts on the snowman

.....and many more!

Santaland

We made our annual trip to Macy's downtown to see Santa last week.  Henry has been so into Santa this year and was very pumped to see him! 

You can't see Santa without picking out huge sugar cookie, right?!  You can tell he's smiling at those "truck" cookies here.  I think he ended up with a huge mitten!

 

Henry told Santa he wanted "trucks, a digger, a marching band, and a ball."  A marching band??  No clue where that one came from.  When Santa asked what Lydia wanted, he replied with "a new dump truck" and a big grin!

Oh, how I do LOVE this picture :)

2 months

Baby girl is 2 months old already!  She is definitely just going with the flow around here.  Henry is so in love with her - plays on her playmat with her, has a chair right next to the changing table as he's handing me diapers and wipes, gives ample kisses and hugs throughout the day, asks "Is it tummy time yet, Mommy,"  picks out her jammies and gets mad if I try to pick out a different pair, says "It's ok Lydia, I'm right here," if she's crying.  She's still eating and sleeping well (a 9 hour stretch last night, yahoo), no complaints there at all.  She's a strong little bugger - rolled over for the first time at 8 weeks; we got the second one of the night on video :)  I thought it was a fluke, but she's done it 5 more times since then (I think I can stop counting now)!  She's smiling up a storm - gotta love those huge toothless grins, such a sweet little girl.  Loves chatting with her Dad every night when he gets home from work!  

She had her doctor's appointment today.  

Weight: 11 lbs, 5 oz (50th %ile)

Length: 22 3/4" (60th %ile)

Santa's helpers

let the Christmas festivities begin

We're in the thick of the Christmas activities around here!  I seem to love the month of December more every year as Henry is growing up and now that Lydia is here with us.  To see the genuine excitement on his face every morning when he gets to "put the cotton ball on Santa's beard" and check his Advent calendar for the "activity of the day" is just priceless.

Blaine held their annual Christmas party at City Hall this week.  Lydia stayed home with Oma, but still got all dressed up for the fun of it :)

My big snowman and my little candy cane :)

Santa was in the house and Henry is all about the big man this year.  Every time he's seen him, he's been very excited to talk to him and even sat on his lap at Home Depot last weekend.  He hasn't been set on one particular toy that he's been asking for (oh wait, he has asked for a pile of dirt - for his dump trucks, of course, a few times), so I think I've talked him into a Lego set!  

The evening was filled with projects, eating, games, music, and Santa!

Last Sunday night, Phil whipped us up some hot cocoa and we headed out to look at Christmas lights.  This year we went to St. Paul to see Holiday Lights In The Park at Phalen Park.  I wanted to listen to Christmas music, but Henry was requesting his usuals - Pearl Jam and Luke Bryan, instead.  This was my favorite display of the evening.

The Griswold house is in our development, not too far from our place, and so far I think we've already had to go see it about 4 times in the past week!  It's Henry's favorite.

Our Elf on the Shelf ("Helper Elf" is what Henry named him last year) arrived on December 1st.  Santa left it on the front step that morning.  Phil told Henry he heard somebody up on the roof that night and Henry's mouth just dropped wide open.  Let the excitement begin!  

I have to admit, I do love pulling this one on him - "Henry, remember, Helper Elf is watching you!"  If he's doing something naughty, Henry will duck down and hide so that he can't make eye contact with Helper Elf.  It's definitely been a "help" in the behavior department this week :) 

Happy Thanksgiving

We spent this Thanksgiving here at the Krumps.  Old Papa drove down, the Gillespies were here, and Katie was in town as well.  It was a very nice day full of good food, fellowship, family, and fun! 

Oma and Katie whipped up all the delicious Thanksgiving eats.  Check out these fancy place-cards :)   

Old Papa and Henry got their fill of car and hunting magazines.

So maybe they didn't like the camera flash too much, huh?  Oh, these two cuties were snuggled by all!

That Old Papa, what a guy!  He loves those babies and he even got down on the floor and played "farm" with Henry for quite a while.  

Such a cute pic :) 

Henry was kickin' it old school when he found this Nintendo Gameboy in Oma's game cupboard.  Phil was getting into it too!

And the cutest sight of the day - my little turkey butt.  I could gobble-gobble this thing up all day long :)