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 :)

1 month

Time is flying by!  Miss Lydia is one (and a half) months old already!  She has been the most mellow, laid-back, quiet, go-with-the-flow, sweetest little baby in the world.  She's been a great eater and sleeper.  What more could you ask for?!  I love this girl :)