Christmas 2008

We hope that everyone had a wonderful holiday. We had a great time hanging out with family and seeing friends. It is fun to experience Christmas through Zoey and Zander, but it is also exhausting. Zander was much more able to do the gift opening this year, but was still pretty oblivious to all the commotion. Zoey on the other hand, couldn't contain her excitement. . .at all. She was very excited to get gifts, give gifts, and open gifts (even if they weren't hers). But through it all, she was very thankful to everyone for their thoughtful gifts. Here are some pictures documenting our holiday season:

Zoey and I worked on an Gingerbread house on Christmas Eve. It was a fun sugar-filled activity. I am surprised that any of the candy actually made it onto the house!

Zoey at Nana and Poppa's house not so patiently waiting to open presents.

Zander was Mr. Clean--every time he ripped paper off his gifts, he handed it to Uncle Eric.

Zander in his new sled.

Zoey is ready to cook for everyone!

Zander doesn't really understand this gift yet, but he will soon grow into it.
Until then, it is fun to stand on boxes!

This was Tyler's genius idea. A little "Risky Business" anyone?

Please notice that while Nana is reading Zander a book,
he seems to be texting on my cell phone.

Last Christmas Zoey received an UglyDoll Dog--
it has one eye and pointy teeth.
She has come up with her own impression of the dog and
a picture doesn't quite do it justice, but this is pretty close.

Santa brought Zander the chair that we all think he needed.

Although Santa didn't bring Zoey her dollhouse, he did contact Grandma and Grandpa and see if they could take care of that wish instead. This is the house that Grandma and Grandpa built.

2008 Cookie Party and a visit from Santa!

It was the annual Christmas Cookie Party at Mary's today and the kids were so excited. They got to see Santa! As tradition goes, Zoey had no fear and walked right up to Santa's lap. She told Santa that she wanted a dollhouse for Christmas. I thought Zander was going to be a little more shy, but it turns out he was a big Santa hog. He walked right up to Santa, sat on his lap (never smiled) wouldn't get down until Santa needed to let other children sit on his lap. Then Zander kept going up to Santa and climbing in his lap again! Zoey did let Santa know that Zander wants his own chair for Christmas. Then Santa handed out gifts to all the kids. It was cute because Zoey got her gift and brought it right over to me to open it and I hear her say, "Ohhh. . .it's my dollhouse." Then she opens it and yells, "It's a Fancy Nancy book and the Monkey game. . .it's what I always wanted!" Whew! Zander enjoyed his Curious George book and stuffed monkey. Thank you Santa and Mary for a great party!

Brave Zander and his buddy Adam (trying to squirm away).

Christmas Program 2008

Last Sunday was Zoey's very first Christmas program. When we all woke up on Sunday, I thought that we might not make it--I was sick, Zander was sick, Zoey said she didn't feel well. So I told Zoey that we need to take it easy today, because it is your Christmas Program. Zoey told me that she would just do it next week! Fortunately, everyone was well enough to perform/watch the show. All the kids did a great job and now Zoey knows a little bit more about what a program is. Her favorite part was the cookie party following the program.

Here is Zoey all dressed up before we left.

Nana came out, despite the icey roads, to watch Zoey sing.
Thanks for coming, Nana! That meant a lot!

Video Coming Soon!

Happy Birthday Grandma Nyhlen!

For the life of us, the kids wouldn't cooperate a bit for a cute picture tonight. So unless you want a photo of Zoey's hand over the lens, you will need to accept our sincere hope that you had a wonderful birthday today!

We love you! See you soon!

Judy, Tyler, Zoey and Zander

This is not the dance we were referring to. . .Happy Birthday again Grandpa Livingston!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Happy Birthday Grandpa Livingston

Sorry that we don't have a picture or video at this very moment. But you do get what has become a rare post -- one authored by me (Tyler).


Zoey was very excited to hear it was your birthday. She said, "We need to go over there right now."

We're going to try and capture the elusive "Zander Dance" on video soon. We think he's tapped into your dance moves somehow.

Love you Dad. Happy Birthday.

Tyler
with Judy, Zoey, and Zander

Happy Birthday Grandpa Livingston!

Hope you had a lucky birthday, Grandpa Livingston! We promise to get some pictures up soon--we need to get a video of Zander doing some of his fancy dancing! But until we have that sought after video, this cute story from today will have to do. . .

We have a set of dinner games that Zoey likes to play every once in a while. Today she wanted a new one. So I read the directions to her. It was called "My Lucky Day." Directions: Go around the table and have each member of the family tell the best thing he/she did today.

So, not really thinking anything of it, Zoey gets out of her seat and says that she wants to go first. She walks and talks telling me that the best part of her day (at the time) was going to Sunday School, because they got to watch a video about the baby Jesus. Then she sits down and tells me it is my turn.

I start saying, "The best part of my day was. . ." Zoey interrupts me and says, "Mommy, your suppose to go around the table. That's the directions."

Thanksgiving Part 2

Thanksgiving was in Brooten today. Zoey was excited to see her cousin Kylie and the rest of the Nyhlen side of the family. We had a great meal and sometime to relax (as relaxing as watching over 3 kids under 3 can be. . .)

Here is a picture of the three troublemakers together.

Grandpa stole some tickles from Zoey. She didn't mind.

We realized that this is a first for Nicole and Zander to be in a picture together. I guess that means that Nicole and I always are the ones taking the pictures instead of being in them.

Cousin Kylie

Zander having a little ice cream before hitting the road and coming back home.

Zander keeping up with the girls. . .

Tah-Dah!

Happy Thanksgiving! We had a nice dinner at Nana and Poppa's house. It wasn't quite the same without Tammy and Eric there. Tammy was sick with a nasty cough. We all hope that you are feeling better!



Today we did some decorating around the house for Christmas. Here is a picture of me realizing that all the ornaments are going to need to be placed at the top of the tree this year. We already had one ornament causality.


Here is the Countdown to Christmas extravaganza display! There are 24 gift bags sitting on top of the piano. Each one has some treats and activities in it to keep little kids occupied until Christmas is here. I had a lot of fun making the project, I hope that Zoey and Zander enjoy it.

And last but not least, a little "Tah-Dah" moment from the Zan Man!

Updates

Tah-Dah! Here is Zoey with some pigtails in her hair--it is growing and becoming easier to do things with. That doesn't mean that it happens everyday. That's why I need to take pictures of her when we do her hair!

In other news. . .our garage door broke! It was in poor shape to begin with, so I am actually surprised that it lasted as long as it did. The funny thing was that it broke in the middle of closing and so this was the way our house was for two days. . .

Fortunately, this is what it looks like with a new door. 110% improvement! Now I just have to figure out what color to paint the house so that the door doesn't look so bright!


I have said this to many people already, but I need to put it in writing. If I could freeze time and have the kids stay at one age forever, it would be 15 months. Zander is so much fun lately. He is learning new words and baby signs every day. He has a new found LOVE of books, which of course I adore! He is on such a good schedule that the few times he is upset or cranky, we know why. Here is a video of him doing some of his animal impressions and saying hi to a few of his favorite people. (Bob is Mary's husband at daycare. . .apparently when ever Bob comes downstairs with the kids, Zander just walks around the room saying, "Hi Bob. Hi Bob. Hi Bob."

Happy Birthday Grandpa!

Here are a couple of birthday messages from 2 of your biggest fans!

Happy Halloween!

We hope that everyone had a safe and happy Halloween! Ours went pretty smoothly. It was such a nice evening that we decided to forgo the mall trick-or-treating and stick to the neighbor hood this year. Zander went out to the nearest 4 houses and Zoey made it all the way down the block and over one street! As you can see by the pictures, Zoey was a princess this year--Princess Aurora, and Zander was a duck. It was pretty cute--Zander learned how to say, "Quack! Quack!" In fact Zander's language has exploded in the past week or so. He can sign: book, quiet, apple, light, bath, more. He can say: Dada, Mama, thank you, all done, nana, papa, banana, night-night, hi. (I am sure there is more. . .I will continue to add to the list.)

Here are the pictures of our Halloween events:

Zoey was so excited about trick-or-treating that she never really did stay still long enough to take a good picture of her in her costume.

Zoey made Halloween finger-puppets for her friends at daycare.

Here is our attempt at pumpkin carving this year. . .maybe next year!

Last weekend there was a Halloween party at our church. The kids had a great time.

Zander had a good time. Here he is amazing everyone with his ability to bowl. . .er. . just knock the pins down by walking into them.

Zoey had fun walking around to all the different games and events. There was scary stories, cake walk, fishing, pop-toss, and other fun carnival type games.

And of course the big inflatable jumping thing. . .

The Pumpkin Patch

Auntie Tammy went with us today to the Pumpkin Patch today. It was a little windy, but a pretty nice fall day. Here are the pictures of our adventure. . .

Tammy carries Zoey out of the pumpkin patch. . .

Zander and I found his pumpkin first so he hung out on the tractor for a bit.

Zoey is just a little over 3 ft. tall this year. . .according to the scarecrow.

Here is last year's picture--she has grown quite a bit!
The apple donuts were a big hit with all of us!

Ta-Dah! Zoey made it to the top of Straw Mountain.

Tammy and the kids