Fun and busy January

On a beautiful January day we took the kids to the elementary school to practice riding their new bikes.  Eric was also able to ride around on his new long board.

Eric thought it would be fun to teach the kids how to use the Wii.  We taught them how to do bowling and they love it!

Just a random picture of the kids tackling Daddy

The kids playing on the couch (can you spot Buddy?)

The kids decided to dress up in the pumpkin costume

(Below their pictures is a picture of them dressing up in the pumpkin costume for their first Halloweens)

(seeing these pictures makes me a little sad because time is flying by so fast and it seems like yesterday the kids were babies)

Now that Ashton is 3 he is looking so much like a kid.  He is growing like crazy (still in the 95th percentile for height and weight) and makes us laugh every day.

I took Ashton to get a big boy haircut.  He has so much hair and it was time to cut off what we call the mop on the top of his head.

While Ashton was at preschool Cate and I had a Mommy-Daughter morning.  We got a snack at Starbucks and then we came home and colored and read books.  It was so great to get to spend some time with my sweet little girl.

Grammy came down for a visit :)

We all watched the Broncos game together.  Even though they lost we had a great time watching the game as a family.

Aunt Pat came over to watch Ashton while I went to physical therapy.  I love the shirt that she wore!

The kids are still enjoying gymnastics.  They are both doing really well and I am so happy that they have an activity they can do together.

Cate is doing push ups on the bar.  Not quite sure what Ashton is trying to do.

Christmas

Our family had a pretty low key Christmas this year.  Since I had my hip surgery, my parents and brother were up in Steamboat, and my sister is in North Dakota we spent Christmas Eve with just us and the kids.  Then we went over to Frank and Cathy's to celebrate Christmas.  Aunt Pat joined us at the Schmidt's and we had a wonderful Christmas dinner.  Here are some pictures of our Christmas celebration:

For some reason the kids thought it would be fun to play Halloween on Christmas Eve.  They tried on a bunch of different costumes:

Cate as "pillow head" and Ashton as "mister pumpkin"

After playing dress up we had the kids open their Christmas Eve presents (a tradition that we have is that they open one present on Christmas Eve).  I made them each "movie watching" blankets to have for our movie nights.  

Then we put out cookies and egg nog for Santa and sugar cubes and carrots for the reindeer

Here is what the living room looked like after Santa came

Cate asked Santa for slippers and he brought her Cinderella ones

Ashton asked for Hot Wheels cars from Santa

The kids were very helpful opening Mommy and Daddy's presents

Eric and I gave the kids new bikes.  They really enjoyed them and since it snowed outside they rode them all around our kitchen and front hall.

My parents gave Eric a long board

Eric gave the kids a ride on the new long board

Riding bikes in the kitchen (Daddy moved the kitchen table to give them more room)

When we got to Grandma and Grandpa's house the kids started by opening presents

After all the presents and playing for a while we had a wonderful Christmas dinner.  This Christmas was so wonderful and we are looking forward to the new year ahead.

Ashton's 3rd Birthday

Due to snow we ended up celebrating Ashton's 3rd birthday twice.  

On his actual birthday we celebrated with a truck and race car cake along with presents.  Ashton picked to have nachos for dinner.  We had a great time celebrating with just our little family.

The next day Eric took the kids tubing behind our yard and then they came back to play with Ashton's new digger in the sandbox.  

A few days after his birthday Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Pat, and Uncle Don came over to finish celebrating Ashton's birthday.

Cate wrapped up markers from her room that she thought Ashton would like

Another birthday cake

Group hug before everyone went home