Christmas Presents 2013

Here's what we're giving Tillie and Teddy this year.  I'm so excited to give it all to them!  I really think they'll love it all.

Ted:
Imaginext Figures  (He's getting the Rescue City from Grandma B.)

Lego Duplo Fire Station (50% off at Target this summer)

Fire Fighter Costume (Costco) and Fire Truck book

Tillie:
Lalaloopsy Wizard of Oz Series

Play-Doh Sweet Shoppe Candy Cyclone (70% off at Target this summer)

Bloch Ballet Leotard/Tights/Shoes and Miss Lina Ballerina's Book

Santa

So, we don't really "do" Santa at our house, but if a free Santa picture lands in front of me, I'm going to do it.  (I paid for a picture when Tillie was 7 months old.  Then I realized how crazy expensive it is and I'm not willing to pay it.  That was the last time Tillie "saw Santa".) When we were in Holland for the Sinterklaas Parade(I know, more Santa for a family who doesn't do it...) Home & Company had a Santa with no line.  Tillie said no until I told her that Santa would give her a candy cane.  Ted was only won over by the actual receiving of a candy cane.  Notice that he's still sitting as far away from him as he can and looking in the opposite direction.  He did say thank you for the candy after I was safely holding him.

Tillie even got to shake Rudolph's collar.  He was up on the roof, you know.

And here's a crappy picture of Sinterklaas.  He rides a huge horse.

Happy Reformation Day!

We celebrated with costumes.  As you do. ;)

Halloween Preview

My kids did a costume try on today. I bought Teddy's parrot costume last year on clearance at Gymboree. When Tillie heard Teddy was going to be a parrot she said, "Well, I guess I need to be a pirate then!" She already had the red tutu and boots. The striped tee is something I had bought ahead at a garage sale for Teddy. The sash was mine from J. Crew years ago. She borrowed the sword from Uncle Philip and we bought the hat at Party City yesterday.

"Teddy wanna cracker?"

Happy 4th of July

We saw firetrucks, horses and VBS floats at the parade.  We ate hot dogs, kabobs, watermelon and macaroni salad for lunch.  We swam in the pool and spent time with friends and family.  (We didn't go to fireworks, but some day they'll be old enough that the loss of sleep won't make me want to sell them the next day.)

We had a good day.

Easter "Family" Photos

With mom.

With Dad.

And as an added bonus, my favorite picture of the day.  It's my kids with my cousins Renee and Rachael's babies.  They're pretty much exactly a year younger than Teddy.

Dia - Tillie - Teddy - Soren

Easter Outfits

Now, I should probably wait until Easter to "unveil" their new duds, but I'm too excited.  I had an outfit planned for Teddy for Easter that I was super-excited about.  But all of a sudden last week I was starting to rethink myself.  Was it too dark for a happy spring holiday?  What if it was crazy hot like it would have been last year?  And, I kind of really wanted to sew another pair of longalls since it's probably his last Easter for them.

So, like any person would do, I made a poll on facebook!  At first it seemed like his bow tie outfit would win, but in the end there was a lot of support for longalls.  I went to the fabric store that night and the very next day I finished them!

I love the anchor buttons.  I thought about lining them in navy, but I decided to match the blue to the flowers in Tillie's dress.  There's only so long that they'll let me do this!  The aqua is a linen blend and the royal is Kona cotton.  I made the 18m size and they're a little big.  Maybe Teddy will have a growth spurt this month? (fingers crossed.)

Tillie's dress was my dress when I was little.  Even better?  My mom made it for me!  I love that both kiddos will be wearing hand-made items this Easter.

Here's the proof that it was mine.  Here I am with my brother, Philip.  I know there are better pictures of the dress, but I couldn't find them yesterday.  If you look closely you can see my baby ring as a necklace.  Hopefully I'll remember to do that with Tillie's.  I gave her a blue ribbon sash instead of red so it would coordinated with Teddy better.  She's going to wear a red cardigan though.

"Is it Valentine's yet?"

After hearing that question multiple times every day I decided we needed a little countdown "calendar".  Our Christmas advent calendar really seemed to help Tillie visualize how far away our Christmas party really was.  For Valentine's Day I decided a simple paper chain would do.  I told Tillie she gets to cut off a link every day.  She is ALL ABOUT this plan.

This will also be good practice cutting.  She could use a little help.

Tillie's Christmas Tree

She wanted it up already.  Since I did too, we put it up.

I decided we should do it right and wear Christmas pajamas tonight too.

Don't worry, I'm still having the kids wear a lot of orange and brown this week, during the day.

We Celebrated

Tomorrow my little guy turns one, but we celebrated the occasion on Sunday night.

I'd say it seems like yesterday he still looked like this, but that's not true.  It hasn't been a long year, but it has been a year of changing and growing, pretty much all for good.  He's fun.

Family and friends came out to party, eat food and lavish him with presents.  (At least that's what it felt like.  Tillie was overjoyed with all the new toys -- and she didn't even have to say thank you to anyone!)

And, what would a birthday party be without cupcakes?

Christmas Card 2011

5x7 Folded Card

View the entire collection of cards.

Stockings!

Teddy's stocking came in the mail yesterday.

In Tillie's stocking she will be receiving:

• Crayons (bought during back to school sales)
• Animal Flashcards (75% off Target Dollar Spot)
• Hello Kitty Necklace (Target Dollar Spot)
• Amber Teething Necklace (Baby Half Off)
• Sock Monkey Nesting Dolls (50% off at Target this summer)
• 2 Happy Heiny doll cloth diapers (Abby's Lane with a $10 gift certificate)

Teddy will be receiving:

• Applique tee - A hippopotamus for Christmas! (Mini-Boden from Nordstrom Rack clearance)
• 2 board books (75% off Target Dollar Spot)
• Pelican Bib (Gymboree Red Balloon Sale)
• Amber Teething Necklace (Baby Half Off)
• Ikea Felt Tool Belt (Not Pictured, because I forgot)

Christmas Tree Tradition

Today was Christmas Tree Day!  We always go to Prince Tree Farm.  Great prices, friendly service.  I love it there.

Tillie thought walking through the farm was awesome.  She kept saying things like, "Yay, Christmas!"  Of course, Christmas sounds like "Kissmas" when she says it.

This year's tree is a Serbian Spruce.  When Tim set it up in the living room Tillie looked at it and said, "Thank you, Daddy."

After our tree is tied to the roof, we head to downtown Holland for dinner at New Holland Brewing Co.  They have the best kid menu option ever.  It's just called "Kid's Plate" and has apple slices, raisins, cheese, pepperoni, carrots, celery and a drink. That is exactly how my kid eats.  Why don't more restaurants have options like this?

The reason we had dinner in Holland?  Sinterklaas!  We love the Sinterklaas "parade".  It's just a bell ringer and Sinterklaas on a white horse.  Mostly we go so Tim can sing in Dutch without it being weird.

At home I gave the kids their new Christmas pajamas.  I think someone was tired after a long night.

Give Thanks

I'm so thankful for these two kids.

And this guy.