Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from our family to yours  . . . . here are a few highlights from our exciting 2012!

January:  Daddy got a new job and moved to Grand Rapids while Mommy worked for a few more weeks in Bay City.  So, I got to spend some extra special time with Grandbob, Grandma and Grammy.  We had lots of fun, but I think I tired them out!

 February:  Mommy and I officially made the move over to Grand Rapids . . . I was very happy to be with Daddy . . . there was lots of work to be done, so I got right to it!  Auntie B came for a visit and we had lots of fun . . .

March:  March was a pretty boring month . . . ok, it wasn't boring at all . . . I learned to stand up on my own and oh my, what fun it is to see the world from a different vantage point . . . I especially liked standing at the activity table cousins Mac & Bennett shared with me!

 April:  We had a long visit at Grandbob and Grandma's house . . . I experienced lots of firsts on this trip . . . Vip's restaurant, toast (YUM!), swinging (terrifying), going down the slide (awesome!) and Easter baskets (yay for books and cars!)

 May:  Whew!  May was a busy month . . . my 1st birthday was in May so I had lots of visitors and got to do tons of fun things . . . Uncle Drew and Aunt Allison brought Rhett & Paisley to help celebrate my birthday . . . Grammy & GrampS helped me & cousin Bisa celebrate our birthdays (he's only three days older than me!)  I got to visit Sami (my NICU buddy).  Grandma & Grandbob got me a water table for my birthday and it is AWESOME . . I discovered the joy of painting (ok, I really discovered the joy of covering myself in paint!) and I had cake (delicious!)

 June:  We visited Grammy & GrampS in June and Grandma came along for the ride.  After a few days in Georgia, we went to Grammy's house in Florida for a week . . . it was lots of fun and GrampS taught me how to climb up and down steps . . .

 July:  I am an Olympian (ok, maybe it was just the toddler Olympics in Watseka and maybe I just dropped the shot put, but I still got the t-shirt!).  We were really in Watseka for GG's 100th birthday . . . I got to meet lots of new cousins. . .

 August:  Fairs, Fairs, Fairs . . . we went to so many fairs . . . I liked the petting zoos the best . . . Mommy & Daddy also took me to the beach . . . I also finally discovered that swinging is the BEST!  I could swing for hours!  PS - Auntie B bruised her tailbone taking me down the slide . . . she is a warrior!

 September:  We made one last trip to the beach and then started our family vacation . . . Great Gram turned 90 so we traveled to Little Rock to celebrate . . . more new cousins!!!  Then we went to Lake of the Ozarks (thanks Auntie B & Uncle Greg) for a fun week . . . we went fishing and explored caverns . . it was very relaxing

 

 November:  Bisa and I have become good buddies . . . I am so happy to have a cousin my own age who lives just a few minutes away!  Sami came for a visit and I got to show her some of my books while we lounged in the "pool" . . . I have been participating in Music Together classes all year, but Mommy finally got some pictures . . . it is my favorite part of the week!  We had lots of fun times at Meijer Gardens this year (this door was clearly made just for me!)  I had a long visit with Grandbob and Grandma (I think this potato bin is just the best thing ever . . . I am asking for my own for Christmas!)

 December:  We wish you and your family the very Merriest Christmas!

Love, Brad, Kristin & Peter

December 14, 2012

Since we have two advent calendars (thank you Grandbob and Jim & Sheila Fritze) we decided to celebrate the 12 Books of Christmas instead of the 12 Days of Christmas . . . Peter wakes up to find a present in his bed every morning between now and Christmas . . . he LOVES books above all other things so we thought this would be a fun way to add to his collection . . . and he really likes ripping the wrapping paper off presents, so this activity is a no brainer . . . 

Today's book is about the ocean and counting  . . . he is pointing to the whale's tail . . . in case you were wondering, there are two whales on this page :)

He's a mess in the morning and the wrapping paper just adds to the crazy pile!

December 13, 2012

Trying on Christmas Eve clothes :)

December 9, 2012

I'm just clearing out my camera this morning in anticipation of taking WAY too many pictures over the next few weeks . . . so, I thought I would share an eclectic mix of our December so far . . . 

I'm coloring . . . who cares, what's the big deal . . . I'm a big boy . . . get over it!

Our Santa Countdown calendar . . . sadly, Peter's favorite part is trying to eat the cotton ball once it is covered in glue!

Peter who?  I don't see anyone named Peter . . . 

Trying out for a role in Avatar II

I think I already shared this one, but it just turned out so well I am sharing it again (PS - the previous picture shows that Peter did truly do most of the work on this!)

This is one of my favorites and oh so easy to make

Just love my little guy!

This one was super fun to make .. . . glue, paint, q-tips, tree-shaped sponges, and glittery reindeer and moons . . . sort of obsessed with saying "Moooooon" right now . . . 

LOVE both of these guys!

Another project created with the help of painters tape . . . Peter had lots of fun putting the ornaments on this one

I just love how intent he was on properly placing each item on the stockings . . . he had a  ton of fun with this one

Our dinnertime activity . . . again, sadly the favorite part is not the bible verse, but the chocolate hiding inside . . . 

I had to share this because it shows the almost finished product . . . I think it is beautiful!