Christmas #1

Our Christmas started the weekend before Christmas. We had our first trip up to Aurora as a family...and it was a success! The kids did great and didn't meltdown until there was 15mins left in the trip. Thanks to DumDum lollipops, Caden made it all the way there and back without too much trouble. These pics are a little out of order, but it has taken me forever to get them on here!

Before we left on Monday morning, Caden had his first sledding trip in my parents backyard! It was a little cold out to get Samantha out there for the family photo.

Dad and Caden going down the hill

Caden loving going up the hill also!

Caden and Joey playing with the barn from Grandpa/Grandma LaGuardia

Joe, Caden, Joey and part of Brian playing with the new toys!

Dad and Caden opening a new toy

We went to a "Breakfast with Santa" outing with the kids at The Mustard Seed. Here is Joey, Grandma and Samantha. My brother and Amy are expecting #2 in June and we are so excited for them! Joey definitely showed interest in little Samantha.

Caden was not a big fan of Santa as you can see! The week before we saw Santa, he couldn't get enough of snowmen and Santa and all the decorations. Then he actually saw Santa and wanted nothing to do with him. Sam did great as you can see, I think she slept the whole time we were there.

The boys waiting for Santa

The kids were all sitting around listening to the elves read "Twas The Night Before Christmas" and sing songs. As you can see Caden was staring at this girl, not at the elves. He has a thing for glasses and I am surprised that he didn't walk over and try and take them off her head.

Trying to pose for a pic with my boy, but he wasn't cooperating.

Here is the moment that Caden saw Santa

Another attempt at getting Caden to sit with Santa. As you can see Joey had no problem with Santa. He absolutely loved him!

Grandpa/Grandma LaG with the grandkids

Caden enjoying the peppermint ice cream

Sam taking a nap on the couch

Santa Sammy

Reading books before bed

My old highschool friend Sarah stopped by to see the kids and they had a ball dancing around and playing with her.

Grandpa dancing with the boys

Weeks 6 and 7

Here is our little girl at 6 weeks

Finally a picture with the two kids together!

And another pic with them together after Samantha's bath. Caden has become quite accustomed to helping me change her diaper and give Sam a bath. Well...what he thinks is helping. He likes standing on the chair and splashing her with water and then helps put lotion on her legs. He is also good at pulling the wipes out of the container and handing them to me...just have to monitor that so that he only gives me one!

Samantha has been smiling a lot lately. She loves waving her arms and kicking her legs. It seems to have taken her forever to grow out of the newborn clothes, but she is moving on to some 0-3 month clothes so that is exciting! We have even caught her laughing a little bit, but it only has happened in her sleep!

The weather outside is frightful...

Soooo we have spent a lot of time inside lately. After Mark finished the toy boxes we moved all the toys into the other side of the house. Now we have our family room and the "rec" room is now the kids toy room. The other day we were cleaning up a spill on the kitchen floor and had the animals gated up so they wouldn't interfere. I don't know what I would do without the gates...I cannot believe that some people don't like them.

She smiles

And here is Caden smiling...didn't want him to feel left out.

I thought this was funny as I was changing Caden's diaper. She looks so tiny in this picture next to our big boy.

4 weeks old

5 weeks old

Happy Thanksgiving!

I know we are still behind on the entries, but I am going to stop apologizing because it seems to be a trend now. Just not as easy to get on the computer anymore. so.....

My family came down to visit over thanksgiving weekend, so we eally didn't travel this year...oh what a change. My parents arrived on wed night and Joe/Amy/Joey/Molly (their dog) and Jen/Brian arrived Friday. We had a fairly relaxed weekend. Thursday we had the Francis Thanksgiving at the Piqua Country Club which was nice to get out for a bit, although we did leave Samantha with my parents...just too early for the little bit to be around all those people. Then Friday we stayed around the house and prepared for the rest of the fam. Sat we had Turkey dinner at our house and Dave and Clarice came over also! It was great to have everyone here and also to have my parents/family around to help with all the cooking and chasing after the kids. Enjoy the pics!

Grandpa Joe with Joey and Caden

Joe and Amy meet Samantha for the first time!

Grandpa checks out the Christmas tree and ornaments with the anxious toddlers. Caden has been very good (knock on wood) with the ornaments and tree. All the soft ones are at the bottom and he does take them off occasionally, but likes to play "I Spy" with the ornaments. We ask him to find something and then he points them out.

Grandpa Joe and Caden singing songs

Samantha chilling and listening to all the noise!

Grandpa Joe with the boys watching the dogs run around outside

Joey pushing Caden on the truck. There were only a few sharing issues, but most of the time the boys had problems sharing Grandpa! By the end of the weekend they had so much fun together. Caden's new game was to lift up Joey's shirt and tickle his belly...it has become his new favorite game.

Amy, Joey and Joe