Christmas Eve at Grandma's house--good food, family, and fun. Trying to get a pic of all of the cousins and grandma... Nobody told us that kids wake up at 5am on Christmas morning! Colin walked downstairs and screamed, "Santa Claus!" The whole house woke up and Christmas day began. So much fun to see how excited Colin was with all of his presents. But he was most excited that Santa brought Aunt Natalie to our house this year! He loved every bit of Aunt Natalie time. =)Natalie, Jack and I have declared Christmas Day "pajama day" in our house. Colin spent ALL day opening presents because he wanted to play with each as he unwrapped them.About 4 hours into the morning, Colin finally went down for a nap--yes, he's sleeping in his new Thomas tent...Later in the weekend, more cousin time with a visit to the Children's Museum... ...and a good family meal at Maggiano's. Merry Christmas everyone!
We loved having Bachan in town for a week. Colin had an eye and ear infection, so my mom was able to stay at home with him for most of the week. A week full of reading, storytelling, learning, and drawing! Since then, Colin has created an imaginary Bachan that he plays with now! "Ding dong. Bachan here. See toys."Grandma came out to visit with my mom in town. Colin definitely loved having two grandmas spoiling him silly. Grandma read Colin books and even braved eel sushi with us! =) During the move, Colin and I were homeless for a night, so Nick & Tami took us in. THANK YOU! Favorites on this overnighter were glitter shoes (see below), chocolate milk (a first!), storytelling by the xmas tree, and early morning play time with Reagan and Brooke. =) As of Saturday morning, we were officially living in the new house. The weekend has been full of cleaning and unpacking! Colin started sleeping in his big boy bed--overall, he's doing pretty well, but this morning he woke up at 3:30am, climbed out of bed, and started looking for Jack. Long story short, I can see long nights ahead of us!We ended our weekend with dinner at Megan & Tom's. They have an awesome fish tank where they have replicated most of the fish on "Finding Nemo." You can see Dory and Bubbles in this shot... Colin absolutely loves "Nemo's house" and playing with Megan & Tom. Thanks for a great night. =) I have 6.5 weeks til my due date. Still need to decide on a boy's name, get the house ready (including the nursery set up), and finish up work in the office before my leave! Time is flying!
My mom (Bachan) flew in on Thursday, and Colin greeted her like she never left. "Here Bachan," and handed her a drawing. She's been spoiling us with lots of food in the fridge, and lots of extra time to relax while she and Colin play together. Jack & I even got to spend all day Saturday out on a date--THANK YOU!
Here are some pictures to our first visit to the Children's Museum of Cleveland. WE LOVED IT! In the grocery store... At the doctor's office...Driving the RTA bus...making stops at the zoo and Grandma's house! Aarti and Leela met up with us at the Museum, and Leela loved to run away with the cart. So cute!
T-giving festivities started off with Jack and Chris running the Turkey Trot 5miler. Colin and I were spectators, and loved seeing the costumes run by. Yes, that's a gorilla and a banana.Then we were off to Nick & Tami's. Thanks for hosting a fabulous dinner and night! Food was delicious, and we have lots of leftovers to enjoy. =) We also did an early birthday celebration for Colin's 2nd birthday. Thank you everyone for spoiling him with lots of love and presents. Colin is still singing "happy birthday" to himself--he loved it!
"Happy Birthday to you..."
Hurry up, Uncle Matt...
Finally, cake! Aunt Natalie's storytime.Uncle Matt's workout. We love having the Virginia Elwells in town! (Uncle Chris, Aunt Evelyn, Ben, Rylee and Mitch) Aunt Natalie and some of the nieces/nephews. Aunt Natalie is getting ready for her big move to DC in the next week. We are all going to miss her SO much, but are very excited for the new job and for a new place to visit!
Teaching baby Mitch (7 mo) how to crawl. Mitch is so easy-going and happy...
The Elwells went to the North Pole via the Polar Express! Trains, elves, singing, cookies, hot chocolate, Santa aboard the train, reading the book, and seeing the lights and sights of the North Pole--need I say more? We had a blast!
Polar Express party-goers: Grandma, us, Nick/Tami/Reagan/Brooke & Pete/Sandy/Sam Popcorn and soda before the train gets going.Santa's elves led us in a round of Christmas carols. Thank you Grandma for sitting with all of the kids!After Christmas carols, cookies & hot cocoa, we finally arrived at the North Pole.It was about a 10 minute stretch of the North Pole...lights, elves, snowmen, reindeer, Santa, everything Christmas. Bad picture, but you get the idea.Santa was on the train to give all of the kids a silver bell...Colin was a bit hesitant, but no crying. On the way home, the kids participated in the pajama parade. Too cute!Caught this song on video (but sorry for the sideways camera-work.) Colin and the running elf were cracking us all up!
It's true--Colin "pee-peed in the potty" 5 times this weekend! We haven't been pushing it, and are fully expecting to change his diaper until he is 3 years old. But to our surprise, he's taken quite an interest in the potty. We're still in diapers, but this could be the beginning of a new era for us. We need to read up on this next phase--we know nothing! Please send any good links or book titles our way. =)
My friend Lisa and I worked on the planning committee for the community JACL Holiday Fair for the last couple months, and it finally happened. The taiko drumming group and the karate group were crowd favorites.As you may have heard, Jack & I ate all of Colin's Halloween candy--but we keep his pumpkin filled with snacks (raisins, crackers, a couple of lollipops). I didn't realize this, but Jack gives him a "snack a day" out of his pumpkin, and keeps the pumpkin hidden away. Well one morning, I caught him in the corner with his pumpkin...
We enjoyed warm fall weather this weekend and went to Grandma's to rake leaves and eat cookies. =)
We celebrated the twins' bday and Halloween all in one night. Now that the cousins are a bit older, they play together much more, and it's a blast to watch!
Happy 5th Birthday, Brooke and Reagan-- Getting ready for a night of trick or treating! The cousins--Brook the witch, Reagan the fairy, Sam the pirate, Sarah the turtle, Colin the Nemo! Getting ready to go trick-or-treating...We had a good start to the evening. Colin specifically asked for Grandma to walk with him. =) And who's that hippie? This year, Colin didn't say "trick or treat," but he did say "thank you" after getting his stash of candy from each house. And he would not let go of his bucket!Jack's favorite was the house who had big candy bars for the kids and shots of liquor for the parents. No kidding! About 5 houses in Colin got scared--and grandma saved the day. Note the bucket still in hand.After the kids were loaded up with sugar, they had pajama fun in the girls' room...then Jack tried to calm them down with story time.
We haven't entered the land of potty training yet...just having fun. His new favorite book is the Polar Express. We read the full story--up to 10 times a day. Crazy.
Nobody told us that kids wake up at 5am on Christmas morning! Colin walked downstairs and screamed, "Santa Claus!" The whole house woke up and Christmas day began. So much fun to see how excited Colin was with all of his presents. But he was most excited that Santa brought Aunt Natalie to our house this year! He loved every bit of Aunt Natalie time. =)
Natalie, Jack and I have declared Christmas Day "pajama day" in our house. Colin spent ALL day opening presents because he wanted to play with each as he unwrapped them.
About 4 hours into the morning, Colin finally went down for a nap--yes, he's sleeping in his new Thomas tent...
Later in the weekend, more cousin time with a visit to the Children's Museum... 
...and a good family meal at Maggiano's. 
Merry Christmas everyone!
