Holidays - Part 2

We started off the Christmas season by getting our first Real Christmas Tree from a local Christmas tree farm (we have always had a fake tree since we've been married, but decided to change it up this year - we didn't even know that there were tree farms so close to where we lived).

Here we are looking for our tree...we even got a tractor ride to see the whole tree farm!

There's our 9 foot beauty all cut down and loaded up...and the boys in front of the tree once we got it home.
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One good thing about living in a small town (I think this is the only good thing i can think of) is that the town does really cute things for the kids during the holidays... For example, they have Santa drive around the neighborhoods on a fire truck throwing candy canes.

Here are they boys waiting in the front yard patiently for Santa....notice the tunnel of lights up our driveway (very Clark Griswald)

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Alex and the twins were quite the performers at their school's Christmas show.

Alex as Frosty the Snowman....and the twins ringing their little bells (ok...Matt doesn't seem all that excited, but at least he didn't cry...Zach was actually really cute and got some laughs from the audience when he noticed us in the crowd and would wave and scream"Hi mommy, Hi daddy")

I had some great videos of the show...but it was really taking way too long to download onto the blog...Oh well!

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We had a very full house on Christmas Eve...my parents, my sister, her husband Jake, their dog Bubba and Jake's parents shared in the festivities...even Santa made an appearance!

Alex very happy to see Santa!

Matt is not too sure about this Santa fella...Zach is pretty happy to see him (as always they seem to be 180° apart)

The boys getting their toys from Santa!

Happy Holidays - Part 1

Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season! Yes, this is a little late posting, but the last couple of months have been very busy.

Here's how we spent the holidays (starting from Thanksgiving)....

We flew to Kansas City to spend our Thanksgiving with Jeff's family. This was the first flight for the twins and they loved it (and did great - slept the entire flight to and from)! Whew...what a relief (we were really worried about traveling with all 3 kids)! Alex is a seasoned veteran in the flying department and he of course enjoyed the flight.



The kids loved playing in all the leaves in Granma and Grandpa's backyard...boy was it cold, though!



So we warmed up on the indoor carousel at the nearby mall!



During our time in KC, Jeff and I introduced Alex to one of our favorite activities...watching College Basketball...LIVE...and I think he is hooked for life! I think he will go crazy during March Madness baby! We were able to see K-State play my all-time favorite...Duke Blue Devils!


Alex getting the full experience...and already taking smack!!!

And I even got to see my favorite coach up close...Coach K!


Thanksgiving dinner was great and we had it at Jeff sister's house again...we literally had ~60 people (that's just the immediate family...and I'm not exxagerating)



Zach and Matt enjoying all the great food!

Zach getting a hug from grandpa and Alex playing basketball down in the basement with cousin Amanda....told you he was hooked!

Babcia and Dziadzia Visit

So my parents (Babcia and Dziadzia - or grandma and grandpa in Polish) visit us fairly often and there's usually a lot more pictures taken during that time as my dad is a photography fanatic...here are some pictures from their visit in November.

Zach with Dziadzia

Babcia and the twinkies...Zach loves to give out kisses...

Like I said, Zach loves handing out kisses


The boys very busy reading right before bed

Mom, hurry up with the berry shake!


Can you spot the troublemaker in this bunch?

Matthew, what are you thinking right now?...Yes, there was some heavy duty laundry after this incident!

Matthew ready for some bigger shoes? Not quite, but I'm glad you found my shoes!

Maybe Alex won't notice that I'm taking his Jeep for a ride.

Actually all 3 are troublemakers, but they all love to run and play together (at least most of the time)

Forgetfulness and Halloween

Zach Needs Tubes

So I forgot to document that while Alex and I were in Poland, Zach had ear tubes surgery because he started having frequent ear infections. Unlike Matthew, he was happy before and after the surgery...the ear infections didn't see to bother him that much, but his hearing was being impacted so we opted for the surgery.

Here's a picture from the day of the surgery.

Halloween

Alex had to decorate a pumpkin for school, so he decided to make a "Nemo" pumpkin...I think it turned out pretty well (he had a little help from Dad)

Here are the boys in their Halloween costumes....

Here's Matthew after eating some Oreo's...Seriously I don't know how he managed to get it to look like such a perfet goatee, but it's pretty hilarious...maybe this should have been his Halloween costume somehow?

Tooth Fairy...Already?

So at Alex's 4 year check-up the dentist told us that it would happen within six months...but it just seemed so soon! But she was right...Alex lost his first tooth on September 27th, about a month sooner than the dentist said.

Here's Alex proudly showing off his missing tooth...and looking forward to what the tooth fairy might bring that night!

After losing his first tooth, Alex has definitely become a lot tougher on the soccer field...or maybe that's just a coincidence.

Look at that agility...he must take after his mom! :-) Definitely not after his mom.

Alex getting right in the action!

In early October we went to our local pumpkin patch to take a few pictures...Alex always seem to turn out well in the pictures...at least the twins were being civil!