December post #2 & New Years

Cookie decorating party! Such a fun day with friends. Thanks Auntie KR!  Most of the kids took the method..... I'll have some sprinkles with a side of cookie!

Gino and Cain were expert frosting tasters!

 

 Christmas celebration with Nonni and Nonno!

 Yippee Harvest is done. This year it was really long, but the days in between fields and the much needed rain helped to give the boys some breaks and time with family!

 Dinner with friends! Always fun to have a night out, and great to see Lauren's belly bump!!

 We feel very blessed to have most of our immediate family in Lodi, but makes for lots of running around at the holidays.  The kids were so excited for the holidays this year it makes it fun for everyone.  Christopherson ladies!

  

Guess I missed the memo that everyone was wearing red. 

I was just happy to find something festive that fit!

 Then we headed over to Fuhrman Christmas Eve. The annual cousin pic!

 Why we haven't been doing this for years, I don't know. The pure comedy of trying to get them all to stand still and smile was fun enough in itself.  You think they look related??

 Then we were finally headed home and needed to get ready for Santa. The kids fell asleep on the way home, so I was sure to take a photo. I knew the first thing Giada would ask is if I put cookies out, she was so upset she had fallen asleep. She wrote Santa this nice letter/drawing earlier, so we were set! Giada did tell us at one point she was not sure which list she was on; naughty or nice. Turns out she must have been on the nice list.

 Santa was hungry...reindeer too. She also requested we turn off the fire so it wasn't hot for Santa, that kid; always thinking!

 I love this photo of them peeking over. Gino was up early and we had to wait for Giada. I remember trying to peek out my parents bedroom window with my brother, so it was neat for me to watch.

 Elsa pretty much hasn't taken this off since Christmas. Santa is getting a lot of credit for choosing the perfect dress that is NOT itchy. That is a big issue with the Elsa sleeves!

 This boy is a Lego lover these days, and received so many fun sets this Christmas. Now the big decision, dump them all together....or keep them in separate tubs so he can build what was intended for each set.  For not they are separated, but I am sure will be dumped in no time.

 Reindeer breakfast anyone?  Since Mike made such fun pancakes at Easter, I thought he should carry on the tradition for Christmas.  Success!

 Christmas Day night we head to my parents to celebrate!

 After Christmas we were able to sneak away to Graeagle for a few nights and celebrate New Years. 

It was nice to get out of town and relax!  Cheers to 2015!

 

Always funny to find random kid taken pictures on your camera roll.

 

 There wasn't much snow yet in town, but just up the hill, plenty for some sledding fun!

1st Graeagle bear picture of 2015!

 New toys are so much fun, this boy loves building with the magnetic blocks.

 Stella started  preschool.  We miss our Stella Wednesday's. We have had so much fun with our weekly Stella visits for the last 2.5 years!  With a new baby on the way, the timing seemed right. Of course we will still see her a ton, but we do miss our weekly Stellie time. 

She is loving school though!

 Random pics.  Gino feels just like daddy riding his forklift.

 

Before the kids switched into bunk beds they had a few sleep overs together in Giada's big bed. 

They look so sweet and innocent when they are sleeping.

 

Some baths just call for a little fun. 

This particular night Giada ate her dinner in the bath and tons of red finger paint.  

Oh to be a kid!

Well this gift was sure appreciated, and made this seem real and soon. 33 weeks tomorrow! Yikes, 7 weeks and counting. This picture below is not the best, but I haven't taken too many this time around.  I think this was taken about 30 weeks. We are slowly getting everything at the house ready. I would LOVE to say we have a name, but that is not the case. He moves a TON. Way more than I remember with the big kids.  I think he is cramped in there. When I sit down he kicks and moves all around like he wants me to move.  He is also up all night, which is rather concerning!! I deserve one kid that sleeps at night!! Right?!?

December Festivities

Well this month seemed to fly by as the rest of 2014 did this year.  December brings a bunch of extra activities which make for fun memories with family and friends!

The kids had one last mini session with Stephanie Moe.  When she described the set to me I thought my Frozen loving kids would be excited to wear their pjs and have a more casual shoot.  Giada just couldn't believe she got to wear PJs to the photos. 

Gino has a mind of his own for photos these days, but sometimes his ideas work out great! At least we got him near the set this time around.

 

The kids love reading and Search & Find books.  This one is always a favorite.

LET IT SNOW!

 

 And if we get Gino to actually sit still next to his sister, and then she starts tickling him and chaos breaks loose! 

 Light Parade is always so much fun in Downtown Lodi. We corral the kids in the back of the truck, give them hot chocolate and they are set.  The weather was perfect this year. The theme was Christmas Movies, and the floats were on point. The highlight always being Santa and Mrs. Claus in the Firetruck at the end.

I've been friends with these girls since our days at Lockeford Elementary School. Great to see Neps while she was visiting from DC, and we are excited she will be back in CA in 2015!

Max is such a sweet baby, Marina scored the dream child who sleeps so much she has to wake him up....I know nothing about these types of children! lol...maybe there is hope for #3!

 Happy Birthday Sev! Nothing better than a breakfast birthday donut!

 Our annual Mother Daughter party was again one for the memory books. Thank you KR for hosting and doing an outstanding job as always. KR and Hilder had a secret plan to bring Giada to the party, have Santa stop by with gifts of mittens, and go on a horse and carriage ride. We were all surprised and had so much fun caroling all over Woodbridge. It was so sweet for them to include Giada too, she felt so special to be at the grown up party. 

 

 

Lucky the cat is only 6 months old and huge! I have grown to like this guy. He still terrorizes Belle by sitting on top of her kennel and putting her paw down to antagonize the dog, but does get along well with Sydney.  She tries every night to jump on our bed. I wouldn't care so much if he wanted to lay at the foot of the bed but no he wants to be resting on your neck, by your face, purring SUPER loud......needless to say that doesn't happen and he is constantly kicked out of the room.

Always fun when your friends are at the Holiday Office Party!

 Cousin Love

 

Gymnastics Holiday Show. The kids are always excited to have us come watch them.  This was the first year I didnt have to be in the show with Gino. It was fun to be in the audience.

 New tradition. Giada and I went to the Nutcracker. The girls were so excited to have a night out all dressed up.  Heather and I had fun watching our friend Natalie Wood perform in the show.

 Have I mentioned we like Frozen??  The kids, Steph, Stella and Nana headed to Tracy for the Frozen sing a long. The kids had such a good time singing along with the movie. Bonus we got to meet Anna!

 No photos yet, but Giada had her Christmas Pageant at school. The Kindergarten kids were so adorable up there singing Silent Night.  Gino looks like he didn't have any fun with Cain while we were at the show.  Thanks Bre and Scott for watching our crazy guy!

 Holiday Dress Up day at both schools, and they request photos by the tree, Ill take it!

 Gino's preschool sang a few holiday songs for all the parents, they all get a little shy at this age, but are excited to have all the parents in class.

 Last day of school for 2 weeks. Giada was proud of the wreath they made at the Christmas party and wanted some photos with her school buddies.

Santa we are ready for you! Giada is still not sure if she is on the naughty or nice list, which is really funny for her to try and work out.