Christmas in Kansas

We headed to Wichita right from Springfield on Friday. It was nice that the trip was 1.5 hours shorter! When we got there on Friday afternoon we went to the mall to see Santa since we hadn't made it for a Santa visit just yet. We were all betting that Will would not be a fan, but he was as calm as could be. He just sat there and looked at him. I'm sure he was quite curious where in the heck he was but he sure didn't protest about it! Next year will probably be MUCH different!  Katelyn told Santa that she wanted a Doll House for Christmas.

Friday night we went out to dinner and then drove around for a minute to look at Christmas lights. There is a street that has been name "Candy Cane Lane" and all the houses are lite up big time! From what I've heard, if you sell your house, the lights stay with it and the new owners are required to put up lights. We drove through last year and I think there were even more lights up this year. There were Party Buses and Limos cruising through as well. I can't imagine all the work involved in getting it up and down each year.

Then on Saturday, we opened presents. This photo op is a classic in our family. When my brother and I were little, we would have to sit at the top of the stairs and get our picture taken. We both thought it was like torture because we could see either big boxes or bikes or whatever Santa had left for us sitting there at the bottom of the stairs but we couldn't get to it until Dad took this stupid picture. Well, now I understand! I wanted that picture too and will try to do it every year we are there for Christmas as well! Fortunately, there was nothing big sitting out that Katelyn was dying to get to, so it made it a bit easier.

And then a picture in front of the Christmas tree before the opening started.

Digging right in!

And Will playing with his new tow truck that Uncle Matt got him.

This was about as excited as he got with the opening. He'd rip one spot and then crawl off to play with something else.

And Katelyn was always at the ready to help anyone who asked for help with the opening!

And afterward, all the opening was just too much for Will. He was pooped! Daddy even caught a small cat nap too!

She built (Well Mommy did most of it) her new Cinderella castle from her duplo blocks that Uncle Matt got her!

We went to church on Sunday morning and then had Christmas dinner before Matt needed to head back home to go to work on Monday. Such a bummer! And of course we couldn't get undressed from our church duds before snapping a few pictures!

Kids with Grandma and Papa

A new family picture!

And one with Uncle and the kids

Then on Christmas Eve, we headed back to Missouri to have our first Christmas with just our family of 4!! We had a great visit and Christmas in Kansas but the time always goes too fast!

Thanksgiving 2012 and Will's Baptism

For Thanksgiving this year, we headed back to Wichita to be with my family. My Grandmother had a stroke in October and has been in the hospital and now nursing home since trying to get stronger. I really wanted to see her. Even though we are so much closer to KS than when we lived in GA, it's still a 6 hour drive with a baby that doesn't care to travel too long.

We left on Thursday and went straight to Emporia to see Grandma. We met my parents and brother there and stayed for a little while and then headed to Wichita. It was a long day in the car, but it was nice to not have to make the drive up to Emporia over the weekend. We were able to get all of the driving out of the way on one day.

Katelyn and Will were pretty excited to see Grandma, Papa, and Uncle Matt. Katelyn had a little slumber party on an air mattress. She slept on it when we went to OK to visit Matt and thought it was the coolest thing, so she was kind of excited to be able to do it again. The kids has more fun jumping on it before bedtime though....even Will. He was giggling so hard! We were all laughing at them laughing.

Since we spent most of our Thanksgiving day driving, we had our Thanksgiving Dinner on Friday. Katelyn ate everything at dinner and surprised Grammie and Papa! She loved the turkey but her favorite were the rolls! I think she out-ate all of us on the rolls. She would have ate more probably if we would have let her! I'm so glad that we are moving out of the picky eating phase! Praise the Lord!

Papa and Uncle Matt went out on Thanksgiving night to score a sweet deal on new cell phones and after staying out ALL night they got what they wanted. By staying out all night, they saved over $400. I guess that may be worth it??

Katelyn is helping Grandma make the pumpkin pie for dinner.

Our little "Turkeys!"

Trying to stand up to the stairs and he was successful! It won't be long and this will be what he'll be doing to everything!

While we were back in Wichita, I got to spend a little time with a great friend, Courtney. She hadn't met Will yet and I hadn't seen her little girl since last Christmas. Boy, they grow so fast!

 My cousin Tanya, Neil and Owen stopped through on their way back to OK from Manhattan. The kids exchanged Christmas gifts. They got Katelyn a pink fleece blanket with Minnie Mouse and her name embroidered on it. She loves it and sleeps with it every night on her bed. Will got a Musical Bubble Octopus that you hang in the bath tub and this thing is the biggest hit! Both kids LOVE it and it has to be turned on EVERY night!

On Sunday before we headed back to Missouri, we had Will baptized at the church I grew up in and also the church Katelyn was baptized in and where Jack and I got married. Grammie and Pops came in from Missouri on Saturday and were also there for this special day. Will looked pretty stunning in his white outfit. :) It had a bow tie and matching vest with crosses on the vest.

Ready to go. Keeping the bib on until we get to church to avoid his outfit catching the spit up.

Waiting for church to start at Ascension Lutheran Church.

Thankfully they do the baptism at the very beginning of the church service. Will was wide awake through the entire thing. He didn't even mind when the pastor put the water on his head. I think it may have helped that Jack was able to hold him the entire time. When we had Katelyn baptized, the pastor took her and held her but she was also 2 months old and asleep. Pastor Bingenheimer probably thought it was safer to just leave the baby with his dad! And smart idea it was.

As soon as it was over, he drank a bottle and slept for the rest of the service. We couldn't have had better kids in church! Katelyn didn't make a peep either.

She wanted to go up for Children's message, but not by herself so i joined her. I remember going to the Children's message up there when I was a kid. So awesome!

And of course we had to have pictures afterward!

Will's a happy camper because of his nap, but Katelyn wasn't in the picture taking mood. Go figure - they both can't be in sync with each other!

Will with his sponsor, Uncle Matt! Thanks Matt for being both kid's sponsors - this means a lot!

With my family - Grandma, Papa, and Uncle Matt

With Jack's parents - Grammie and Pops

We had a great time over Thanksgiving but of course it always goes so fast. We'll be back before long because Christmas is just right around the corner.

Christmas in Kansas

Christmas this year was lots and lots of driving and took up the whole month and then add a move on top of it!! Although, it was a busy month, it was great to see so much family and once we were in the midwest, we knew we weren't going to be leaving  to head back to the south after the holidays. It was so nice to wake up knowing there was only an 8 hour drive ahead of us and not a 22 hour drive!! 

Coming down the stairs to check out what Santa brought (Round #2!)

Checking out cookie situation with Papa- Santa just left crumbs again!!

Tearing into the packages!

Of course she had to make sure everyone else got help opening their packages too.

A new suitcase for all her visits to the Grandparents houses!!

 

 

Paper!!

A new blanket for her new big girl room

Farming with her new pink tractor.  She took it everywhere. This might have been her favorite Christmas present this year!

Testing out her new vacuum. Now she can be just like Momma and actually let me vacuum on my own instead of insisting on helping me. It's supposed to pick up dirt - no such luck with that!

And look at allllll these foam puzzle pieces! Oh she loves them alright but they are a mess to put back together! One day she'll get it all figured out and she can do it all by herself!!

Christmas in Kansas was fun as expected, but our time at each family always seems to go by so fast! Now back to MO for a few days and then move in, and Christmas Round #3!!

Once again, good thing we are so much closer now and only 2 more months until we will get to meet the 4th member of our family! 

Christmas Eve in Kansas

All fancied up before Christmas Eve Church service!
I just loved her dress and she would spin around saying she was soooo pretty!
Yes, honey, we know you are, even without the beautiful dress on!

I haven't uploaded photoshop to my new computer so sorry for the yellow tint.
Note to self: fix this picture!

With Uncle

With Papa and Grandma

After church service - picking out Cookies to put out for Santa (Round 2)

All ready for Santa to come!!

Cousins!

December 23, 2011 - During our Kansas Christmas trip, we were able to see some cousins that we hadn't seen in at least a year!

Katelyn and Owen are a year apart in age but he's just as tall as she is!

Watching for Owen's dog out the window. He was a big hit for Katelyn!

December 24, 2011

On Christmas Eve we went to visit some more cousins on the other side of the family.
All of them playing "Memory" or their version of the "Memory" game. Katelyn didn't quite grasp it and the older ones were getting a tad frustrated with her!

Cooper didn't want to cooperate for the picture so his Mommy had to jump in. But we got all the second cousins together for a picture. I don't think that's EVER happened!

4 generations! Katelyn hadn't gotten to see her Great Grandma since last Christmas. Hopefully since we're living so much closer now that won't have to happen again.

It was so nice to be able to see everyone and hopefully we'll be able to see y'all again soon!