Michael is TWO!!

Our little man is growing up!  He turned 2 years old the week before Christmas.  He is now 33 inches tall, a whopping 25 pounds light, and starting to talk up a storm.  His vocabulary is getting bigger every day - his favorite words seem to be NO (of course), Santa - ho ho!, and choo choo.  He also loves all things "gucky"  :)  That's our boy!!  Michael is enamored with trucks and cars and trains, and received a bounty of them for his birthday (much to his delight!).  He also loves doing whatever his big sister Hannah is doing, including dressing up in tutus and superhero capes, and stealing her babies when she's not looking to "take care" of them (wrapping them up in blankies and running in circles).  He loves to be read to before naps and bed, but doesn't have the patience to sit still for a story any other time.  Our super snuggler LOVES to climb under blankets with Mommy and Daddy on the couch though!!  Here are a few pictures from his big day - we celebrated with presents at home and a special dinner out (his party is coming in January):

Hannah felt it was her job to help Michael open his presents AND be excited about them  :)

Modeling some new clothes

 

Checking out the new truck book

Using his new cars to make a train. . . .

Modeling his new "McQueen" slippers

They're a hit!!

Ogling all of the new trucks and cars - where to even start??!

Enjoying a birthday sundae

Big bite!!

Hannah didn't think she needed a spoon. . .

A Few Early Christmas Festivities

The month of December has been full of Christmas festivities - we have decorated our tree, been to the lighted parade in Lynden, had a couple of Christmas programs, and been to a couple of Christmas parties  :)

Ballerina Hannah decides where to put the ornament

Michael did a great job of helping this year!!

Michael loves to listen to the nativity scene play music

Lynden's lighted parade

It was chilly out, but we all enjoyed staying warm with our hot cocoa and watching the floats go by

Hannah waving to the people on the floats

Hannah's preschool class took a fieldtrip to an elementary school and got some "big kid" help decorating gingerbread houses  :)  This is her finished product

Angel Hannah getting ready for the Sunday School Christmas Program

Hannah's class singing at the start of the program

Christmas Program #2 - Hannah's preschool class did a great job!!

Daddy said that Mommy was ruining perfectly good chocolate  :)  But Hannah thought making peppermint bark was great - especially the "cleaning up"!!!

We tried to get a picture of all the kids at this Christmas party. . . . . we tried  :)

Our next party was a Christmas Dinner playdate - here was some of the spread, mostly courtesy of our gracious hosts - yummy!!!

 

The kids were a LITTLE more cooperative at this party - they all sat still, but some had undressed themselves, and most refused to smile for the camera in a protest to having to sit still rather than run around  :)

Silly Kids

Some days, Hannah is sure that she is a princess ballerina - and Michael usually joins her  :)  Other days she is a super hero out to save the world - and again, Michael joins her.  And of course, Michael REALLY loves the days when Hannah is a chef and "cooks" for him. . . . .