Weston: 3 1/2 Years

These past 6 months have been so fun. Weston's language has picked up some speed and we've been able to hear what's been cookin' in that funny brain of his. Weston is still crazy obsessed with his puppy  and blue blankie. Lately he likes to play "babysitter" where I babysit his dog and he gives me a list of tasks like changing diapers and burping him. Um, don't I do that enough and now I'm doing it to a toy dog?? He still loves to play pretend and has a really creative imagination when it comes to his play and things he likes to do. Books still are ones of his favorite things. He likes to multi-task when I'm reading to him by looking at another book. He's been loving preschool, loves playing with his "buddies," {especially Brayden}, loves working on "projects," loves to help me cook/bake, he's obsessed with sword fighting with his dad and brother, and  loves to eat healthy. He's on a junk food kick where if I offer him a sweet he'll say, "No thanks, I don't like junk food and daddy shouldn't drink Diet Coke." It's seriously hilarious. He's all boy when it comes to his toys: trains, cars, trucks, guns, making shooting sounds, fighting, putting people in jail, and running things over with his trucks. I'm mentally preparing for three of them to be playing like this one day. We love you Weston! 

Christmas Card {2012}

Christmas Eve {2012}

The boys were soooo excited for Christmas. Although I'm pretty sure the anticipation of a parent is just as exciting. We kept it simple during the day and then broke out the festivities that night. Fondue on Christmas Eve is a must and the boys loved it. The food and the "swords." Looking through my pictures I've decided that by next Christmas I'll 1) learn how to use my external flash and 2) dress up my table for Christmas Eve dinner. Keeping it classy with plastic this Christmas Eve. 

The boys get their Christmas jams on December 1 {when Dido, our elf, pops into town} so on Christmas Eve they get their ornaments. They were beyond thrilled to get train ornaments with moving wheels. We face timed a bunch of family which made us kind of feel like we weren't that far apart. 

 

A nativity puppet show and a plate of cookies for Santa ended our night. The boys were so curious how Santa was going to get through our fireplace screen {of course by pushing the magic button inside the fireplace, which only Santa can see}

Then Cameron and I got to work and were beyond giddy with excitement. We then crashed on the couch and watched our traditional Christmas Eve movie "Family Man."

Weston's Christmas Concert

Weston had the cutest little Christmas concert this week at preschool. And of course I forgot my camera. Weston's not much of a singer so I wasn't expecting much. The first song started and Weston looked beyond bored and annoyed. A yawn took place and figured I'd get lots of pics with his hands in his lap. Second song began and a Christmas miracle took place because he started singing and doing the actions. I was seriously shocked because when I'd try and practice with him at home he'd say things like, "I'm going to shoot you with my gun" {nice.... now go to time out} or "no thanks, Brayden will sing it." It was really cute and of course I was one proud momma.

After, they had refreshments and his teacher told me how happy she was that Weston sang. She said she's never seen him open his mouth during singing time. Seriously classic. 

{Weston and Brayden}

Letters To Santa {2012}

Weston talked, I wrote {except he handled the "w" in his name}. Hilarious. He thought Santa would need to see the train tracks. Good thinking. 

Tilden Park Carousal and Santa

One of our favorite Christmas traditions is to go see the Santa at Tilden Park. We love the carousal year round but at Christmas it's magical. Everything is all light up, Santa is soooo sweet, $1 hot chocolate, and carousaling till our boys hearts are content. I look forward to it every year. 

Weston was super talkative to this Santa.... letting him know he wanted "lots of trains and lots of tracks and Holdie wants a ball." I've never talked about what Holden may want so it was sweet to see him thinking about his brother.

Puddle Jumping

Michelle and I dragged the boys downtown to set up early for the Livermore tree lighting. Like really early and in the rain. We're for sure turning into parade freaks. The boys were thrilled to find themselves some giant puddles which soaked them head to toe. Oh to be a kid again. 

Livermore Tree Lighting

We finally got it together and went to the tree lighting and parade this year. We've turned into crazy parade people that go in the morning, set up a ton of chairs for our crew, show up late, and then crawl over everyone to get to our chairs. Part of the memories I guess. Us and the neighbs all met up the Alehouse {along with everyone else in Livermore} to eat before the parade. Chaotic Fun. The boys loved the floats garbage trucks and trailers with lights. And then the icing on the cake was Santa riding up on a firetruck and lighting up the tree. Gotta love small town Christmas fun. 

Visiting Santa

We saw Santa over the weekend... when the night Santa was on shift. I'm a little annoyed. Night Santa is not very jolly, not very Santa-ish, doesn't ask what the kids want for Christmas, and just kind of boring. I want a re-do and I might talk myself into it before Christmas. Holden loved Santa and kept staring him down and smiling. Weston was unamused by the mute Santa who I had to do the talking for. For example, "Santa, can the boys tell you what they want?" Sigh. 

Chopping Down The Christmas Tree

I really wanted a white Christmas tree this year... so I spent a couple of weeks begging Cameron to invest in a white tree. That didn't go over so well. Something about me changing my mind every other day regarding my style and what I like. Hmmmmm. I plead the 5th. His peace offering was chopping down our own tree and I'm glad we did. Turns out we created a lot of fun memories, probably more than I would have pulling my fake white tree out of a box. 

A friend recommended Frosty's and it is such a gorgeous, family friendly farm. We'll be back. 

A few things I want to remember: 

-how Weston was so afraid we were lost as we wandered in and out of the trees

-how Cameron and I seriously examined each branch of each tree to make sure it was the right one... like we were choosing a house or something. 

-how much the boys loved the scalding hot chocolate

-how Cameron and I found "the perfect tree" right after we chopped ours down

-our new favorite breakfast joint, The Los Gatos Cafe

The Bun Is In the Oven

Here we go again.... round two with the bun in the oven costume. Our timing is really great apparently {round one here}. This little babe is making it's appearance the beginning of May and we are super excited! 

Trick Or Treating {2012}

Halloween is for sure the best holiday. Well, next to Christmas of course. Weston wanted to be a train engineer since July {because that's when I start talking about Halloween}. I kind of tried to change his mind a few times but it just wasn't happening. He was so happy with his costume and that just made me happy. Holden was the cutest little Max {from "Where the Wild Things Are"} and surprisingly kept his hat on the whole time. It's fun to raise a second child cause they seriously just do everything the first does. Holden was so into trick or treating and raced up to every step as fast as his monster legs would take him. Weston was completely obsessed with the night too and I can hardly wait till next year. 

We're missing Conner and Haley in this pic but we got most of the littles to sit still for about 10 seconds. We've been soooo lucky to have such good friends in the neighborhood.  

{Top: Weston, Conner, Ava, Brayden}

{Bottom: Evan, Holden, Lucas}