Kiecker Christmas 2015

Another Christmas is in the books. This past week has just flown by, and I feel like I blinked, and now Christmas has already come and gone. The Christmas Music is off the radios, the lights and Christmas decorations are coming down, and I kind of have the post-holiday blues already.

It was a wonderful Christmas though. I actually had this last week off from work, which was awesome. I spent a couple of the days at home with no kids, and cleaned the house, ran errands, and just did things that are usually difficult to do with two young children in the house. It was kind of nice.

We had Christmas at home with the kids on Christmas Eve morning. We put the presents under the tree while the kids were sleeping. The night before we had Emma set out cookies and milk for Santa. It was pretty cute. Emma was just old enough to sort of understand Santa coming to bring her presents. Emma was thrilled with her presents, and opened them very enthusiastically. It was a very fun Christmas morning. Elliott was pretty overwhelmed, and basically just played with the tissue paper, but he had fun with it as well.

After we all unwrapped our presents, and played for a while, we headed to Minnesota. We got to my parents house around 1:00pm, and after we were unpacked and settled, we headed to Janel and Tim's to celebrate Christmas with my dad's side of the family. Emma and Eli had fun playing with the cousins, and they also had more gifts to open and play with. We also watched Jenna and Trevor in the Children's Christmas Eve program. Elliott was a nightmare during the service, and him and John spent most of the program in the church entryway. After the program, we headed back to Tim and Janel's for some food, games, and socializing. It was a nice get-together.

Christmas Day was spent at my parent's house. We went to church in the morning. Elliott was a nightmare in church, and I actually ended up taking him home for a nap halfway through church. Church hasn't been real fun with him lately. After lunch, we opened presents again, and Emma and Elliott both got spoiled rotten. It was a really fun day, and everyone had fun opening gifts.

On Saturday we spent the morning playing with the kids and visiting before heading back in the early afternoon. We made it back home by 4:00pm, and then settled back into our home.

Today was a catch up day. I spent a good amount of the day cleaning the house, grocery shopping, and continuing to pick up the house. Eli was pretty crabby today from a long holiday weekend, so he took a couple long naps and is soundly sleeping now. Emma had a good day, but is protesting bedtime again. She's been a little pill about bedtime again lately, so that's been a fun battle.

We had a wonderful Christmas with the Kiecker side, and we still have one left to celebrate with John's family.

Merry Christmas everyone, and have a truly Blessed New Year!!




P.S. We were terrible about taking pictures this year, and I basically only have pictures of the kids. Enjoy.

Our Christmas Tree and presents 

Elliott loves Christmas too!

My sweeties :)

Emma digging in

Elliott joining the fun

Emma and her Minnesota presents 

Super excited!

Elliott attacking the tree

Emma's Christmas Program 2015

We had a pretty fun weekend in the Nelson Household. I had to work all weekend, so it wasn't super exciting for me, but my parents and brother came to town this past weekend and the kids really had a lot of fun with them.

On Saturday, the boys and Emma did some shopping around town, and ran into Santa Claus at Home Depot. Emma was super excited to see Santa, and was even able to mumble out that she wanted her Doc McStuffins stuffed animals. She also got a candy cane, and ate the entire thing.

Everyone (except me), also went out to eat at Texas Roadhouse and then drove through Falls Park to see all the Christmas lights. Emma and Elliott really enjoyed the company, and all the fun activities.

Today was a pretty busy day as well. I worked all day again, but my parents and Ryan spent the day playing with the kids and just hanging out at the house.

Emma had her Christmas Program at church at 4:00pm. I was able to get off work early and go to this, and it was adorable. Emma sat with us, went up to sing one song and to say a group part with some other kids, and then she came back to sit with us. It was so cute. And she was so proud to stand up there with the other kids. Both sets of Grandparents were able to attend the program, so it was a pretty special evening. Elliott even behaved pretty well throughout the entire service.

After the Christmas program, we went out to eat with mom, dad, and Ryan to TC Referee's. It was a nice ending to a great weekend. My parents and brother left about an hour and a half ago, and we just got the kids settled into bed. I have one more 12 hour shift tomorrow, and then I am off work until after Christmas. I am super excited for a little time off, and for the holiday season.

But, I have a lot of wrapping to do before Christmas gets here!

Emma visiting with Santa at Home Depot

Emma the goofball

Ready for her Christmas Program

Children's Christmas Program at Bethel Church 

A visit to Santa.

We are in full-blown holiday season over here. I've barely blinked, and now Christmas is only about a week away. I am not sure how that happened. This is probably the least ready for Christmas I have ever been. I still have presents left to buy, we haven't even gotten our Christmas cards to send out yet, and I haven't wrapped a single thing. I guess we are lucky that our Christmas decorations are up.

Life has been pretty busy over here, like it usually is. The kids keep me very busy. Elliott had a tough week last week. He was just generally crabby, and difficult. I think he has some teeth coming. He also had really bad diarrhea and his butt was so raw it was practically bleeding. Poor kiddo. But, we got through it, and we have or happy little boy back once again. And he is eating like a horse, we can't keep him full. I think a growth spurt is on it's way as well.

Emma has been doing very well lately. She is staying healthy, and she is loving all this Christmas stuff. She loves the lights, and the music and she is super excited for Christmas when she can open presents. It's adorable. She actually went to her first movie in the theatre with Grandma Barb the other day, and she saw the movie Peanuts. She loves every minute of it, and was so excited to tell everyone about it.

We took the kids to see Santa this past weekend and they both did really well. We had been talking up Santa for the past week, so Emma was very excited to see him and she even knew what she was going to ask for. She wants Santa to bring her a stuffed Hallie, Stuffy, and Chilly (characters from Doc McStuffins) for Christmas. It was pretty cute. She got pretty shy around Santa, and just kind of whispered what she wanted, but she went through with it and sat on his lap like a champ.

Elliott also did very well. He just sat on Santa's lap and looked around. He didn't cry or look scared at all. He looked all handsome in his Christmas sweater, and just overall did much better than Emma did with her first visit to Santa.

Otherwise things have been going really well around here. I love this time of the year. I love all the family time. the holiday lights and treats, and just the overall feeling this time of year gives you. This weekend Emma has a Christmas Program at church, and I am super excited to watch her in it. I think she is just singing one song, but it will be cute. I also have to work this weekend, so between that and the Christmas program this weekend will fly by in no time. Before we know it, Christmas will be here.

Happy Holidays!!!

Emma and her Gingerbread House

Emma and I dressed Elliott up in a tutu :)

Me and my boy

Emma's a little unsure

But she warmed up to Santa

So adorable.

Thanksgiving 2015

Somehow time has flown away from me again. Thanksgiving has come and gone, and it was a busy holiday. On the actual day, we had John's parents and brother over, and Barb and I made the Thanksgiving meal. It ended up being a good, low-key day. I had to work call the night of Thanksgiving, and had to go to work for a few hours. But other than that, it was a pretty quiet, stay-at-home day.

On Friday, we headed to Minnesota for Thanksgiving. All of my Clobes cousins were home, so we decided to head to the bar and socialize there with a few drinks. Well, everyone had a little too much to drink, and there was even some puking in the car ride home. We celebrated a little too hard apparently.

Saturday was the day we celebrated Thanksgiving with the family. Everyone on my dad's side was able to make it, and we had a great time. Elliott got some birthday presents, and Emma even got a few things, so the kids had new toys to play with, which was awesome. Emma also loved playing with Jenna, and her other cousins. She slept like a rock both nights in Minnesota, she just wore herself out playing.

The food was delicious, the company was wonderful, and the games were fun. Overall, we all had a really good holiday. On Sunday, we headed back to Sioux Falls. The kids did great on the road trip both to and from Minnesota. It was awesome. They were either sleeping, or just content to ride in the car, made for a relaxing drive.

Unfortunately, on Sunday, John's Grandma Mildred passed away. So, we had some visitation and a funeral, and a lot of family time thrown into our already busy week. I had to work call and late shifts most of the week, so John shuffled the kids around to visitation and other family events on his own. What a trooper!

Today has been a little bit of a catchup day. We spent the morning just playing with the kids and enjoying the fact that we had nowhere we needed to be. After naps (which Emma is strongly protesting right now) we are planning on doing a little Christmas shopping since we haven't' bought a single thing yet. And Christmas is only 20 days away. Yikes!

That's about all that is new here. Elliott is finally starting to sleep through the night consistently, which is awesome. And Emma is getting really excited for Christmas to get here, so she can open all her presents. It's pretty cute, I love this time of year. Of course, we are trying to teach her about Jesus, and the true meaning of Christmas, but she is 3, and is more excited about the candy, presents, and pretty Christmas lights.

Overall, we are doing well, and we are all loving this time of year.

Thanksgiving meal approved by Elliott

Bar Fun

Birthday Boy

Eating again

Happy Birthday Elliott

Whew, what a crazy week happening in the Nelson Household. It's just been go, go, go lately. We have been decorating for Christmas, looking at Christmas lights, craft show shopping, and playing in the newly fallen snow. Somehow, in the midst of all the activities, Elliott's first birthday snuck up on us.

Elliott turned one year old today! It is so very hard to believe that my little, chubby, boy is already a year old. The time sure did fly!

Since Elliott's birthday falls so close to Thanksgiving, we decided that we would just do a small get-together with some family for his birthday. So, we had Jim, Barb, Jeff, Jill and Peg (who were in town to celebrate Thanksgiving) over for some pizza and cake.

What a fun evening it turned into. Elliott was a little bit moody, and tired, but he ended up having a lot of fun and being very good entertainment. Both kids got extremely spoiled (yes, even Emma got some presents).

Elliott's gifts included: pajamas, a xylophone, toy cars with a ramp, a scooter toy, a stuffed lion, and a couple other outfits. Emma got a book, some clothes, and the game candy land.

Both kids enjoyed all the attention and were very well-behaved. And of course we had to have a smash cake for Elliott, which he really enjoyed and made quite a huge mess with. Elliott was up until about 9:30 (which is REALLY late for him) and Emma wasn't asleep until about 10:00pm. It was a very nice evening, and a very fun way to celebrate Elliott's birthday.

Elliott's 1 year old likes:
-His pacifier (really likes this at bedtime and anytime he is feeling crabby/stressed. We are trying to wean it a little bit and limit it to bedtime only)
-Eating (This kid can eat. And he gets really mad when he's hungry. He is not patient and can throw a fit when he is ready to eat and we aren't ready for him)
-Sleep (He also likes his sleep, and is a bear if he does not get enough of it. He is still super easy to put to bed, usually just a bottle, blanket, and then lay him in the crib, and he passes out on his own)
-Being tickled (This kid likes to giggle, likes raspberries on his belly, and just generally likes to be played with. He loves when we are on the floor with him, playing at his level)
-Baths (Still absolutely loves bath time. He likes to splash, likes to play with the toys, and occasionally drink the bath water)
-Crawling (He has learned how to get around, and to do it quickly. He loves to crawl into the kitchen, or bathroom, and empty drawers and cupboards. He really knows how to make a big mess)
-Chewing on everything (Still puts most things in his mouth, and drools all over them)
-Emma (He loves his big sister, and usually has smiles and giggles for her. He even puts up with her when she steals his toys from him constantly)
-His bottle (still loves it and goes crazy for it when he is hungry or tired. Might be a hard thing to wean away in the coming weeks)
-Whole milk (Not so sure about the cold temperature, but he doesn't mind the whole milk flavor)
-Shopping or getting out of the house (He loves to people watch, or just sit in the cart contently as we shop in the stores and he can look around at everything. He likes to be out and about.)

Elliott's 1 year old dislikes:
-Getting dressed/having a diaper changed (He does not like this one bit. He would rather be naked at all times)
-Not getting all of mom or dad's attention (Got forbid we need to do something like go to the bathroom, brush our teeth, or get ready for work, and we can't hold him or play with him at all times. He can really throw a fit trying to get our attention)
-His carseat (Doesn't like being strapped in. Usually does ok in the car as long as he can reach his toys, and it's light outside and he can see what's going on)
-Stocking caps (Will not leave these on at all. Should work well this winter)
-Sleeping through the night (It comes and it goes. Some nights he is fine, some nights he thinks he is starving at 4:00 am)
-Strangers (He is in full-on attachment phase and usually wants mom and dad if they are within sight over other people he doesn't know very well)
Daycare (He bawls when we drop him off. he does fine once we leave, but drop-off is a little traumatic.)

I have his one-year check up on Friday, so I will get his height and weight then, but he's still a big boy. It wont' be long and he will catch up to Emma with no problem. Elliott is eating table food like a champ, and we usually just do sippy cups of water and milk, and just give him a bottle before bed. He can pull himself up on furniture, and can walk behind a couple toys, so walking is not so far away.

He is generally a happy little kiddo, likes to snuggle and give kisses, and is just a sweetie. We love him so much, and can't wait to see what the next year will have in store for him.

Happy Birthday Eli!!

Present time, big sister standing by

Birthday Boy digging in

Yay tissue paper!!!

New toys!

Playing with Uncle Jeff

Candy Land

Elliott's cake

Mmmm, yummy

Emma serenading the guests  

Sick Elliott

Poor Elliott has been feeling pretty miserable for the past 4 days. On Friday, daycare called us with suspicion of pink eye, so we took him to the doctor, and turns out her has pink eye in both eyes, and an ear infection. Poor kiddo. So, we got him started on some antibiotics and eyes drops (which is really fun with a one year old).

This past weekend Elliott was pretty much clingy and whiny, and it made for a really long weekend. Overall, he is doing ok. His poor nose is like a snot fountain, his eyes are red and puffy, and he just generally feels miserable. Oh yeah, his poor butt is like on fire too, he has a super-duper terrible diaper rash going on. So, fun times.

Today, the kids stayed at home with Grandma Barb. Emma has been fine, she has a runny nose, but that's about it. But she wanted to stay home with Grandma and play. Elliott is ok, he was still pretty run-down, whiny, and crummy, so we gave him another day of resting at home, hoping that by tomorrow he will be okay to go to daycare.

So, here's hoping Elliott can kick this crud to the door, so we can all move on (and get some sleep).

No nap=Falling asleep while watching TV

Sick Elliott

Miserable, but smiling 

Here's November!

So, we are a week into November already. Once again, time is flying by. Last weekend, after all the Halloween festivities, we enjoyed some wonderful weather outside. I raked some leaves, and both kids had fun with them. Emma loved to jump in them of course, and Elliott was content to crunch them up with his fingers and roll around in them. 

Sunday was a pretty lazy day. We suffered through church with the kids, Elliott was a big handful. We enjoyed the leaves, and played in the backyard, but other than that we mainly just watched some football and relaxed. 

My sister was in town on Monday, and I happened to have the day off, so that worked out very well. She watched the kids for a couple hours in the morning so I could get my hair cut and run a couple other errands that work better kid-free. Once I was done, we all packed up and went to the mall to do some shopping. After trekking through the mall for a couple hours, we were all pooped and the kids took some much-needed naps. 

Rachel let late afternoon, as she was going to a concert with a friend, and I spent the rest of the day playing with the kiddos. 

The rest of the week flew by without too much excitement. On Friday, we got a call from daycare that Elliott wasn't feeling very well. John took him to the doctor, and it turned out the poor boy has pick eye, and an ear infection. Luckily, Barb was able to spend the afternoon with him so John could go back to work. 

So, this weekend has been a little bit of a struggle. Elliott has been very clingy and whiny and just not feeling well. We have antibiotic drops to give him (three times a day, which is REALLY fun with an 11 months old) and an oral antibiotic for the ear infection. And his nose has just been a snot fountain at all times, so it's been interesting. Emma also started complaining of her ear hurting today, so I am guessing she is also dealing with an ear infection. So far for her, we are just medicating with ibuprofen and that seems to be doing okay. Gotta love this time of the year, hope they are both feeling a little better by Monday morning. 

John and I totally rocked out some awesome cleaning today. We cleaned the kitchen top to bottom, including cleaning behind the fridge and stove. Not fun jobs, but it feels so good to have it done. I also washed bedding and blankets since the kids are sick and yucky, and John raked and bagged up our leaves in the yard. It was so nice to get some serious cleaning done while the kids took some awesome power naps this afternoon. 

But, that being said. I am pooped, and I am sure Elliott (and maybe Emma) will need some attention tonight. So, I am going to bed. Enjoy some adorable photos :)

Looking all innocent before the leave jumping 

Emma loves fall!!

Happy Little boy

They play so well together :)