Christmas 2011 to New Year 2012

That is how you say "Merry Christmas"


I am one lucky girl. I hear my friends talk about their in-laws and the things and awkward moments that they have to endure. That is not the case with me. I get so excited when Grandma and Grandpa Engstrom come for a visit. They are wonderful. The boys go ballistic with wrestling on Grandpa, Grandma cooks/bakes up a storm. Zachary announced that "Grandma is a good cooker. She cooks better than you Mom." It is true she is better than me and I love to eat what she makes. The most memorable was the cinnamon twist roll bread.

We made a list of places that we wanted to go while they were here. The weather was super nice so we got out and did almost everything that was on the list. First we went to Valley Forge while the boys were in school. The weather was amazing. I think my favorite part of the driving tour was the house that Washington stayed in. We were told by the park ranger there that family didn't want to except rent from General Washington. It reminded me how much people gave to the cause of Liberty and how much people sacrificed.

Friday Kevin and Jo left early to go into the city for a bus & boat tour. When Adam and Zachary woke up they immediately asked for Grandma and Grandpa. I told them that they were gone for the day and they were so upset. Zachary heard a little nose and thought it was them...."I think I hear them, Gr-aan-dma! where are you." I thought it was so sweet.

Saturday was Christmas Eve. It is one of my family traditions (to help pass the day along) we go out to a movie, then to an early dinner and then read the Christmas story from Luke 2. I got a big group of friends together for the day's activities. It was really nice to be with everyone and to share this special time with friends and family. We read the nativity at the Nell's home and the kids had a great time dressing up as shepherds and such and then acting out. We visited, played, and said our good-byes. We finished up our family tradition of opening one gift ( the pj gift) and then got ready for bed.

Christmas was really nice this year. I was pretty demanding that I get to watch everyone open their gifts (since I thought about, searched for, shopped for, bought, and wrapped each one.) I really enjoyed seeing everyone open up their toys or their favorite chocolate. We enjoyed the morning with each other. Grandma whipped up breakfast the night before; cinnamon twist pull-a-part bread. It was amazing! The big gifts this year were the new couch form Grandma and Grandpa E., Daddy got a new phone (that can do everything and more), I got a new kindle fire tablet, Adam got what he desired spiderman web shooter and the claw zord, Zachary got the octozord and a new stuffed dog, and Andrew got a ball popper. After church we just got ready for Christmas dinner and played with toys.

Monday: we took off to see the statue of Liberty. The weather prediction was right on that day it said that it would start raining about 12:00 and that is exactly what happened. We were able to do most of our outing before it got bad but we were hit with cold winds as we were waiting for the ferry to take us back to New Jersey. Other than the weather turning on us it was a pleasant trip. The boys as always enjoyed the boat ride and loved being with their Grandparents. We got a really good picture of all of the family in front of the NYC skyline.

Tuesday's adventure was a split effort. Grandma and Grandpa went to Morris Town to see some more history sites and we took the boys to an indoor amusement park. We went for the bumper cars and Zachary was just an inch too short. There were tears but he got over it when he got to go on a roller ride. Andrew took a good snooze in the car and then fully enjoyed the rides that he got to sit on.

Wednesday we spent at Princeton campus. We walked around for a little while and looked at some of the buildings it is a beautiful campus we all thought it looked like Hogwarts from the "Harry Potter" movies. After lunch we got some cupcakes at a place that won "cupcakes wars" on the food network. I admit it was the best cupcake that I have ever had. The boys claimed that the cupcakes were their favorite part of the day.

Thursday New Year's Eve and last day with Grandma and Grandpa.  We ended our 2011 by going to the beach for a picnic.  It was a really nice mild day and everyone loved the fresh Jersey air.

Christmas is a Come'in

I feel like the Christmas season snuck up on me this year. I have felt like I've been running behind the holiday rush. With is staying here for Christmas and Grandma and Grandpa coming here I felt like we could really enjoy the decorations and other traditions. We kicked off the festivities with a Santa Clause visit. No tears this year and we even got a good picture. When I asked the boys what they wanted for Christmas they told me that they both wanted the clawzord and spiderman web shooter and Zach added a puppy. (well, I told them that a puppy couldn't happen) We had a good time and even got to write the troops a Christmas card.

One of my favorite traditions is getting out the Christmas tree decorations. I love doing it as a family and I love seeing each ornament and remembering the special meaning each one holds. I feel like when the tree is up then Christmas celebrations can begin.

For a special treat I took the boys to the clay pot to make some ornaments with some friends. What they picked out really speaks for them. Adam loves candy canes and red so he painted a red candy cane and Zachary loves anything that is green and space so what better than a Christmas tree with a big star on top.

To help us remember that Christmas is the season of giving we ran a 5K as a family and the entry fee is a unwrapped new toy. Adam saw that one of the toys that we were giving was the clawzord the toy that he most desired. It didn't leave his hands with out some tears. We explained what we were doing and that there are more clawzords out there. He calmed down. We figured that this most defiantly made this even memorable. Andrew looked adorable in his snow suit and hat. I had lots of people taking pictures and even video of our little guy. We had a really good time as a family and I think that we will make this a new family tradition.

What is Christmas with out sugar cookies?! Adam and Zachary had been asking to make some so we got our aprons on and got to work. Our cookies turned out pretty good. Adam and Zach were really proud of them and every time they finished decorating a cookie its picture was taken before they ate it. I absolutely love spending time with those guys.

Another tradition that I had growing up was getting a new Sunday dress for Christmas and my family is the same. I got the boys some new Sunday clothes and I just couldn't pass on those hats. My boys looked so dapper and they loved putting them on.

The most boring Christmas party non-kid friendly event of all time. First of all it starts 7:00pm Sunday night. So not only is it a school night but also we just got home for church at 4:30. So all my kids want to do is to run around with friends and eat some yummy cookies that are on display. they have the kids dress up which only makes them think that they are going to have some part in this program. Instead they have the seminary kids read for a scripture script and sing a hymn after each of the 13 readers. After that was over they played a 20+min video and then a closing speaker. All the while my kids are looking at the cookies and asking to have some. I couldn't torture them any longer during the video (8:00) we grabbed some cookies and came home. I hope that doesn't become a Christmas tradition.

Dancing Babe

Andrew has been playing with a new toy that plays music. I walked in the room to catch him bobbing his head to the music. It was the cutest thing. I couldn't help myself I took this video. I am so glad that I get to have these moments.

Fall Break

This week the boys have school off. It has been a week full of fun. It started on Sunday night with a stay late with Adam's friend Sam. We played, ate cake, watched a movie and finally they shot me with a million Nerf darts (that was of course their part).

Monday we played at the park with friends the a special trip to the grocery store. They were so excited to get a sugar cereal and try a new frozen food. Oh, yeah we bought a lot of diet coke and mentos. I love that they get so excited about the little things.

Tuesday: I woke up to Adam smiling at me about 6in away from my face. As soon as I opened my eyes he said can we do some science? So that morning we biked to the empty lots down the street and dropped mentos into coke bottles. They LOVED it. We ended our day of fun at one of our favorite parks where I over heard Adam one upping a new found friend by saying "well, my dad is a science dr." It made me smile that he is so proud of his dad that way.

Wednesday: We traveled down to south Jersey with some friends to visit the popcorn zoo. It was a cute animal rescue. They had geese, peacocks, and other birds roaming around the grounds you can feed them popcorn while you look at the other more exh0tic animals. Adam and Zachary were enjoying feeding the geese when one goose got really aggressive with Zach. I marched over there and when that goose took another swipe at him I kicked it square in the chest. As I was in the moment I forgot I was at an animal rescue surrounded by a bunch of fanatic animal lovers (I love them too but hey my kid comes way above a stupid bird). Fortunately nobody of influence saw me and we went on our merry way.

The way that Adam and Zachary distributed their popcorn amongst the animals was very telling. Zachary's was gone after about fifteen minutes of being there when an excited goat ripped the box out of Zach's hands. This act was followed with squeals and excited laughter. Adam stayed a good distance away from the group and dulled out his corn one corneal at a time. He especially enjoyed watching the peacocks eat. He patiently watched each piece be eaten. He savored every last gobble.

The outing ended with a visit to the adoption shelter. We walked into the kennel and the smell about knocked me over. If these people want it to be even be tempting for me to adopt an animal then the smell better not bring tears to my eyes. I had no problem telling the boys no when they picked out a puppy that they wanted. Call me hard but I'm not ready for another baby in my house. I've got enough poop and pee to clean up.

Thursday: Very relaxing morning. We ended up going over to a neighbor's house and they played all day. She made the boys treasure boxes and had a treasure hunt for the boys. They LOVED that. I could barely get them to come home.

Friday: Play Play Play. Then we built a camp fire in the back yard with Daddy when he got home. Andrew enjoyed relaxing with Dad and some toys.

Grandad Holiday

My dad had some business in New Jersey and was able to spend Tuesday night and surprisingly most of the following day. I took the boys out of school so that they could have the rare opportunity to have one-on-one with their Grandad. They played games and snap circuits. Adam loved showing off his new toy and Zachary enjoyed laying on his Grandad. I think that those two really connected this visit. We took Grandad to one of our favorite parks. We got to feed animals, play on slides and throw rocks into the lake (always a favorite). Grandad treated us to a trip to our favorite bakery, Mendoker's.

Shortly after lunch we had to pack up and take Grandaddy to the airport. During the drive my dad told me his memories of his Grandad Renfroe. He said that he always smelled of lucky strike cigarettes and motor oil and that when he hugged him he was scratchy because he wore plaid wool shirts. He mentioned that he doesn't remember ever spending a day like the one we just had with his grandad. I feel really fortunate that we had and took the opportunity to be with each other. We don't live close so the time that we do get to have together is very sweet. Thanks Dad for stopping by.

Halloween 2011!

It was a great day. I decided to make the traditional Halloween pot of gumbo and worked all day to do that and I jumped through hoops to coordinate attending parade, cooking, shoping, and those precious naps. I felt like a champion because everything worked out.

We had friends over to go trick-or-treating and Adam had a blast! He and his friends were running from house to house and getting as much as he could. Zachary really enjoyed making foot prints in the snow. Yes, I said snow. We had a very unsually early snow on Saturday alot has melted off but there is still a lot on the ground.

Andrew enjoyed the action, all of the people, and of course a ride in the stroller.

What made the night really fun was that Kerri and Drew Heart came over to share in the night with us. They made the night a lot of fun for the boys and me too. They play with Zachary (he just soaked it up) and Adam. With them here it was almost like having family over. I really loved it.

So Cute

I can't stand it. I really need to be taking more pictures of this little guy. Every where Andrew goes people comment on how happy he is. As soon as he catches someone's eye he breaks into a smile and just lights up. When we are at church I love stanking him up on my lap and he gets a look at the congragation and just lights up with a super happy expression.

First Day

Zachary, Miriam & Shawn

Mrs. Kaslanski

Zachary's first day of pre-school. He was really excited to be there and to be with his friends.

Fall Traditions

Every year we go and pick apples and this year was no different. We had a good time. I really enjoyed watching my boys experience the orchard. It was Andrew's first time to go and I think he really enjoyed looking at all of the trees and touching the leaves. He also really liked as always watching his brothers. Adam and Zachary are entertaining: hopping, running, chasing, throwing, climbing, scratching in the dirt.....Andrew wants to be apart of it. The favorite for Josh was the claw and watching Andrew hold and gew on an apple for the first time.

The claw really is fun. We like to find the best apple at the very top of the tree and grab it with the claw.

Fire Friday 10-2011

Daddy had been out of town all week long so to celebrate his return home we had a fire in the back yard. Also another reason to celebrate is because it is Andrew's 7mo b-day. Zachary and I raked up the pine needles and on our walk home we gathered up pine cones. We were geared up to burn! Boys, fire, fuel....priceless fun

Josh had to stand guard with the water hose in the ready. We had pine needles spilling over the edge of the pit and pine cones hopping out as they missed their targets. After all of the pine cones were put into the fire they played in the needles. Their imagination knew now bounds with what those needles became.

Enjoying Every Moment

Zachary likes to start off his day with a snuggle on the couch with all of his friends. The most recent addition to his live stock is his custom "Z" pillow.

It was a georgous day so we got out side to soak it up. I'm so grateful that we have a yard and to show my thanks we use it.

Family Day

We went to Spotswood Family Day and they had a car show. So each of us picked out our favorite car and took our picture by it. It took Zachary no time to find a green car and peg that one his favorite. Mine was a old truck, Adam the first red car that he saw and Josh picked the oldest car that he could find. It was fun to spend time together and our neighbors.