A new tradition......

It was the first Christmas Eve with our core family!   We went to church, out to lunch and had a delicious cooked dinner, just before tucking the kids in Early for SANTA to come!  It was hard to break the tradition from our own families, however, it was a special one for our Foursome!  We wrapped last minute gifts, sang christmas carols and talked about all our blessings in 2008. We all enjoyed our first Christmas with Sloan Joy!

Christmas with the fam

We had so much fun seeing CC and DD and all the Melchior's this holiday.  Both kiddos were spoiled rotten, I guess it's ok for the grandparents to do that, right?  We always enjoy going "home" to St Louis, however, we feel it's never long enough.....!  In fact, Quinton enjoys it so much when we're there that he never wants to go to bed...I'm not kidding... we're lucky if we get him into bed by 11p.m.  This visit, Sloan, enjoyed sitting up playing with all her new toys and getting plenty of hugs and kisses from both of them 

Thank you for all you do for our family...we love you so much and cannot wait for your next visit!!!   Enjoy the pics!

Christmas 2009

We had a wonderful Christmas this year.  Maggie, Max and Quinton really are understanding the concept of Christmas, with sharing Santa stories and the presents under the tree.  However, it was cute that they all too did comment on the real reason for the season and that they first had to sing Happy Birthday to Jesus!!!  

There was a very empty place in all of our hearts for Joy this holiday; as it actually marked the year anniversary of her going home...wow, what an AMAZING person!!!!!

J-O-Y-  What a fitting name for the time of season.  We were so blessed with the many years we had with her on earth, yet wished they could have even lasted longer.  She did so much for so many and she will remain a legacy for all to follow.  We love you Nana and pray to you each night! We too know you are that angel that watches over us every single day!  Check out Traci's Blog with a tear jerking letter that Andy wrote to his mom....

Qman's Christmas Program

All I can say is our little boy is growing up!!!!!!!!!!   The program was so sweet, it brought tears to my eyes, there he was up on stage, singing carols, screaming out every other word of the songs, like SANTA, and lots of TOYS, and then he jingled the bells as loud as he possible could. Take a peek...if the link works!!!  

Also, very interesting he played the role of Jesus in the skit...I was wondering if there was some irony on why he was asked to play this part?  I will continue to hope he displays Jesus like behaviors, because oh boy, lately, not so much!!!! I continue to pray that it is just the 3 year old stage.   Please pray too!!!  Just kidding....!

We also had a little party afterwords, where Sloan was able to meet Santa for the first time.  She was so well behaved, just continued to stare and ponder the big white beard.  I hope she told him her Mommy and Daddy are so thankful for the bundle of "JOY" she has been in our lives.

A day to just stay inside.....

With it being so cold outside the past couple of days, we've decided to stay in and have some fun....we were very productive, can you tell?

Snow Day

Aaron and Qman had so much fun in the first real snow day a couple of weeks ago...I had to get some photos.  I think they were trying to break a window.....  Do you notice that is dark outside, I think it was about 7 pm???!!!

SLOAN Appointment

Sloan is sitting up and loving it.  She is reaching for everything in site.  In fact, she seems to love Mommy's big hoop earring, I guess I will have to start watching what I wear.  She is still toothless, however she is ripe and I truly believe a few are ready to pop any day...I will keep you posted....At her sixth month appointment, she weighed in at 14 lbs 12 oz and her height was 26.5 inches...I cannot believe she is already 7.5 months....not ready for any crawling or walking quite yet!

The doc said she was measuring in the 30% for weight and 70% for height...interesting!

Disney Dentist

Today QMAN had his first Dentist appointment...He did great!  The place has a movie theater inside and is fully equipped with Disney characters and goodies....A child's dream....pretty cool!!!! They also want the kids to go back to get their teeth cleaned without the parents... I was a little worried at first, but she called me in when he was done and said he did AWESOME ( he was asking a lot of questions??)....he talked the entire way home about it!  Guess he'll be willing to go back.... NO Cavities....YET.....yeah!!!!! 

The First Fam Vacation

We were so fortunate to have been asked by our great friends the Milano's to vacation with them in the Bahamas! We had a blast, despite Sloan having to go to the doctor the second day and Qman having the NEVER ending cough that sounded horrible....you'd think after being on antibiotics for 5 days he would be better huh?

Anyway, the Atlantis was amazing...the property was huge, the views were breathtaking, the ocean had ENORMOUS waves, the company was wonderful and we never had to leave the resort( oh, except for some essential groceries, like MAC and CHEESE and H20) and I still think we missed some stuff. 

Let me start with Quinton... he was in aww the entire time...which way do I turn next? He loved looking for treasures in the sand, playing in the Gamers Reef, watching the Monster Trucks race, eating at Johnny Rocket's and he LOVED, I mean LOVED the Lazy river and the Rapids/Current Ride.  He even loved just sitting back in the stroller and going for the ride as he watched his IPOD.

Aaron, too, was like a kid at heart and I loved seeing him that way. He was so excited for all the water slides,  specifically the ones that your body landed in a shark tank for part of it, I think he rode all of them like six times.  I, on the other hand, was cool with the Lazy river and chillin with Sloan by the pool.

We were able to swim/feed the dolphins, see a Shark feeding, watch stingray the size of elephants swim in the aquarium, eat Ben and Jerry's Ice cream practically every night and even have some adult R and R with Mollie and Joe with Nicki coming along. Thanks again Nicki!

This was the best first family of four vacation anyone could ask for.... a trip we will never forget!!!!

His own Christmas Decorations...

It was a perfect day to stay inside, watch football, sing Christmas carols and hang the decorations....So Aaron and I thought we had a few minutes, while both kiddos were taking a little nap. Then of course, when Qman woke up, we wanted him to help decorate all the trees with us. Well, got about 1 hour of cleaning and some items out and then the story takes a twist...

Aaron and I heard Quinton talking on the monitor off and on, however didn't think anything of it...just thought he must be dreaming, because he does this often, hadn't heard any movement out of bed etc...I was planning to put away some laundry, so I decided to check on him, I opened the door and I about jump out of my pants, he's UP and says "SURPRISE", "Mom you scared me...". He said he hadn't taken a nap at all; he was sitting at the end of his bed, looking at a toy magazine with the biggest smile on his face saying, "I would like Santa to bring me........" He proceeds to say, "Mom, look at my XMAS decorations."

I just had to laugh, it was so cute...everything was displayed perfect, with ornaments hanging from his dresser hooks, the manger placed with Baby Jesus and figurines out and some other snowmen and knick knacks that his great papa had made last year for the holiday set on other side of the dresser....truly I think this is how I would have placed everything! I could not stop laughing and had to call Aaron upstairs. Need less to say, he went to bed early tonight and I am secretly hoping that the nap is not fading away!!