A Julius Christmas

This little guy is the cutest! 

Addison loved Tracey's tree and wanted her picture in front of it. 

Addison told us she was tired right after lunch and wanted to go take a nap. We were shocked. Usually with so much activity she would never leave to take a nap. She thought it was pretty funny that she was going to nap in Tracey's bed at her house, she loves to tease Tracey about sleeping in her bed at the Ames house. She always gets tickled for sleeping in Tracey's bed. 

So since we had to wait for her to wake up, Landon make up games for the boys. Whoever won a wall sit contest, got to open one present. Conner, being the smooth talker he is, told Parker "If you bail you can go eat a cookie" Of course, with Parker's sweet tooth, there was no thought behind his decision. He bailed right away and went and grabbed a cookie. Ha! Conner won and got to open a present. 

Then planks were the next contest. They put Nicole in this one. We thought she would win, but she had already done her Orange Theory that day and was super tired. I was shocked at how long each of the boys went. I can't remember who won this one, but we put Nolan on Conner's back to make it harder. They also had a dance contest and a singing contest. 

Makena and Nolan

This might be the first time I've seen this little guy cry in his 9 months. It was so funny! 

Addison was pretty tired and not quite awake and wouldn't smile. She got a doll crib, high chair, and  swing. She plays with them constantly. She also got some fun games, doll clothes, clothes for her and other good stuff. 

Grinch

We started Elf on the Shelf this year. I wasn't sure if she would understand, but she definitely did! She had a lot of fun with it. She named her elf "Grinch". Just like her mom and dad, she loves The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. I should have counted how many times we have watched that show. We actually wore out a DVD and had to buy a new one! 

I apparently didn't take any pictures of Grinch. But he moved every night and Addison looked forward to finding him each morning. And he also brought her small gifts when she was good. She loved them. It's been 4 months and she still tells us what Grinch gave her. I think one of her favorite gifts was some Paw Patrol tatooes. We put them on her hands. 

Oh man, the cowboy boots were still in good shape in these photos! She chose to wear them all the time. Even on jammie day.

The first of the belly photos. It was about this time that we had our ultrasound. Once again, not finding out what we are having! 

Women's Basketball game

It was a Friday afternoon at work and I got an email saying that they were giving away women's basketball tickets and passes to Johnny's for the game on Sunday. First to reply got them - I was actually first! We got a parking pass too, look at that spot we got! We have never parked this close, we were pretty excited. 

And we went into Johnny's before the game. Addison loves the snacks (and of course so do we). They have salty chips, goldfish, and popcorn. 

And at half-time, the Rice Krispie bars are always a hit :) They also had chocolate eu clairs. 

Figured we better get a picture with the Johnny Orr statue. The women lost the game, but we still had a good time! 

Decorating the tree & Christmas concert

The day had finally come - we set up our Christmas tree. Addison was so excited, she had been waiting for months! We didn't get it done as early this year as I normally do, life was just too busy.

One happy camper :) She did a great job of helping me and picking out where to put the ornaments. She would say "Oh! Right here is a good spot." 

Her school had a small Christmas program. Clearly I did a poor job of picking where to sit, the stair railing was in my way. Actually, I blame the auditorium, who puts stairs with railing at the front of the stage?! Then of course when they started singing, her teacher knelt down right in my line of view! These were about the only photos I got. She is supposed to be a snowman with a hat and a big red bow :) 

I was so mad that Ryan told her there would be cookies at the end.....she almost cried when we got to school and I told her she had to go sing first. She just wanted a cookie! She thought that was the sole reason we got dressed up and went to the school. We had to wait in a long slow line to get our cookie but she thought it was totally worth it. 

Of course I had to take photos of her dressed up for her first Christmas concert. 

13.1

I apparently missed these photos when I was doing October. I have no idea how I could forget them. October 19 was a big day! 

Back in August, I apparently was feeling a little crazy and I signed me and Kelly up for a Half Marathon. As I had said before, I have never been a long distance runner. Not only would 13.1 be challenge for me, but the challenge would be even bigger as I would be running the race pregnant! The thought crossed my mind many many times to back out, but I was worried that if I didn't do it now.....it would be years before I would try again, if ever. And I really, really, wanted to see if I could do it. 

It wouldn't have been so bad if I didn't have morning sickness! The training plan I was on had me running 4 time a week. With morning sickness and working a lot, I was lucky if I got 2 runs in a week. I always tried to do my long run on Sundays.  

The important part - I finished. I am still surprised I did it. Ha! This was a big goal/accomplishment for me. I had about the time I thought I would, based on my training. I really want to do it again someday when I am feeling good. The first half of the race I was not feeling good at all and kept making Kelly stop to walk with me. But I kept going and we made it. I would never had made it without Kelly and Cathy Jo running with me! Still need to get myself one of those stickers for my car (Ryan thinks I'm crazy) Ha! 

Thanksgiving 2019

Yup, we went to see Santa before Thanksgiving :) We spent Thanksgiving with the Prescotts & Skjevelands. Although it looked like Christmas in Minnesota! 

Addison was so excited to play in the snow with her cousins. Parker has a good little hill at his house so Makena would send her down the hill and then go get her and drag her back up. Not sure how much fun Makena had, but Addison had a blast! 

Addison loves this little bench at Kelly's. She sits in it every time we are there. She tells me "Mom, Kelly keeps this bench at her house just for me". Ha! 

Parker took her outside to build a snowman. She was pretty proud of the snowman they built. It was a good couple days in the snow! 

Dear Santa......

We always try to get to Santa before Thanksgiving so that we don't have to wait in line. So we got dressed, got baby Santa, and head to Bass Pro. She understood who Santa was and that he would bring her toys. 

It also happened to be my birthday, so we had to take a picture together. With a bear of course. Ha! It was a great day, mainly because the home football season and Cyclone Central Tailgates were over (the day prior). And I had a really awful cold but couldn't take any medicine due to being pregnant. It had been a long, rough, football season with morning sickness, adding 45% of someone's job to my team, running races and trying to keep track of everything at home! So a nice relaxing birthday was perfect :) 

Addison climbs in and says "Mom, I don't have one of these at home" - ha! 

Well this was a pretty good year with Santa! No tears and we didn't have to go with her. We didn't get a REAL smile, but how much can you really ask for? She was really excited to see Santa this year, but not quite ready to talk to him. She was going to tell him she wanted "lots of dolls". We aren't sure if she spoke but we are positive he wouldn't have heard her if she did. Every since last year, every time we drove by Bass Pro, she would yell "That's Santa Claus' house!" She was so super excited about Santa this year and couldn't wait for him to come to her house. 

Cootie!

My dad and I used to play Cootie a lot when I was little. I was excited to play it with Addison. She loves it! It's one of her go-to games. 

Peanut Butter Cap'n Crunch is my favorite cereal. I don't let myself buy it often anymore because it's not exactly healthy. But I told myself that I could eat it while pregnant, then I had to stop again. Addison wanted to try my cereal and I jokingly wanted the cereal all to myself. So I was trying to tell her that she wouldn't like it. Every time we have tacos for supper, she tells us "I don't like tacos". So I told her it was 'taco-flavored cereal'. She looks at the box and says "But there is peanut butter on it, maybe I like peanut butter tacos" - HA! So I gave her some and of course she liked it (who wouldn't?!). We have been buying Crunch Berries and Oops All Berries, she has been sharing all the Cap'n Crunch :) 

She loves playing the piano. Hopefully someday I can find someone to give her lessons (not me though). When she gets a little older I might start her on some basics. I hope she's interested in it!

Gas Station Ice Cream

Well we all know a gas station has the best pizza, but gas stations apparently have good ice cream too. I had to take Ryan and Addison to the gas station that Kelly, the boys, and I went to. Ryan of course, loved the ability to sample and that it was the same cost no matter what. 

Addison thought "night swimming" was pretty cool. It was too cold for me! 

The girl loves the pool! We will have to see how she does next time now that she has taken some swimming lessons.

One trip to the gas station wasn't enough, we had to go again :) No, she didn't get a whole cup to herself, her and I shared the peanut butter chocolate ice cream! 

It was a nice family vacation and we were soon back to reality. The weather was beautiful and we had to go home to the start of winter. :( Until next time, bye Florida! 

Fort Myers Beach

We ventured over to Fort Myers Beach one day. It was pretty warm out but not too bad. Addison had a slight fever again this day, so she wasn't quite herself. But she did enjoy playing in the sand.

She was pretty nervous about getting in the water, but enjoyed watching it. 

That's about as far in as I need to be - ha! After the episode of Friends where Monica is bitten by a jellyfish, I'm a little freaked out to get in the water - ha! 

Addison's announcement that she will be a big sister in May! We had told our immediate families by this point, but no one else. I was at about 14 weeks at this time. Addison seemed to understand what it meant and told us she was excited. 

We walked up to Nervous Nellie's for lunch. It was nice to be in the AC and the food was pretty good too!

We walked all the way out on the pier to see the view. We thought Addison would like the para-sailors but she wasn't feeling great and was ready to go. Maybe next time! 

She must have enjoyed the beach because she's been talking about it for months and wanting to go back!!