Christmas Day 3 - Fri. Dec. 24th (aka Christmas Eve)

Aunt Jennifer bought Eleanor the Barbie bust for Christmas which is quite the hit. Not only did both Eleanor and Nash apply several coats of lipstick to her lips but Barbie also tricked all of us throughout the day making us think another kid was in the house. She even did some Skype'ing with Charity's dad and stepmom in Dallas imitating Charity

Tp prepare for the night's festivities we threw the kids in the big tub for a quick wash. Maddux put on a bubble beard and pretended to be Santa. Even asking if anyone wanted to sit on Santa's lap.




Matt's late Grandma Streidl was an excellent writer and poet and has her works compiled into a book called Confessions of a Sexagenarian. I thought Charity would enjoy reading her book which she did (she stayed up late Christmas Eve finishing it). Now Charity has the proper inspiration to finish her book :)
With the kids cleaned and ready (minus Hank who was getting his diaper changed) I started the cousin photo session. I was getting lots of smiles and cooperation but we quickly fizzled.

By the time Hank was ready the kids were smiled-out and Hank wasn't into it in the least.I feel lucky to have gotten a picture this good because things really went downhill fast

The KC Ohlunds - Sven, Maddux, Charity & Nash

The whole gang

The Youngs trying unsuccessfully to capture the joyousness of Christmas Eve. Matt looks like a Christmas moose with that sled behind him.

We did a little better without that crazy 2-year-old

Sven & Charity

Carolyn & her Jaja

The Aunts with little Hank. I wonder what he's thinking.

Aunt Nan finally got to meet Hank

Sweet Carolyn

Maddux & his mama

Emma & Carly

Jim Fish (Santa) proposed to his girlfriend Sarah. She said yes!

Santa Maddux

Nash got a guitar

Carolyn LOVES Thomas!

Iron Man - Maddux was scaring people in his mask until he'd flip open the visor and say in his sweet voice, "It's just me, Maddux."

Uncle Dave loves little Hanky Boy

Mama trying to hold all Eleanor's presents

Christmas Day 2 - Thurs. Dec 23rd

Thursday we let the kiddos play while the adults relaxed. In the midst of all the playing, I got the kids to help me make peppermint stick ice cream, Mmmm!

Eggs & sugar - Yum! 'Er Carolyn no!

Smashin' the candy canes

Eleanor & Nash

Carolyn & Nash

With more snow on the ground than he's used to, Maddux couldn't wait to get outside. Leaving the little kids inside, Eleanor and Maddux went outside to scope-out icicles, wade in the snow, and even do a little sledding.






Back inside, we hung out a little longer before the excitement of dinner with Mom, Gary, Jennifer, Tom, Danielle and Reid.

Gary brought us a prime which Sven cook to perfection. We also had shrimp cocktail, cheese and crackers, homemade bread, veggies, baked potatoes, lots of cookies, and more than enough wine.


After dinner it was Part 1 of 5 gift exchanges.

Christmas Day 1 - Wed. Dec. 22nd

Our Christmas started on Wednesday when we arrived home from work/daycare and my brother Sven and his family pulled in the driveway from Kansas City. Sven and Charity's first line of business was meeting their newest nephew Hank.

Hank was comfortable with them from the get-go and put a little surprise in his diaper

We had a nice dinner of pizza and beer and Jackie and Emma joined in on the fun. The kids picked up where they left off last June in Kansas City and had a great time together.

Here's Maddux showing off his dance moves. I think we had a bit of camera malfunction because he wasn't moving that fast.

Hank = 3 Months

Hank is 3 months old and is so chatty and smiley. If you get down in his face and ask him, "Who's a handsome boy?" he'll smile away! Actually, you can say just about anything and he'll smile. And he's so chatty. His first word was "Ohhh" but sometimes he'll say "Ahh ahh" or "Haa aah". He's a genius!

What's Hank up to at 3 months:

• Eating every 4 hours
• Bedtime around 8pm
• Awake between 4am and 5am
• Not yet sleeping well in his crib during the day
• Loves baths
• Loves being held by Eleanor
• Talks, talks, talks
• Smiles!
• Easily bats and toys suspended above him

Hank is now going to daycare since I'm back to work. He's doing well and even getting into a better daytime nap routine. He's always happy so I haven't been too worried about naps, but I should try to get better.

That's Not Very Nice

Poor Carolyn has been hit with every bug that comes around lately. On the night of Thanksgiving she sat up in bed (she was in my bed) and got sick all over. After we got everything cleaned up, she laid on the floor with a bucket. In the morning she was pretty well over it.

But since then she's been so funny when talking about it. She says, "I don't want to puke anymore." I agree with her and she says in her serious voice, "I don't want to puke in a bucket." No, but it's better than puking on my bed. To which she tells me, "Oh no, that's not very nice."

Speaking of not nice, the other night on the news they were telling about how four dogs were stolen. Eleanor was very concerned asking "Who's dogs are they?", "Who took them?", "Why?" (don't you love 4-year-olds) Finally she just looked at me with her shoulders shrugged, shaking her head, and she "Well those guys probably won't get many presents." Can you tell we've been using the old "Santa's Watching" threat lately :)

Those are my girls...