Christmas Day at the Kostanski's - Santa came to visit!

On Christmas morning, the kids woke up to find the toys that Santa had left for them. Brooke got a few food items for her kitchen and a toy minivan for her dolls. Clayton got some wooden blocks and some new farm animals. We then exchanged gifts as a family and enjoyed playing together in the morning. Around noon we headed over to Grandma Nancy's and Grandpa Ken's to exchange our gifts there.

After just about everyone took a nap we ate our Christmas dinner. Brooke and Clayton then got a very special visit from Santa! (Thanks Santa for making us one of your stops on a very busy day.) He gave Clayton a Barney puzzle and an Elmo coloring book and Brooke received a My Little Pony and Dora CD. WOW!

Here's Clayton with Grandpa Ken & Uncle Eric

And Brooke with her new baby doll from Great Grandpa Ted

Merry Christmas to all...and to all a good night!

Christmas Eve at the Stanley's

Tonight we celebrated Christmas with Mike's side of the family. We had a nice evening exchanging gifts and sharing a meal together. After many, many attempts - here's the best of our family picture. From left to right is Chris & Alicia Stanley (Mike's brother and his wife), Mark & Denyse (Mike's parents) and then of course us. (Willie the dog is on the floor trying to be part of the excitement too.)

Santa comes tonight to bring gifts for Jesus' birthday - Brooke was very intentional this year about the cookies and milk that she set out for him, along with some reindeer food and a note that she wrote all by herself "Hi Santa Love Brooke"

Latest and greatest Brooke stories

I have two Brooke stories from the day that really made me smile.

Today at preschool Brooke learned about Hanukkah and colored a menorah that she brought home. We were talking about what she learned and I told her that the Jewish people are related to the same people that she is learning about in BSF (this year we are studying the life of Moses.) I told her that the Jewish people today are still waiting for Jesus to come and they don't think he was born 2000 years ago like we do. She walks over to our nativity set and says, "Mom! That's silly. Jesus is right here." as she picks up the baby Jesus figure and brings him over to me. I love that anything other than the truth of the Gospel is "silly" to her - may God hold her heart and mind tight to that as she grows.

Then, during nap Brooke was helping with laundry, wrapping gifts and putting away a few things I had bought that morning. So she was unpackaging some new underwear for her daddy and putting them into his drawer when all of a sudden she says in a most excited voice, "LOOK! Daddy's underwear even come with a pocket in them! Did you know that? That's cool." I almost fell out of my chair laughing at her observation. I made her call Mike to tell him herself - she did and adds, "AND DADDY! The pocket goes all the way through!" And we left the conversation at that - Brooke thinks daddy has a cool pocket in his underwear.

Those we walk through life with...

On Sunday, our friends Bud & Jessica DeGraff opened their home for our "small" group at church to have our Annual Christmas party. It's a great time of fellowship while sharing a traditional Christmas dinner. It has been amazing to see how the group has grown over the past 6 years - and how quickly a few children can fill a room! We are so blessed to have this group of individuals to walk through life together.

Snowmen & Nutcracker

Most of the snow that we've gotten so far this year has been powder. The temperatures warmed up enough yesterday to change the snow to some good packing snow. Brooke and Mike had a lot of fun creating - and Brooke had just gotten some fun snowmen accessories to help decorate.

Brooke also went to her first Nutcracker performance yesterday with Mike & I and both sets of grandparents. She did really well sitting there for the full 2 hour show. It ended up that we had front row tickets which definitely captivated her attention because you could see the orchestra and the dancers. When asked what her favorite part was she said "the ballerina"

O Christmas Tree

For the 3rd year now we heading out to Riehle's Farm in Dousman to cut down our Christmas tree. It really struck me as to how important pictures and stories are for our children - Brooke really didn't remember going to get our tree last year. I guess I would have thought at 3 and 4 yrs that she would have at least a vague remembrance. The kids were very excited to help pick out the tree and supervise as daddy cut it down.

Happy Thanksgiving!

This year we did a Thanksgiving lunch at my parents house and Grandpa Mark, Grandma Denyse, Aunt Alicia and Uncle Chris were able to come over too. Brooke had just used a birthday gift card to purchase the game Speedy Diner (thanks Grandpa Ted and Moree's.) So Brooke made sure that each person got a turn to be the chef while she ran around filling orders. Everyone was a great sport to wear the chef hat as they were instructed.

We're so thankful for family and to have many family members so close that we can celebrate with them.

Big Boy Bed

Mike "surprised" me by having the toddler rails on Clayton's crib when I got home last night. Clayton was ready for his big boy bed - I don't think his mom is. He crawled right in, laid down and fell asleep. Then this morning, I saw him on the monitor sitting quietly reading his book - still in his bed! I came in and told him it was okay to get out now. What a huge difference from transitioning Brooke to a big bed...she couldn't stay in bed to save her life in the beginning! We do have to be more careful when we go to bed to make sure all the gates to the stairs are up though because he also learned this week how to turn our door knobs. Such a big boy - hopefully naps and the nights to come go as smoothly.

Dreams

On our way home from friends this afternoon Brooke announces to me from the back seat that when she goes to bed at night she gets to watch movies inside her eyes! I asked what movies she gets to see and she responded that she just never knows. She asked why that happens and the great mom in me said, "I don't know." Her reply was, "Jesus gives me the movies when I go to sleep - that's cool, right mom?" She's right - all things from him. It was such a unique perspective (as most are) from my 4 year old on her explanation to me of having a dream.

I also have to share that Brooke's swim teacher this morning shared with me that she really thought Brooke had more potential than she was showing, but that many times she seems to be in her own little world. Huh...my Brooke...living on another planet...no way! I definitely think we're going to have more luck with theatre and creative writing than anything athletically related.

And Clayton - he's so intent on telling everything hello and goodbye. This morning as I put the blow dryer away he says, "Buh-bye, hair dryer, have a good day." Ah well, I suppose the concept is good.

A Holiday Favorite

So normally my blogs are all about the kids and their latest and greatest, but I have to share with you my latest and greatest excitement. Just before Thanksgiving each year Starbuck's has an Eggnog Chai Tea Latte that is the most wonderful drink I have ever had. I get giddy when I see their sign appear each year that "Holiday Drinks are Here!" Is it bad that Clayton even knows mama gets coffee at Starbucks and that he'll start saying "thank you, have a good day" before we even pull through the line?! Did I also mention how thankful I am for drive-through caffeine! On those mornings where both kids were put into the car screaming, there is no easier vacation from the chaos than a Starbucks drive-through.

Clayton's TWO

My baby is two today...WOW! We've sung happy birthday to him several times today and he just beams with a smile when we do. He went to the Dr. this morning and all is good - except he had to get a couple shots. He's 26 1/2 pounds (30%ile) and 35.5 inches (80%ile). He's speaking 2 and 3 word sentences and his vocabulary is growing by the day. My favorite right now is when you say, "What's your name?" His response is "me" He's also gotten very good at saying "me do!" And I think it's funny that whenever we pass McDonalds he starts chanting "hamburger" followed by "no ketchup" "no cheese"

Here's some pictures of our birthday cake breakfast (tradition in our house.)

Joint Birthday Party

Yesterday we had a joint birthday party for Brooke and Clayton with family and the Seiler's (who qualify as family on so many levels.) We had a spaghetti lunch - a room full of presents - and a the coolest bulldozer cake (that no, I did not make and probably would never even attempt to...it came complete with edible rocks!)

I love that we can laugh at each other as a family. Someone (Grandma Nancy) decided it would be a good idea to capture my mistake in the assembly of Clayton's ride on motorcycle. I thought I'd "help" my dad assemble it while he was at the store buying my last minute grocery list - pretty sure it's not the kind of help he was looking for. I didn't know my own strength and put the back wheel on slightly too tight...okay...it wouldn't roll. So here I am trying to break it in so that it would roll. The vote of the house was that I should just ride home (3 miles) and that would loosen it up just fine. Ha, ha, ha. Dad ended up having to rip the back tire apart and go buy some new parts to reassemble it...definitely not the help he was looking for!

Thanks Aunt Laura and Uncle Eric for the "gear" that matched the motorcycle - we're sad you couldn't be here to celebrate with us.

Caution - Birthdays - Some Assembly Required!

Is it a train? Is it a boat? Is it a lion's cage? No..it's a laundry basket!

Brooke, Clayton and I had more fun with a laundry basket on Sunday than we have with any of their toys in a while! Brooke and I were reading books and then Clayton brings in the laundry basket, sits in it and starts chanting "boat, boat." Brooke and I acknowledged him but kept reading. He then got out, put the basket on his head and started chugging around the living room yelling "choo, choo." Brooke and I joined in the fun and the basket became a lion's cage, the mail truck, etc. AND...I even got a great picture of them together (that's rare!)

Clayton's Date with Daddy

Clayton went on his first official date with Mike last Saturday morning. They went to Monches and walked the Ice Age Trail. Clayton was in a great mood and all smiles for their morning adventure. (Which was fortunate because he's been getting his 2 year old molars and oftentimes less than fun to be around over the past week!)

Can you tell?

Several of our friends have recently posted pictures of their children at similar ages and noting the similarities between the siblings. Here's ours - Brooke was a lion when she was 2 and Clayton was a lion this year. Can you tell who is who?

Brooke is on the right - Clayton is on the left. I don't think I would have known if it weren't for the difference in their eye color.

Trick or Treat

The kids had a great time trick or treating tonight with Grandma Nancy, Grandma Denyse and Grandpa Mark. I'm sure we'll be on a sugar high for the next MONTH!

Brooke was the blue velvet princess and Clayton was a lion. He screamed as I tried to put his eyeliner whiskers on, so we did what any parent would do - we pinned him down and drew whiskers on him. Boy was he happy with us for that - oh well, he recovered quickly back to smiles!

Brooke Turns FOUR!

We had a great day celebrating Brooke's birthday today. I love that this year she was able to count down the days to her birthday and maybe for the first time understood what a special day her birthday is. The day started with Mike and I greeting her in her room singing "Happy Birthday" - she was beaming! Our tradition is to have birthday cake for breakfast on birthday mornings - Brooke had requested a banana cake, so that's what we did. After breakfast she opened part of her present from Mike and I - new socks and a train ticket for Chicago tomorrow. We then headed over to Grandma Denyse's to drop off Clayton so that Brooke and I could go to BSF. She, again, was so excited to have all her BSF friends sing "Happy Birthday!" to her as she walked into the classroom. After BSF we headed back to Grandma Denyse's for a birthday lunch and a cupcake. During Clayton's nap, Brooke and I played Candy Land...she won! (fair and square) Somehow we ended upstairs in her room and I don't know what events transpired that we ended up filling bags and bags for Goodwill. I was so proud of her as she willingly put many of her toys in the bags so that kids who don't have any toys can have some of hers. All said and done, her toy room and closet are completely cleaned out - and we had a lot of fun in the process. Grandma Nancy, Grandpa Ken and Uncle Kenny came over for Chinese food (Brooke's request - I know, weird!) MORE cake and a couple presents. (Clayton and Brooke are having a joint family birthday party on 11/8.) She got a fun bag from Aunt Laura, new boots and purple footed PJ's from Grandma Nancy, a Dora watch from Grandma Denyse, and the neighbors were so sweet to bring over some bath soap and a coloring book. She went to bed a little early so that she and daddy can head off on their date taking the train to Chicago to visit the Shedd Aquarium. What a blessing she is to us - and how amazing it has been to watch her grow! My favorite moment yesterday was when I had her sit down for quiet time in her room. She says, "Mom. I have to be silent right now so that I can hear what God wants to tell me." How amazing it is that someone so young has such a love for Jesus. I pray that never changes.

Grandma Denyse's & Dedication Trees

When Brooke and Clayton were dedicated to the Lord we planted a tree for each of them in remembrance of that day. Each year we try to take a picture of them next to their tree. I also got a cute picture of Grandma Denyse heading up the hill with the kids.

Professional pictures

I took the kids in to get pictures taken for their 2 and 4 yr birthday's and love the way they turned out! Brooke turns 4 on Wednesday and Clayton 2 on Nov. 10th! Time sure flies!

Pumpkin Carving with Friends....and Power Tools

Last night we had a blast carving pumpkins with our friends Ryan and Tina Carriveau. We rode the flat bed trailer being pulled by their 4-wheeler over to their pumpkin patch and after a wonderful dinner started carving our pumpkins. Jackson (3) and Clayton (2) were more interested in all the toys in the garage, but Brooke really had a great time pulling all the "goo" out of the pumpkins. The power tools were pulled out to assist with the project - with mixed results. I'm not quite Martha Stewart and the magazine article I was copying would have been embarassed to have been my inspiration - my pumpkin ended up looking like it was involved with a drive-by shooting!

Ryan, Tina, Jackson (3), Isaac (1)

Ryan with his "goo" helpers

Mike claimed that me and a power tool was a momentous occasion!

The final product.

Beautiful Fall Day

This morning we started with a walk through the Holy Hill area. It was beautiful to crunch through the falling leaves and to watch Brooke try to catch the leaves as they fell.

We then headed to Basse's Pumpkin Farm with our MOPs group. Everyone took a hayride out to the fields to pick pumpkins and then we made our best attempt at the corn maze. It ended up that we headed out the way we came in, but the kids knew no differently and probably wouldn't have sustained the entire journey anyhow.