Looking Back On Christmas Past

  We have made so many memories this Christmas season that it makes us think back a year ago to our very first Christmas with our beautiful son.  Last Christmas season Marshall was only 2 months old.  We didn't go to as many holiday events since we were told by our doctor to try to stay in since Marshall was born on the early side and had a few hiccups in the health department.

  So here is a small photobomb from our Christmas season 2011.

Christmas card photo 2011

  

Marshall with our homemade sugar cookies with milk for Santa
Christmas Eve, 2011

Marshall yawning with his Saint Nicholas Day
book 2011

Marshall with all the presents under the Christmas tree

Marshall snoozing with Santa

Marshall with Mom Christmas morning 2011

Marshall & Dad with the Grinch

Marshall is obviously excited to be up at 5 am (thanks to his Aunties)
on Christmas morning

Mr. Smiley in his special Christmas Eve pajamas 2011

  Marshall has obviously grown so much and has acquired such a special little personality.  It is so crazy for Brad & I too look back over this past year and see how far we have come.  It is so much fun to see how what a difference a year makes with Marshall and we are so excited to see what the next big leap he will make next year.

  Merry Christmas everyone!  From our family to yours, we truly hope you have a great Christmas and make fond memories to look back on.
 
 

23rd Day: Christmas Cookies Galore

  On our 23rd day of our 25 Days of Christmas we made Christmas cookies for Santa!  We started making them at 11 am and weren't done baking until 4.  Then tack on another couple hours of decorating all of our sugar cookies by hand.  It was a long day in the kitchen but we loved all being in there as a family and listening to Christmas music blaring on pandora.

  We tried to cover as many of the traditional Christmas cookies and our favorites as possible so we ended up making six kinds of Christmas goodies.  We made: homemade no bake thin mints, chocolate & tuxedo pretzels, reindeer cookies, peanut butter blossom cookies, sugar cookies, and oatmeal m&m cookies.  Brad's favorite holiday treat is the chocolate pretzels like his mom use to make, Tricia's favorite is the thin mints, and my favorite cookie is oatmeal m&m.  Needless to say, whatever Santa's favorite cookie is, we have something for his taste.

All our ingredients ready to be used

Un-decorated Sugar Cookie Mountain

Sugar Cookie decorating station

Finished Goodies

Some of our cookies

We started getting creative (hence Tricia's take on 'Cyclops Brad')

Brad made some  . . . interesting decorating choices

  Marshall wanted to be a part of every step of it so he mixed, stamped out sugar cookies, and even took a shot at rolling out the cookies.  He is such an inquisitive and curious boy.

Brad making chocolate covered pretzels while Marshall looks on

Marshall is our little mixing machine

Marshall playing in the flour we put down on the table
before we rolled out our sugar cookies

Marshall stamping out sugar cookies
he especially loved the candy cane & stocking shapes

Stamping out stockings

Marshall making a Christmas tree

Tricia making ginger bread men shaped sugar cookies

Marshall dancing to music while we waited for
some of the last trays of cookies to get done baking

  After so many hours of making all the goodies and dancing (one of Marshall's favorite things to do- dance) to the Christmas tunes we were happy with what we made and turned in for the night.

  Day 23 was a day of preparation for Christmas.  It was a day of dancing, laughter, decorating, and eating some yummy cookies.  We had a great day of laid back fun and we are in such anticipation for our Christmas Eve & Christmas celebrations.  We looked back on all the days leading up to day 23 in our 25 Days of Christmas and were so happy that we decided to start this tradition.  We saw more Christmas lights than we can count, was read to by Santa, saw the nativity played out before our car, played in the snow, and so very much more.  Kansas City itself has been a blessing to our family but being together and making memories is the true gift.  Thanks so long for following along, we only have 3 more posts left planned and cannot believe how many people have kept up this far.  We hope you have enjoyed the pictures and stories as much as we have enjoyed the experiences.

22nd Day: Penguin Park

  On the 22nd day of our 25 days of Christmas we drove out to Gladstone and brought Marshall to Penguin Park!  Even though Marshall is only 14 months he already seems to have a favorite animal, and that animal is the penguin.  He favors his penguins stuffed animal and other penguin toys so we, knew when we heard about Penguin Park, that we had to bring Marshall.

  Marshall got so excited when he saw the 28 foot tall penguin and the penguin themed playground.  He absolutely loved the park and he couldn't stop smiling.  It was such a great park and we had so much fun together as a family.

The Nutcrackers greeting us to Penguin Park

Marshall loved the penguin seesaw    

Dad & Marshall in front of the big penguin

Cute penguin water fountains 

Marshall and Dad going inside to go down the slide

Firefighter Marshall

Mom helping Marshall go down the slide

Marshall going through the maze.  He loved the puzzles in the maze.

So happy to be playing at Penguin Park!

Marshall climbing through the tunnel

Marshall saying by-bye to Mr. Penguin

  Marshall was such a big boy on the 22nd day.  He was freely running from play set to play set at the playground and was so independent.  He even decided that now he likes slides!  He use to be all about the tunnels and swings but now he laughs and laughs when he gets to go down the slide.  He even climbed the stairs to the slide all by himself, using the guard rail like a big boy, and went down the slide by himself.  He was so excited and we were so proud of him.

  Day 22 was a great day full of laughter and joy.  Marshall got the courage to venture further from our sides and Brad and I learned to let go, step back, and let our little guy do more on his own.  For us as parents that is a pretty big step as we are pretty much what some would call 'helicopter parents' and we are fine (in fact comfortable) with that.  We are all learning how to adjust with Marshall getting older and this whole experience has been great with highlighting that.  Marshall is growing and has quite the personality and he just absorbed everyone of our 25 day activities like a sponge.  This experience was more than just fun it was a learning experience as well as bonding.  Every single day of this has been such a blessing.

21st Day: Maverick's Hockey Game

  On the 21st day of our 25 Days of Christmas we went to a Missouri Mavericks hockey game!  It was all of our first time at a semi-pro hockey game and we had the best time.  Since the NHL is out for the foreseeable future we thought we would just go to a CHL game.  We dressed Marshall in Maverick colors: yellow, blue, & white and we headed over to the Independence Event Center.

Hard to see us clearly but here we are in front of the Independence Event Center

  It was such an amazing experience; we had great seats, the crowd was awesome, and Marshall (and the rest of us) loved every second of it.  Santa was even there before the game started to show his Missouri Maverick pride!  He sure does find Marshall a lot in all the different places, it has gotten to the point where Marshall recognizes him and gets excited now.

  For those who have spent some time around Marshall you know what a showman he is.  If he can put a smile on someone's face he will try his darnedest to do that.  So he was putting on a little show to those around us: giggling, dancing, sticking his tongue out, waving, and such.  He had people laughing and paying attention to his every move.  He is definitely a very special little boy.

  He also loved watching the game and watching Mac (Maverick mascot) run around and be sassy.  The Maverick's played the Americans (Texas); we left after the 2nd period since brad had to get to work, but when we left the <av's were behind by one.

Marshall & Dad with Mac

Marshall cheering on the Mavericks

Mom & Marsh

Staring out at the ice

He loved reading the program (upside down)

Dad & a washed out Marshall waiting for the game to start

Obsessed with the program

Mom & Dad

Auntie Tricia, Marshall, & Mom

Everyone excited to be at the Mavericks' game

Decked out in Maverick colors

Marsh watching the game

Marshall sitting like a big boy in his own seat

Mac wore a costume like Santa

He was so happy to watch the hockey in person

Marshall & Dad during the light show at the hockey game

First fight of the hockey game (Merry Christmas right?)

Mac out with the Jr. Mavericks (4-6 yr olds)
Marshall is going to enroll in the skating program when he's 3 and join
the Jr. Mav's when he's 4

  Just as we do whenever we go to a new place, Brad had to go pick out a souvenir for Marshall.  At the Mavericks' game he got Marsh his very own hockey stick.  Brad and Marshall were so excited over Marshall's very first hockey stick.  Marshall even held it in his sleep on the way back home.  It was so sweet.

Marshall with his first hockey stick

Hitting our boots around the kitchen

Dad showing Marshall the proper grip

  Day 21 was probably Brad's favorite day so far and one of our most memorable days.  It was such a great atmosphere and just an all around good family night.  Marshall got to ham it up to those around us (and Mac) and he got to see hockey in person and not just on TV- which is one of his favorite things to watch believe it or not.  It was fun to see the juniors as we already had planned to sign Marshall up when he's old enough.  It was like getting to see a glimpse into the future and that made all of us, including Marshall and especially Brad, super excited.  Yes, it was truly a special day of hockey.  What better way for some Minnesotans to celebrate Christmas, eh?