Pre-Christmas Prep

Getting ready for Christmas, I think, is half the fun. 

Grammy and Katie at Old Sturbridge Village in Maasachusettes.  Ned met his Mom and Dad there and brought his mom back so she could come a few days early for Katie's birthday celebration.  It is about half way between our house and theirs.  Sturbridge has a nice Christmas brunch and Santa was there.

Katie sat on Santa's lap. Andrew did not.

 Katie, Grammy and Andrew

 Grammy and Grumps' holiday picture for their Christmas card

Decorating the tree

A rare picture with me and the kids

Auntie Meg and Audrey visited.  Making cookies!

Tasting the batter. The best part!

Flour child

Silly flour child

Oh Christmas Tree

Last year we have a wonderful experience cutting down our tree. There was a little tree farm a few blocks from our house in Maastricht. It was snowing, we selected our tree, a man cut it down with a chainsaw and off we went.  Bliss...

This year a friend told us about a tree farm about 20 minutes north of here.  There was a tractor ride and all! I imagined the experience we had last year and was very excited.  We left Lucas with my in-laws and off we went...

Well, this year it was about 20 degrees and the kids did NOT enjoy their experience.  

Tractor ride, All smiles

Isnt the scenery beautiful?  

And this is how it ended...

The kids were screaming and crying. I left Ned in search of the tractor to take us back to the car.   Told him to just pick a #$%% tree and we would meet him back at the car.

Looks like next year we may be back to picking out our tree in the parking lot....

'Tis the Season

For the last few years we have tried to teach our children that Christmas is the season for giving.  Katie used to go to the Dollar Store and purchase gifts for her loved ones. This year she and Andrew graduated to Target in which Ned and I "guided" their buying. I got slippers, a CD and a book from the kids.  Ned got a tee shirt and flashlight key chain. I asked Lucas, too young to shop, for 4 hours of consecutive sleep. After a couple weeks of very bad sleeping, I realized this was not going to happen. So, instead, I asked him for a smile.  I really gummy smile. Not one of those silly little grins while he is sleeping.

Well, I got BOTH.  Lucas had his first smile Tuesday December 27 and has since been full of smiles and last night he slept a little over four hours in a row.  

A couple days late, but who's counting. Thanks for my Christmas gifts Lucas!

PS - still trying to capture a smile on camera but things are a little busy with Katie and Andrew home for school vacation.

Katie turned SIX on December 9th

Happy birthday to our inquisitive, slightly bossy, beautiful girl! 

 Birthday morning opening a lego gift from Andrew.  

At school she had cupcakes and singing followed by a trip to Chuck E Cheese with Grammy.

 Breakfast in bed with scones from Starbucks (a fav of hers) and then a croissant shaped in a number six.

Off to a good start for her birthday morning...

 Presents!  Can't open them until dinner time!  Killing her.

 

 Per request - birthday dinner.  Lobster!  Good thing we live close to Maine.

 Birthday cake #2 - Friday December 9th with Daddy, Mommy. Andrew, Lucas and Grammy

 Birthday cake #3 - from scratch chocolate cake in the shape of a ladybug. Made 100% by  Daddy!  

 WOW! And delicious!

Friends party. A wonderful mix of great kids. 

Friends from birth, friends from the neighborhood and friends from school!  18 children in all.  

Lucas Months: One Month Old

Lucas turned One Month Old on December 10, 2011

Life since he arrived has been...in a word....hectic.  But, and I have said it often he is much easier than Katie and Andrew ever were.  Most people say that is a third child.  I think he is going to be an easy going person.

Lucas is a pretty good sleeper and a fabulous eater.  For the week and half he was sleeping in 3 hour increments and then once his due date rolled around, he switched that to 2 hour increments.  Really though for being a newborn, I can't complain.  All day he eats every 2 hours and take several 1-2 hour naps.  At night, he eats every 2 hours and goes back to sleep within an hour. 

On Monday, December 5th Lucas weighed 9 lbs 5 oz.  That  is almost a 2 lb gain!  He loves to eat!  He will take different bottle tops and has no problem nursing.  New territory for me though - spitting up!  Katie and Andrew rarely spit - almost safe to say never did, but Lucas is a different story.  If he does not burp at least twice, he WILL spit up - ALL - OVER - YOU!

 sort of a smile?

He cries when you change him or he has gas, but other than that, he is a pretty happy guy.  Just in the last few days his face is starting to get expressive.  No true smiles yet, but his eyes track and seems to light up a little when you talk to him.  He knows my voice and when Katie sings to him, it settles him down.  He also seems to like when she reads to him.  He is also interested in toys on his bouncey chair - Katie and Andrew get very excited when he hits one and it makes a sound!

A bath for his one month birthday

Lucas has had 4 baths in 4 weeks.  From memory, that seems like a lot but as Katie says "he sticks like throw up" Lovely, I know. But, she is right. Due to the amount of spitting up, he needs a bath once a week.  Curdled milk in his neck folds make it a must!

Looking forward to the months to come!

The holidays will be hectic, but FUN with three little ones. We are blessed.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Katie came home from school this week with this.

It reads:

"I am Thankful for: My bruthr"

I asked which one.  She pointed to Lucas.  I am sure she is thankful for Andrew too, bu this year we certainly have a lot to be thankful for. A new beautiful member of our family!

Getting to Know You...

Lucas was one week old on Thursday.  His first day home was a little chaotic getting into some sort of routine, but the timing of his birth really could not have been better timed. Or, un-timed in his case.

Lucas was due November 26th, my father's birthday.  I was scheduled for a repeat C-section November 22, at 39 weeks and 3 days.  If he was born November 22 as scheduled, I would have been in the hospital for 3 nights and come home on Friday, the day AFTER Thanksgiving.  Just not the best timing.  Instead, he was born on a Thursday, came home on a Sunday and the kids both had a full day of school Monday. It was a perfect way to ease into the craziness of our family.  And, he came when he was ready. I started having contractions 6 days before he was born.  To quote the midwife on the day he was born: "enough is enough - today you are going to have a baby."

The last 11 days have been wonderful getting to know him.  So far, and I hate to compare, but he is a much calmer baby than Katie and Andrew. He is content to be held or put down in a bouncey chair or swing.  He falls asleep on his own and is very alert.

A few things I have learned about Lucas so far in getting to know him...

1) When he wakes up he starts off sounding like a dolphin with a clicking sound.  Then as he wakes up more and more he get a little bit louder and louder, but never a full blown cry

2) He does not like his diaper changed. He knows once his fresh diaper is on, the torture is almost over

3) He already knows my voice

4) He must burp after each feeding or else his belly hurts.  If he doesn't burp, he will NOT go back to sleep.

5) When he nurses, he gets a little excited and makes a little noise as if to say "here I come"

6) He is a love. Just perfect. Tiny and sweet.  

Lucas Alexander

Lucas Alexander
Born November 10, 2011
2:11 pm
7 lbs. 5.6 ounces
21.5 inches long

Halloween

Halloween was very exciting this year.  Last October we went to Disney World and then came up to New Hampshire to Trick or Treat, but this year we were fully immersed in the festivities.  I think it was because kids were older and were able to see the stores getting ready and talk to their friends.  In the Netherlands, of course, Halloween isn't celebrated.

Katie and Andrew's good friends, Jillian and Alaina, came over to Trick or Treat with us.  I think this is the 3rd year( out of four) they have been able to go with us.  Our neighborhood is ideal for this age.  We live in a development with 2 cul-de-sacs. We know all of our neighbors and the streets are well lit and safe.  And, to do both streets, it takes about 1 hour.  Perfect.

 Jillian the Pirate

 Katie was Nala from Disney's the Lion King

Katie LOVES the Lion King.  I would say it is her favorite Disney movie.  She saw it for the first time when she was about three years old and since then has loved it.  She has not wavered.  She was Nala when she was three and insisted that she wanted to be it again this year.  The costume, of course, did not fit anymore, so we had to get a new one.  I have to say, she does make one very cute lioness!

 Andrew the Penguin

Andrew wanted to be a penguin for weeks leading up to Halloween. Actually, probably at least a good 6 weeks!  He had a favorite tee shirt this summer that had penguins on it and I think that is where it started. 

 Alaina the Witch

Grandma was here for pumpkin carving this year since I was put on bed rest a week earlier.  Katie loves to dig her hands in the pumpkin and get all the "goo."  She enjoyed separating the seeds so we could make pumpkin seeds in the oven.  Andrew did not like the "goo" at all and would not touch it.

 Both kids designed their own pumpkin face on a piece of paper first and then Mom or Dad cut it out.  I have to say, I was impressed with their original designs.  They were both unique and both Katie and Andrew were happy with the end result.

Snowtober

We were hit with a Nor'Easter the evening of October 29. A few days before we were supposed to get 1-3 inches of snow. Quickly it changed to 6-10 inches! We ended up with about 6 inches of heavy sticky snow. The kids hadn't had snow like this in a few years since we were living in the Netherlands so they were so excited to get out sledding.

I took this picture from our bedroom window with the longer lens. Couldnt go play in the snow since I am technically on bedrest for the duration of the pregnancy.

1

2

3

Daddy got in on the fun.

Milestone Birthday

Ned celebrated a milestone birthday last week. He had the chance to celebrate it three times!

First, a family getaway to a great hotel with themed suites. We stayed in the Tree House Room. It was pretty cool. The suite was designed to make you feel like when you walked into the "room" you were stepping into the backyard with a huge tree house. The bedrooms were lofted like you were in the tree and there was a jacuzzi tub on the porch, a porch swing and a play area in the trunk of the tree. It was complete with 3 TV's and a Sony Playstation.

We stayed one night and then in the morning we went to an indoor water park. Fun times!

Second, Ned's parents, sister and brother in law came over to New Hampshire from New York and we went to a fabulous brunch followed by cake and presents.

The Galka Clan

Third, Ned had a surprise getaway to his Alma Mater, Notre Dame. I pre-arranged for him to fly out on Friday afternoon and meet his good buddy, Joe. Coincidentily, two of his other good friends were there as well. They had tickets to the USC vs. Notre Dame game and hung out and toured campus. Really that is all the details I have. I am assuming there were several bars on the tour.

Happy Birthday Ned!

Soccer

We have just about completed a season of fall soccer.

This was Andrew's first team sport and he loved it. All summer he could not wait for soccer to start. Technically he was supposed to be four to be in the league so I had to do a little smooth talking, but it all worked out. He was very focused and interested and actually not that bad. He sticks to the ball like glue and runs his heart out! He was, by far, the shortest child on the team but he didn't know it. He never wanted to sit on the sidelines. He just wanted to play!

This was Katie's second team sport, her first being Tee Ball. This sport certainly went better. She tends to be shy in new group situations, but was very comfortable witih soccer. Probably because her brother was there, but nonetheless, she did a great job. She had a few assists and a couple good blocks. And, she is a very fast runner - must be those skinny legs! That said, they really didnt keep score and often the players scored in the wrong goal! Not exactly a competetive league! But fun!

Andrew at the back of the line, Katie at the front in the blue shorts

What form!

Pow!

A hop kick?

Cute little soccer girl

Labor Day weekend in NY

Labor Day weekend we went to New York to visit Ned's parents and sister, brother in law and a few friends. We were supposed to go the previous weekend, but hurricane Irene ruined that.

Saratoga is always fun. The summer horse races were still going on and the kids loved them. They loved watching the horses, running around like horses and of course eating all the yummy treats there were to offer. And, it was a gorgeous day with lots of people-watching to be had!

Monday it was rainy so we went bowling. Katie had been once years ago and Andrew had never been. We had a lot of laughs. Mostly at our scores and techniques!

Scores:

Andrew 88

Katie 76

Ellen 83

Ned 119

Grumps 117

Grammy 55

Yes, it does appear that Andrew beat me, but I would like to add that he and Katie had bumpers. Even still - it was embarrassing to be beaten by a 3.5 year old! And, Chis technically came in last, but she did have an elbow injury a few months ago. She had a handicap.

The walk...

The roll...

Watching the ball go. Totally professional bowling etiquette I believe.

Grumps and Andrew. Grammy and Katie.

For some uncanny reason, Andrew could get most of the pins down with his technique. It was ridiculously amazing. Watch here. He gets a spare.

Katie didnt have quite a lot of umpf but had strategy.