Florida Mode

I know I have so much updating to do. December was a crazy month with Jack's birthday, Christmas preparations, and tons of travel! But we are down in Naples and in total "Florida mode", the updates are on my short to do list down here so I am thinking they will get done soon. In the mean time here is a little video of our golfing superstar:) Jack is one happy boy spending his days on walks, swimming in the pool, at the beach, and golfing. With his favorite people too! It is so wonderful being down here with the family! 6 adults to 1 toddler is the type vacation Mike and I like to be on!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwYoyFi_MYA&feature=youtube_gdata_player

2 Year Old Check Up

Alright big two year old boy of mine, here are your 2 year old stats from the doctor!

36 lbs. 

38 inches. 

*Off the charts but proportional:)

Your Papa may just be wrong with his 7 foot prediction:) The doctor did say you should be at least 6'4 ft, based on the standard growth chart, but he did warn me that the estimates don't always work out for those on the shorter or taller size. So 7 feet could still be in your future. Oh goodness. You are tall and lean, everything checks physically and developmentally. You could say and point out colors and put 4 word sentences together for the doctor, even though you were being pretty shy. Who can blame you this is your third pediatrician and new office in 2 short years! Shots were awful this time! I wanted to cry, but after a sticker and some viewing the office Christmas tree you forgot about the pain. Actually getting you out of the Doctors office was much harder than getting you in, the nurses were laughing as you threw a tantrum, they said that never happens on kids way out! 

Next appointment isn't until you are 3 years old. Oh my gosh I do not like saying or thinking about that. Time is going bye way to fast for me. 

Happy Saint Nicholas Day

Happy Saint Nicholas Day! 

Growing up in a German family one of the many Christmas traditions passed on was that of celebrating St. Nicholas Day. You leave out your shoes and St. Nick fills them up with little presents over night, or coal and tree branches if you have been sassy. We usually got our Christmas jammies and left out our Christmas Wish lists too on Dec. 6th. 

It's a great family tradition we plan to carry on! 

Christmas Cookies

Mike and I remember baking Christmas cookies even before we were engaged. While newlyweds we would have our friends over to drink wine and decorate dozens of cookies. I'm pretty sure I was baking them the day before Jack arrived. So you get the point, it's always been a tradition of ours. This year we formally declared the first Sunday of December Christmas Cookie Day! I am into formalizing the traditions now that we have a little one.This way we will have the whole month to enjoy them before we leave for holiday in Florida. This year we changed it up a bit, instead of doing the traditional sugar cookies we did a peanut butter reindeer cookies. They were much harder than they looked, but with everyone participating in the kitchen it was so much fun!

Thanksgiving at Pine Lake

The holiday season officially kicked off with Thanksgiving at Pine Lake. It truly is the most scenic atmosphere for family Thanksgiving get together. This year Jack was much more interested in the Turkey and football.

Aunt Deb also bought Jack some golf clubs that thankfully provided hours of entertainment. He is a total golf fan, but he is a lefty. Everything else he does is right handed except smack the golf ball. Perplexing I know.

This year was also so much fun because we had the new Mrs. Rinker join us! The meal was delicious and the company even better. Such a blessing to still have both my Oma and Opa sitting at the dining room table, and Oma still cooking the turkey!

With all of our moving and adjustments we have had over the last couple of years, I cherish our family traditions. And a big family Thanksgiving and then the family all sleeping under the same roof is one of my favorites! Of course things may change in the future, but for now I am thankful such a loving family and for the memories we make.

Thanksgiving Prep

It has been wonderful to be at home during the Thanksgiving prep time:) Love searching the Internet for recipes, one day I want to do the whole big bird and it all, but right now I am spoiled as my Aunt Deb hosts it and I only need to bring the dessert. I settled on Pumpkin Chocalte Bread Pudding with a bourbon Carmel sauce! Preppy loves bread pudding, and I love him so it was an easy choice:) Mike was back in Louisville this week so it was just me and Jack with the parents, I'm 28 but I still love the feeling at being at home. I can only hope that at 28 Jack loves coming home to Preppy and I. Exited for the family time tomorrow up at the Pine Lake Pranke compound!

1st Road Trip of the Thanksgiving/Christmas Season

Our bags our packed and Jack is already napping in back! Always so much anticipation the night before we leave, not sure why because we've traveled a hundred times as a family of 3 and it's not like we are going to Antarctica, but I still run over all of te lists in my head. That being said I never get very stressed because I am always so excited to reach our destination, or the people we get to visit with at the end of each destination. We are crazy I feel like, but I'm okay with that, always creating lots of memories:) Thank goodness Preppy is an awesome driver and our new ride is like a dream to ride in!

P.S. First pic is of Jack dreaming about Chicago, second picture Jack's breakfast he is now eating 3.5 eggs a morning, and lastly my turkey project:)

Little Pumkie

Jack calls pumpkins "lil pumkies". My little pumkie is growing up so quickly! 

23 Months

11 Months

35 Weeks

Talking Jacky Bear

Love this age! He is such a talker these days. Not the best video, but too cute not to share:)

Fort Jack

What else is better than building a fort on a no-nap cold November afternoon! That's right at Fort Jack Christmas decorating has already started. Partly because the background Christmas music inspired us, and also because Jack likes to draw the trees. I knew Mom and Dad would love these pics as Ben and I loved making forts! One of the many great things about being a parent is having an excuse to once again do all of your favorite kid activities!

And Jack's Santa impersonation:)