Big Boy Helper

This morning when it was time for breakfast, Gerrit ran into the dining room and got himself up on the chair (not his high chair). I decided to see how he would do eating there instead of his normal routine of being strapped into his high chair. Things were going well until he climbed on the table! Then he moved to the high chair! However at dinner he again went right for a grown up chair and refused to sit in his high chair. I at least grabbed his portable booster seat which he sat in during dinner. I think it is time to clean the high chair and put it to sleep, we're moving on up!


Following dinner we had to empty the dishwasher before we could load it with the dinner dishes. Gerrit loves to help unload. He'll put all of the dishes on the counter for us and even try to put the tops of his sippy cups on the bottoms! At random times during the day he will take all of his kid silverware out of the drawer and set it on the counter. We have started a bad habit of allowing him to sit on the counter and watch me prepare breakfast. This is when he gets his first gulp of milk in the am as well as his banana. He sits fine and has slipped off only once. Anyways, because he likes to see what's going on I bought him the little step stool that he is standing on in the picture. Little did I know it would assist me in getting the dishwasher emptied! I would've bought one a long time ago had I know that!

Go FISH

Tonight we headed to Fairbault to the Go Fish concert. It wasn't far of a drive and we didn't have to deal with the traffic and hassle of the Target Center in Minn. (we did that before). Adam and I agree, we like the small venue - especially for kids!

Adam and Gerrit before the show:Gerrit checking out the seats:

A few pics of the concert. My camera doesn't do well in the dark, but these didn't turn out too bad. You get the idea of the concert:

Its snowing while they sing White Christmas

Stars in the background during Mary Did You Know:

my favorite is the encore - Little Drummer Boy. Jamie gets the chance to jam to his hearts content:

Always a good concert - not quite the same with a toddler. Gerrit sat for the first 15 min. and clapped appropriately then wanted to run around. Adam and I took turns chasing him in the back, luckily it wasn't sold out so we had plenty of room. Gerrit did calm down and sat with Adam at the end. It was a late night but was worth it. We put him in his jammies so he could sleep and transfer to his bed easily. We stuck around long enough to say hi to the guys and wish them well the next few weeks.

The weird part of the night was we didn't have to sell merch! Actually, I missed not selling merch...it feels weird not to when I go to a concert. I could've handled tonight's crowd with 1 hand tied behind my back too....it was a tame crowd.

The best part of the night was figuring out the delayed start feature on my oven. I wanted to bake a cheesecake for tomorrow's potluck and the recipe I use takes 4 hrs (start to finish). So I was able to assemble it before we left, put it in the oven and had it bake while we were gone. When we came home it smelled like cheesecake and was ready to be taken out! How sweet was that? Oh, and its a really good cheesecake recipe - real healthy for you too with 5 packs of cream cheese, 5 eggs, and sour cream! :)

Santa Came Early

You know you've been married a long time when this is your Christmas present to each other:

Ball Magnet

I realize it has been a while since I last wrote - sorry! It seems lately Gerrit will gravitate towards balls - any kind, any size. He tends to need to take one to bed with him, usually its his Gopher football, but sometimes its a little basketball - whatever is in site when it is bed time.

His first 2 syllable word was (is, its his only 2 syllable word) FOOTBALL! (I'm hoping his 3 syllable word is basketball!)

The other night we were at friends and Gerrit seemed to disappear which didn't bother us because there were plenty of other kids around to watch him. When he did appear, he was carrying a ball. I think I saw him with 4-5 different balls throughout the night. Of all the toys he could play with he stuck to the balls. Go figure...

Then, he was hanging out with Adam as Adam was organizing his bike closet and guess what Gerrit spotted....

Yep, Adam's regulation size basketball! It was as if Gerrit found gold. He played with that all afternoon and had to sit with it even. Here we are watching the MSU basketball game and yes, he had to have the basketball on his lap. He even tries to shoot hoops with it - with his fisher price plastic hoop. I did check to make sure it would fit through the hoop - if he could ever get it up that high. Luckily its pretty heavy for him so he can't throw it far or high.

Besides getting snow and being quite cold, this is what we've been up to lately...playing with balls!

I Am Glad....

we are not beer drinkers!

Note:

Gerrit, please remember:

Wrestle with Dad

Snuggle with Mom

He is ALL BOY!

Ornaments

Putting the ornaments on the tree was a bit of a challenge this year. All the soft and unbreakables are hanging low and all the fragile and 'ball' looking ornaments are high.

Gerrit tried putting this ornament on his head:

He took a liking to all the bicycle ornaments. He took this one and has been playing with it most of the afternoon.I had to have Adam take Gerrit downstairs so I could continue putting ornaments on because as soon as I put one on, Gerrit took one off! I was ready to leave the tree with just lights this year but knew how much I enjoyed putting on the ornaments I have collected over the years. I think putting the ornaments on is one of my favorite parts of Christmas.

It could look better but with a 19 month old, I think it looks pretty good. He hasn't been near the tree since I finished it so we shall see how it looks after Gerrit checks it out again. (The pointy needles don't seem to bother him - nice idea Omah)