Kyler -- December 2013

December with two little boys was so much fun. The holidays are always busy, but we have tried to just sit back and enjoy life with our "littles" as they are growing up so fast. Kyler continues to talk and talk, often repeating anything that you say, which has led us to calling him "the parrot." With the holidays, he has been exposed to lots of other people and places, often with lots of fun and laughing. He always seems to be able to make people smile and never seems to be shy around anyone. Again, there are just too many new things to tell you, so here is a list of some of my favorites:

• He tries to put his foam tub letters in the Christmas tree like ornaments.
• He says "Good night" to as many ornaments as he is able to see when going to bed.
• When he gets a "boo-boo," he will often pretend to kiss it and say "All better!" before we even know what has happened.
• He loves to feel soft blankets on his check, and often will say "Devin too" while he reaches over to stroke his check with the soft blanket.
• He learned that he loves to put sprinkles on cookies and should not "tackle" people.
• He will tilt his head back and close his eyes when he gets his hair washed, which means no more screaming!
• He loves to say "Ah, snow!" but it comes out sounding like a colorful phrase that alarms many.
• He got a new snow shovel just his size that he loves to use when clearing the driveway.
• He learned to turn a bucket upside down to climb onto things--a whole new level of climbing.
• Daddy gave him an jalapeño potato chip, which caused Kyler to cough until he threw up. I guess he does not like spicy food.
• He likes to count things, including all his shoes.
• He loves to shut all the lights off and be in the "dark" all the time.
• At Christmas parties, he likes to collect all the bows, even before the gifts are unwrapped.
• He visited Great Grandma VanDyke at Sunset and pointed out "star" or "no star" on all of the trees while waving and smiling at all the elderly folks there. He got a few cookies of his own too!
• He learned a new game with Daddy called "cover" where he basically is buried in pillows. 
• He met a new friend Louisa, whom he called "Weep-sa" and played dress up in a princess dress.
• He loves school buses and kissed a few very dirty ones when we were out for a walk. He later said "school buses ucky".
• He enjoyed meeting lots of family in Princeton for the holidays.

Kyler in a box after emptying it of bottles

Feeding Cookie Monster...what else, but a cookie

This kid loves his cookies

Another cookie...if Kyler had decorated it, it would have been COVERED in sprinkles

Playing in the deep snow with Duncan on the deck

Gotta test the taste...

"It's yummy, Mommy!"

Snuggling on the big bed...he looks like such a big boy in this picture

We three kings? Well maybe they were wearing the inside of a baseball helmet

Go Blue, boys!

Tub fun with his hair getting washed.

Devin -- Week 11 (12/25/13-12/31/13)

Merry Christmas! Devin had a great first Christmas, which included a nice quiet day at home in matching pajamas with his brother. We got Devin a talking story book bear from Hallmark (similar to the Jingle that we got Kyler for his first Christmas) named Mason. After a nice relaxing holiday, we were off the next morning to visit with family in Illinois. Devin was a fabulous traveler, sleeping most of the trip and taking a bottle in the car. He adjusted to all the new houses easily, and other than not liking to nap without me holding him, he was great. Devin enjoyed meeting both sets of great grandparents, lots of wonderful cousins, and fabulous friends. Devin's cousin Keira was wonderful at holding him and tickling him to make him look at her. Grammy and Papa enjoyed some special time with Devin, as we went out to dinner one night, but thankfully he was really good for them.

We finished our holiday trip visiting with great friends Matt, Becky, and Louisa. Devin loved to kick with his feet free of clothing, and we discovered that you can have a sound machine on your computer (we tried pink noise). We actually made the whole 5+ hour trip home without having to stop because Devin slept and took a bottle so well. Grandpa and Grandma came over to see the boys and have dinner before we had to settle down after the holidays. To ring in the new year, Devin slept great, not even waking up at the start of 2014.

Visiting with Great Grandpa Tony

Cousin Keira was wonderful with Devin

Spending some time with Great Grandpa Hodge

Two cute boys sitting on the ground together

Someone is a little tired out from all the holiday fun

Having a great time visiting with Grammy and Papa

Christmas 2013

With a 2-month-old and a 2-year-old, Christmas was really busy this year. We tried to make things as easy as we could, but we still had a great time celebrating. We started out the season with the Van Dyke extended family Christmas party, where many of our relatives met Devin for the first time. Kyler loves his second cousins, and I think that they might like him a bit too. We have the most amazing babysitters in the family, if only we had time to use them...perhaps a 2014 resolution? We celebrated with the Wiersum side next, which included decorating cookies and lots of fun. On Christmas Eve, we went to Mars Hill with family and enjoyed watching Kyler dance in the aisles to the music. I am sure that Jesus was smiling to see such a joyous little boy worshiping him with movement! We had a really nice low-key Christmas day with our little family before heading out to Princeton to see the Bebej family. We had a great time stopping to see great grandparents, and we even stayed a night with our friends the Johnsons on the way home.

We have been so blessed, and even though it was a very busy season, Devin and Kyler have truly been gifts that we continue to cherish as we remember our Savior's birth.

Sleeping at Meijer Gardens while looking at Christmas Trees...maybe next year? 

One of the very few moments he is still for a picture

Loved looking at the trees and letting us know if there is "star" or "no star" on top

Happy boy running around in Meijer Gardens

Standing by one of the many trees!

Daddy always teaching...this time about plants

The "choo choo" was by far the highlight for Kyler

Picture of the boys by the train

"Star, Mommy!"

I have the cutest sleigh riding buddy: "Giddy-up, horsey!"

Someone really loves his sprinkles...we had to reign him in a bit

Loves to decorate cookies

My boy and his second cousins...he loved every minute of the girl time!

"What do you mean we have to stop to eat?"

Looking good in his Santa hat

Trying on his "Wise Men" crown

Matching Christmas jammies

Kyler's new bike--watch out, world (this spring)!

Great Grandma Linda with Kyler

Great Grandpa Tony with the boys

Keira doing a great job with Devin

Great Grandpa Hodge meeting Devin

The boys with Great Grandma and Grandpa Hodge

Christmas time with Grammy and Papa

Wiersum family Christmas picture

Daddy's basketball, but I think Kyler will give it some love too

Someone loves his Christmas cookies

All dressed up in his Christmas sleeper!

Great Grandma Van Dyke with the kiddos

Jesus' birthday cake

Snuggling with Aunt Lynsey

All "dolled up" after Christmas Eve church

Family picture time

Jammied up with Louisa watching some Bubble Guppies

Devin -- Week 10 (12/18/13-12/24/13)

The big grins have begun, and we love it! Devin has had a lot of fun meeting so many new people and visiting during the holidays, but the best part is that he seems so happy, and his smiles are starting to show it. Unfortunately, because we have been so busy going places, we have not had time to take a lot of pictures or video this week to capture evidence of those great smiles. Along with all the smiles, this has been a week of a lot of spitting up, which makes for many outfit changes (for both Mommy and Devin). Devin continues to grow fast, now starting to out grow many of the 3-month outfits, which means that some of the Christmas clothes we have are a bit cramped. Daddy has been home for break, which means that Devin has enjoyed so many more snuggles and cuddles on his chest.

We visited Grandma at work for her birthday with cousins and Aunt Lori. He slept through most of it, but seemed to enjoy meeting a lot of her co-workers. We had Christmas with Grandpa and Grandma Wiersum and family. He enjoyed lots of cuddling, especially with Uncle Matt during gift opening. We went as a family to see the trains and trees at the Frederik Meijer Gardens, which Devin slept through and Kyler loved, we cuddled through a Christmas Eve church service before spending the evening with family. The holiday season is great with kids, no matter how busy it is. We are very blessed now to have Devin and Kyler!

So cute in his Christmas jammies

Snuggling with Great Grandma Van Dyke

Sleeping in the double stroller at Meijer Gardens

Yep, super excited about the orchids...maybe some day?