It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!!

We kicked off our Christmas traditions this past weekend and boy did we have fun!!  Saturday morning we started the day by having breakfast with Santa at Jack's daycare.  He did much better this year (verse the trauma in 2010).  Then we went to Little Gym where Jack actually participated in the para shoot activity.  Up til this point he's absolutely refused - progress people!!  We had lunch at First Watch (my fav) and came home to decorate our tree.  Jack was a big helper and as soon as I gave him his own "Jack Tree" he pretty much left mine alone (yeah!).  Funny tidbit: He'll point at both trees and say "Mama's tree, Jack's tree, Daddy no tree" it's hilarious!!

Just a reminder of 2010

This is a random picture for my dad because he wanted to see Jack in his cowboy boots with jeans (sorry it was taken in the bathroom).

Putting the tree together - yes we're now fake tree people (they're so much cleaner)

I don't think he could be any cuter!!! LOVE :)

Framer!

Can you see him?! He was playing peek-a-boo with Daddy.

Accepting a candy cane from Santa (I'm not posting the Santa pic because it might be our Christmas card).

Each room had a different activity - the craft was to decorate an ornament.  Jack was very proud of his!

One room had face painting but Jack only sat long enough to become Rudolph and then it was on to the peppermint play dough - much more exciting!

Admiring Mama's tree, if you look closely you can tell he's staring at himself in a glass ball.  

Mama's tree & Jack's tree 

My ultimate favorite Christmas decoration - the Willow Tree Nativity Scene (thanks Mom & Dad!)

Jack passed out like this around dinner time because he refused to take a nap on such a fun day (can't say I blame him)

Since neither of us like ginger bread, we decided to make and decorate Rice Krispy Treat houses.

 I personally think Jack did an excellent job on his icing - don't you?!

Last but not least, enjoying Christmas cookies with Daddy before bed time.

Boots & Trains!!

We just got back from Papa & Mimi's house and boy did we have fun!  Yesterday Papa took Jack to the store (my dad owns a True Value Farm & Home) and he got his first pair of cowboy boots!  He strutted around the store for a solid hour as if he owned the place.  It was so funny.  He was saying hi to everyone and touching all the tools, ropes, chainsaws (blades were off of course), etc.  He also picked up a cowboy hat (which is too small because he has a HUGE head) and a toy horse.  Of course my dad was loving every minute and probably would have even bought Jack a tractor if he had asked :)  Then we all went out for pibba (pizza) and Jack got a free balloon at the restaurant.   He did not take a nap at all on Saturday and literally fell asleep at the dinner table.  It was such a great day :)

Today before we headed home, we stopped by my grandparents house (they're in Texas) and picked up my brothers' train table and all their Thomas stuff from when they were little.  This is no ordinary table, my grandpa built this table for Ryan and hand painted the top.  The pictures do not do it justice - it's gorgeous!!  And they are sweet enough to let us have (for the time - it's really Ryan's) the table and trains for Jack's new big boy room.  My grandma had the great idea of setting up the table in his new room. Therefore over the next few months he'll want to play in there and eventually when we move his furniture it won't be such an adjustment.  Smart lady :)  Thank you grandma & grandpa - he ADORES the table & trains!! He was literally squealing as Ryan was putting it together for him.  The two of them spent the remaining hours today playing with it (yes Ryan too) until it was Jack's bedtime.  

It's a GIRL!

We were thrilled to find out last Thursday that we're expecting a baby girl and her exact due date is Easter (April 8th).  There hasn't been a girl on the Tonsing side in a very long time therefore everyone was a bit shocked and pleasantly surprised. Both our mothers cried & screamed - awesome reactions! 

 Help me now - I might need an intervention!  Girl clothing is sooooo cute!!

 This is a dress that Nancy brought over last weekend - isn't it just precious?!!  I have a feeling Miss Lily Anne will be wearing this to cousin Katie's wedding in August.

 We decided on the name Lily Anne since it encompasses both my Grandma Lillian & Grandma Mary Anne's names. The best part was Lily had always been a favorite girl name of Terry's so even though he said he was choosing this baby's name it totally worked out to my benefit too!

 Are these shoes not adorable?!!

 I also got Jack a matching shirt to go with his sister's holiday outfit for next year.

Drum roll....our basement is finally complete after 3 and 1/2 months.

 Family Room

 With a play corner

 Hallway w/the softest carpet EVER and now I wish it was on the 2nd floor in all the bedrooms.  Someday...

 Guest room was moved to the basement away from the kids' rooms allowing privacy & silence in the morning :)

 My favorite part - built in shelves in the storage room

 Guest Bath that also has a linen closet behind the door when you walk in the room

 Last but not least, we had some leftover wood from the main floor therefore we carpeted the stairs but put wood on the landing and it really looks great!

A month of pictures

Visiting a pumpkin patch with Jack's best friend Aubrey aka "Aubee"

Going down a really fast slide with Mommy

I realize that these are not flattering pictures of myself but I just love Jack's facial expressions.  He loved this slide!

Great Grandma & Grandpa came to visit for the weekend.  Jack and Grandpa spent a lot of time reading.

This was the best pictures I could get of all three of them but I just adore the one below of Jack giving Grandma a hug bye.

Jack and RyRy

Jack followed this grasshopper around the yard for a good 20 minutes.  Notice how he uses his middle finger to point - he does this with everything.  He never uses his index finger it's really funny.  Just ask him to show you "ssshhh"...

Carving pumpkins with  Daddy.  Daddy carved Jack the best Mickey Mouse face and I forgot to get a pic :(

We visited Eckert's Farm with Nana and Grandpa and got to feed the goats.

Jack loved this tire house swing which is really rare because he hates traditional swings.

Giving Gigi a hug after her big birthday celebration.

Forcing Mimi to kiss him :)

This is how he sits in his chair to watch Mickey Mouse - every time!

Happy Halloween!  Going to school in costume.

Cat in the Hat with Thing 1 & Thing 2

Jack LOVED trick-or-treating!  No joke - he followed Colin (4 year old neighbor) to every house and didn't want to stop.  We probably hit 30 houses.  Terry and I were very impressed and thankful for all the yummy candy.

We find out in 2 days if we're having another boy or a girl.  To say we're excited would be a major understatement!!!

More info please...

I would have posted more on the pictures below but a) I figured they deserved their own post and b) the real reason - my computer kept freezing on me...so some more info on the big announcement.  This is mainly for my memory and family scrapbook therefore warning it's long:

I'm about 16 weeks along (Due date is April 4th) and yes we've known since July and have just opted to keep it a secret.  Our initial plan was to tell our families at our "It's Fall Ya'll" party (clever I know) that was scheduled for Oct. 1st. Our 'hook' was to have everyone come see our newly finished basement.  However the snag in our plan came when our contractor told us at the end of September that it wouldn't be completed.  So we rescheduled the party for a few weeks later (this past Saturday) granted the basement still isn't finished therefore moral of the story is 'never believe your contractor'.

Party went on as scheduled and my wonderful grandparents came in on Friday to spend the weekend with us before they head to Texas for 6 months.  We ended up telling my grandparents on Friday night because we all went out to dinner before Terry and grandpa went to the Cardinals game (Go CARDS!!).  We told them that we had news and asked Jack what was in my belly.  He of course said "Baby" and proceeded to try and pull up my shirt.  Not sure this was the best thing to teach him because now he thinks everyone has babies in their bellies :)

Saturday night was the party and my mom and brother Andrew were the first to arrive because they drove straight in from a Cross Country meet.  My grandma and I are in the kitchen just laughing because 30 minutes go by and my mom is just playing with Jack and reading him all these new books she got him.  Finally she walked in the kitchen and I said "did you see Jack" and she said "Of course I did he needs a hair cut!" I could not stop giggling...finally she noticed when Terry told her to look at his new shirt.  By this point I was wondering if it would take everyone else forever to notice too.  My aunt Cynthia arrived next (she drove in from Kansas City) and she noticed right away.  From then on out everyone else (grandma Lillian, Don, Ryan, Allison & Josh, Erin, Dad and Ben) all noticed pretty quickly (except my dad).  When Dad finally read the shirt he said "this is how you're telling us the news?"! Unfortunately Terry's parents couldn't make it because big Terry's brother passed away the week before and they were in Texas for the funeral.  We wanted to make sure they found out at the same time so Terry took a picture of Jack in his shirt and sent it to them.  Since the front said "Knock knock", Nancy answered back "Who's there?" and then Terry sent them a picture of the back of the shirt.   They were very excited too.

We're not completely positive that we'll find out the sex of the baby but either way our ultrasound is in just a few weeks!  And no we're not set on a name for either sex.  I have some preferences but apparently I told Terry he could name our second child.  I swear I must have been on drugs...no worries I still have veto power.

Knock Knock...

Jack's 1st Knock Knock Joke:

Knock...knock

Who's there?

A new baby brother or sister for me

THAT'S WHO!!