Getting Ready for Baby Girl

We hope to wrap up the nursery for baby girl this coming week.  We decided to make just a few changes and of course make it a bit more girlie.  Brighton wanted in on the action, so we didn't get really far on this night.  I'm  just now 34 weeks, so we have a bit more time yet. 

Christmas 2011

Sending Christmas Greetings

Santa Progress at OBI

We gave Santa one more try at Ottawa Beach Inn.  We did not approach Santa to sit on his lap, but Brighton hesitantly allowed them to approach us.  He knew this Santa was not his daddy.  At least we've made some Santa progress. 

Free Trains

The Holland Modular Train Club has done a FREE train show at the Zeeland Library the last couple years, so we thought we better go check that out.  Great Grandpa met us there, and there were many others there as well - busy place.  It was quite the set-up.  They took our picture, and we were told it would be with their pictures linked to their website at some point, so I'll keep an eye out for that. It runs through Thursday yet from 6-8 pm if you're interested.   

Two Times This Year

Auntie JoJo took Brighton to the Critter Barn a couple weeks ago.  Another trip to the Critter Barn was planned for this past weekend with many of the Walcott clan.  Jon and I even got to go; neither of us had ever been there. A chicken did not poop on Brighton this time, but I suspect that is what made him a bit nervous this time.  We experienced the animals as well as the live nativity.  It was a great way to experience and celebrate Jesus' Birthday.

He is lovin' his new turf

Brighton moved into a new bedroom downstairs in preparation of us needing the bedroom next to ours for the baby.  We weren't sure how it was going to go, so we've been talking about it for quite some time.  We got his bedroom ready and then made the move, and we are so pleased to say that he is LOVIN' it.  He even is using a different bathroom, and he thinks that is cool too.   Everyday he plays in his room at some point as well.  He even knows that his old room is for the baby, and he is cool with that.  I was really nervous about all of this, but it really couldn't have gone any better.  Yahoo!  Check out my guy and his new turf...

WOHS Lipdub 2011

Wow!  So very proud to teach these students.  The lipdub this year turned into a major school event with lots of student participation. The WOBNers planned, organized, and produced this - very impressive.  It premiered today at the Month of Caring Holiday Assembly.

Early Morning Snow Fun

There was a snowy surprise this morning when we woke up.  Brighton asked to go play in the snow over and over since 6:30 am.  I finally gave in shortly after 8 because who knows how long it will stick around.  It took us some time to get bundled up, and my normal outdoor gear doesn't exactly fit, but I figured things out.  I had Brighton all dressed; he went out and made some footprints on the driveway, and then came back and said he had to go to the bathroom.  Seriously, one minute after I sent him out...go figure.
It's chilly out there folks, so the first fun in the snow of this winter necessarily concluded with hot chocolate.  Good times!

Look What I Found Under My Bed

A Chicken Pooped On Me and I Saw Baby Jesus

If Brighton were writing this post, the title is what he would write.  It's actually what he told me about his morning, and that's about it and in that order too. 
He went on a fun outing with Aunt Jordan and friends to the Critter Barn.  No pictures of the chicken poop, and he apparantly handled it all pretty well. Wish I could've seen that one.
Thanks Auntie JoJo!

We LOVE this Santa

Our second try with Santa this season went much better than the first.  It took him some time, but Brighton figured out that this Santa was his Daddy in a costume pretending to be Santa - NOT the real Santa :)

Jon took it upon himself to buy a costume and be Santa at an extended family party this weekend.  We thought it was great!  I think this Santa will be stopping in for years to come, and that makes me smile.

       Photo Credit: Walcott Imaging Photo Booth

Yup, I Made These

Well, actually my sister and I did these.  II couldn't have done these cute little snowmen without her. 

I've had some extra time on my hands, so I've been spending quite a bit of it in the kitchen.  This week I've made caramel corn (much bigger job than anticipated), chocolate chip banana bread, chocolate dipped pretzel rods (with nuts, sprinkles, or crushed candy canes), and of course these cute snowmen. 

Jordan and I had a great time with no major incidents except that we had difficulty with the candy canes for the pretzel rods, so after lots of effort, my sister finally drove over them with her car.  That worked :)  
If you know me at all, you know I've never done anything like this before in my life.  I guess there's a first time for everything.

 And thankfully, I'm not eating all of this myself.  I don't need to add too much stuff like this to my already growing body.  It's the season of giving, so It's a good time of year to be spending some extra time in the kitchen.

Parade of Lights 2011

I was anticipating lots of cute pictures from the Holland's Parade of Lights this past week, but this is it.  Our little guy has been playing hard, sleeping less, and fighting a mild cold.  He fell asleep in the garage on the way to the parade; he then slept through the entire parade (sirens, drums, horns, etc.).  Jon woke him up when we thought it was about half way, but it was finished, so he saw the last two parade participants.  By the way, nice parade, but where was Santa?  Was he supposed to be there?  We missed him.

Santa 2011 Take One

We're going to have give Santa another try this holiday season as this "Take One" didn't go so well.  We talked about it in advance, got excited, and practiced what we were going to say, but the kid absolutely panicked. This is the one picture we were able to take, so I'm hoping at some point we can get another one even though this one sure does tell a story.

Decorating the Christmas Tree

I always forget how much time it takes to decorate the tree and bring out all of our festive decorations.  But...Brighton actually helped out this year!  That was nice change.  He "helped" Jon hang a few lights outside too.  We took care of it all over Thanksgivng weekend.

 Brighton of course didn't help the entire time, and he had some ideas of his own for decorating this year (or ones that likely came from his Dad.)  No decorative tree skirt at our house right now; we've opted for a train instead. 

Buh Bye Childhood Home

We're saying goodbye to my childhood home over on Silverstone this week.  My parents are moving.  Obviously lots of memories in this place, but we are also very excited for my parents to move into a new house. They close Monday and move this week.

I snapped a few pics of the place on Thanksgiving.  I am super thankful for the place and all of the memories there, and we anticipate lots of fun family time at the new house too. 

My Pirates

We're Takin' It Easy

We're all takin' it easy over here at the Walcott home.  Brighton injured his foot last week jumping off a table - nice.  We watched him with an awful limp for nearly 24 hours, and then we determined we should probably bring him in.  Poor little guy has a pretty bad sprang (thankfully not broken!), and he has been limping something fierce for several days now.  Doctor's orders were to not run or jump for a week.  Umm...have they met my son or I'm guessing any average three year old?  I think it is slowly getting better, and he has been a trooper through the whole thing.

This mama is takin' it easy too.  I had some pregnancy complications a few weeks ago, so I have been instructed to stay home from school and take it easy.  Even though I'm missing my life at school, I'm obviously following doctor's orders. Not exactly how I was thinking this would all work out, but I'm very thankful it's not worse because it very much could be. 

We're all doing fine, we're just not the wicked busy Walcotts you have come to know.  

Make sure you find some time to do some takin' it easy this holiday week.  It really does make you thankful for a brand new set of life's experiences.    

Halloween Happiness 2011

Pumpkins Please?

Brighton wasn't really into Halloween decorating this year.  He did paint a pumpkin at school that he was very proud of, but then it rained outside and his pumpkin masterpiece did a disappearing act. 

Jon and I carved the pumpkins and decorated the haunted house while Brighton ate Cheetos.  Hopefully he'll be more into Trick or Treating.