No Iowa / 5th Christmas Celebration

For our 5th Christmas Celebration we were supposed to leave today for Iowa and then celebrate with the Hunt's (Eric's mom's side) tomorrow in Edgewood, IA. Unfortunately because they are getting hit with an ice storm and then snow following we've decided not to make the trip. We will miss seeing everyone but hope they have a great time.

While we were watching the weather and trying to decide what to do my brother helped with the baby by feeding Robert for the first time. Not too many dribbles and he got a good burp at the end so for his first time ever feeding a baby I think he did a pretty good job!

Christmas Night and Friday (Red Wing, MN)

Christmas Night we celebrated with the Knautz's (my Aunt Val, Uncle Paul, Cousin Parker, and Grandpa). Robert really was a great boy for having two long days. Of course once again he slept through the opening of gifts but it was still a great time and fun spending a few days with that side of the family.Mylo & Vegas resting after all the excitement

We also got to visit with my good friend Abby, her husband Mike, and their daughter Lucy while in Red Wing. It was a lot of fun to see them again and to hang out. Lucy is a month older than Robert so it is always nice to visit and share our baby stories.

Christmas Day Lunch (Maple Grove, MN)

We spent the middle of our day in Maple Grove at my cousin Susie's house and had a great time celebrating with family on my dad's side. It is always a great time and playing with my godson Aidan always provides lots of entertainment.

Christmas Morning (Robbinsdale, MN)

On Christmas Day we had 3 celebrations and started the day off by having my mom, Nick and Mandie over for our family Christmas. After a yummy breakfast we opened gifts that Robert just couldn't stay awake for. Poor baby must have known he was in for a long day and that he needed his rest.

Good Morning Mommy...It's Christmas!

Trying to stay awake

Vegas attacking his presents

Hempler Christmas (Farmington, MN)

On Christmas Eve we celebrated with Eric's family to start our first of 5 Christmas celebrations. It was a great night and it was the latest I had stayed up in a long time. Christmas is always fun with kids around and Lyric provided lots of entertainment by playing with Robert and of course the dreaded wait to open gifts while the dinner dishes were being cleaned and put away!

Getting cleaned up for Christmas!

Stealing Grandpa's Chair

Wide awake and happy before opening gifts!

Cousin Love

My Chair!

Tonight Eric put Robert in one of our rocking chairs and got a bunch of smiles out of Robert when he started rocking the chair. We didn't get as many once I got the camera but we still got a few. The best part of it is that after we were done taping Eric tried to share the chair with Robert and he started screaming & crying. This continued with him in his swing, with him being carried, with him getting a diaper change, and every other position. I jokingly told Eric that it was because he took him out of his chair and so he put him back in the chair and within seconds he stopped crying. It was too funny! In Robert's defense it is the chair that both Eric and I love to sit in, even though we have a matching one on the other side of the room.

Happy Holidays

We want to wish everyone a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We are excited to celebrate our first Christmas with Robert and to see a lot of relatives over the next week.

Baptism

Saturday night we celebrated Robert's baptism. He was all smiles before the service started but then his lack of naps for the day caught up with him. So Eric and I both took turns walking with him and luckily got through the baptism portion of the service with no tears! The tears, as you'll see below, came after church when we tried to take pictures.

Robert's godparents - Adam, Mandie, and Nick

Pretty sure this is the first baby Adam has held since Lyric was little!

Pastor Elaine with a screaming baby!

A crying baby doesn't upset the grandparents

Great Grandpa Knautz

Great Aunts & Uncles Paul, Val, Joe, and Sally

It's a Christmas Miracle

As many of you know my mom was in a bad car accident the Sunday before Thanksgiving and throughout that chaos her dog Vegas got out of the car and ran away. Many people searched for him but nobody had found him nor did he go to any of the farm houses nearby. With 2 1/2 weeks having gone by we had pretty much given up hope on his surviving the weather.

Yesterday while at work I got a call from my mom and at first it was hard to understand what she was saying because she was crying so hard but I finally made out that somebody from the Baldwin area called and had just found Vegas. The woman that found him said he appeared to be fine and made arrangements to meet my mom that afternoon.

He was found on a county road about a mile south of the accident but we don't know where he has been for all this time or what he has been up to. The vet said that he looked pretty good but had lost about 7 lbs, was dehydrated, and had a small infection...overall not too bad. His perkyness has returned today and he is getting to be more like his old self. Both my mom and Vegas are happy to be reunited and as always the dog is getting spoiled. Thanks to everyone who has kept my mom and Vegas in your prayers and thoughts!

Santa's Little Helper

This past week we have been busy getting ready for the holidays. We've decorated the house, wrapped presents, mailed out the Christmas cards and have started baking a bunch of cookies. Robert of course didn't want to be left out so he was our cute little helper.

Our lil' Thug!

Peek a Boo!