Happy 3rd Birthday Alex

"Happy Birthday to You" was sung many times in our house today. Alex is now three! By the end of the day he was able to answer correctly when asked, "how old are you?" He definitely understands this birthday thing much better this year. Today was his second birthday party because we celebrated with Eric's family during Christmas. We plan to have another party next weekend with his friends. Who wouldn't want to celebrate their birthday three times???

We had a good time in Nebraska for Christmas. We had snow for two days straight, but fortunately, we arrived before the snow started and left after the wind stopped and the roads were clear. Alex had fun eating Oma's food, playing with his cousins, playing in the snow, and opening his presents.

Last night we celebrated New Year's Eve with Alex's friend Justin and his family. The boys got along well. Alex managed to stay up past his bedtime, but not quite to midnight! Today he was a little tired, but we went out with his friend Lucas. They had fun together too, but Alex sort of missed his nap, so he got to go to bed early on his birthday. The poor guy was just tuckered out.

Happy New Year!

A big truck

I like to blow out candles!

What's that?

More presents

Where's Alex?

In the snow

We built snowmen

Sharing is hard

I'm three!!!!

Christmas in KC

We had fun celebrating Christmas as a small family in KC. Alex got to see all the presents under the tree on Tuesday and had to wait all day before he could open them. He did pretty well waiting. We had to inspect a few to see if we could guess what they were. Our friends Walker and Cynthia came over Tuesday evening and we celebrated Christmas with them. It's been a while since Alex got to open presents, but after the first one he had it figured out. Yesterday we had a brief visit from our friends, Jeff, Alex and Emma, before we headed north to celebrate Christmas with the Jantzen family in Nebraska. Right now it is snowing in Beatrice, so we will have a white Christmas.

This year we are also celebrating another first. Joelle is pregnant and we found out this week that we will be having a little girl. Our due date is May 20. We are very excited and this is a reminder that God does work in mysterious ways. Merry Christmas to all!

On the bus to the Plaza

Opening presents

Gettin' ready for Christmas

We are slowly getting ready for Christmas. We received our annual package of cookies from France and that started off our celebration. We have visited the trains at Union Station and Santa Claus at Crown Center. We still need to drive around and look at more lights, but the weather outside is downright frigid! We have been busy baking lots of cookies too. One more week and then it's off to Oma's house to celebrate.

I get them all!

Alex's garbage truck

Ready to ride

Looking for a big crash

Baking (eating) peppernuts

Making Christmas cards

Hi Santa!

Playing is more fun

Who doesn't love ice cream?

November's gone!

We have had a busy month with two trips to Nebraska to visit Oma as well as our own normal activities. Alex still loves to be outside and it is getting harder to be outside as the weather gets colder. Still we have had some nice days and Alex has had fun playing in our leaves. It seems like we have more leaves this year than in the past. It must be because of all the rain and cool weather this summer.

We took a short trip to Oma's house this past week for Thanksgiving. Alex had fun seeing her and playing with all her toys. He has not forgotten where she keeps them! This weekend Alex helped Mama set up the Christmas tree and then he helped Papa pick up leaves. He does a good job now of telling us what and what not to do! He is talking a lot more and is quite the entertainer.

Where's Alex?

Alex and Theo at the zoo

Reading with Papa

Playdoh

Laughing with Colton

Check this out!

I can help pull..

or I can sit.

Our Christmas tree

Reading with Walker

Happy Halloween

Alex had a couple opportunities to be Superman this week. Alex wore his costume to the PAT playcenter and practiced saying "trick or treat." He did well and was ready for Saturday. On Halloween we went to the downtown merchants for treats and to the community center for more treats. There were a lot of people, but Alex got a bunch of treats and one cool police car! We stayed at home Halloween evening and Alex had fun handing out candy to the few trick or treaters that stopped by.

See my super strength

Driving a Yellow truck

Up, up and away

Superman with his police car

Lots of treats

Where did the month go?

What have we done the past few weeks? We tried to sneak outside on the few warm and dry days we have had. Mostly, we are in our normal routine and just enjoying life. We have done a few special things. One Saturday we went down to Union Station to see Mickey Mouse. Alex was so excited, he almost climbed up on the stage! We also looked at the neat model trains they have running in the lobby. Alex also attended his friend's birthday party. He had a great time running around and eating cake.

Alex is looking forward to Halloween and collecting candy. He now understands what is going to happen and is walking around the house with his candy bucket already!

Mickey and Alex

Cool trains

Where's the bowl???

Holt Picnic and Fall Fest

We made it through two action packed weekends and are looking forward to a quiet weekend at home at the end of this week. The last weekend in September we attended the Holt KC picnic. We talked to Eli, Cris and Larry and met some other adoptive families in the area. Alex and Eli had a great time and Alex crashed once we got home.

This past weekend, we went to Newton, KS to visit Eric's brother and family. It was also homecoming weekend, (Fall Fest) for his alma mater, Bethel College. Alex had fun walking around campus and playing at the petting zoo. He also enjoyed the antique cars on display and was busy showing us which ones had horns and which ones did not! Alex had fun playing with his cousins and was sad when it was time to head back home.

Alex's truck

Eating Pho at Vietnam Cafe

Playing at the Holt picnic

Larry, Eli, Eric and Alex

Eli and Alex

"Hi, how you doin'?"

Riding the train

Alex on top

At the petting zoo

Running around the flag pole