Snow Day!

You finally got a White Christmas...just a few days late!  After celebrating Christmas 8 different times, we finally get to kick back and relax, just in time for a snow day!!  To make it even more fun, your cousins were here to see the snow too! Baby Jack, Monte, and Luke came up from Texas with Aunt Bridge and Charley.  They don't ever get to see snow so they were excited to play in the white stuff.  

The hardest part is getting your Flintstone feet in your snow shoes.  You also won't wear any mittens that are made for your size hand.  You'll only wear mom or dads, which makes picking up snow balls challenging.  

It makes it hard to catch them too.  

We got to play in the yard, run through the dog poop (not mine), and slide all over the wet, mushy snow.  A perfect kid day.  

With all that excitement, we are in desperate need of long naps.  

Happy Winter sister.

Love,
Nelson 

Christmas Outtings

Having a toddler in the house means Christmastime is so much more exciting!!  It's exciting to see our tree fenced so you won't eat it.  It's exciting to watch mom have to wrap all the gifts and have to hide them so you don't open them all.  But it's also exciting to get to go see all the holiday lights!  So far, we took you to Christmas in the Park, Christmas in Butler, and The Magic Tree.

Christmas in the park was really fun for you because you were allowed out of your car seat to see all the lights as you aggressively yelled "HOT!" at all of them.  

The Magic Tree was fun too but I stayed in the car while you got to experience it.  So many lights, so many people.  All was fun and games until some little kid stood in front of you and repeatedly coughed.  That would be your que to leave.  Mom and her crazy germ fears.  

Thank you for bringing so much joy into our lives and letting us see Christmas through your eyes.  It's getting to be a kid all over again.  

Love,

Nelson

Stubborn

Mom and dad always wonder when you may start talking more.  You understand everything, like me, but say few words, like me.  Your first REAL word was "hot".  Said with such fierce, you can determine a hot surface, dish, or appliance like a pro.  Some words started to follow....momma, dada, ball, up, uh-oh, Nel, Bob, boom, bang, all done.... but hot is your go-to.  What's funny is, you only say these words when YOU want to.  You can understand a hundred more, but say your short list of words only when it's on your terms.  So mom thought she would do what she always thought she wouldn't...bribe you with food.  I'll be darn if you didn't just immediately pick up on that bate.  Rookie.  Mom says I'll give you a cookie to say ________.  Boom, words come.

So, what this short experiment tells us is we are screwed.  You are stubborn.... and you're only 1.

Love,
Nelson

Santa Claus Can Stay Out of Town

There are so many reasons that I am thankful for you coming in our lives.  I could get all sappy about them, but to be honest, one of my top 5 reasons would be I didn't have to go see Santa this year.  But, you sure did.  Each year mom and dad schlep me somewhere to see some creepy man dressed in a Santa costume for dogs.  I even had to go with you last year.  But luckily, thanks to you, I sat this one out.  This year you saw Santa at The Mansion.  Oh shucks, they didn't take dogs.  Dressed up as a little Elf, you left the house while I kicked back and sat in the car, not having to weirdly sit on some smelly guy.  Now you're no dummy, you kept your eyes peeled for what was to come.

They tried tricking you with enticing donuts, coloring books, and a pretty tree.  You can smell a decoy a mile away.  Then, there he was.  Santa and the Mrs.  She was no consolation to this debacle you found yourself in.  Holding on to dad like a monkey, you knew he wouldn't let you go to some strange man.  Yep, I used to think he would protect me too.  Then mom chimes in, as she always does, and insists he puts you down.  As you climbed up him like a tree, the next thing you knew you were left alone...on him.  Santa.   

You're not one to be scared of strangers, but Santa, well, he's definitely on your freak-the-heck-out list.  Tragic.  

Miss Adrienne even tried to step in and get the whole crew excited to see the Claus Family.  Survival mode kicked in and you were going to fight your way out of that.  

As relieved as I was, I still felt bad for my sister.  So, we came home and played a little game of 

'chase the elf' to cheer you up.  A for Effort sister.  You have a year to recover.  

Love

Nelson