Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve we went to the 4:00 service at our church. It was geared towards children. The kids all went up to the front for the message and Caleb got to sit right by Erik. Then Erik lead "Away in a Manger" and Caleb kept wanting to play the guitar with him. It was fun to enjoy this time as a family.

After church we headed over to my parents house for dinner and presents. There were 39 of us gathered this year...just missing the Condaps. Jackson enjoyed being passed around to different family members for his first Christmas.

Colby, Kendell and Jackson

Caleb with his presents...including the shopping cart!

Jenny, Rachel, Jackson, Dan and Heather

Gingerbread Train

Caleb had seen the Rills blog and the gingerbread house that they made and really wanted to make one as well. So we headed to Target and found a gingerbread train...even better! He had so much fun decorating it and eating all the candy. He just wants to look at it all day.

6 months

Jackson is 6 months old! He weighed in at 17 pounds 9 ounces and measured 26.5 inches long. He is still so much fun and loves anything to do with Caleb or solid food. Jackson has had a blocked tear duct since he was born and in this last week we have noticed that his eye is not so goopy anymore. YEAH! We are so thankful for our healthy little boys.

Jingle Bells

Here is a little video of Caleb singing "Jingle Bells" with Erik the other night. Our camera is on the fritz, so that is why there is no picture in the beginning. Enjoy.

Shoveling with dad

Caleb and Erik shoveled the sidewalks while Jackson and I went to the grocery store. Caleb was such a good helper and has asked to shovel with daddy every day since.

Wonderland Express

Last Tuesday we went to the Botanic Gardens for Wonderland Express. We met up with the Rills, my parents and Brooke and Mike. It was so much fun and the snow was an added bonus. Caleb, Olivia and Grayden chased this train around a few times.


You can sorta see Erik and our stroller in this picture...but the lights are what I wanted to show anyway! They did such an amazing job lighting the trees. Every single branch had lights on it!

More decorating and a music video

I posted this picture for my friend Hannah in Costa Rica...here is the shirt you bought for Jackson. We miss you and can't wait to see you at Christmas Camp!!

This evening I was making dinner with Jackson in the Bjorn. Later I saw Caleb trying to put the Bjorn on and I asked him what he was doing. He said "Jackson wants to go in the Bjorn." We agreed that carrying the "brown bear" might be a better idea.

Tonight we finished decorating the tree.

Caleb decided it was easier to hang the ornaments on the lights!

The finished product.

Here is Caleb practicing "Away in a Manger" for his Sunday School program. (I especially love the motions!!) If he actually does this up front I will be so emotional. Whenever I go and see my cousins in plays at church, I always cry. I guess this is just the beginning.

Decorating

On Saturday we put up the lights and a few ornaments. We wanted to wait and do all the ornaments together when Erik could be home.
Jackson was enjoying himself too.

This is Jackson with my grandpa at a family birthday party.

Christmas Tree

Here's a picture of the whole family getting our tree...Jackson slept through the entire thing!

Nightime with the Strom boys...

I have commented several times on how Jackson has yet to sleep through the night. Well, two nights ago I put him to bed at 8:30pm and he woke up at 6:15am! Last night I put him to bed at 8:30pm and he woke up at 4:15am (I then got him back to sleep until 6:00 without eating). Pretty good eh? What a relief! Erik and I should be well rested right?

One might think that sounds logical, however, Caleb has decided to wake up 3 and 4 times a night...they've completely switched roles! Last night his yelling went something like this..."MOMMY, COULD YOU GET ME SOME MILK, PLEASE!" Over and over, then he started saying "Mommy, I need some milk, please. The milk is in the fridge mom. Could you get me some milk, please, Mom." (At least he's polite, right?) Oh yeah, Jackson slept through the entire thing...right in the same room with screaming Caleb. Not only has Jackson started sleeping "through the night" but he has also learned to sleep with his loud big brother around!

I love to eat!

Here's a few pictures of Jackson before he ate another solid food meal.

Jackson tries solid food...

This morning we decided to try some rice cereal with Jackson...he LOVED it! He has been reaching for our food for a long time, so we thought he was ready. We let Caleb help feed him and I think they both enjoyed themselves. Here are a few pictures and a video from the first feeding.

I LOVE these kids!

Just look at that face...Jackson continues to be so much fun. He loves anything his big brother does and smiles most of the day! He isn't sleeping through the night yet...but we still love him.

And here is how Caleb likes to "take care" of his little brother. I guess he didn't think there were enough toys on the exersaucer already! What a good big brother.

Happy boy

More leaves!

And on Saturday we played in the leaves again!

A little Lake Geneva getaway

We spent Friday and Saturday in Lake Geneva. It was a great way to spend Erik's days off. Caleb didn't want to leave, he loved playing outside.

We spent a lot of time at the lake just throwing rocks into the water. Caleb really liked going all the way to the end of the pier.




Erik and Caleb raked and jumped into the leaves. I think this was the first time Caleb ever did that...he LOVED it!