Krue's Christmas Program

Last Wednesday was Krue's Christmas program and party at preschool. His class had a 15 minute program with cute songs and movements. The kids hardly sang (the large audience was pretty overwhelming for a 7 two year olds) but it was still really cute. I was proud of Krue and Lauren because they were the only two up there that did all of the motions and sang so we could occasionally hear them. Krue puts on quite a performance for us at home so we know he can do it! Afterwards, the class had a fun party with lots of treats and games. Would you believe that Santa showed up again! I told Krue that he must be a good boy because that Santa Clause keeps following him around everywhere he goes :)

Kiefer cracks me up in this picture. You can just tell what is on his mind!

Have a Wonderful Christmas! Ho Ho Ho

Elkins Christmas

Last Sunday we celebrated Christmas with my dad's side of the family (The Elkins). My mom and dad hosted a wonderful party. Santa even showed up!

Kiefer was amazed with Santa. He just starred at him the entire time!
Krue was a little stand-offish with Santa.

My sister, Ali, took Krue up to see him...but I couldn't get a good picture.

Here are all the great-grandchildren at our party. Our Elkins side of the family is growing! Five of the children are under 1 1/2 years. It will be interesting next year!

It was so nice to visit with this side of my family. We only get to see these relatives once or twice a year.

Habanera Christmas Party 2006

Last Saturday Lee and I attended our second Habanera Christmas party. Habanera is a club in town made up of business people that get together four times a year for themed parties. It is really fun for us because we are in the club with our really good friends and neighbors, Neal and Melanie Blythe. It is a chance for all of us to get glammed up and go out with no kids for a night. So nice!

Christmas Is Almost Here!

The boys are getting excited for Christmas! Krue likes the decorations, lights, and festivities. Kiefer likes the wrapping paper and paper ornaments :) Krue is really starting to understand what Christmas is all about this year...most importantly, the birth of Jesus.

The boys sitting in front of our Christmas tree.
Our babysitter, Erin, bought a gingerbread house for Krue to decorate with her.
They did a great job! How nice of Erin to do this for Krue.

Kiefer's Favorite Things

As many of you know, I love to take pictures! Especially of my boys. Here are some fun shots I have captured of Kiefer over the past month.

Some of Kiefer's favorite things:

Eating toast in his highchair...
...a good massage from Baba...
...crawling backwards...and winding up in the funniest of places...

...taking baths...
...playing with soft, stuffed animals...
...and reading a good book.

Just a happy little guy!

A Week of Firsts...

This has been an eventful week for little Kiefer. He has experienced two things for the first time ever! His first haircut and opening his first present.

Lee's Aunt Shelly cut Kiefer's hair for the first time. Nothing major...just a trim. Kiefer sat on his Daddy's lap and held very still. (The buzzing from the clippers was pretty tempting to look at though!)

While we were visiting my parent's house this week, Kiefer had an explosive diaper incident. (Funny, haven't we heard of this happening before? Luckily I had plenty of space and helping hands this time.)
I forgot an extra change of clothing...so my mom brilliantly pulled out a Christmas present she had wrapped for Kiefer. This was his first time opening a present and he had so much fun with the bow and the paper. He just tore into it and enjoyed tasting everything. The package contained a bunch of cute outfits and a board book.
Thanks, Baba, for saving the day!

Dear Santa

Dear Santa,

I've been a very good boy this year. Please bring me the following:

A Christmas Tree
Baba (Grandma Elkins)
A Basketball
Kiefer & Mommy
Mrs. Funk (Preschool Teacher)
A Birthday Machine that goes around, around, and clap, clap, clap (From Little Einsteins)
The "clapping piece" from the Birthday Machine (I don't know why?)
Winnie the Pooh
A Merry Go Round
A Waterfall
Leo & Annie (From Little Einsteins)
A T.V. (Geesh)
A Kitchen
Flowers

Love, Krue

(As told to Mommy on Dec. 1, 2006 Age 2 1/2)

Speaking of Godparents...

...remember my little buddy, Parker, several entries back? Well, I am so delighted to have been asked to be his Godmother!

Thank you, Ben and Brandi, for this special honor.

Kiefer's Baptism

On Sunday Kiefer was baptized at our church. We had a whole crew of family members join us for the special occasion. It was a very nice ceremony and Kiefer did a great job through the whole thing.

We asked my brother, Adam, and Lee's step-sister, Sara, to be Kiefer's Godparents. I like this picture because it looks like Kiefer has a halo over his head!

When Lee was carrying Kiefer back from getting baptized, he started blowing raspberries! :) My sister, Amy, captured the moment.

We love you, Kiefer! You are a gift from God.

Shopping Tradition

It is a huge tradition in my family to brave the mall and go shopping the day after Thanksgiving. This year the couragious shoppers included: Amy, myself, Adam, Adam's girlfriend Natalia, Mamaw, Uncle David, and my mom. Amy's boyfriend, Chris, met up with us later. We start the day off at Bob Evans and then head to the mall for a fun-filled day of shopping!

It was so nice outside when I got home that the boys and I took a walk around the neighborhood and looked at all the new Christmas decorations! That is our next project :)

Thanksgiving 2006

The Nagel's had a wonderful (and always busy) Thanksgiving this year.

We first headed down to my Mamaw's house to celebrate Thanksgiving with my side of the family.
Krue filled up on the appetizers!

Mamaw's always has her table looking beautiful

and appropriate for the occasion.

It is tradition for my dad to carve the turkey.

Uncle Adam, Aunt Ali, and Baba
all enjoyed Kiefer on his first Thanksgiving.

Next, we headed to Lee's Aunt Shelly and Uncle Dom's to celebrate Thanksgiving with the Nagels. This is a picture of Kiefer and his cousin Max. They were born 8 days apart!

I always get a kick out of the difference in our family get-togethers. My side of the family seems to be more quiet, calm and relaxing...Lee's side of the family has a TON of little kids so there is a lot of noise, activity, and excitement going on at all times.

We have so much fun at both places!

These are pictures of Lee's Uncle Eric with some of the cousins wrestling. Look who is on top of the pile! Krue was having a blast.

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

A Funny Story to Kick Off Your Thanksgiving...

Yesterday, Krue came home from preschool with a pilgrim hat and an Indian feather hat. Of course he would not put on the hats, but thought it was pretty funny when Mommy and Kiefer put them on. After playing around for a bit Krue said he had to go potty. I sent him into the bathroom and sat down on the floor next to Kiefer and played with him while he jumped in his jumper. My back was turned to Krue while he went to the bathroom. The next thing I know Krue is sticking something on my head saying, "Mommy, it's another hat!" It took a second, but after feeling little droplets run down my face and back I realized that he had put his Elmo potty cushion on my head! Ahhhh...So gross! I about died. He was so innocent about it that I had to laugh. After cleaning myself up, I explained to Krue that the potty cushion was NOT a hat and that we only put it on the toilet.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING, YUM!

Nick's 21st Birthday

On Saturday, Lee and I traveled down to our old stomping grounds, Bloomington, to help Lee's brother, Nick, celebrate his 21st birthday. The last of the Nagel Clan to turn 21. The entire family was there (minus Brandi and Scott) which made it so much fun!!

Happy Birthday Nicholas Ryan. I remember chasing you around the house when you were 7!

Friends and Fun

After a long week with the boys (cutting teeth, colds, adjusting to having the toys moved into the basement, etc.) Lee and I were really looking forward to a nice dinner and night out with our friends, Neal and Melanie. We had a fabulous meal at Cork 'N Cleaver and then spent a couple of hours at Rum Runner's, a dueling piano bar. What a great time! We have to do it again soon.

Oh the Torture...

Normally Krue is in a very good mood. Yesterday, however, was a different story. Both of the boys had their shirts off so I grabbed the camera (they looked so cute!) As you can see in the pictures...this was pure torture for Krue. I thought this series of pictures was too funny. I had to share.