December

December through pictures. 

We met Jessi and Chris at St. Charles (in St. Louis). It's a really great part of the city where they go all out making it feel Christmas in the olden days, pretty much like from Dickens' A Christmas Carol. It's a great way to get in the spirit of Christmas. Then we went to dinner and then to the St. Louis Zoo where they decorate with tons of lights. The weather was perfect. It was a really fun day. Thanks Pinks!

We got to go home for Christmas (unfortunately Nate only got to go home for not quite four days) but we made the most of it, spending time with family and a day of skiing. And, we got a white Christmas. It snowed on Christmas Eve and then almost every day after that until New Year's Day. 

Nothing like a get-together with the G's (some of my best friends from high school). Me, Cuz (Rachelle), Mindy, Erin, Mary, Soph, and Megan. We missed you Jess! We hadn't seen Mindy for 8 years. Way too long!

One of the forts that Nate and Van love to build.

Ready for the cold.

Van's first visit with Santa. He wasn't too thrilled. I felt a bit awkward.

I don't blame him for wanting to get away. It's a pretty freaky gingerbread man.

The Army's Christmas celebration.

My boys.

At the zoo.

The Christmas parade in St. Charles.

Crazy morning hair.

Reading books with Grandpa Ridd.

Spaghetti for the first time. Could have been a lot worse.

Checking out the tree with Grandma Ridd.

He really does love baths.

Traditional Christmas morning picture.

Christmas Eve dinner

Playing in the snow on Christmas day.

His new train.

The Proctor fam. Love this family. Great job Steph and Jackie!

Too bad Van's not looking but we still like it.

Van's 1st Birthday!

Van turned 1 on November 21st. I can't believe it. It went by so fast, and yet, like all parents say, I can't imagine life without him. Just a few things about Van as a 1 yr old (technically almost 14 month old, but whatever.)

He likes to observe new/strange things before he decides how he feels about them.

He loves bread, just like his dad.

He thinks it's really funny when he toots.

He likes to be chased.

He loves taking baths.

He loves ducks.

He's learning to give kisses.

He loves to be picked up and see what I'm doing while I'm working in the kitchen.

Strangers have to earn his smiles.

He loves chocolate, just like his Grandma Proctor.

He likes reading books.
He makes the funniest, craziest sounds with his mouth. We have no idea how he does it.

I'm sure there's more but that's all I can think of right now.

His birthday came the day before Thanksgiving this year. We spent Thanksgiving with our great friends Jessi and Chris Pinkston, so we celebrated his birthday with them at their house. It was a lot of fun and more exciting than if it had just been the three of us at our house. Jessi was so great and put up decorations for the party while we were driving there. Since he loves ducks I attempted to make a duck cake. I was hoping it would help him dive in and go crazy but no such luck. Oh well.