Swanson Family Christmas

We celebrated Christmas with my family this year on Christmas Day.  It has been a few years since we have seen them on Christmas Day and I think they enjoyed watching the kids open their presents Christmas morning and the kids certainly loved having them here for it.

Mom and Dad flew in last Saturday from Phoenix.  They were able to see Drew and Kayley's basketball game Saturday afternoon.  Mom saw one of Drew's games last year, but this was the first time seeing Kayley play.  The kids had fun and both are improving with each practice and game.  Kayley is not quite strong enough to get the ball to the hoop yet, but by the end of the season, I think she'll be able to do it!

Matt arrived on Christmas Eve day.  The kids were excited as always to see their uncle.  The kids were also a little extra excited for Santa to arrive.  They were bouncing off the walls most of the day.

We spent Christmas Day playing with the kids and their new gifts.  Santa brought Kayley a new bike so we spent part of the afternoon helping her learn to ride a bigger bike.  Starting and stopping are the issues.  She needs a little help getting going and then she is fine until it is time to stop.  She slows down and tries to jump off!

The kids have spent a lot of time outside this week because it has been so nice.  High 40s and low 50s, which is really unusual for this time of year.  But, no complaints here!  I just wish it was going to be nice next week when Andy's family arrives so all of the cousins could play outside a lot!  It isn't looking good though.

Here are a few pictures from cookie decorating and gift opening on Christmas morning and some video of our little singer Christmas night.

Wheels on the Bus:

Watching a video of himself singing Feliz Navidad:

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star (with a little twist at the end):

Next up:  Thiel Family Christmas!

Time for Basketball

We are two games into the basketball season for Drew and Kayley.  They are on the same team this year, which is great for practices and games.  They were both a little unsure about playing on the same team at first.  Drew thought Kayley was a little young to be on his team!  And because this is Kayley's first year, she was a little skeptical about playing with Drew who is in his third year of basketball!  But, so far so good.  Here are a few highlights from the first two games.

Kayley with the assist to Drew:

Drew off of a steal:

Kayley dribbling and dribbling and then a pass to Drew:

Drew with a score:

Getting Ready for Christmas

I took Friday off to finish my Christmas shopping and I am so happy to report that I am DONE!  Now, to finish wrapping everything...

When Drew and Kayley got home from school on Friday, we picked Ryan up and headed to see Santa at Bass Pro Shops.  Andy met us there and I patiently waited in line while the kids and Andy walked around the store to pass the time.  Drew and Kayley had their lists and were ready to go when it was our turn.  We were unsure how he would do, but Ryan was great this year.  He said, "I want trains, trucks, cars Santa."

As you can see it went a little better than last year, when Ryan was not enjoying his visit with Santa:

My Baby is Growing Up

Yes, Ryan is 2 1/2.  Yes, that is his pacifier.  Until Sunday.  He only had it at nap time and bed time, but he had it at EVERY nap time and bed time and he LOVED it.  He would run to the stairs for naps and bed time because he got to go get his "paci."  So, you could say he was a little attached.  :-)

For those of you that know me well, know that I was the first to say a pacifier should be taken away at 1 year for naps and 15 months for bed time.  Until I had Ryan.  I honestly am not sure if it is the fact that he is our third one so I just don't care as much or if I am subconsciously trying to keep him a baby by letting him have it.  Maybe a little of both, but it is funny because I was SO opinionated about pacifiers before Ryan!

So, how did we get rid of it?  It was all Ryan...and Andy.  After Ryan's bath on Sunday night, he ran into his room and grabbed his pacifier as he always does right before bed.  I was still putting his laundry away in his room so Andy took him into our room and let him jump on our bed.  The pacifier kept falling out so Ryan handed it to Andy and told him to hold it.  Andy told him he would hold it, but then he was going to throw it away since Ryan didn't need it.  Ryan asked, "throw it away?"  Andy said yes.  Ryan said, "Ryan throw it away!"  Andy handed him the pacifier and Ryan ran into the bathroom and threw it away.  Andy asked Ryan about his other pacifiers (he has three in his crib at any given time) so Ryan ran into his room and grabbed them and threw them away too.

It was great, but we weren't really ready for them to be thrown away.  He is SO good going to bed and he lays in bed awhile after he wakes up because he switches his pacifiers out and it keeps him entertained!  But, we had to go through with it!

He started to realize they were gone when I was reading his book.  He normally has his pacifier for his bedtime story.  He didn't look at the book at all.  He just stared at his crib.  I felt so bad for him!  He had a major look of concern.  You know he was like, "what did I just do?!"  When the book was done, I laid him down and his lip quivered and he was on the verge of tears.  I honestly wanted to give him back his pacifiers right then!  But, I told him I loved him and that it was time for bed.  He quietly whimpered for about 20 minutes.  Then he cried.  I went in and he was frantically searching for his pacifier in his bed.  It broke my heart!  I told him the paci was all gone because he threw it in the garbage.  Then he cried more.  I got him to calm down and he was quiet for about 15 minutes.

Then he cried again.  Screamed actually.  Andy ended up rocking him to sleep that night.  The next night he cried a little bit, but not too bad.  Tuesday night was even better with just a little whimpering.  He didn't cry at all Wednesday night or after.  Today will be his first nap at home with no pacifier (daycare took the pacifier away at nap time at 15 months...they are stronger than us!).  We'll see how it goes, but I think it will be fine.

He thinks he is a really big boy now.  Well, hate to tell him he has another big life change in his future with potty training!  He has virtually zero interest at this point and we aren't going to push it yet.  We prefer the boot camp potty training when they are really ready and it is done in a weekend anyway.  I am pretty sure I won't stall potty training in order to keep him as my baby!

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Update - Nap is NOT going well.  :-(