Tree...Check!

16 days and counting...
Finally got the decorations out for the tree, and picked up a tree last night!

Cookie Monster

Scarfing down an oatmeal raisin cookie and counting down the days until Christmas (only 17 to go)...

The spatulas remind Mom to start making some more banana bread (with chocolate chips)!

Welcome, Baby Barrett!

18 more days until Christmas...and a new cousin!



Baby Barrett Eric was born at 7:20 p.m. today. He is a big boy like his dad (and cousin) - weighing in at 9 lbs., 2 oz.! His mom and dad are doing well! He is just so sweet and Grandma Dianne says that he looks just like his dad did when he was born, except with a head of black hair. We're all now anxiously awaiting his other cousin!

St. Nicholas Day

19 days and counting...
We celebrated St. Nick's Day with Alex today, it was something we did growing up and thought it would be fun to continue. Alex put his boot out last night and this morning it was filled with a couple small gifts from St. Nick, along with a note from him reminding him to "be a good boy" for Santa Claus.

Quit making me eat pop-tarts!

20 Days Til Christmas...and in desperate need of a nap!

Projects this weekends:
1. Get the holiday cards out
2. Drag out the decorations
3. Finalize the gift list
4. Stay warm!

21 Days til Christmas!

22 Days and Some Video Clips

Video clips from Thanksgiving weekend!

Ride on a Four-Wheeler

Cows Hanging Out

Alex Eats His Birthday Cake

23 Days...

Online Advent Calendar by Alex

24 Days until Christmas!

Seeing Santa

$24.95 for a CD of unlimited photo usage.

$7 for a matching red striped shirt from Children's Place.

Getting three cousins together to have their picture taken with Santa...

Priceless.

Snowy Sunday

We topped off a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend with the first real snowfall. We got about 2 inches of snow - perfect for making snowmen!

Friday on the Farm

The day after Thanksgiving the Three Musketeers went down to the Reelitz "Circle R Ranch" for some outdoor fun. The weather was great - we got to see the cows and Alex got to ride on the four-wheeler with Uncle Jimmy.

Giving Thanks...

We've got so much to be thankful for this time of year - family, friends, health and happiness. Thanksgiving is all the more special to us because it was the day Alex was born. So, in honor of that, or really because we just wanted to see what they looked like, this morning we dressed him in Matt's old lederhosen that his parents got him when they were living in Germany. Thanks for being such a good sport, Alex, I'm sure wearing tight-fitting leather shorts sans diaper and a pair of itchy wool knee-length socks was exactly what you wanted to do when you woke up this morning! Such a trooper!

Presenting...Alex von Trapp!
"So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, good bye!"

Check out more pictures from Alex's birthday and Thanksgiving on our photo site - www.30poundcat.shutterfly.com

Dang, the Kid's Got Smarts

Apparently he *HAS* been listening during the many, many, many times we have read "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?" to him...

Happy Birthday, Big Boy!

Alex turned two today and we had a great weekend. We had his party on Saturday at Grandma and Grandpa Reelitz's house. Grandpa Jay and Grandma G came down from Itasca, along with Great Grandpa Jim and Auntie Laura. Great Grandma Faye, Aunt Morgan and Uncle Jimmy, Uncle Josh and Aunt Jenelle, were all there to help us celebrate. Thank you all for joining in Alex's special day.

We are so lucky to be blessed with such a beautiful, happy, healthy little boy. He is an absolute joy. It's hard to believe that two years ago today our lives changed forever the moment his began. We love you Alexander Matthew!

Alex on Thanksgiving Day 2006, 11/23/06

Alex on 11/22/08 at his birthday party

Alex and Great Grandpa Jim

Alex and Dad

Gettin' So Big...

Alex turns two on Sunday, his party will be on Saturday. Josh and Jenelle stopped by to get the bassinet that we had (Sam and Chris originally lent it to us). As a joke, we took some pictures of buddy in the bassinet. I found some of him as a newborn in it to compare...

Thank You!

November 11th is Veterans Day and we'd like to take a moment to say "thank you" to all who have served our country. Especially Grandpa Jim (Army), Grandpa Jay (Army), Grandpa Lars (Air Force), Aunt Becky (Navy) and Uncle Caleb (Marines).

Check it out - that's four branches of the military represented!

Thank You All!

Fun on the Farm

Brr...it has gotten cold here! Check out my new winter coat and hat!


I also really like my new snowpants...in fact I took a nap in them the other day!

Peanut Garbage!