Merry Christmas!

If at first you don't succeed...

...try, try, and try again!



M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E

Here are the obligatory pumpkin carving photos.  Colin really enjoyed digging out the guts again this year, but we made the mistake of having a Halloween movie on in the background.  Most of the carving time was spent trying to persuade him to help! 

This little preschooler was SO EXCITED to dress up as Mickey Mouse.  Hopefully someday he'll appreciate how much his mother let her style preferences go to the wayside with those yellow Crocs!



We had a pizza party at Mike and Karina's prior to trick-or-treating.  This is the best group photo we could get.  There was no time to sit and take pictures - there was candy to get!

 



L to R: Sloane, Will, Mauer, Jackson (in kettle), Colin, Charlie



We covered 4 blocks and the kids' buckets were overflowing with candy.  The three of us closed out the night by driving up to visit uncle Andy and auntie Susan.  It was a great night and so fun to see Colin finally "get" trick-or-treating!

Turning point

Here we are!  Over halfway done baking this baby!  20 weeks has been a turning point for my comfort level.  The belly seems to take up a lot more space all of a sudden and the round ligament pain and shortness of breath are in full force. 

My big ultrasound was a couple weeks ago and everything looked good.  Baby weighed in at 13 oz.  I personally don't enjoy viewing other people's ultrasound pictures but I wanted to post these to have for the future.  Feel free to close out this post and not look at any of them. :)



These babies were crossed THE WHOLE TIME.



A little creepy but pretty cool



Does this look like Colin?



A curiously good time

Colin's 3rd birthday party was a success!  The boy has been obsessed with Curious George, so who better to join us for a party?



Birthday boy



John built a sandbox for Colin's gift from us



Holt boys




Will supervising gift opening



He was so excited to blow out the candles!



The best family photo we could get



What a fun day celebrating our little monkey!

His actual birthday...he requested a picture with the giant pumpkin.

Biker boy

I don't know how great the picture quality is on this video, but I had to post it.  Biking is all this kid wants to do (well, until we had our first round of SNOW yesterday).  We discovered a decent little hill at the park down the street and Colin would ride up and down all day if we let him.

3.

Happy 3rd Birthday, Colin!  We celebrated your birthday with a party over the weekend but you still needed a present this morning.  You found the birthday cupcake, too, and it was filled with yummy treats. 

Your party and 3-year-old update will be coming later this week.

 I had to post this photo from yesterday afternoon.  Nothing like a bag of frozen green beans to make your football injury feel better.



Colin & Soren

As mentioned in my update, the Gilje's came to visit while on their way to MN for a wedding.  Nevermind that these photos are from the end of JULY. 

Soren is one month shy of being exactly a year younger than Colin.  The two of them played so well together.  I only wish we were able to see them more often.  Maybe out in Big Sky next winter?!

We hit up the Red River Zoo one afternoon.  The boys had a blast!

 



What a brave kid!





So excited to see a horse!




Take 1



Take 2



Take 3

Lizzy: how did we not get a picture of us mommas?  Next time... 

Where did we leave off?

Well, here we are...more than a month since I've last blogged!  So much has happened since then: visits from college friends, house projects, a long Labor Day weekend, and the addition of new Holt family members (yes, plural!). 

First up, we now have two Holt sisters!  Luke and Alexa were married August 17 on a gorgeous summer day.  We were all honored to be a part of their day and wish them many happy years together. 



This little boy didn't smile for a single picture.



Until he could eat some fruit snacks

Sisters

A few weeks ago we enjoyed a hot summer afternoon and partook in the Streets Alive event downtown.  Colin loved riding his bike in the middle of the street without any cars.

Next up - deck staining!

Box Car Days was a hit again this year.  The rides were Colin's favorite part!

Lastly, the second new Holt addition...arriving the end of February.



8 weeks




10 weeks



16 weeks

There you have it, a generalized wrap-up from the past month or so.  Now that I'm in my 2nd trimester my energy levels are ever-so-slightly increasing, so hopefully we'll be back to regular posting. :)