Putting up the Christmas tree

This year it was fun putting up the Christmas tree because Eric was really excited. Last year we had put it up while he was napping because we figured it would be too difficult to put it up while he was awake. This year he joined right in helping us.
He's trying to figure out what is in this box.


Lying down with Daddy trying to investigate the situation

Putting the star on the tree!

The finished product

Just like last year's Christmas card. However, last year Eric had just gotten his extra thumb removed and right after the picture his stitches opened up and got blood all over his white shirt. I can't believe that that was a year ago. We put his ornament on the tree of the imprint of his hand when he had the extra thumb. It's almost hard to remember that he was born with it.

Goofin' around

Up close. Happy Holidays!

This is kind of a long video because Eric took over the video camera and he lets it go for a while. However, it is really cute to see Eric's reaction to us lighting up the Christmas tree.

Happy Thanksgiving

We had a very nice Thanksgiving this year. We watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in the morning. Eric loved it. Throughout the parade I heard a lot of, "What's that?" and "Oh wow" along with him naming everything he recognized. It was so exciting for me to see him get so into something that is holiday related. He loved the Sesame Street float the best and I wish I had the camera ready when he saw Santa in the parade because he was blowing him kisses and waving to him. It was very cute.

So the day before Thanksgiving Daddy was at work so Eric and I went over to Mem and Pep's house since he asks for them constantly. We figured we'd just visit to get out of the house. Eric decided to help my mom with the preparations for Thanksgiving. Here is him and Meme preparing the butternut squash.

He decided that eating a piece of raw butternut squash was a good idea. I'll get veggies into him anyway I can! He seemed to enjoy it.

The Erics watching the Thanksgiving parade and preparing for some Turkey (these boys need to wear some clothes!)

So I have to apologize to Eric's family. I had left my camera in the other room and ended up not taking any pictures with them. We went to Eric's Auntie Linda's house for a huge Thanksgiving celebration. Eric's cousin Courtney just got back from serving 2 years in the Peace Corps so it was nice to see her. There was over 30 people at the house and it was the most well organized meal! I also enjoyed that we each wrote something down that we were thankful for and then shared after the meal. It reminds you of what Thanksgiving is all about.

So I did take pictures at my parents house. Probably because there were constant cameras going which reminded me to get my camera out.
Here's Eric and Ryan reading with Auntie:

Eric cuddling up to Ted

The boys chillin' with Gramma and Ted on the couch

Anybody notice a pattern of how these two always have to be together???

Yeah I'm not kidding, one can't be held without the other one being held.

So my gramma got the boys these cute snowmen that when they all lined up together and you turned one on they would all start dancing. It was quite entertaining. Eric's snowman is the one with the guitar. He played it the entire car ride home.

Dylan insisted that everyone join a musical parade around the house. This is Eric playing the piano on Daddy's head.

We took a similar picture like this last year. It's amazing how much the boys have grown up since last year.

Relaxing after the parade

Wee!

ABCs

I have been continuing to have a tough time uploading videos lately so these have been waiting in the wings for a while to be uploaded. The first video is Eric just being silly. The second one is him singing the ABCs. He doesn't quite get all of the letters and he was being silly for the camera but it's cute none the less!

finally videos!

Here are the videos of Eric jumping in the leaves finally!

Thank you great gramma

Dear Great Gramma,
Thank you for making me a hat with a football on it. I know you were hoping that it would help get me to wear a hat. Instead I like to pull it down over my eyes and walk into things because I'm a goober!
Love,
Eric Charles

peek a boo!

lunch with my gramma and playing in the leaves part 2

Last Saturday while big Eric was working, me and the little guy headed off to Gramma and Ted's for a visit. My gramma took us out for lunch at my favorite place, Harrys! So here's a really cute picture of Eric and gramma playing together :)







Yesterday was Veteran's Day and my internship was closed so I had the day off. My nephews were still going to my parents' house because my sister and Mike had to work so I went over there with Eric and got to stay and see him have fun. He wasn't quite himself yesterday because he didn't sleep well the night before but he still had fun. So here's some pictures and videos of him playing int he leaves:


my little hoodlum raking the leaves. He won't wear a hat but he'll wear a hood so I'm going with it





Ryan was enjoying playing in the leaves as well. I was trying to get him to show me the leaves. He is the cutest little devil.




So I have several videos to upload to go along with this post but for some reason blogger is not working with me this weekend. I'll keep trying but in the meantime at least you can see some of the post!