The most wonderful time of the year!

Christmas 2011. 

So this year it was a little hard for me to get into the Christmas spirit.  As many of you know, I have been ill and lacking energy.  It was a struggle but I wanted to make sure we created memories for Jayden and for our family. And mission accomplished!

Christmas Eve

It is a tradition that we have spent Christmas Eve at Joe's parents house.  We attend the Children's mass, have dinner and open presents. This was Jayden's first Christmas mass and Grandma Teska even gave him his own bells to play while the children were singing.  He took that job very seriously and shook those bells.  Jayden also got to pull his high chair up to the table and join us for dinner.  He was a big fan of feeding himself his cottage cheese and then loved grandma's cookies and chocolate covered pretzels.


Jayden enjoying a sugar cookie...the first of three

Jayden playing piano before dinner, Grandma has taught him well.  He loves music.

Jayden and Grandpa listening to music before dinner....

Jayden at the big boy table with Daddy...

Next, Jayden got into his PJs and it was time to open presents.  He didn't have much for a nap that day, so we weren't sure what we were in for but he was a trooper.  He stayed up until 9 and opened his presents, read his books, and provided some amazing memories....Thank you to Grandma T, Grandpa T, Debbi, Becky and Tim for all the amazing gifts and the memories with Jayden.

 Jayden's first favorite gift of the night...a can of cat food....he didn't want to put it down.

Below is a little video of Jayden opening his gifts.  He really enjoyed sitting on one of the boxes.

 Once Jayden got a little tired, he started a show...by putting a bag over his head.  Great moment!

Joe and I had always talked about creating traditions with our children and one is to wake up Christmas morning at our house...below is Jayden as we arrived at home after a very fun-filled Christmas Eve.

Christmas Morning.

Joe & I had a little bet going to see if Jayden would see his presents under the tree when he woke up or would he go right to the kitchen for some food (like every other day).  Once he woke up, we turned on the Christmas music and let him climb down the stairs.  He wanted neither...so we both lost.

One other tradition that we have started is a big family breakfast together on Christmas morning, which we did before we opened the presents.  I made my boys eggs, pancakes, hash browns and bacon!  One of my favorite memories!

Now onto presents...

 Santa brought Jayden a Cozy Coupe for Christmas ...he loves taking it for a ride. 

 Jayden also loves to read cards..he read the card Joe got for me in the video below.

Christmas Afternoon/Evening

We traveled to Green Bay to visit my family.  First we stopped to visit Grandma Jo.  It was so great to see her..Jayden put on a little show for her and she enjoyed his laughter.

After that we went to Aunt Sarah & Uncle Casey's condo for lots of fun. First stop was the pool. Jayden was very excited to jump in and he even remembered things he learned at him swim class.  He also loved playing with the beach ball.

Before dinner we had a special visitor....Jayden had been a little scared of Santa but he showed up and Jayden loved him.  An amazing memory, I will never forget. He even said Santa before the night was over.

See the video below...

Below are also some pictures with Santa (Uncle Casey)

 Santa left off the roof and Jayden watched him go...

 After Santa,  Jayden opened a big boy basketball hoop from Aunt Sarah & Uncle Casey.  He loves it!

 Then he opened some presents from his Grandma & Grandpa Geniesse

And Grandpa Royer & Grandma MJ

 

 Before Jayden went to bed...he didn't make it for the football game.

Such great memories were created this Christmas and we are so grateful for such wonderful family.  I can't wait for the years to come with our family during the holiday season. We are so blessed.

Happy New Year!  May it bring happiness & health to all. 

Walking, First Haircut, and Santa

Around Thanksgiving Jayden started taking up to 10 steps in a row, now we are in mid December and Jayden is running around the house.  I need to get it on video....the kid won't stop...

Sorry it has been a while since my last blog and there is a lot like always to catch up on.  The day before Thanksgiving we took Jayden to get his first haircut.  Below is a picture of it the night before we went...it was getting a little out of control.

Below are pictures of the actual haircut.  He was so good, it didn't even last more than 10 mins but he could have played in that firetruck all day.

Ringing the bell on the front was his favorite part.


St Nick came to our house and brought Jayden an ornament.  He also got him a piece of ownership in the Packers but that has yet to arrive.

Last night we traveled to Grandpa & Grandma's Dairy Queen in Pulaski to visit Santa.  Every year my dad decorates the store more than he ever decorates his house, so it was fun to take Jayden there.  Jayden started with tears and was scared of Santa.

Then as the night went on ....he got a little more comfortable....from a distance.

Below are just a couple more picture of Jayden from our Santa visit.

After the Santa fun we had dinner and Jayden had some ice cream with Grandma....I think he liked it...

Now off to wrapping some presents....we are almost done shopping.  Merry Christmas!

a lot to catch up on....

First I need to catch up on some videos I just downloaded.

The first one is from Jayden's birthday.  This is before he got scared of his cake and ate a cookie.  My favorite part is near the end when almost all of the kids are around him...too cute.

Next is from Jayden's party too.  Amy was showing us all how he started to stand on his own.  I think he loves the attention.

Then last weekend Jayden started taking about 5 steps in a row.  We only got about two steps on video.  We were trying to show Aunt Sarah & Uncle Casey what he could do!

And the final video is from tonight...Jayden loves his push toy...

We have been up to a lot lately.  Two weekends ago we went to visit Nolan Rundle.  He was sooo sweet.  Congrats Ryan & Annie.

Last weekend Jayden, Aunt Sarah and I went to see Sesame Street Live.  This was Jayden's birthday present.  Aunt Sarah and Uncle Casey got him front row tickets and tickets to get photos with the characters.  Well....the night started a little rough.  We walked into the picture area and Jayden was fine.  I went to hand him to Ernie and he let our the loudest scream and didn't stop....

I hope you can see that face...the memories.

The next picture will show you how close our seats were to the stage.  We only lasted for a couple mins in those seats...once the characters were on stage...Jayden got scared...so we moved to the back...then he danced ..danced...danced and danced!

My Favorite!

This weekend we just hung out as a family at home...it was very nice and relaxing.  I started my new job last week...make sure you buy your candles/soy cubes, wall decor, mirrors & lamps from Shopko....

We also got to preview Jayden's year 1 pictures.  Thank you Cara!!  He wasn't in the greatest mood that day but he was a trooper!

http://carazimages.zenfolio.com/

 

Have a great week!!

costume time and more smiles....

last night we put Jayden's costume on....YODA.   I think the two pictures are some of my favorites.  Today he is going trick or treating at my work.

Check out the shoes above...yes those are YODA shoes.  I know we are dorks...but love them!
Also every time I hold up the camera Jayden flashes his smile.  Below are couple from Sunday.

Have a great day!

cherish every moment....

Today I was starting to pack up my desk.  I am off to tackle the world of Home Decor as a Sr Buyer back at Shopko....very excited but very much going to miss seeing some of my favorite ladies everyday.  Back to packing my desk....

I have a bookmark over my phone that I put there to remind me to live my life and celebrate with the ones you love.  This bookmark is in remembrance of an amazing young woman who was taken away from her family too early.  Our neighbors and friends lost their beautiful daughter Kylee about a year and a half ago.  I hope they don't mind me sharing this but today I re-read the bookmark and it made me start to cry thinking about how much we could all use her advice....then I realized...tomorrow is her birthday. 

The bookmark..

These words were from Kylee to Lexi (her younger sister) 6 months before her untimely death. She wrote them in marker on Lexi's dresser.  Truer words were never spoken. Live your life with no regrets and treat everyone like you would want to be treated.  That is Kylee's message to us all.
Fist Bump #5

Kylee's words-
Plan your life like you will live forever and live your life like you will die the next day.

Advice from your sister

• Love your life: even without me
• Never ever give up
• Go with your gut feeling
• Believe me, boys are dumb
• Get as many friends as you can get. They're awesome.
• Work hard; &even though I'm a pain some days, know that I love ya Sis!
• AVOID TROUBLE
• Work hard in school
• Parents will be happy
• it will benefit you
• Love your life again: you only get one!!
• I can't stress it more
• love your family
• make good decisions

Kylee Renee Hyde
10/25/92-2/2/10

We will be thinking of Kylee tomorrow and her wonderful family. 

Catching up....

So what have we been up to..lots of stuff.

First thing.  Joe's sister Becky got married the first weekend in Oct in a beautiful little Chapel.  It was a perfect day.  Congrats Becky & Tim.

Below is a picture with Great Grandpa Teska.  This is the first time he met Jayden.

Below is a picture of the Teska Men

Below is a picture of Joe, his dad, and the groom Tim

Here is a picture of the beautiful Chapel. 

Below is picture of Jayden on the way home after the fun weekend.

The following weekend and week was filled with beautiful weather.  We went on many walks and went to the park multiple times, below is a pic of Jayden on a swing.  This is several mins before Jayden was stung by a bee...happy to report that he is not allergic!  This has a tough couple weeks for the little man, he had a dislocated elbow and then a bee sting.  Nothing that a couple cookies couldn't fix or a doctor :)

  I got to spend the last week with the little J man.  I am not very excited to head back to work tomorrow.  We had lots of fun going for walks, going to multiple parks, hanging out with Rilee and Hope, picking out some plants for the backyard, having lunch with daddy on Wed and then lunch with friends on Friday. It was a great week and I loved every min.

This weekend we got to visit Aunt Debbi and her new Condo.  It looks great and we were very excited for the visit.  Then today we got visit with Vanessa, Jeff, Caleb and Maggie....thanks for stopping by and thank you for the car for Jayden!  We also spent the day with Cindy Wrezca and her daughter Addie (she was born just one month before Jayden).  Joe Wrezca and my hubs Joe went to the Packer game.  Below is a picture of our two little Packer fans (Jayden & Addie).

I will leave you with one of my favorite smiles.  Have a great week!