Christmas Sneak Peak

Here's a sneak peak of our little nuggets on Christmas Eve.  This should be enough to keep the grandmas happy while I sort through the 200+ pictures we have taken over the last few days!

It makes you want to come back, right?!?

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Tree Pictures

A couple of nights ago, the boys were looking so cute in their matching pajamas that I thought I should take advantage and take their picture 'round the Christmas tree.

One of my friends cooperated.  

The other did not.  

But it was not the usual suspects.

#1 smiled beautifully

#2 was more interested in eating than smiling

This is for everyone that thinks Asher even smiles in his sleep.   He's still darling though, isn't he?

After a little grub-a-dub-dub Asher was ready to participate.

I tried to get them laying next to each other. 

Not super successful

Then I tried to have Caden hold Asher (which usually ends in disaster).  I was by myself, so by the time I got everyone in position and smiling, and then picked up my camera, Asher had flopped over the side of Caden so he could look up at him and giggle.  Caden was awesome and just kept smiling through everything (I may or may not have bribed Caden by telling him that Charlie our Elf on the Shelf was watching closely).  

This was the best I could get.

Totally adorable and worth every bribe and bullet I sweated!

Christmas Card 2012

Courtney the great did it again!  Somehow she captured some really sweet pictures of our little family - even the wiggly ones and the ones that did NOT want to get their picture taken (ahem, #1!)

These pictures remind me so much of the ones we took when Caden was this age!

We have SO MUCH to be thankful for this Christmas season!  Merry Christmas from our home to yours!  Love, Team Zahrte

9 Months

On Sunday, this sweet face turned 9 months old

Last Friday I took him into the doctor for a well child visit (which turned into a sick child visit when the doctor looked in his ears and said he had his first ear infection).

Dude is huge.

21.3 lbs (60%)

29.75 in (90%!!)

Told you.  Huge.

He's just started crawling across the room

Get the baby gates out.  Bashy is on the move!

Luckily he's not super fast yet.

But he's still just as cute as his brother!

I'm a little delayed in posting this because this poor sweetie has been a hot mess.  He's been super uncomfortable and really cranky (don't let all the smiling pictures fool you.  He's a hot mess, I tell you!).  He has had a cold for about a week or so, but that turned into an infected ear and a virus that has caused a really red and sore throat.  He's also got a lot of snot that is causing him to gag and throw almost everything I give him back up (You're welcome for the visual).  Poor buddy!  He's on antibiotics now and seems to be fixin' to get on the road to recovery (that's for my southern family!).

Basher, we'll even take you on your hardest, crankiest days - they STILL make our day better!  We love you to pieces big buddy, and can't wait for all the fun that's coming your way.  

Gingerbread House

Yesterday morning our advent calendar told us to decorate a gingerbread house.  Caden had no idea what a gingerbread house was, but he was super excited to decorate ANYTHING using frosting and candy!

He went to town with that candy - he was very sure that the green candy trees belonged on the roof.  Sure thing!

He put every piece on the house - well at least the stuff that he didn't eat!

Job well done, CP!

It doesn't quite look like the one on the box - it looks BETTER!

Afterwards, we placed it in a very safe place where little hands couldn't destroy it.

They totally had gingerbread houses in Bethlehem, right?

Snowman Soup

Another super-fab activity on our advent calendar was to make "Snowman Soup" - AKA fancy hot chocolate with peppermint and marshmallows! 

Caden - AKA "cooker man" - got the hot water,

stirred in the chocolate,

and added *a few* marshmallows.

He sampled his soup and declared it yummy!

The rest of us (minus Bashy of course) made our own Snowman Soup and snuggled up to watch "How the Grinch Stole Christmas."

As you can see above, Asher wasn't too into the movie, so he got down and did some baby push ups,

chewed on Sophie,

and just looked exceptionally cute

Our countdown calendar is getting smaller and smaller.  I'm going to be really sad when our advent activities are over - I'm enjoying them as much as Caden is!

Wordless Wednesday:Early Morning Hot Tubbing