The Eves

On Christmas Eve Eve we decided to sleep in the living room by the Christmas tree.  

Actually, our advent calendar said to sleep under the tree.  I had to reword it because Caden thought we were going to move the presents and literally sleep under the tree.  Once we got that small issue worked out, we were set.  We put every sleeping bag and blanket we own on the floor and were set.  

Two-fourths of us made it all night long.  Even though Asher was having a great time,

we decided you had to be at least 3 to get to have a sleepover by the tree.  Bummer, Bashy.  You only have to wait until 2015.  We'll still be doing it, we promise!  

In case you're wondering, the other fourth that didn't make it was me.  My bed was just so close and calling to me...

On Christmas Eve we hung out all day until it was time to take our handsome little doodles to church.

After we got home, the boys got to open up one special gift

New jammies and a Christmas book!

He looks thrilled here, I know, but he actually was really happy and they looked darling in them

Yes, Asher is sticking his tongue out at me.  He would not stop blowing raspberries - it's his new favorite trick!

Caden also worked really hard making and decorating cookies for Santa

Some milk for Santa and carrots for the reindeer too!

Get ready Caden P, Christmas is just around the corner.

Now get to bed...Santa only comes if you're sleeping!

I Heart Pinterest - Christmas Edition

Hello, my name is Lindsey and I'm addicted to Pinterest.

Anything cute and creative in my house came from an idea I saw on Pinterest.  This Christmas season was no exception.  

I got the idea for how to display our Christmas cards,

and the idea for gifts for Caden's preschool teachers.

But my favorite idea was a treat for Caden's friends at school.  This was an easy-peasy activity that Caden could almost do himself. 

He had a pretty good time.

We started by putting pretzels on a wax paper covered cookie sheet.

Then, we unwrapped a Hershey's Hug and put it in the center of the pretzel.

Note: unwrapping Hershey Kisses is GREAT for little friends (like mine) that need a little work on fine motor skills.  

Next, we melted the chocolate in the oven.  When it came out we smashed a Christmas colored M&M in the middle.

After they cooled I bagged them up in a Ziploc bag and added a topper that I found online.

See, easy-peasy!  Thanks Pinterest, these will definitely be made next year too!

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?