2013 Christmas Tree , Cookie Making and OSLP Christmas Program

So a couple of weekends ago we all headed out on a BRRRRY Saturday morning to find the perfect tree.  We drove to IL to a field only to realize that I didn't have my purse ( oops…) and that actually this particular field was closed.  After driving around a bit more, stopping for gas, and listening to the kids get cranky and hot in the backseat all bundled up in their car seats we decided to scrap the idea and go home for much needed naps!! But after naps we re-grouped and I had the kids shouting 'Team Kies' as we all loaded up once again into Sienna and struck out for another field to find the perfect tree :) And that we did…in seriously record time!!  We drove to the farm, picked out, chopped down, paid for the tree, and had the it loaded onto the van ( by the fabulous workers!!…I gave them a $20 tip…tis the season)  in under 35 minutes all in time to get it unloaded at home and get to church just in time to take our duty in the nursery!! It is NOT a fir but a pine. I am generally a fir girl…but I'll have to say that I"ll need to be more open next year. This pine has nice soft needles and just looks great.  I think it smells a bit more than the firs do as well, but it could be my imagination. The kids had fun decorating the tree the next morning and with the arrival of the tree came Chippy our Elf on the shelf. I found Maddox talking to Chippy the next morning as he sat in the tree…his inaugural spot for the year.  I haven't heard her talking to him much more since that day but both kids are generally ecstatic to see where Chippy is each morning. Today he was in the middle of the bowl of Hugs candy and had helped himself to a few treats:) 

Maddox kinda has the pose from that nun cheerleader girl from Saturday Night Live…can't remember her name :)  But that particular episode always has me cracking up. 

I know I shouldn't write this but Kennon looks like he is thinking 'I have to pee could we hurry this along mom! ' In his defense it was freezing that weekend!!

Maddox and her homemade donuts using the donut machine she got from Aunt Diane for her birthday.  I have to admit they were fabulously good and super easy. Leave it to Aunt Diane to find cool things!!

So it is Maddox and I's tradition to make Christmas cookies every year.  This past weekend was the designated time. Kennon, Maddox and I  prepped on Saturday and then baked and decorated on Sunday. This year she and I decided to share our tradition with Kim and Maddie our neighbors up the road. The girls had a great time.   Decorating cookies is such a form of ART, something BOTH girls are really into these days. As last year most of the cookies had a little frosting and A LOT of sprinkles. I am really happy with the cookie and frosting recipe I found this year. I think they turned out looking beautiful and tasting pretty darn yummy as well. Thanks to the Millages for joining us….. maybe a  new tradition Kim?  :) 

The kids and I mixed up some truffles on Saturday and both were happy to lick the chocolaty spoons. Unfortunately the mixture turned as hard as a rock over night and we were unable to actually spoon the truffles out on Sunday as I had planned. It killed me to put all that  chocolate down the drain. But I would have needed a backhoe to get them out of the bowl.  I'll have to find a new recipe for those next year.  

Maddie and Maddox decorating their sugar cookies.  

So there is just a smidge of green frosting in Maddox's hair.  Like 3 hours after the cookie decorating fun I  was upstairs and looked in the mirror and what did I see….frosting in my hair too!! 

The finished product.  I think she turned out beautiful this year. 

So today was Kennon and Maddox's Christmas program at Church School.  They both did soooo well!!  Last year when Maddox was in the 2 year old class like Kennon is this year she didn't utter a word up on stage….!!  This year she sang every word and did all the actions AND Kennon joined right in too. Both kids did really well. Then we celebrated Jesus' Birthday in the gym with brownies. As usual I thought the program was great and am always impressed with how Our Savior makes everything happen. Grandpa Jim was even able to come over and watch the kids perform. They were very excited to see him in the audience as well as tell their teachers their 'Grandpa Jim would be there to watch them'!!  Thanks for making the trip over Dad. So nice to have you there. 

Eric took this shot with the iPhone!!  Aside from the legs in the background it is a perfect picture!! 

Maddox and Kennon in Bethlehem giving each other a little sibling love. 

Would have been nice to have his shirt tail tucked in but hey he's two :)… let's just be happy his pants were DRY!!! He has actually been doing very well with the potty lately. Mostly dry days and still using the pull up at night but that's ok.  We are proud of you buddy.

Would have been the perfect shot but he was just moving a little to quickly for the camera

Bethlehem must be a fun town :) 

Maddox and Kennon playing around the Happy Birthday Jesus Birthday Cake 

So after the Christmas program we went to McDonalds for a special lunch with Grandpa Jim!!  The kids would eat McDonald's every lunch if I let them, but then again what toddler wouldn't.  We were happy to have Grandpa Jim join us and the extra set of hands as Eric went back to work after the program.  

A couple of kiddo updates and then some quick videos from the Christmas program. Maddox has basically mastered the words to ALL the Christmas songs on Mix 96.1, the radio station that has been playing Christmas music since Thanksgiving.  I am starting to get slightly tired of Rudolph but  it is music to my ears to hear HER sing it as well as hear Kennon chime in every word or two that I"m willing to keep the Christmas songs a playin'.  Kennon is enthralled with Christmas lights and yells out emphatically at every house we pass that has them.  He says 'Christmas Lights' in this really cute comical voice from the back seat. So I think on the way home from church the other night he must have yelled it out like 20 times between our church and Judge Road. Too funny. Maddox is really into putting on 'shows' as she calls them. She says to Eric and I 'ok its time for the show put on your listening ears' ( hmmmm wonder where she has heard that before). Last week both Kennon and Maddox did a show for us on her bed.  It was the funniest thing. Eric and I were both rolling with laughter. She said ' Can I hear from the audience who's in the audience, shout it out!'  So Eric said 'Eric Kies' and I then said 'Laura Kies'.  Kennon came right out on stage ( walked forward on the bed) and said pointing his finger at me 'No….Mommy'  as if to say your name is NOT Laura Kies it is Mommy. I know it is not nearly as funny reading this as it was in person. They are so funny together when they put on these 'shows' . In fact I forgot to mention there were several shows including Carter at the Knowles residence in Madison at Thanksgiving. Aunt Brooke and Uncle Tyler have a great 'stage'….the fireplace hearth!!  Maddox's imagination is getting brighter and brighter. So fun!! And she is bringing her brother right along.  The last couple of days he has managed to figure out how to open the utensil drawer, snatch up the metal salad tongs and the use the tongs to pick up random objects…. Using them kind of like a backhoe as Grandpa Jim enlightened me today :) I hadn't really thought about it that way. He picks em up from the toy box and then carries them in the tongs over to the counter. Funny!! 

Maddox Grandpa Jim and Kennon…notice the tongs!! 

Congrats by the way to Grandpa Jim for shooting a buck yesterday during deer hunting season!! Way to go Dad….  

So I just watched these videos for the first time with Maddox and I pointed her out on the screen and she said 'that's not me!!'  That's when you know your video quality is very poor when your 4 year old can't recognize herself.   I like watching both Maddox and Kennon's arms movements during Away in a Manger and Mary/Joseph went to Bethlehem.  

Thanksgiving 2013 Plus…..

Well,  with the hustle and bustle of the holiday season the blog has just gotten away from me.  I uploaded this pictures last week and I am just now getting back to writing the post.  I already have pictures from our 'cut down the Christmas tree excursion' on my phone so hopefully I'll be able to get them posted in a more timely fashion than the Thanksgiving photos. I find with Maddox 4 and Kennon 2 there are just tons of cool activities to do around the holidays….some things at home and a TON in the Quad City area.  Eric and I try to expose them to as much as possible.   A few weeks ago we went to the Museum…a favorite of ours.  It was a Saturday which means two things…more people and more gray hairs on my head as KTK runs from activity to activity and I lose him in the masses of people. I think Eric was working that morning so I was solo. But, the kids always love the museum and beg to go everyday. They got to make a bird feeder this visit using a piece of bread, Crisco, and bird seed.  Maddox really loved the dancing area this go around!! It seems each visit they find something a little more interesting than the last. The hardest part is just getting them out of the place :)  Generally always a break down in the coat room….

Genesis Remembrance Tree

At the beginning of the holiday season (before Thanksgiving if I remember right) we loaded up Sienna on a very warm and windy night to see the lighting of the Genesis Remembrance Tree.  Genesis (my company) moved this tree from Niabi zoo to downtown Davenport a few years ago and it is lit each season with LED lights sponsored individually by families who have lost loved ones.  We sponsored a light in remembrance of Grammy.  The money goes to Genesis VNA and Hospice and the Clarissa Cook Hospice House which is an absolutely wonderful facility that I get to see patients in occasionally. It is truthfully like walking into zen when you open the front door of the facility. What a fabulous place to spend your last days, much like the Hospice House that mom was in at the end.  The ceremony consisted of some Christmas music including the hand bells (Grammy's favorite) some singing and then the lighting of the tree.  KTK decided he had to go potty right when they were going to light the tree so we had to make a B-line for the Radisson hotel after they flipped the switch. Phew…we made it only to discover that I had somewhere lost the keys to Sienna…..Whoops!!  ( I got the 'WHAT' look from Eric when I told him I didn't have the keys) What could have been a terrible scenario turned out ok when I found them about 20 minutes later.  Grammy must have been watching over us!!  We miss you every minute Grammy. 

Peter Pan and Captain Hook's crew at Disney on Ice

We made our annual trip to Disney on Ice a couple of weeks ago.  It was really good this year and captivated both Maddox and Kennon AND our attention for the entire show. Of course Maddox's favorite part was seeing  Tinkerbell, Peter Pan and the whole (insert name of the family….I can't seem to remember) family fly high above the ice.  An annual tradition for the Kies family for sure…for as long as the kids will allow it!! 

Captain Hook about to get eaten by Tick Tock Crock!! Look out Hook!

Maddox and Mrs Kinning leading the way into the sanctuary at Our Savior

Maddox had her Thanksgiving feast at Church school the week before Thanksgiving.  The 3 and 4 year old classes had prepared some songs and then a fabulous feast complete with homemade applesauce, pumpkin bars, jello,  and yummy honey butter and cornbread.  All the parents got to enjoy the songs and feast together. The tables were decorated with handmade place mats and centerpieces that each of us got to take home. Our Savior even gave us a copy of all the recipes to the foods that were part of the feast (this has to be the most organized pre-school….. !)   The festivities were fun and we even got to meet Rowan and her parents, one of Maddox's best girl friends from Church school.  We hear a lot about Rowan and their family apparently hears a lot about Maddox :)   

Maddox is in the top row, in the middle, in the back raising her hand up as if to wave. Brown dress.  I still don't seem to have that 'parental chip' that forces my way to the front row to catch the best shot of my kid…so for now we'll settle for the back pew blurry shots..!!  Eric was even able to leave work to join us!!  Anyone that wishes to come for the Christmas celebration December 16th is welcome…  10AM and Kennon's class will sing too!! We'd love to have anyone. They call it their Happy Birthday Jesus Celebration

This was the day of the Thanksgiving feast so I thought I'd grab a few more pictures of them in their sort of nice clothes.  They both look so old…Maddox with her braid and Kennon with his big boy striped sweater.   Cuties have been a popular item in our house since they came available a few week ago. Maddox was eating like 4 to 5 a day there for awhile and KTK wouldn't touch them for some reason. So one day Maddox, very big sister like, decided to show Kennon how to peel the cuties.  The whole thing was priceless completely unsolicited by myself and in the end Kennon loved the things as much as she did!!   She was so professional and sweet in her teaching to Kennon. I swear she is going to be a teacher…but then again I think all big sister 4 year olds like to teach their little bros how to roll (right Jody??)   

I love KTK's expression on his face here!! Like he was really gathering all the info on how to peel that round orange ball and storing it away for future use. 

Maddox and cousin Carter making their oreo  Thanksgiving turkeys.  

So most of you know we got to spend Thanksgiving weekend at the Knowles house in Madison. Their home is really warm and inviting and just the perfect place to host a nice Thanksgiving feast.  Grandpa Jim and Grandma Jean came up to join in the festivities as well.  Saturday morning Uncle Tyler and Eric and the grandparents  loaded up all 4 kiddos and headed to the Children's Museum on the square!! That left Brooke and I home to enjoy one of both of our favorite activities…..COOKING…and COOKING with no kiddos is an even more special treat!!  We prepared almost all the dishes together while they were gone and even got the bird a cookin'.  Brooke has this great new oven that has it's own probe that goes into the bird and keeps track of what the internal temp is. Totally cool….which made for a perfectly done turkey. Our plates and bellies were full after the yummy feast. GREAT JOB Aunt Brooke for a wonderful meal and your inaugural turkey!!  

I had seen on the food network just before Thanksgiving these absolutely adorable oreo cookie turkeys!!    After great naps Saturday afternoon, Carter and Maddox put them together.  They really had a ball, and so did  I helping them assemble all the parts. Both kids did really well with their find motor skills and even enjoyed in a few of the sugary snacks. In fact I"m pretty sure Carter has something in his mouth in most of these pictures :)

….maybe not this one….love that smile Carter James... darn it blurry iPhone… on the list before Christmas is to get over to the camera shop to see if they can get our regular camera working!! 

Dad,  a smug KTK and Uncle Tyler…   I think KTK probably has an olive in his mouth. He took a humungo nap on Saturday afternoon and woke up to give me these great happy shots with the beautiful color of the veggie tray provided by Grandma Jean!!!  Thanks for the black olives Grandma Jean…YUMMY!

'Peaking at you Uncle Tyler'

'Don't mind if I help myself to another...'

Open shut them prayer before our dinner!!

Sunday morning it was superbly warm for Madison so we bundled up and went over to the park so conveniently located like 200 feet from Uncle Tyler and Aunt Brooke's front door :)  The kids had fun and I was able to snap a few good colorful shots with the nice bright sun.   Happy kids when they all have their own space and no toys to share !!   

Ok…so I thought I'd challenge myself to get a shot of all 3 of them (Reid was at home taking his morning nap).  Both Maddox and Carter bought in, but little stinker KTK was definitely NOT going to participate. You can tell he is even trying NOT to smile. Making sure to turn his head just enough to not look at the camera.  We'll catch ya next time Kennon. Maddox and Carter look great with their hats and the nice brightly colored coats!!  Love to see the cousins together. 

Thanks to the Knowles family for hosting and to the grandparents for lending an extra hand at the museum and during the weekend.  It is nice to be able to to all stay under one roof and more importantly build the cousins' relationship, traditions, and memories.  So glad to have you on the Midwest side Knowles family. 

Look at that pout!! Very purposeful.  

So let's see what else is new..!!  Maddox is becoming whitier and smarter…  I need to start writing down our conversations because they are so fabulously funny!! She is a smart cookie and remembers the craziest things.   She is growing like a weed. Last night at church she had these black leggings on and looked so tall!! I bet she has even grown since my last post when we had gone for her 4 year old check up. Eric and I have already been thinking about the school year for 2014. We have a couple of options for the state funded 4 year old program.  We are pretty sure we'll keep her at Our Savior. So she'll go there 5 mornings a week from 8.45-11.45.  She really seems to love it there more than Kindercare, as does KTK, so it just makes sense to have her go there for the 4 year old preschool program rather than Kindercare's.  But we'll see. I'll have to stand in line on January 10th outside in the cold for likely greater than 2 hours to get her in. The doors open at 10AM for the registration process and last year I got there at 7am just to get her into the 3 year old program. I'll need to get there earlier this year for the 4 year old program….YES…I know crazy…but a sign that it is one of the best pre-schools around.  Kennon is still working on his potty training.  He does fine at Kindercare and generally fine at Our Savior but just is happy as can be to go in his pants here at home if he is busy doing something!!  So the process continues.   He and Maddox have really gotten into board games, more so Maddox than Kennon, and will play together and with us for a fair amount of time.  Kennon seems to be packing on the weight. He is a solid guy and has really filled out in the last few weeks or so.  He really isn't picky about food whatsoever eating just about anything with his favorites being Mac-n-Cheese and string cheese and basically any fruits and veggies other than kiwi… Come to think of it Maddox is eating her fair share of food too!!  Growth spurt. Both kids still take great afternoon naps and are looking forward to the holiday season and a visit from Santa. They are both totally into Christmas music.  We have a local station that has had Christmas music on since like Thanksgiving. They basically play the songs over and over as it is on 24 hours per day up until Christmas day.  Maddox and even Kennon are starting to know all the songs and even their words!! she is extremely emphatic if the station is turned to something other than the Christmas music.  

Oh I almost forgot Kennon and Maddox spent their first weekend at Grandpa Jim and Grandma Jean's a couple of weekends ago. Their first OVERNIGHT experience away from mom and dad.  It sounds like they had an absolutely ball and were absolute angels using manners and having no arguments or tantrums…hmmmmmm how does it always work that way??   Anyhow Eric and I got a ton of Christmas shopping done and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves free from the job of being a parent for like almost 36 hours!!  Thank you thank you thank you Grandpa and Grandma :) and Great Grandma Reta. 

The Planning Center is doing well!!   Two fee-only firms merged/are merging in with them. So soon there will be The Planning Center-Twin Cities (Minnesota) and The Planning Center-Fresno California. That means we are part of 6 business owners now instead of just 3.  Really cool stuff happening at The Planning Center.  These 2 other firms are truly excited to be part of the Planning Center. The Planning Center had their client open house on Thursday at the nice new office in Moline and then the employee Christmas Party on Friday. The new partners from Fresno and Minneapolis are really great and were part of the festivities on both nights. I spent a large portion of Friday night chatting with Caree who is the wife of  the new partner from Minneapolis…!!  She is fabulous and we really hit it off…! They have 6 kids!!!  Ages 12 down to 10 months. So we had a TON to talk about.    We now have another reason to head north Jody, Aunt Sue and Uncle Scott.  So The Planning Center's success is likely going to allow me to quit soon….YES…. I know I keep saying this but I think it'll happen soon.  I'm going to hang onto my great Genesis insurance to get through some Dr. appointments in January but then hopefully I'll be hanging my hat up on physical therapy pole for a while.  You all can hold me to it…!!