Ho...Ho...(Ho) & the Seashell

After enjoying a peaceful Christmas morning at home, opening presents and enjoying time with just our family, we loaded up and headed over to Granny & Great Grandpa's to celebrate Christmas with the extended Kietzman family. This is an annual tradition, with the most common danger being the slick, wet stairs upon entry to the basement...that is until this year.

We made our timely entrance at 1 PM. Feeling good because we all made it down the stairs without falling (I'm not kidding!). As is the tradition a number of us sat in a large circle downstairs, with the children running around inside the circle of adults adults looking on.

Exit Daddy to the next room to get some yummy holiday grub, while mommy sat and watches the little ones play. Reenter daddy.

Enter the seashell (not by the seashore, but on the coffee table in granny's basement). This looked enticing to little Holden (Ho-Ho, as those who love him call him), as he'd been told a few times to leave the presents alone. He began to play about with the seashell in hand.

Exit mommy to the next room to also get some yummy holiday grub. Just as I pick up my plate to begin, I heard such a clatter & looked over to see what was the matter. When what with my wondering eyes should I see? But a child full of blood and a husband a flee-ing.

Anyhow, I wont embarrass myself by trying to make this cute.

Somehow, Holden had fallen on the SHARP seashell (no, we didn't realize it was sharp until now) and sliced open his forehead. I was in quite a panic & my husband was in a state of near-passing out, (Neither of us was calm, Chris was not cool, and I was not collected) so, thankfully Grandma Glupker escorted the 3 of us to urgent care (and, no, for those of you keeping track this is not our first time).

To make a long story short (or longer), in addition to his presents, Ho Ho received approximately 26 stitches - 13 inside & 13 outside - on his forehead on Christmas day.

He was quite a trooper. I think the urgent care doctor asked 4 or 5 times (seriously) "Now how did he do this...a seashell?" Yeah...I can see it's that time of year here!

Winter Wonderland

Addie made her first official snowman (with daddy's help) this past week. She was quite proud of herself. After making the body, she was insistent that her snowman have a carrot nose! Mom provided the carrot nose & cookies for the eyes, while dad found the other pieces around the card.

Holden tries for alternative methods of warmth while helping mommy do the laundry!

While daddy loves to play outside in the snow, mommy prefers to stay nice & warm & cozy inside during the lovely Michigan winters. Both Holden & Addie enjoyed helping me make our annual Peanut Butter Balls for all their teachers at church. Addie is getting quite good and rolling the "balls," but she much prefers the peanut butter pancake! Don't worry...we all washed our hands - several times!

Catch-Up!!

Okay...It's been a while since I've updated so I thought I'd try to quickly update on our happenings since I last wrote!
We've had a fun and busy month! Some highlights have been our trip to North Carolina to visit our new niece/cousin, Audrey Elizabeth, for Thanksgiving, Addie getting her ears pierced, Holden running & falling & climbing & falling & running & falling & climbing & falling & on & on....


Cousins!

Bling Bling!

Who Me??? Black & Blue What?

Happy Halloween!

Halloween was a few days ago, but my little Froggy and Elephant were way too adorable not to post any pictures of!

Despite the rain, we had a fun & eventful evening. We were able to have our cousins, Aiden & Elena over to visit, go to grandpa & grandma's house and trick-or-treat at Uncle Aaron and Aunt Lynn's (until it rained too hard).

We then headed over to "Light in the Night" at Calvin and met up with some friends. The kids enjoyed seeing their friends dressed up, and the parents enjoyed trick-or-treating INSIDE!
We ended the night by stopping at Granny & Great Grandpa's to visit. As you can see, Holden was whipped by the end of the night!

Asleep at the Wheel (Well... Sort of))

I know that Holden had a rough weekend with all the traveling and missed sleep, but I kind of figured he would have come out of it by dinner time tonight. Beth left me in charge for a little bit and said he would need dinner in a little while... She didn't say anything about a nap!

Road Trip

This weekend we loaded into our car and went on a road trip to visit Uncle Josh & Aunt Bethany. We've been explaining to Addie that we don't get to see them very often because they live in Pennsylvania which is quite far away. This is alot for a little one to understand. She spent much of the past week packing and unpacking her bag.

Although the trip took about an hour or so longer than others who have traveled it, we enjoyed our time in the car (thanks to grandma's DVD player!). Our weekend was filled with all sorts of excitement - puppies, birthday presents, Chuck E. Cheese, Aunt Bethany's homemade lasagna & apple crisp, candy necklaces and more.

We had a wonderful time and very much enjoyed seeing where they live, work and go to school.

Birthday Boy

It's hard to believe that our baby is already one (well, almost). We had his party on Saturday. I think that Holden enjoyed it, but not quite as much as his big sister enjoyed the festivities.

Addie has been asking all week when it was going to be Holden's birthday party. Then she would whisper, in true 2 year-old fashion, "Sh....it's a surprise!" As we prepared over the past few days, she would tell anyone who asked "We're making Holden's party."

We are so grateful for all our loved ones who made this such a special night for Holden. It is evident that he (and we) truly felt loved! Check out the fun pictures below. (Thanks to my friend Laura for the great slideshow idea!).

Jack-O-Lanterns Please!

All week Addie has been asking to carve her pumpkin & give it a silly face. Well, today was the big day! We tried to have her do as much of the "cleaning out" of the pumpkin as possible. She reached her hand in once & then said "napkin please, I'm done!" Holden, on the other hand, LOVED it! Not to mention he seems to have an acquired taste for pumpkin slime & seeds!

As we were carving the pumpkins, grandma stopped over, having just returned from a trip to Chicago! Addie was much more excited about her new doll, named Molly. She slept with her last night & hasn't been out of her sight.

Addie & Grandma

Pumpkin Time

Addie & Holden had fun picking out their own pumpkins this week! Addie's is the smallest one, but Holden think's they're ALL his! Addie is just can't wait to make Jack-O-Lanterns later this week.