Folkerts Christmas

The day after Christmas we made a trip to Joel's parent's house for their Christmas. The boys had fun opening their presents and playing with all the musical stuff in their music room.

Ayden playing the drumset.

Singing into the microphone.

Cael loved playing the piano.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

On Christmas Eve I always got pajamas from my grandparents so I have continued that tradition with the boys. Ayden got Dr. Suess fleece pajamas and Cael got some fleece pajamas with a polar bear on them. Ayden wrote a letter to Santa (with help) telling him that he had been a good boy. Ayden also helped set out cookies and milk for Santa and some carrots for the reindeer.

Opening his pajamas.

The boys in their new pajamas.

The tree after Santa dropped off gifts for the boys.

Ayden was pretty sneaky and woke up around 3 am, found his stocking and ate a bunch of candy out of it before we heard him. We woke up and put him back to bed, but we found candy wrappers everywhere, even in his nightstand drawer. I'm surprised he was able to fall back asleep after all the sugar. Everyone got up around 7:00 and we opened presents. It was nice to be able to stay home this year and not have to travel anywhere. Joel grilled some brisket for lunch and I made some mashed potatoes and a few other side dishes. We relaxed the rest of the day.

Cael after opening a present.

Attempting to get a picture of the boys in their Christmas shirts.


Their favorite toy that Santa brought them.

Wendling Christmas

We had Christmas with my side of the family the weekend before Christmas at my parent's house in Independence. My sister and both my brothers and their families were there. We usually have a somewhat light lunch and then each family makes an appetizer in the evening, and my mom makes a few different kinds of soup for everyone to eat. There is always way too much food. The kids open presents in the afternoon and in the evening the adults play the card game 31. We each put in a $25.00 gift card. Whoever loses first picks the a giftcard, then the next person can either steal the first person's card or pick a different giftcard, and so on until someone wins. We started doing this last year and it is really fun. We don't all get to get together often so it is good to see everyone. Cael and Ayden are the youngest kids, but Ayden loves to play with his cousins and they are really great with him even though they are older. Mitch (14) is the only other boy cousin and Ayden loves to hang out with him. Courtney (13), Madison (10), and Cassidy (9) are the girls and they are really good with the boys, too. The boys received lots of attention from everyone, and we were asked many times if Cael is always as happy and smiley as he was that weekend. Yes he is, and we get asked that a lot.

My younger sister is a teacher in Bettendorf and she stayed at my parents for quite awhile during her break from school. The boys and I also stayed for about a week off and on to visit within the two weeks around Christmas. It was nice to get to hang out with my sister since we don't get to see each other much. We also went shopping and out to lunch one day while my parents watched the boys. I had a hair appointment later in the afternoon so it was a fun and relaxing day.

Mitch had a complex about getting his picture taken. I can't believe my 14 year old nephew now has a mustache and isn't a kid anymore!

Happy boy :)

Sitting with Aunt Cheryl.

Opening his pile of presents.

He was more interested in eating the wrapping paper than in the presents.

Both boys liked the train that Cael received.

Ayden was an expert at present opening.

Trying on his doctors kit glasses.

Everyone playing 31. I didn't make it too far...

Lego tower.

Snow Day

We got a lot of snow the night before Christmas Eve and on Christmas Eve day. Joel didn't have to work and Ayden was begging to go play outside. Unfortunately, Ayden was too big for the toddler sled he used last year, and Joel went to three different store looking for sleds, but had no luck. I found one last week so we are ready for the next time it snows :) Cael was able to use the baby sled we had from when Ayden was a baby. Ayden had fun pulling Cael around on the sled and helping Joel shovel the driveway. It wasn't terribly cold, so Cael was able to stay out for about 45 minutes. It was still snowing lightly though, and it was really pretty. Cael is really easy-going so he didn't mind the snow and cold. I think he really enjoyed being pulled around on the sled.

Helping Joel shovel.

My happy boy!

Ayden had fun pulling Cael on the sled.

Off they go...

9 Months Old!

Cael turned 9 months old on December 18th. He had his 9 month check-up the day before that and weighed 19 lbs. 3 oz. and was 29 inches tall. That was about 28th percentile in weight and 77th in height. He seemed a lot bigger than Ayden was at that age, but I went back and looked and Ayden was 1/2 pound and 1/2 inch smaller at that age. Not too much of a difference. Cael got his first tooth right around 9 months (which I didn't know until the doctor pointed it out at his appointment) and he just got his second one a few days ago. He's not a cranky teether at all (Ayden was the same way), but likes to chew on everything. He started pulling himself up at about 8 1/2 months and cruising shortly after that. He has stood up on his own a few times already, too! He also now waves bye-bye and has started biting, which I'm not a fan of because it is usually me he bites! He's still an incredibly happy and easy-going baby and he gets lots of attention wherever we go because he's always happy and smiling. He now loves to crawl on me or Ayden when we sit on the floor and he will come up to me and suck on my chin or give Ayden slobbery kisses all over. He thinks it's hilarious. He's also super-curious and seems to get into or wants to play with things he shouldn't. It's hard to believe he's not going to be a baby for much longer and is almost a toddler! In a few months we will be celebrating his first birthday!

I love this picture because it really shows what his personality is like...

The Boys Playing

Now that Cael is crawling all over the place, the boys are always together. It's nice that they are able to entertain each other so well. I love hearing their laughter and they are always cracking each other up. Ayden often gets down on the ground and crawls along beside Cael or crawls ahead of him so that he can get Cael to follow him somewhere. They adore each other and the only time Ayden isn't the best with him is if Cael is trying to get a toy that Ayden is already playing with. It's hard to share sometimes...

Playing in the laundry basket.

Ayden pulling Cael all over the house on his blanket.

Yes, he is almost always this happy :)

Santa Express Train Ride

Last year we went on the Santa Express train ride in Boone. Ayden really enjoyed it so we took the boys again this year. I was a little worried about Cael because the train ride is at 6:00 pm and his bedtime is between 6:30-7:00 pm, but he was really good! As soon as he got fussy we gave him a bottle and he was fine. This year they couldn't read The Polar Express book because of copyright issues, but they told some other stories and sang Christmas carols. We rode to the "North Pole" and they gave everyone hot chocolate and cookies. Santa also got on the train and handed out a bell to every child. Ayden loved the hot chocolate and cookie, and was excited to see Santa. Cael loved playing with his bell and ringing it, I just had to make sure he didn't put it in his mouth. The whole ride probably lasted for an hour and twenty minutes including the stop at the "North Pole." The children wore their pajamas on the ride and they had a pajama fashion show on the way back. Surprisingly, Ayden walked right up to the front without any hesitation when she called the children up front. (We were in the last row of the train car we rode in.) He was the first child to go, and he told the lady his name and modeled his pajamas for everyone.

Waiting to get a bell from Santa.

Cael loved ringing his bell.



Ayden checking out the huge snowman on the way to the car to go home.