1st haircuts for the boys!

It was such a bittersweet day!  I know that sounds silly, but I knew the moment Theo and Cormac got their haircut the "baby" look would be gone.  I had already trimmed Cormac's twice so he definitely needed it cut.  But Theo's curls are just so stinking adorable, especially the one that came down in his face :)  But the time had come and so at 11 months old and 26 months old...they got their first haircuts!

The before...

Up in the big boy car :)

I was surprised at how well he sat!

The after!

The before (looking thrilled!)...

Sitting on his own did not last long.

Working through some tangles :(

Get that cape off of me and yes, I will sit on Daddy's lap!

About an inch and a half later...

The after!
I must not have gotten a picture at the salon afterwards, but this one is from dinner later that night.  We went to Bazbeux's to celebrate!

Michigan + Gandys + Stephensons = Good times!

The first weekend in December we traveled up to Michigan (Detroit area) to visit the Gandys!  The kids were so,so excited to see each other and it was great to finally make it up to hang out.  Maryn and Caleb were on the go the entire time and could just not get enough of being together.  I think Theo and Abigail have a bit of a love/hate relationship, but love following the big kids and playing.  Actually I think Abigail was more into Cormac and being a little mommy...so sweet! We arrived on Friday night and on Saturday morning Jeremy went to practice with Dylan.  That afternoon we walked to downtown Northville for a Christmas festival.  What a cute little town!  The kids got to see reindeer, Santa, ride a carousel and decorate a cookie.  We then got dinner and headed home.  On Sunday, we hung out in the morning and then got ready for the big game!  Theo and Abigail stayed behind with a babysitter for some much needed naps :)  Maryn and Caleb were excited to be the big kids going to the football game, well and Cormac was too!  Funny enough the Lions were actually playing the Colts that weekend and so while we wore our Lions gear we cheered internally for the Colts :)  I will say it was a little hard to hold in the excitement at the end of the game when the Colts came back to win!  After the game we went back for pizza before making the late night drive back to Indy.

What a great weekend with amazing friends!  So thankful for friendships that endure distance :)  

Love the Gandys!!

Saturday morning practice at the Lions complex

Theo and Abigail ready ride :)

Caleb and Maryn are so cute together!

The great family picture that became the Christmas card!
Thanks Melody :)

Abigail and Theo

isn't the old saying...a rose between two thorns :)

Our attempts at a kiddo group picture...
not bad a 4 yrs, 3 yrs, 2 yrs, 20 mos, and 11 mos :)

Cormac and Abigail...too cute!

Just taking it easy after the walk into town!

Reindeer!

1st time to see Santa this season!

Decorating cookies!

Fun on the carousel...I think it may have been the fastest carousel I've seen!

Playing games on the iphone before dinner arrived.
Anything to keep them awake they were both so tired!

Cormac's 1st NFL game!

Maryn's first NFL game!
Ready to cheer with Caleb!

Ford Field

All decked out in our Lions gear!

Lions vs. Colts

So thankful for Melody's friendship and that we can share life's journey together.

Pizza!!!

December kept us busy!

A little taste of our December...

Roarrrrr!  Let's get this month started!

Moving of the furniture and a sheet...a homemade tent! 

And some fun in the real tent in the basement :)

Riding a motorcycle at the Children's Museum

Giving the reindeer a brushing before their big night  :)

Racing the cars in the Hot Wheels exhibit

Maryn loves the carousel!

I think this may have been Cormac's first time to actually ride on one of the animals!
He loved it!

Theo was pretty excited too!

At the Butler vs IU game...such an AWESOME win!!!!

Maryn wrapped herself up one night and told us she was Mary :)

A little festive attire for our cooking baking :)

Grandma Spaulding came down to spend the night with us.
For some reason Theo seems to be without pants in a lot of our family pictures...hmmm:)

Maryn was the caroler in her school play.
She sang one of her favorites, Deck The Halls!

One morning when Jeremy was off we headed downtown to the Eiteljorg Museum to see Jingle Rails.
As the website says, "Jingle Rails: The Great Western Adventure is a journey to the Great American West- the real West and the West of the imagination."  Everything is made of natural materials such as moss, twigs and nuts with a little holiday cheer.  

Theo LOVED it!  He loves trains and this was perfect for him!
We were talking about the passenger train and how people would ride for a long time and lunch on the train.
He now has his whole meal planned for his first train ride...hot dog, yogurt, pear and milk :)

Maryn liked the part where Old Faithful went off.

The attempt at a cute photo :)

Our first "big" snow!  We brought some inside to play with.

Of course Theo tried to eat it!

Well here they are visiting Santa...Maryn was great, Theo was fairly dazed and at least didn't cry, Cormac was just not having it!

Ready to build a gingerbread house!!

Not sure if more candy was eaten or placed on the house :)

Cormac's turn to help!

Hooray!!  We are going to see Christmas lights!!

On the Saturday night before Christmas, we drove around to see Christmas lights.
The kids loved spotting houses, but were really excited to go up to Reynold's Farm Equipment and see their big display.  We had to wait in a pretty long line, but it was worth it!