Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from the Mohrmann Family!!

We have had a great day. This was a special Christmas, as it was Ben's first! We are also glad that today is almost over & the kids are in bed....Henry was on excitement-over-load and by bathtime, we were ready for him to be asleep! Ben had a LONG day as well and was in bed at 6:30! He is cutting the 2 top teeth and did not nap very well today. Overall, it was a fun day and pretty laid back for us.

Last night we went to church at 4pm then to G's mom's house for dinner. We came home, Henry decorated cookies for Santa and we wrote him a note....and left carrots for his reindeer. He went to bed pretty good and slept this morning until 6:45! Ben on the other hand was up at 5:00. Anyway, we enjoyed our day with our little guys. G's mom, grandma, and cousin were here to celebrate with us as well. Hope you all had a very merry day!!

Christmas Eve at Zee-Zee's house

Henry took this picture of Ben & Mommy

Henry & Mommy

Merry Christmas!!

Mommy, Henry, Zee-Zee, Daddy, NoNo, Ben, & Zach

The Mohrmann Family

The note, cookies, and carrots left for Santa & his reindeer by Henry & Ben

Christmas morning...stockings!

Ben is excited that it is Christmas!

Henry got his Bat-copter from Santa...the only thing he wanted.

Happy Birthday Jesus!

This is the cake we made for Jesus. Henry was curious as to why Jesus couldn't join us for cake...we told him it's because he lives in our hearts. Then tonight, he told me that Jesus is in his heart! Way too cute!

Santa

A few weeks ago, Henry & Ben got to see Santa, who was actually a Singing Santa, when we went to dinner. G and I wanted to get pictures of the kids on Santa's lap, so today (Dec. 23) we ventured to the mall (no, we are not insane) to get pictures and didn't have to wait in line to see him! Ben loved him and didn't stop smiling the entire time. Henry was really quiet, but went right up to him. After we reminded him to tell him what he wanted for Christmas, he told Santa he wanted a Bat Copter. It was neat to see the smiles on both their faces. I am very surpirsed that Ben was so happy. This was one fat Santa, as you will see in the pictures below.

Jumparoo

For Christmas my parents got Ben this Jumparoo thing. We didn't put it together until we got home Sunday night and let me tell you....HE LOVES IT! This kid is hilarious in it! He jumps & laughs & giggles. It's sooo funny to watch. I am going to have to get the video camera out for this one. Ben is also cutting one of his front top teeth! This is tooth #3. No wonder he is a drool-machine!

Below is a picture of Henry & Ben bouncing on G's leg. They both love this and I finally got a good picture of the two of them laughing. The things that entertain them!

Friends

On Sunday the 21st, we got to see several of our friends. Before leaving Rogers and heading home, we met Susan & Eric and Rachel & Alan (and their kids) at Mazzio's for lunch. It was fun to get to visit, but also crazy, as we each have 2 kids....4 of whom are under 4. (Grant, Taylor, & Adelaide are all 3 and Henry is just about to join them.) Ben & Mabel are just about 2 1/2 months apart. It was nice to see them since the last time we were in Rogers, we had sick kids and couldn't meet up.

As we drove back home to St. Louis, we made a short stop in Springfield to see G's friend from Drury, Zack Pettijohn, who lives in New Mexico, but is at home in Springfield for the Holidays. We missed getting to visit Zack last winter, so it's been way too long since our last visit with Zack & his family. Below are pictures from our time with our friends.

Ben & Mabel before we were leaving

G & Alan trying to get Henry, Grant, Adelaide, and Taylor lined up to have a race.

Henry, G, Ben, Jack (Zack's Dad)

Uncle Zack playing with Henry

Henry didn't want to leave....we still had 3 hours in the car!

Christmas in AR

On Friday December 19, we make the trip to Rogers, AR to celebrate Christmas with the Kraners. The trip down was fine & both kids did really good. They fell asleep after we had dinner. I took several "naps" on the way down....Thursday night Henry woke us up around 1am screaming...he had thrown up in his bed. So, needless to say, we didn't get a good night of sleep. Friday was my last day before Winter Break, so my class was crazy and excited, so I was in need of some rest! Good thing G was the driver.

We went to the McKenzie's house (my siser-in-law's parents) on Saturday for lunch & so the guys could have targer practice. The "girls" and kids hung out inside, where it was nice and warm and not freezing & windy. We went back to my parents house for the kids to nap (and most of the adults too) and had our Kraner Family Christmas before dinner. Henry & Ben got TONS of presents and Henry enjoyed handing out our presents to his Aunt & Uncles. On Sunday before we left, Henry got to make a ginger bread house with Nana. She is very smart and hot-glued the house together and put the icing on the graham crackers for him. He got to decorate it with the candy and was in heaven. On the way home, the house somehow started to have it's decorations disappear...wonder what almost 3 year old was eating the candy on our way home?!?!

Playing at the McKenzie's House

Henry LOVED getting to see Bobby's machines. Next time, when it's a little warmer, Bobby is going to take him for a ride! Henry can't wait!

Loved the bulldozer

Roxy Kraner in her fur coat....dogs with clothes CRACK me up for some reason!

Christmas time!

Henry and his light-up McQueen jacket

Matching Hats...it's a Kraner thing

Say "flu shot"

Henry & his house

7 Month Old Benton

Saturday December 13, 2008 was Ben's 7 month birthday. He is such a big boy! He smiles all the time and has turned the corner on being a good sleeper overnight. Right now he has a cough and sometimes wakes up coughing, but will go back to sleep on his own. We love this little guy and Henry is really a good big brother. Henry does a good job of giving Ben "little" squeezes and most of the time, shares his toys. Below are Ben's 7 month pictures.

"Hi everyone....I am 7 months old now."

"Yeah, it's fun around our house!"

"And I put my hands in my mouth all the time and chew with my 2 bottom teeth."

"Okay Mommy, you can stop taking pictures of me now...you have enough."

"Throw your hands in the air...."

Wild Lights @ The Zoo

After the exciting time we had at Pere Marquette, we met the Oldani family and went to the St. Louis Zoo for "Wild Lights." It was windy, but we got to see some pretty lights & sadly, the only animals we got to see were the penguins! Henry had fun and enjoyed spending time with Princess Sophia. Towards the end of the evening, Henry got a mind of his own and didn't listen to me or G...so we decided it was time to go. Ben had fun, in his favorite place, the stroller! He slept most of the time we were at the Zoo, but at least he was nice & warm.

Henry & the NorthStar Penguin

Attempt at a picture of Tim & Sophia with G & Henry. Sophia was trying to see the penguins & Henry was telling her to look at the camera. Not sure what G is pointing at, but Tim seems to be checking it out!

Attempt at a family picture...Henry wouldn't look at the camera & Ben was asleep in the stroller!

Henry jumping off rocks...this is when he was refusing to listen to us!

Princess Sophia Oldani

Pere Marquette Trail Run

Yesterday, Saturday the 13th, Ben turned 7 months old & G ran in the Pere Marquette Trail Run. He did GREAT and Henry liked getting to see him finish. We saw the start, and also got to see him at mile 6. (the race is 7.5 miles). John Schneller came from Iowa for the race and finished great also, with only one shoe! The kids and I hung out with John's wife Judy during the the race and Rae came out after the race was over and joined us for lunch. Ben slept during lunch, and Henry was getting crabby and by the time we left it was almost 2pm! So, needless to say, Henry was asleep before we were 5 minutes from Pere Marquette. It was a great day for the race, especially since last year it was rainy/sleety and MUCH chillier. We are VERY proud of G and his awesome finish!

G getting ready to start (he is the one with the green thing on his head)

Henry, after we got to see G at mile 6

Ben sleeping, all snuggly warm

G finishing the race

Henry congratulating his Daddy

G and John....yes he has only one shoe on!

John, Me & G after they finished the race

Jack Turns 4!

Our friend, Jack Harper, is now 4! Henry & Ben got to help Jack celebrate on his birthday, December 11. We went to the Harper house on Thursday for some cake & ice cream. Henry loved playing with all of Jack's toys & eating cake. Ben like playing with Grace (Jack's 18 month old sister).

Ben & Grace, she wanted Ben to sit right next to her so she could put her arm around him.

"Happy Birthday Jack"

Katie lighting the cake

Henry is VERY ready for cake