New Year's Eve in the Park

On New Year's Eve the park by our house had a party for the neighborhood; we invited some friends to join us, and we all went to the park to enjoy the festivities: sledding, ice skating, a bonfire, a horse-drawn wagon ride, a D.J., hot cider and hot chocolate, and a ball drop at midnight (6:30pm). It was a bit chilly, but fun. It has been nice to have such great events just outside our door and to have friends to enjoy them with.

Happy New Year to all!

Cole's Birthday

A couple days later, we had to face facts and admit that our little baby Cole was, indeed, growing up on us. Yep, Coley turned two and in fine fashion. He sported the infamous terrible two badge proudly with moments of complete and utter adorableness mixed in. Thank the Lord for those little moments because man, our little one sure has my will and Scott's strength and at times that is a super scary combination.


Cole's Grandma Diane and Grandpa Dave made it through a blizzard in time to join us for the festivities. Cole was hesitant to open his own gifts, he preferred to pass them out to the rest of us instead. Finally, when I asked him to 'help' me open a gift, he rushed right over and so that is how we proceeded for the next day or so.


I don't know if the rest of you have had this experience, but we really had to open the gifts on Cole's schedule. He wasn't about to move onto another gift until he gave the one before it a good hour of his undivided attention. At least we know he loved everything!

Feeling ever-so guilty for not making his birthday party cake myself, I was doubly intent on making the one for his official special day, and I'm very happy to tell you that my first-ever attempt at a red velvet cake (a longtime-fav of mine) was a big success.

Yes, I'm tooting my own horn here, but when your mother tells you it was the best red velvet she's ever had (including the hundred or so she herself has baked) you start to feel pretty good. Then, when she asks you to give her your recipe, you know she's not just messing with you. That, and also, the fact that any of us will tell you, it was damn tasty!


Here's some pics of Coley enjoying his first-ever beater licking.

And here's some pics of him blowing out his candles. He didn't really get to do it all by himself at his party, so on the big day he had us light the candles and take pics again and again and again and again!

And here's some pics of Coley opening some gifts.

Our First Minnesota Christmas

On Christmas Day, we woke to day two of present opening at the Becker household, and after a quick breakfast, Cole was ready to go. You'll note that we had the Christmas Yule Log burning on the television, for that warm feeling of a fireplace, sans the soot and the heat.

Cole enjoyed all the presents that were sent and brought, so thank you all for thinking of us up Nort' here in Minnesota. We wish we could have been home for the holidays. Thank you all for your gifts and love.

We miss you all tons. Love you all lots.

Macy's Holidazzle Parade

Well, we finally made it to the Holidazzle Parade, which has been a Minnesota tradition longer than I've been breathing fire. Uh, well, anyway - since Thanksgiving, we've had it on our massive to-do list, and finally on the 22nd, we ventured out with some friends so that we could finally draw a really big, like huge, X through it on that, uh, really long list.


Funny thing about Minnesota though, you start to feel really invincible and hearty with the weather conditions, so you trudge out into the 14 degree night, with windchills in the negative teens, to find a premo spot for a winter parade that lasts basically thirty minutes. This is the same Minnesota-embrace-the-elements-because-otherwise-you're-inside-for-half-the-year mentality that had us wearing no jacket (Scott) and just a sweater and vest (me) when we went to run errands the week before when it was a balmy 23 degrees. I mean, let's face it, that's a heat-wave folks.


Yeah, so on this particularly chilly night, while the younger chickypoos were sporting fine clubwear, I opted for the sexy parka and Mexican blanket look.


Coley, who usually loves the cold weather, kept looking at his parents in such a way that I feared for our elderly diaper-wearing selves because, while of the hale and hardy Austrian stock, he grew increasingly upset at the frozen fingers he was sporting and the bright red cheeks and nose that rounded out his exposure to the subzero night. Hopefully, he'll have forgotten all about the experience way before then. I suppose it would help if I didn't put the memory down in writing...ah well, I'm sure this blog will be untraceable by then.


Right, so we went to the parade and Scott videotaped portions of it. The rest of the time Cole kept leading him into buildings that were featuring this really amazing thing, I think it's called HEAT.

While we did enjoy freezing our tushies off with our friends, I think next year we'll spring for the heated seats in the Macy's tent, just in case it is 10 below again.

Cole's 2nd Birthday Party

On the Friday before Christmas, we had some of Cole's friends

over to help celebrate his second birthday. Yay!

We bought some Sculpey, which is shape-and-bake type clay, so the kids got to make Christmas cookie looking ornaments. It was loads of fun and proved very addictive - I'm just not sure who loved making them more, the kids or their parents.

I, of course, came down with another case of insomnia and hit my wall mid-way through the party, but Scott really came through to save the day.

He followed through on the plans I'd made but was too tired to safely implement myself. He made the cake (and the frosting too!) as well as handled the baking of the clay ornaments.

It was a fantastic time. Coley really enjoyed having all his friends over and hated seeing them go. He stood at the front window waving and saying, "Bye, bye!" to all of his friends until they all drove home.

Here are some photos of Cole and the gang.

Give the People What They Want...

Okay, so I haven't been as good as I promised in regards to the blogging thing. I could give you a bunch of the typical excuses - we've all been sick since Thanksgiving (true); we're uber tired chasing around our uber active toddler (true); we've been swamped with work (true, true - hey, SAHM mom's work too you know!) but there is a time for excuses and a time for action. Tonight, I'm opting for action. Soo...here's some pics. I'm not going to waste anymore space with text, I'm just gonna give all of you what you came hear to see - some pictures already! Enjoy!

The first two shots are from the weekend before Thanksgiving. The third one is from Thanksgiving which we spent with friends. The second row are picks from just before and during the Normandale Community College's Annual Breakfast With Santa. Cole enjoyed his first candy cane so much we had to lose the sweater. The photo of Cole with Santa was Scott's handiwork - my earlier shots (pre-candy cane) didn't turn out nearly as well. I don't know who looked more disinterested, Santa or Cole. I think this photo shows the power of sugar for both young and old since it was taken at the end of the event. Row Three is from that same day, the one of our first blizzard and the outdoor shots that follow show some of the trips Cole made outside to help his dad shovel.

Row Four is from a couple week's ago when Cole and his friend Simon went to their first-ever movie in a movie theater. They saw The Bee Movie and had loads of fun. The last pic in that row illustrates one of Cole's favorite past-times, walking around in his sleeper and slippers (sorry didn't include those - will later) AND his dad's bike helmet. Row Five are pics that we took after returning home from Scott's work party at his boss, Monica's house. And the final set of shots is from a couple week's ago when Cole's first present for his second birthday arrived. It was a toy school bus from Great Grandpa Bob and Alyce - the very last shot is him saying, "Thanks!"

Hope all of you are doing well and enjoying this holiday season!