Merry Christmas

I look forward to this day every year, but honestly I think I enjoy the whole month leading up to it just as much!  It was more enjoyable this year having a little one to share it with.  Last year Easton was so young that he didn't realize the joy of the season, but I can honestly say that this year he really caught on!  He loved Santa, and would recognize him anywhere.  He loves Frosty the Snowman, and got the hang of opening presents and gift bags real fast ;) He started to dance to the music, and it would bring a smile to his face.  It was fun to share the season with him, and I know it will only get better the older he gets. 
We were so lucky to have a "White Christmas" this year.  It seemed to be right out of a movie scene!  It was snowed all afternoon and evening on Christmas Eve, and was lightly snowing when we woke up on Christmas morning.  Nothing tops that, I love a white Christmas!
We enjoyed our little family Christmas in the morning, and then headed to my parents house for Christmas Dinner.  My Mom always does such a great job of making the table so special for the special occasion!

We went sledding out at James & Cori's house in the afternoon. It was a great day, it's always sad to see it come to an end. 
Just as I do every year, I think back to the memories I have on this day.  We always spent Christmas Eve at Grandma & Grandpa Krug's with all my cousins.  It was so crazy, I don't know why we all kept coming back year after year!  And to think we are sometimes annoyed with the noise 3 little boys can make! On Christmas morning I would awake to check out what Santa brought me, along with my other Montag cousins.  Then off to church, the music was something I'll always remember .  St. Peter and Paul knew how to bring the Christmas music to life, the sound coming from the parish was amazing!  We'd return for a beautiful Christmas dinner.  In the evening we'd finally exchange gifts.  It was always a great time, for which I will be thankful I had.  I miss my extended family this time of year more than ever.  I know we all think of each other and the memories we made.  Life changes, and so do the traditions. It's just hard to adjust.  I'm getting use to it, but recently every year there is something new.  A husband, a new family, a new house, a child, and next year we'll have 2 kids to share the memories and traditions with! Truly blessed this holiday season.

Gifts from Santa!

Cabbage Patch Boy Doll from Mom & Dad.  We're going to work on nice touches & kisses, hopefully to prepare him for baby brother!

Strider bike from Santa!

 

Easton opened his gifts from Grandma & Grandpa Montag on Christmas morning, he was so tired and went to bed before he could get to all his gifts on Christmas Eve.  He loves his barn, farm animals, tractor and wagon!

 

 

Checking out the loot in his stocking ;)

Mark surprised me with a new Coach wallet, after mine was stolen this summer.  I replaced my purse in November, but didn't splurge for the wallet.  I was very shocked to open it on Christmas morning.  He lived up to his awesome gift giving!!

 

The gender reveal of Baby #2!

I had my 20 week appointment on Monday, December 23rd.  We were so relieved to see and hear that everything was perfect with our little one! That was the best Christmas present we got this year :) 

20 weeks= half way there!

I was so happy to know that we would be able to know the sex before Christmas.  Mark had the idea to open the "envelope" on Christmas Eve with our family.  I thought it was worth a try, I only had to wait 24 hours ;)  I searched for gender reveal ideas, and saw a picture of something similar to what we did.  I posted all this on Facebook and was so amazed at how many people were following our feed that day and awaiting our post on Christmas Eve! It was pretty cool, almost 200 likes on both pictures :)
We went shopping at the Gap, picked out a girl and boy onesie.  Asked the sales clerk to open the envelope, and wrap the appropriate onesie.  She was so touched that we asked her to do this for us, seemed very excited! I was so jealous that she got to know the gender that day, unlike me!

Little Brother or Little Lady?

 

When we returned to the store an hour or so later, the store manager and the sales clerk handed us a bag full of packages! Two more than there should have been!! They said that they were so touched and excited to do this for us, that they added a little something :) I of course started to cry and then the manager did too! I was so touched that they were just as excited as we were! She said it made their Christmas, gave them the holiday spirit that they needed during this busy time of year.  She said we made their day, little did she know she made ours!!

 

So fast forward to Christmas Eve, around 7:30 PM!  It was finally time to reveal the sex of baby #2!

Its a......

B.O.

Y!!!!!

Passing around the picture of proof ;)

 



We are thrilled with this good news.  Eason will love having a little brother, they will be the best of friends.  Everyone keeps saying "it will be nice to re-use Easton's stuff", but looking at tubs of clothes, seasons don't match! But it will be nice that a lot things can be re-used!

 PS. I guess this news does mean there will be a baby #3, down the road!! I've got to have a baby girl!!! :)

Christmas Eve

We hosted Christmas Eve this year.  Everyone wanted a "real fire" like we've always had in the past at Mom & Dad's house.  This is the first year we weren't there, so keeping some things the same were nice.  Even Dad says he misses his fireplace.  The menu was Mom's homemade pizza which we all love.  Not to forget Grasshoppers after gift opening, a Montag ritual;) 
We attended Christmas Eve Mass at 5 PM, and it was a full house.  Please note that the Radtke's were there well before anyone else, and had a pew reserved!  I was pretty proud that we were early :) Easton is really starting to be a pain in church.  He doesn't want to stay in his pew! It's very trying, but that won't keep us from going! 
We ate supper, had the little boys exchange their gifts, and then put Easton to bed.  He was so tired.  Then we were able to all enjoy the gifts, fire, food, and family a little more ;)

Easton's Christmas outfit was worn by Cameron and Preston.  I guess I'll need to save it for baby boy #2 Radtke!

Our annual self-timed Christmas picture! Not too bad, everyone is looking and smiling :)

I got the little boys matching pj's for the occasion!

Easton has matching slippers, but he never leaves them on!

Festival of Trees in Rock Valley

I had all 3 boys on this particular evening, James & Cori took Mom & Dad to Christmas at the Cathedral and out for a nice dinner as their Christmas gift.  So I watched the boys.  I thought they would enjoy this event, so I drove back over.  It was alright, I was kind of disappointed in the picture display, but considering all the kids that were present, etc.  I suppose it's hard to do much else.  I knew Easton would be afraid of Santa, so I asked if he could hide behind the chair.  It worked, for maybe 10 seconds! He realized he was there, and then it was over. This was the best one we got ;)

I didn't get any pictures, but they also got to decorate a cookie and color a picture.  We left before the parade of lights to head to Sioux Center to Culver's for supper!  It was fun, and I'm thankful for Cameron's help! I wonder if I'll venture out with 4 little boys in the near future?!? I'm thinking not....

Please excuse the picture of a picture, I had to buy the prints so don't have a digital image.

December Birthdays!

We celebrate a lot of special Birthdays this month!  First up is my sweet, loving, caring, husband, Mark (12.16)!  We didn't have a Birthday cake this year.  We were celebrating with Spiderman cake the very next day!  We had so many delicious Christmas goodies in the house, Mark agreed it wasn't necessary.  He spend the evening at home with Easton, I went to Cameron's Christmas concert at school.  Was very entertaining, and Cam did a great job! The picture is from a distance, but if you look close you can see him ;)

Easton wore his Can-Am 4-wheeler shirt just for Daddy!

4th one on the top from the right

Next up, Preston James (12.18)! He turned 4 this year, I still can't believe it.  He's a busy body, and loves to chit-chat!  Enjoys playing with his brother and cousin.  He is very entertaining, and always makes us laugh.  He loves dogs, but not enough to get close.  His main man this year is Spiderman.  Last year it was Woody, from Toy Story, but he's grown up and is into action figures now.  Loves to play farm, and prefers to go shirt-less.  Even when it's -5 degrees outside! You can find him running around the house without his shirt or socks :) He's a character, whom we love so very much!

And let's not forget the reason for the season, Jesus (12.25)! He celebrates his Birthday later this month, and we'll be sure to give him glory & praise. 
Enjoy all the season has to offer, we sure are!!

Holiday Memories

My favorite time of the year is here! Easton seems to be enjoying everything that comes with it.  Lights, stories, movies, presents, Santa, he loves it all!  He even starts to dance to his books that play Christmas music.  Grandma Sheri stocked him up on musical books, but he loves them.  We watch Frosty the Snowman daily, and when he sees a snowman, he lights up!  It's pretty special, we're loving all that comes with the holidays this year!

He enjoys his wagon, even if it's meant for toys and not little boys!

Tree #1

He's learned to say "dog" and "Nelli".

Helping Mom while she holiday bakes!

 

Season's Greetings!  

 



He got a Mickey Mouse table and chairs from James, Cori, Cam & Preston on Christmas Eve.  I finally got it out of the box, and he LOVES them! (12.26)

Nelli enjoying her new Christmas Scarf- 12.26

Tree #2, much smaller this year, but we still love it!