Christmas Cookies

In true Fleenor Form, we stamped and iced around 200 sugar cookies today.  Last year the only way Andrew got to participate in this most delightful tradition was by enduring the sugar coma I always experience after snacking and icing all day.  This year he was in on all the action.

First punch.

  

Wow...

This year all our cookies have little finger-sized holes in the middle where he helped Aunt Emily get the cookie out of the cutter.  Makes them even sweeter.

Of course, what he really wanted to do was wield the big rolling pin.

Christmas is SOOO fun with him around. :)

Doctor Update

Went to the doc today, and Andrew definitely has a virus, which I figured. His ears and throat look great, which is what I was mostly worried about. I'm still glad we went because when I took off his clothes for them to weigh him he was covered in a rash all over his torso. Apparently this is a sign that his fever broke, which seems to be true since it's 7:00 and we are fever free! Woohoo! He is still SUPER tired (he took 3 naps today AND went to bed 30 minutes early) but it looks like we are on the upswing. :) Thanks for the concern.

Since no post would be complete without pictures, here are some assorted ones from the last few weeks:

Pretending to play MarioKart. Notice Leela, only a foot away. She gets more attached to Andrew every day.

All time favorite toy. It shoots balls out of the tube and then they slide back in. It's magical.

"How'd you get way up there?" One of Andrew's many treks up the stairs at Grandma and Grandpa's.

Papa Robins is a great playmate.

Christmas Tree hunting

We go to the Christmas tree farm in Clyde with Scott and Lisa every year to get our Christmas tree. This year we took Quinton, Emily's boyfriend. The Fleenors are really fun to tree hunt with for 2 reasons: 1.) because of their giant house, we get to pick out a GIANT tree. 2.) they insist on looking at every tree on the mountain. Here are some pictures from the day.

On the way. So excited!

Is our tree over here?

Or over here?

Pretty!

Here it is!  It's perfect!

It was a great day. :)

This weekend we went to the Bartholomew Christmas Party, which was really great.  It is so good to visit with everyone.  Andrew had his first Christmas present experience.  As you might expect, it was more about the paper than the present.  I think he got a book, but it doesn't show up in the video. :)

For those concerned Great-Aunts and Aunts out there (Kathy, Jen, Terri, Lisa, Sara, Robin, etc), an update on Andrew's fever:  He has been running a fever between 4pm-12am every night since Friday night.  He doesn't really have any other symptoms besides general grouchiness/weepiness.  I called the doctor Monday morning and they said it sounds like a virus, but to bring him in if it persists.  Since it's still 100 degrees tonight, we are going to the doctor in the morning.  Before you get too concerned, take a look at what he has been doing over the last few days. :)

Of course in between learning to write Mommy love notes and roll balls, he looks like this:

We'll let you know what the Dr says. :)

Welcome, December

Andrew is making a lot of progress with walking. He does this cute little side step thing that I adore.  

Also, he has learned to dance. So cute!

He is loving getting ready for Christmas. He has always loved Christmas lights and he is very excited about their return.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Things I am thankful for: Jesus, Josh, Andrew, our amazing family, and our refrigerator. :) Thanks Pat and Lisa!

I understand, baby. I want to kiss that face too.

I decided to get some good video if Andrew crawling because he took his first steps last weekend, so I know it is only a matter of time before he is running everywhere.

In fact....

And then the pivot...

And now...

CHRISTMAS!!!! 

Catch up... Again

So, last week my app that I use for blogging crashed for good. I had to spend some time shopping for a new one. Yesterday's post was a test run. Hope you enjoyed it. :) The pictures are bigger, which I like. For those who are interested (Jessica), I switched from BlogPress to Blogsy. Anyway, things that happened this last week: Josh's 25th birthday party, a visit to Mom's, including a walk in the leaves, and Andrew's introduction to chocolate pie.

On the day of Josh's party, Andrew really wanted to be helpful to Grandma.

If you have ever watched the TV show SCRUBS, this is Josh's shout out to Dr. Cox.

Andrew's new favorite food is grapes, but they have to be peeled first. How many grandmas does it take to do this?

Some cute pictures of Andrew and Adam.

We went to visit Mom this week for our weekly Grandparent Day. It was so gorgeous outside we went for a walk around the house. Andrew even got to climb in the climbing tree a little.

What IS this, Mom?

My dad is on a chocolate pie kick, and Andrew is enjoying this.

And then just general cuteness.

Fall is Fun

We went to see GrandNana and GrandPapa today. They just returned from their celebratory RV trip to Florida that they took when Papa decided he had finished recovering from his heart surgery. We really missed them. Andrew's Nana and Papa came too, and The Papas couldn't resist taking him out in the leaves. (and why should they.)

Always wants to join in

Last weekend Josh and Scott had to work on our van (something about brakes?) and Drew really was wishing he could help. The entire time they were outside he was at the window hollering for them.





He figured out how to use his bottom teeth as a Puff Can opener.










And it wouldn't be a blog post about Andrew without a video or picture of him with an instrument.

Little Drummer Boy

Before there are any comments about the title or the music in the background of the video, I know that it is November 1st. I find it helpful to begin Advent early to have some time before the lights and the gifts take over to think about the Miracle of God's compassion. Andrew and I have been listening to Christmas music for 3 weeks. :)

Andrew has been spending some quality time with Grandpa today. In the midst of all his teething, directing music in the kitchen with Scott is one of the only places he is happy.






Sometimes they sway. :)

So far they have worked on conducting 4/4, 3/4, and 6/8 time. Ben occasionally chimes in with some advice from his conducting classes.

After a while Andrew changed focus and decided to be a drummer instead.





"Grandpa, come help me!"

This boy can't help loving music.