L - Christmas Crawl

For Christmas, Liam gave us a present...a moving son. He's a crawler. Sometimes it looks more like a low to the ground, army crawl...but he's a mover!

L - Gifts of Love

Liam opened two gifts this week. One was a box that came in the mail from his Aunt Debbie in OH. He has been enjoying the recordable book - she is reading him the Night Before Christmas. He is also super fond of the Grinch she sent him.

This evening, he opened a gift from Aunt Leah and Uncle Matt. He's definitely getting the hang of opening gifts and we think he likes his new game/book! Thank you to everyone who gifts him with presents and love - he's one lucky boy!

A - Painting Night Out

Monday night, I had a planned night out with friends who happen to be coworkers. I had been looking forward to the fun for weeks. Joe ended up having his AC check ride, so Jennifer came over to watch Liam.

We went to Painting with a Twist. It's a fairly new place in our area, where there is an instructor who walks a group through the same painting. We decided to paint a Pensacola themed version, so we voted and the 17th/Graffiti Bridge won! It was a blast!

My work in progress...

The row of artists I was with...

Casey and I with our finished products - our piece of Pensacola to take on our many moves.

The entire crew - what a fun bunch of friends and fellow CH'ers.

Casey, Me and Ashley!

A, J & L - Meeting Santa for the 1st Time

Liam FINALLY met Santa for the first time. We've been putting off taking him to the mall - just a drag (for us). So, we took a chance and went to the Bass Pro shop in Destin...best decision! Their set up was excellent, Santa was very sweet and the line was short. We had a good time. Liam did not scream and I think he would have really been laughing if he was able to spend more time with himStanding in line with Daddy to see Santa!

He was just placed on the lap and told to smile for the camera - no hello first.

Then came the hello...and the exploring of Santa's beard and hat!

That was great, can't wait to see him again next year!

L - Christmas at Home

We decided to allow Liam to open his presents from FL Santa this weekend. We took our time and broke it out over the entire weekend. Each morning, he unwrapped another. It's prepping him for the real deal on the 25th in NH!

Saturday, he opened his play table!

Sunday, he opened his Little People Airport set!

Oh, paper - "I wonder how this tastes?"

This is the classic, "mama, are you almost done taking pictures of me?" look...and the answer is no.

Also, he received a CAT truck that will help him walk and is also a cool dump truck for his blocks. He loves new Go Go Caterpillar from Discovery Toys too!

L & F - True Brothers

The boys are very fond of each other and Foster better beware since Liam is still growing! We often find them snuggling and sometimes even wrestling around a bit. Foster is super gentle and Liam is rough - true brothers!

J - Co Pilot/Pilot

When we arrived back from Vegas, Joe was surprised to hear that he was given an award from the squadron...Co-Pilot of the Quarter! Yay!

Well, It's a good thing they recognized him for Co-Pilot of the Quarter when they did, because this past week, Joe went through training and check ride for Aircraft Commander! Yep, watch out airways, Joe is in command up there...as a left seater!

L - 36 Weeks

This week marks the same amount of time that Liam spent growing inside, as he has on the outside! Wow, where does time go!! Here is a catch up on his development - he's about 28 1/2 inches long and is coming in around 24.5 lbs (this is all done at home, so not completely accurate). He has 8 (yes 8) beautiful, big, white chompers!!! He's eating so well these days and is enjoying sampling mom and dad's food too! He is a mover, not yet a full on crawler. He sees something and he will roll, wiggle and do 360s with one knee under him until he gets to the goal. He babbles and shares stories all the time. He LOVES to sing and dance. Even during mass, the only time he's really "talkative" is during the songs. He sits up on his own and loves to hammer on anything around - touching and feeling everything. He's is also exploring everything with his mouth...everything! These 36 weeks have been the very, very best of my (our) life so far.

A - Holiday Festivities

A few holiday spirited fun events...

Aunt Leah graciously came over this past Friday to hang out with Liam while mom and dad attended the Inaugural 34th Holiday Party (Joe's Squadron). Yes, that is a naked Santa in the background...the poor guy received the most votes. We had a blast and we grateful for the night out together - Joe was not as thankful the next day.

On Sunday, the girls (Leah, Casey and I) went to Fired Up in FWB to do a bit of pottery painting. It was a ton of fun. They were completely out of mugs (which we all wanted to paint), so we put our creative hats on and made some other great items. I made a cross for Liam's room and a 2010 Schlosser Ornament.

Leah, Me and Casey with our semi-finished products.

On Wednesday Leah, Ashley and I met in Sandestin to try to finish up some Christmas shopping and enjoy an awesome PF Changs dinner. It has become a tradition to take our picture in front on a big tree - this one is so big it doesn't even come close to fitting in the picture.

PS - Last year when our tree picture was taken, I was expecting a boy. Now, Leah and Ashley are expecting boys! I'm looking forward to our 2011 Christmas Tree picture with our boys!

A, J & L - Holiday Decor

I've been so busy with traveling and keeping up on the day to day, that I believe I've skipped over things...so here is to catching up!

We've been wanting this one lawn decoration for a while now and when we woke up early the day after Thanksgiving, we found one at Lowes! Well, when we opened presents from Grandma and Grumpa Schlosser...low and behold...we had two! It's not much compared to others on our street, but we have finally begun our outside decorations!

All three of our Christmas Stockings hung by the fireplace in hopes of Santa filling them with great things on Christmas Day! (They are all made with love from Mom/Grandma Schlosser.)

A, J & L - Viva Las Vegas

We spent our last day in Vegas, on the strip...here is a wrap up.

After gambling until 5am, the boys really wanted to eat food and insisted we try Paris' Buffet. It was delicious (coming from someone who doesn't care for buffets at all) and we ate too much! So, we spent the later part of the afternoon, walking it off on the strip.

Hanging outside on the strip before checking out some more hotel/casinos.

In Caesar's Palace with the Christmas Decor.

Leah and I in Caesar's Palace.

8 big teeth on his 8 month birthday!

Watching our last day fountain show in front of the Bellagio.

Viva Las Vegas with The Schlosser's.

Put some money in at Blazing 777 for Liam's 8 month birthday on the 7th.

This is on Fredmont Street - with the restored neon lights from the "old school Las Vegas."

Night time in the Bellagio - with all the Christmas decor.

Little Liam snuggling after a long, but awesome trip!

The art on the ceiling of the Bellagio - stunning.