"Ho Ho Ho...Merry Crimmas!!!"

Brixon really got the hang of Christmas this year! It took about five seconds before he realized what 'opening presents' was all about! It was really exciting to watch his face when he got his train set, his easel, his "mokorcycle" (a Kawasaki four-wheeler) and all of the other wonderful gifts Santa brought him! Christmas Eve was spent in Bradenton at Grandma Jeanne and Aunt Sharon's house, as it is every year. We were really missing our Iowa families, but we still had a great time together! Christmas morning, Brixon got up a little after 7, and was thrilled to see that Santa had been there! I was wishing Santa had left me a grande Peppermint Mocha, but no such luck. After a quiet morning at our house, we headed to Nick's parent's house, where Brixon was spoiled even more!! Grandma Jeanne and Sharon joined us for a great brunch, and we headed home, in hopes Brix would sleep. Again, no such luck! With a house full of new toys, napping wasn't an option. That night, we had Christmas dinner with the Nemec side of the family, where this child received yet more gifts. No wonder I can't get him to stop saying "more presents" when he wakes up!!! Thanks to everyone for making this a fantastic Christmas!

We're off to Indianapolis on Thursday to spend New Year's with the Mummies! I'm sure I'll have lots of fun photos to share when we get back ;)

The favorite gift of the year!

Ahh, she looks so sweet....how misleading ;)

Brixon loved the ice skating pond!

He refused to take his tie off!

Playing DSi with Brooke!

Off to his business meeting...

Owen and B with their matching cups and matching jammies!!! Double trouble...

Christmas Morning!

New Vans!

Matt and his Masters Green Jacket!! Ha!

Ridin' my new scooter!

Helping great grandma Nemec open her presents!

Being spoiled by Auntie Kelly!

Santa Claus is coming...TO TOWN!!

Brixon loves Santa...I mean loooves Santa. He talks about him every day, and wants to see him every chance he can! He loves everything about Christmas, just like his mom!!! On December 12, Brixy had his very first Christmas program!! So I'm a little biased, but it was precious!! The older kids did a play, and the little ones sang "Jingle Bells", "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" (if you sing the first part, he'll say 'to town!') and "Happy Birthday" to Jesus. It took him a minute to warm up, but after that, we couldn't get him off stage! Literally! He wanted to be up there dancing the whole time! Honestly, I don't know where he gets it from ;) Last Wednesday, Joyful Noise hosted a dinner with Santa. Brixon couldn't have had more fun!

" Are they really making me wear a halo?!"

I saw Brixy kissing Santa Claus....haha!!!

Grandpa

Last Wednesday, December 15th, my grandpa Don passed away. We knew he was quite ill, so we booked a last-minute flight to Michigan the prior Friday. He held on as long as he could, but passed away the day before we got there. My grandpa was, among many things, a paratrooper, a charter boat captain, a excellent craftsman, a band leader, and above all, a fantastic grandfather. He also adored Brixon, and had a very special place in his heart for 'Wiggly.' Although we were not able to see him before he passed, we decided to go to Grand Rapids anyway, and just spend time with our family. We took Brixon ice skating for the very first time, rode the carousel at Rivertown, and spent a lot of time just catching up. Brixon also saw snow for the first time! Grandpa, we will miss you. Thank you for being the patriarch of such a great family.

Watching "The Polar Express," headphones and all!

He loved the carousel!

He had never had hot chocolate before, but somehow he knew he would like it ;)

"Buddies!!" Mason, Tre, and Brixon

Brix and Tre

The dads and the kids!

Whew! This was a workout! If it weren't 20 degrees, I would have broken a sweat!

Wrigley

Wrigley Bear, Mrs. Wriglesby, Wriggy, Wriggy Piggy. On December 12th, we lost a very special family member. Wrigley, our eight-and-a-half year old English Bulldog, passed away unexpectedly. Although I have had quite a few dogs in my life, I can honestly say Wrigley was the absolute best. She was Nick's baby, as I didn't come around until she was about a year old, but she became ours. After a six-month period of chewing my most expensive shoes as a form of protest, I became hers as well. She brought us so much joy and love over the years, and became Brixon's best friend, which is the best (and most difficult) part. He continues to ask about her each day, and we continue to tell him that she went to Heaven to meet Jesus. In time, he will forget, but we never will. We love you, Wrigley.

She could stand to be a little more Wrigley, and a little less Sushi...

If any of you know my husband at all, you know one of his strongest characteristics is his tendency to be impulsive. Especially when it comes to animals. I have successfully talked him out of pigs, mini-goats, hamsters, schools of salt water fish....I could go on.....and on. Only twice have I been unsuccessful. Three years ago he came home with a cute little teacup Yorkie. The only reason I really didn't want her is because we already had two dogs at the time, and three seemed slightly absurd. Sushi grew on me, however, through her incessant barking and nipping, and became a part of our family. Unfortunately, when Brixon came, the bad habits became too much to handle with a newborn, and we had to find her a new home. We were lucky to find a couple who would love her, and nurture her less appealing qualities ;) We also lost Gizmo that month, and we became a one dog house. I was content, but made the fatal mistake of telling Nick that SOMEDAY I would like to get a new English Bulldog. Cut to one week later, when Scout (or "Gout," as Brixon calls her) bounded through my front door. I was not a happy camper. I really wanted to wait until Wrigley had passed (having absolutely no idea that it would happen so soon), and just didn't want to deal with the difficulties that having a puppy involves (pulling the lights off of my Christmas tree, nipping at my ankles, potty training). However, the very day we lost Wrigley, I understood why this puppy was brought into our lives. Although aside from her stubbornness, the similarities are purely physical at this point (we're working on it!), it's kind of like having a little mini-Wrigley running around. And while she will never replace the original, she is sure helping to fill the tremendous void.

"Baby Jesus and the man cleanin'"

And the Christmas season is here again!!! Who doesn't love this time of year?!?!? Ridiculous traffic, scrambling to find the perfect gifts, screaming children in line to sit on Santa's lap...I kid, I kid. I love love Christmas time! Although absolutely crazy, we always make so many great memories. December has just started, and we've already had a TON going on! Last Thursday, Santa Claus came to Brixon's school for pictures. We weren't exactly sure how he would react, but he loved him! He is always talking about Santa, but when he sees him at the mall, he prefers to greet him from a distance. My dad got him to give Santa a knuckle bump last week, but he wouldn't sit on his lap. But he sat right on his lap and chatted with him at school! We get the photos back on the 13th, and I am so excited to see them!

Friday night was the tree lighting and Holly Days downtown, and yesterday morning was the Christmas Parade. Last night, Higher Ground had their Christmas showcase, and it was a success! We were super busy last week with tech and dress rehearsals, but the students did another phenomenal job! We also attended our first Christmas party of the season last night...if you want to know whether or not we had fun, I'll just tell you that by the end of the night, Nick was on the bar rapping "I Like Big Butts..." And let's just throw in the fact that I spent Friday night in the ER because I had some random allergic reaction to something, and developed these huge, swollen hives all over my body! They're not as swollen or red anymore, but they've now turned into bruises (?). I'll be at the doctor first thing tomorrow to get this figured out...I'll let you know when you can catch me on the Discovery Channel medical mysteries show ;)


We've also done our outdoor Christmas decorating, along with many of our neighbors. We have one house a few doors down that has a beautiful, life-size nativity scene in the front yard. My mom took Brixon for a walk to see it a few nights ago, and when they got home, Brix couldn't stop chatting about the 'baby ghost (goats), baby Jesus and the man cleanin' (which would be one of the Wise Men holding his staff ;))' HA! He never ceases to crack me up...

Here are a few photos from the Christmas Parade...enjoy!

Santa! Where are you?!?

No more 'mad scientist!'

A few weeks ago, Brixon got his first haircut (well, first haircut that didn't involve me setting him on the bathroom counter and praying that he didn't make any sudden movements while I trimmed his mullet ;) ). He did a great job! He didn't even cry when they had to put him in the only chair left, which happened to be a pink Barbie jeep!

Trying to start the Jeep with my car keys...

Oh, what a handsome devil!

Photo-op on the four-wheeler...more for dad's sake than anything ;)

Tato Head

Grandma got Brixon his first Mr. Potato Head (or "tato head," as he says). I'm giving him a 'C' for anatomical correctness, but an 'A+' for innovation :). Hopefully he has his Papa and great-grandpa's artistic inclination!!!!

So proud...

He might have some photography skills, too...