Sarah Bear

This time, it's all about her! I'm up early, really, really early, thanks to the crazy wind and a certain someone who woke up for an unknown reason in the middle of the night. I was laying in bed trying to fall back to sleep and thinking about that little person who woke me up.

Sarah turned 21 months on Monday. It's usually not a big deal, she's just getting closer to 2, but 21 months is significant because it's the same age Jeremiah was when Sarah was born. And when I look at her, she's so different than J was at the same age. She talks so much more, she's trying to do things all the time like her big brother, and boy is she naughty! I used to think the reason Jeremiah was so sweet and obedient was thanks to our parenting. HA! Nope, Sarah came along and proved all that thinking wrong.

Don't get me wrong, she's not a terrible kid at all. She just knows what's not okay and does it anyways. She's kind of a bully - she pushes Jeremiah and looks at me to see if she'll get in trouble - she's always taking toys away from him, too. J's just too nice to push her back (and he knows he'll get in trouble) or take toys from her.

She has very strong emotions - when she's mad, she is MAD, and when she's happy, she can light up everything in the room. She has a great smile, amazing dimples, a hilarious laugh, and a spirit that is just so wonderful to see in her. She's finding her own way and becoming more independent (and less of a Mama's girl) every day. She plays with her big brother and other kids, and although she doesn't always understand the 'rules,' she always tries.

She communicates her needs very well. If not with her words, then with her ability to grab your hand and pull you out of your chair. (It can be very annoying when you're in the middle of a blog!!) She loves to have books read to her - her favorite is 'Go Dog Go', which she got for Christmas. She loves the color purple - crazy, I know, she's not even 2 yet - but when she sees it she yells: "PU-PAL!!" If I make the mistake of putting a purple shirt on when she's not wearing one, she'll do her best to take her shirt off and go digging through her dresser to find one. She's also really into saying "look!" right now. Last night, she and J were building towers with blocks and I was in the kitchen. Suddenly I hear "ooK Mama!" and there she is, showing off her tower. She loves using the phrase "I do, I do!" whenever she can - "Who's ready for a bath?" "Who wants milk?" "Who's hungry for dinner?" She enthusiastically replies: "I DO I DO!"

Somehow she's opening doors and turning light switches on and off - she's SO TALL! And boy is she proud that she can do all these things - if I'm in the kitchen, suddenly she'll be gone and I can hear the water running in the bathroom. She is also the best cuddler in the world, I do believe. She needs her cuddles in the morning and when she wakes up from her nap, along with lots of them throughout the day. She'll just settle down on your chest with her blankie and her thumb and rub your back or arm.

All in all, she's pretty awesome. I mean, for a naughty, always-testing-the-boundaries always of kid.

Christmas Recap

It was so wonderful to have Christmas on a Saturday this year! We celebrated both Saturday and Sunday.


Phew...lots of gifts!!


Jeremiah and Sarah seeing all the gifts (they weren't put out til Christmas Eve night)


Reading the story of Jesus' birth! J was so excited.


Unwrapping the first and best present - little baby Jesus.


After Jesus was in His place, we got to the stacks of gifts for the kids. Jeremiah loved his Hungry Hungry Hippos game!


Sarah loved her books.


My sweet little baby and I.


Shawn's favorite present - a home beer brewing kit. He was so happy!


Princess Sarah


After breakfast and a movie, we headed to the park to feed the ducks.


Family picture by the library...


And after we got home, Sarah went for a swim. In her clothes. On December 25th!


Jeremiah played with his trains...


After dinner, we sang happy birthday to Jesus and had cake. The cake was pretty sad looking.


The kids still loved it though!

On Sunday, Grandma and Grandpa G came over to celebrate with dinner and more presents! (They were at the AWESOME Cardinals game Christmas night!)


Jeremiah flipping out over the remote-controlled Corvette. He managed to disable it when he ran into a folding chair and the chair fell on top of the car. We'll fix it though!


Sarah loves her baby and stroller.


Playing with the car on the driveway...


Sarah cuddling with Grandpa.


Jeremiah also loved his iron man hand and chest things...(not sure what they're even called!)


Grandma getting some love from Sarah Bear.


J and his Grandma and Grandpa.

It was a great weekend - we had several meals as a family and shared a great meal on Sunday with Grandma and Grandpa. It was fun in the kitchen with my mom and Ronnie - my mom and I were peeling and cutting up potatoes for mashed potatoes and Ronnie making gravy. The food was fantastic and the company was even better. I'm so thankful for my family!

BUBBIE!

My favorite Mother in Law came to visit us this past week and the kids (as well as Shawn and I) couldn't have been happier!

We stayed very busy and let me just say...the kids (and us) were extremely spoiled.


We visited the train park in Scottsdale...


Cutest gingerbread man ever!

I don't know why she looks so weird. But it's funny!

Train sweater on the train!

He was so happy! He kept saying "choo choo" to himself and "all aboard!"


We visited Santa at Scooptacular!




Bubbie's like a little kid - she and J spent a lot of time at the park during Sarah's naps.


we also figured out that if you shook the trees, the leaves would fall. The kids looooooved this. Anyone notice this year how the trees actually seem to change color?!? Amazing.


We went to Westgate for dinner and hot chocolate...


and some photos in front of the giant tree...


Then a ride through the celebration of lights...


The kids were in absolute awe. They were so quiet!



Some post-light cuddles. What a great picture, huh???


Early Christmas present from Bubbie. She clearly hates it.


Sad goodbyes....




We miss you Bubbie!! Now we're getting ready for Christmas tomorrow - J and I are baking cookies and a cake (for Jesus' birthday) this afternoon and then Shawn and I are wrapping all the presents tonight. I CAN'T WAIT!

Merry Christmas from the Rolands!!

Here is our Christmas Card, designed by the amazing Heather at Copper Creek Design. I wasn't even on planning on doing a card this year, but she had a blog contest for a free design, so I entered...and won! Isn't it beautiful?

Now, the photos...those are from the incredible, wonderful, sweet, talented, etc, etc, etc photographer Andrea Whittle. She did our photos last year and while I loved them, these are AMAZING. I feel like she captured our family perfectly. I mean...just look at these:


Jeremiah has changed so much this year! He is still just as sweet and funny, and as Sarah grows up I realize how incredibly well-behaved he is! He really listens, he almost never does anything purposefully naughty, and loves to be praised. He doesn't like being the center of attention or being in front of people. He does like playing with his friends and now couldn't care less when I drop him off for childcare anywhere. He tells his own stories and makes up words ('stuck in your tooth' is his favorite, I know it's not a "word" but man does it crack him up!) He's learning his letters and numbers (I blame the TV) and really, really wants to go to school. He has so many questions about the world around him and I try my best to encourage his learning. I'm excited to see him enjoy Christmas this year and watch him grow this next year!


Sarah...oh...Sarah... Remember when I was pregnant with her, I called her Sweet Pea? Well, she's sweet, but she's certainly naughty. She doesn't come when I call her (actually she runs off!), will get into anything and everything, always eats sand when she's outside... But...she's amazing. She's funny and smart (she understands EVERYTHING!), she loves to talk and try new words. I can't believe at the beginning of this year she was a crawling, drooling baby. Now she's a rough and tough toddler (yes, rough and tough - anything Jeremiah does, she does!) She really loves me, but she's growing out of that. She hasn't cried the last few times she's been dropped off for Mops/church/babysitting. So that's a plus! I know she'll have fun on Christmas (they've been so spoiled by our families!), and I am looking forward to her turning 2 soon!


Merry Christmas!!

All our Love,

The Roland Family

Christmas Prep

This is the first year that Jeremiah is really, really excited for Christmas, which in turn makes Shawn and I really excited for it, too! Saturday morning Shawn helped some friends move, so the kids and I went to the farmers market downtown (for more on that, check out my other blog, here). After the market and coming home and unloading our purchases, we headed to Gardners World's Poinsettia Festival. We drove by it the day before, and saw they had a miniature ferris wheel, and ever since we were on the Fox 10 morning news and Jeremiah rode a ferris wheel, he's been obsessed. (You can see the video here.) And when I say obsessed, I mean obsessed with them - we talk about them almost every night before he goes to bed. So, when we saw it, I knew I had to take him.


On the ferris wheel ride that lasted for as long as you wanted! No joke. It cost $3/kid and I was free (and a little smooshed in there) and we rode for probably 5 minutes, until J said he was done. I'm not a fan of heights, or rides, but I managed to keep myself under control.


The bouncy house ($2 each! Jeez!!). It took Sarah 10 minutes to actually get in, and by that time Jeremiah was done, and had seen someone he really wanted to talk to!


Santa! He was great, actually talked to him (normally he's really shy with strangers.) Santa asked him what he wanted and he said he didn't know, but later at the car he decided he wanted to ask for a race car.

Our old camera got broken...somehow *coughIdroppeditcough*...so we bought a new one. It has a hilarious option on it. Fisheye!

it's incredibly flattering...


Jeremiah just laughs and laughs when he sees these.

Saturday evening, after a fantastic dinner of grilled chicken and sweet potatoes (and a visit from Grandma and Grandpa!), we headed out to our favorite tree spot.

Sarah liked this one...


Yep, Jeremiah's sitting on top of the van, 'helping' Shawn cut the ties on the tree.


A lesson on how to properly water the tree.


Jeremiah and I decorating - he did so great this year!


Cutie Sarah playing in a box that held our decorations..


The finished product and my little helpers.


Another photo without the flash.


Jeremiah helped me set up our nativity set today, but we didn't put baby Jesus out.


He's in here, and we'll open this very special gift on Christmas morning and place Him in His spot at that time.