It's Been a Super Year!

Now we have come to the end of 2012 and reflect on a super year- the Super Bowl, exciting trips to California and Canada, and the addition of our newest monkey. We are truly Blessed here in the barrel.

Christmas Celebrations

Merry Christmas from the barrel everyone! Our days have been filled with fun, family, and even some SNOW!

Elias had a nice holiday party at school in which he sang a few songs and made cookies for his family. He even made an ornament for our tree.

At the Flora Family Christmas, Emmett got to spend some time with Grammy and Gramps.

Four Generations, Three Richards,
Two Little Monkeys, and One Hard to Get Photo

Our Mexican Friends celebrating an American Christmas

Mama prepared a traditional German meal for Christmas Eve again this year with some sauerbraten.

Even Emmett joined us at the table

Christmas morning was filled with joy and wonder through the eyes of a 3 1/2 year old. Santa even brought him the Optimus Prime Transformer.

Emmett smurking for the camera

Mama got her Christmas wish of Elias finally potty training. All it took was him deciding that he wanted to do it himself! Who would have guessed?

We got a white Christmas here in Indiana. Much fun was had after the blizzard the day after Christmas.

Snow ball fight after the first dusting

Angels

After the blizzard there was much more snow...

So we played with our other friend Monkey

And made a Frosty!

Merry Christmas everyone 

from your favorite monkey family in the barrel!

Our Little Squishy...

Emmett is such a squishy little monkey. Here's some fabulous photos from our friend at Dreamy Newborn Photography when he was 1 week old.

"Why, to the North Pole of course..."

Where did we go last night? Well, to the North Pole of course. That is where the Polar express goes.

We got cookies and hot chocolate

And then arrived at the North Pole

We met Santa and of course Elias asked for a transformer...

Emmett's First Month and kicking off the Holiday Season

Life has been full of firsts for our littlest monkey. 

Robin in his first car ride coming home from
the hospital

First family bedtime story

First bath was shocking, but now he LOVES them!

We spend our days relaxing, eating, exercising, and playing with Elias..

"Emmett, here's what they do when you go to the
doctor..."

He is growing like a weed and current stats are:

Weight = 11 lbs, 9 oz (91st percentile)

Height = 21.5 inches (56th percentile)

Head circumference = 39 cm (74th percentile)

Meanwhile, Elias has done a pretty good job adjusting to life with his new brother. The first couple of weeks were challenging, but now he's all "grown up" (i.e. almost potty trained, almost able to go to sleep on his own, and finally trying new food!). Elias enjoys his new school and comes home spelling, writing, and singing. He is almost able to write his name by himself.

We are now headed into Christmas--Mama's favorite time of the year. We kicked it off with some Christmas parties and a visit from Santa to our neighborhood playgroup.

"So Santa, I want a red and blue Transformer..."

Flora boys and Santa