Christmas 2011: The Woodlands

Still catching up on blog posts, but getting oh, so close! Time to begin the Christmas 2011 posts. Though it was a little over a month ago, we had fantastic Advent and Christmas seasons this year. But then, when are they not wonderful!?! Something about the time of year makes it so joyful, especially when seen through the eyes of children. And these little guys are just starting to get to that age where absolutely everything about Christmas is magical. And I suppose Mark and I have re-entered the phase of it being magical, just in a completely different way! And as a mother, celebrating the birth of a baby is always special...considering we get to ponder, reflect upon, and celebrate the birth of Christ is a true blessing of our faith.

Though it was supposed to be an Asmussen Christmas this year, we were tied to The Woodlands for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day because Mark was on-call. Luckily, my parents were still in town and my two youngest brothers came to see them so we certainly weren't alone. We had a fun Christmas Eve attending mass, eating yummy prime rib and opening gifts. The following morning (Christmas morning), we did our own little family Christmas at our house. So much fun! Shortly there after, my mom and brothers brought over breakfast (Dad had to leave on a trip). It was a very enjoyable, laid back, fun filled day with family.

Reagan helping Uncle Dave open his new pots and pans

Grant's first Christmas! (and like Mama, his half-birthday!) Best gift we received all year. And yes, he's hanging out in a bath tub chair! At this point his sitting unassisted wasn't quite up to par. ;)

Pinkie and Pa surprised the boys with their own kitchen! They love pretending to make food, do dishes, etc so this was a super gift for them.

Two chefs hard at work

They loved pretending like the phone was ringing and talking to whoever was on the other line.

Mark and Pat hanging out on the stairs and playing with the boys' remote controlled car.

Handsome Boy!

We went to an 8pm mass...this was afterwards...can you tell we're getting tired!?!

Christmas morning! Rudy trying out his new fishing pole from Dada.

Really, the fishing poles were a definite win. They came with little practice fish attached instead of hooks and they spent hours casting and reeling. (Kolbe is also modeling the chef hat and apron they got from Mama.)

More presents! A new bat to play t-ball!

When I was growing up, my little brothers got play shaving kits one year for Christmas. As I was racing through Target one day with just Grant, I reached down to tie my shoe and spotted play shaving kits on the bottom rack on clearance for $3 each. I couldn't resist. The boys love them and are too cute...already looking way too grown up!

Of course Dada had to help them lather up for their first "little boy shave." I'm pretty sure I'll have the camera going and a tear in my eye when it's the real deal some day! (which for Kolbe might be a year from now, the way he's going. Ha!)

TTT: Season 3, Episode 5

1. Things are changing again at the Asmussen Household. Again, you ask? Yes, again. No, I'm not pregnant. No, we're not moving. But a too-good-to-pass-up opportunity has presented itself to Mark. Another group of doctors have made him an offer that he can't refuse and so he's made the decision to jump ship and hop aboard a different vessel. While you've read my laments on here many times concerning his call schedule or noted my sarcasm over his job from time to time, the truth is I haven't been brutally honest about everything on here simply because I know it's not exactly good form, if you know what I mean. While this is my journal of motherhood, there are just some things that I do have to keep away from the world wide web! Anyhow, while we've known for a while that this gig in neurosurgery wasn't going to be his "forever job," we were surprised for something like this to fall in to his lap. Of course, we aren't foolish to think that the new job is going to be perfect; it just certainly seems to offer solutions to many of the major issues we're having. The biggest being that he won't be carrying a pager any more. Oh, and they're going to pay for our entire family's medical premiums. For those of you who know what we're dealing with now, you know that's huge! I'll keep you updated with the details as they progress, but for now, please just pray for the transitions we will be going through in the months to come. I'm so proud of my husband. I've always known he was awesome. Apparently the working world is starting to figure it out too. ;)

2. Do any of you have a love-hate relationship with the internet? I do. Bad. It's something that's been eating away at me a lot lately. I feel like I'm being convicted of it for some reason and with Lent right around the corner, I have a feeling I might just have to do something about it. What keeps coming to mind is just the attraction/addiction to it that I...heck, our whole generation has. Like I said, love-hate. Love it because it gives me so many opportunities that someone like my mother who stayed at home with her children, too, did not have. Love it because it gives me a chance to stay in touch with so many people. Love it because I can connect with other people in the same place in life as me. But hate it because I'm drawn to it constantly. Hate it because at times I'd rather peruse the most recent facebook updates than read a book with my boys. Hate it because it constantly has me aware of what others are doing and getting instead of focusing on my own world and all the wonderful blessings I have. Does this make sense? I'm not a big computer person. It's not like I sit here with the laptop out all day long. But I'd be lying if I said that my smart phone's battery wasn't near dead every single night. And it's a brand new phone. I catch myself using it constantly. And not to call someone! Anyway, just spilling a little bit of what's been eating at me lately. Like I said, I know it's a good thing and helps me quite a bit as a stay-at-home mother who is often confined to my tiny little world, but at the same time, I'm thinking there might be room for some adjustments.

3. Time for some randomness:
- Something super cool is going on this weekend here at our house. Can't tell now, but I'll have all the details next week.
- We've finally gotten some fairly regular rain around here lately. Everything is as green as April. Which, in the case of our yard, means the weed factory is at full speed production.
- Grant is officially a crawling machine. He's all over the place.
- Reagan was never much for the terrible twos. He's always been my sweet little guy. But something about turning three next week has "inspired" him. Yikes.
- I'm tired of doing laundry. It never ends. Just sayin'.
- Oh, and, don't even get me started on our new refrigerator. We're having issues. I dare not write just yet for fear that the slight mention might make it worse. But I have a feeling I'll have a good story for you next week.

We've had some beautiful weather here lately so we decided that it was time to take this guy to the park for his first official swing ride. He loved it! (though he did kick his legs the majority of the time, trying to jump. He's destined for the trampoline act in the circus!)

I'm a sucker for those blue eyes!

Fearless Kolbe! (as long as it's on the enclosed baby swing and not the big boy swing!)

Rudy "hanging" out with Pa! He's the hanging champ in the family.

My poor little Grant knows no other life than this. And doesn't seem to care. What?... Your games of Memory don't turn in to full blown wrestle mania at the end!?!

Remember that little fella I told you about last week? Here he is! Our newest nephew, William Mark. He's still in the NICU right now, though he's off the ventilator...heck, off of oxygen all together! (this is an older picture from earlier in the week) Thanks so much for your prayers!

The boys and I made a St. Valentine's Day wreath a few days ago with a pipe insulation tube, a bunch of old ribbon I had from way back when I was teaching, and some felt.  I think they're now officially obsessed with my glue gun.

TTT: Season 3, Episode 4

1. Yesterday we took Kolbe to his annual Shriner's appointment. It's a day each year that I both love and loathe. Love because it's so neat to see how far he's come. So special to meet other families who are going down roads we've already travelled. So wonderful to realize how much we've been blessed by their program. But tough in that Kolbe is really starting to realize that there's something different about him. This year was the first year where he actually expressed a disinterest in going to the appointment. He's always compliant, he just well aware that he's having to go to the doctor because he was born differently. He's starting to think that his "special smile" isn't so special. My heart already aches for the first time someone will make fun of him because of it. Something that we see as so beautiful and unique will be cause for poking fun by some mean-spirited kid. I realize that I can't protect him from this forever and that God will use those moments and incidents to shape his character and teach him compassion. But it's still not easy. In the beginning it was toughest on Mark and me as he really didn't know what was going on. Now he does. And thus begins the tough-on-all-of-us stage.

2. Last Friday my mom and I finally made our long-awaited trip down to Ikea. It's really only about a forty minute drive from our house, so I'm surprised we haven't gone sooner. It's always been discussed, just never carried out. Prior to our trip, my mom had never been to an Ikea before. Needless to say, she found it be just as overwhelming as I did during my first visit. It was nice to just have Grant with us so we could take all the time in the world to peruse the rooms and rooms full of furniture, storage supplies, kitchen accessories and more. Really, a $10,000 shopping spree would be plenty. We left with tired feet, parched lips, lists and lists of things-I'd-love-to-get (at least for me!), and a few odds and ends that we just couldn't leave without. It was a fun day with Mom! And hopefully next time we go back I'll actually be able to make some of the larger purchases I spied out on this visit.

3. I'm an aunt again! My sweet little nephew, William Mark was born early Tuesday morning to very unexpecting parents, Abby and Andy. Will was not due to be born until February 24th so he was officially a month early. And for no rhyme or reason. Abby went in to labor and it never stopped so Will joined our world and our very excited family. Though he was doing well to begin with, things unfortunately have been quite a struggle over the past few days. He was first place in the NICU  for precautionary measures but has since digressed to the point of being put on a ventilator to help him breathe, so all prayers will be greatly, greatly appreciated. I know his parents (and grandparents, and aunts and uncles, and...) will be so thankful! We trust in the Lord's providence for his care and have faith that he'll be rolling around with his big brother, John, in no time at all. God has been so good to our family. Baby Will is just another example of how beautiful and precious life truly is. Welcome to the world, little guy!



When Grant was born, he too was put in the NICU for breathing problems that the doctors referred to as "grunting". With his name being Grant, we naturally started calling him "grunt." Some how, that became Grundel...like Grindel from Beowulf. (Don't ask me..) It's certainly not his full-time nickname like how Reagan has "Rudy," but I couldn't pass up taking a pic when we passed a little door hanger at Ikea called "Grundtal." Everything there has weird, Sweedish names.

Trying to take him out of his car seat when we got home from Ikea...now that's shop till you drop right there!

Kolbe brought me these from the backyard a few days ago because "girls like to get flowers." True, son, but these would be known as weeds.

A few nights ago the boys wanted to set up their train tent. We put it in the front entry way since it's fairly big. Mark and I sat talking in the family room. Kolbe came and told me several times that Rudy was pretending it was a kitchen and was making a pumpking pie. Several minutes later he brought me a wet rag completely covered in some type of seasoning. We rushed to the tent to discover the sight seen above. That would be a can of pumpkin in the top corner, a food scale, a toy tea pot, a can opener, a jar of garlic pepper, and then a paper plate and a can of Rotel in the bottom corner. It's hard to see, but the contents from the garlic pepper are actually spilled on the floor between the can opener and the seasoning bottle. Good times.



We've been outside riding the trucks a lot lately and a few days ago Kolbe decided they "needed some work." He managed to shimmy under there and check things out.

We've got quite the mechanic on our hands! ...Now if only he could fix Dada's car too...

Grant: 7 months as of Tuesday
crawling (awkward, but still mobile nonetheless)
loves making raspberries, chewing on everything, observing his brothers, and mama, mama, and more mama
he's our biggest jumper ever. Mr. Bounce Legs.
2 blue eyes, 2 forehead skeeter bites, 2 chins, 0 teeth, and 0 neck
a growing interest in food beyond mama's milk...though still not sure about the textures
responds to Grant, Grantness, Grundy, Pugsley (yes, like Pugsley Addams), Pugs, Grant Squash (Kolbe made that up and thinks it's  an awesome name), oh and the aforementioned "Grundel." I don't know why we're so big on nicknames....but he still definitely goes by Grant! Ha!

TTT: Season 3, Episode 3

1. This past weekend Mark took the boys on their long promised fishing trip to the pond by my parents' house. Ever since they got their fishing poles for Christmas, they've been itching to go "real fishing" as opposed to simply casting and realin in the attached practice fish around the house. As I sent them off on Saturday morning I thought they'd either be back within an hour or gone for a long time. Lucky me, it was the later! Despite the fact that the first pond they went to had no fish to be found, they stuck with it and went to another pond and had much more success. My dad met up with them along the way and from all of the stories I've heard, they had a blast. What little boy doesn't love to fish!?! And all I've heard since then has been "Mama, when is Dada taking us fishing again?" Guess we'll have to make it a more frequent occurrence. And considering I got a lot of work, a fair amount of cleaning, and a tiny bit of rest in while they were gone, I know I certainly won't be complaining!

2. If you happened to look over my bucket list for 2012, you might have noticed that I aspire to make curtains for several rooms in our house by the end of the year. As of this week, I may have already cheated just a bit on that one. How could I help myself when Pottery Barn sent me an email on Monday saying everything on their site for that one day would ship for free? It just begged for me to at least check out what I could find on there. Especially since my house in my dreams looks similar to every picture from the pages of the Pottery Barn catalogs. Sure enough, the drapes I had previously pinned on pinterest were not only still there and available, but on sale as well. Like more-than-half-off sale. Really, I could make drapes at that level of quality for the price. After debating for a while, I ran up to our local Pottery Barn to see if they had a sample of the drapes available. (Thanks, Mom, for meeting me there so I didn't have to take all three boys in alone! I'm sure we would have walked out with a purchase of some sort of broken item had I attempted that feat.) We'll see how the drapes they look when the show up. And if I don't like them, I guess that's just a sign that I need to suck it up and actually make them! I'll keep you posted.

3. I'm pretty sure that Grant is teething. No festering blistered gums just yet. Only a randomly fussy, constantly waking, chewing on everything little guy. Why is it so easy to forget the tough aspects of raising little ones sometimes? I've been thinking back to when Kolbe and Reagan were teething and it made me realize that we pretty much went through a good year or more straight with teething in our house. It started around the time Kolbe was seven months old and since Reagan was born when Kolbe was just fifteen months, his started before Kolbe's was totally finished. We've had a nice solid break for a good year and in that time I managed to forget the woes that accompany the event. And I suppose I had also gotten spoiled by Grant sleeping so well at night. Now that he's up several times, wailing...and not due to hunger, and struggling to fall back to sleep, I'm one tired mama a lot of the time. I'm not a coffee drinker. Maybe I should abandon "drink more water" on my list and add "learn to enjoy coffee."

Two handsome brothers getting ready for their fishing trip!

They've got all their gear packed up...

After a successful day of fishing, every good fisherman needs his rest.

Mama and her big boys

Pinkie and Kolbe (outside of Pottery Barn)

Sitting up all on his own!

The Butterfly Conservatory

A while back I bought a groupon for a set of four tickets to visit the butterfly exhibit down at the Houston Museum of Natural Sciences. As the months passed, I realized it was going to expire if we didn't use it up before the end of the year. So a few days before Christmas, my mom and I decided to break down and take the boys in to the city for a fun day. Had we known how cool and fun the trip would be, I'm sure we would have gone much sooner! And I think my mom and I were every bit as fascinated as the boys. After the museum we rode the kids train around the park nearby, too. So fun, and great weather! I haven't seen that same groupon lately, but if it pops back up we'll definitely be doing it again!

Riding the giant caterpillar just inside the exhibit doors

Upon entering, you first go through a museum-style section where you get to look at displays of bugs, caterpillars, butterflies, etc. Very creepy crawly! There's also lots of hands on, interactive activities that I'm sure the boys will be more in to when they're a little bit older.

You then enter the actual butterfly conservatory at the top and work your way down. Rudy was very skeptical at the butterflies flying every where when we first entered!

Thinking we were really clever, we opted to take the stroller in with us instead of my baby carrier, thinking we'd be there for a while and it would be better to be able to set Grant down and help out the other two boys. Bad idea. We didn't realize the conservatory part is a massive circuit of stairs from top to bottom so no strollers are allowed in the entire exhibit. We had it park it in the supervised lobby and carry the chunk the whole way. No carrier. Note to self: always throw the carrier in the bottom of the stroller...just in case! Good thing he's such a happy baby and was just along for the ride as usual.

Pretty butterflies!

We had a contest going to see who would have a butterfly land on them first. And Pinkie won! I'm pretty sure they were attracted to the hairspray.

Even I was shocked at how well this picture came out! Love my boys!

Riding the train! (Grant was crashed by this point.)

So much fun!

And of course they had to check out the locomotive. A great end to such a fun day!

Thanksgiving 2011

Nothing says "January 16th" like a Thanksgiving 2011 post! Two months late is kind of pushing the better-late-than-never philosophy, but oh well! We had a fabulous Thanksgiving here in The Woodlands. Both of Mark's parents came down to visit for several days and we had lots of fun visiting, shopping, playing...and of course, eating! And the best part was that Mark was able to take a few days off and actually be a part of all of the festivities. That or the fact that Mark and his parents did almost all of the Thanksgiving Day cooking (I made the pies the night before!) giving this overly exhausted mama of three a much needed break and an awesome morning nap! Who hosts Thanksgiving and doesn't cook!?! One of these days I'll get my Martha Stewart on and really host a Thanksgiving. Until then, I'll just celebrate the wonderful one we had...almost two months ago.

Papa Jeep and Grant with Kolbe looking on

After perusing the Black Friday ads, we made a massive pile of rubbish and let the boys go to town. They loved it!

I love this face! The eyes!

G-ma and Kolbe getting in some cuddles

One night the weather was really nice so we went down to the waterway and had a blast! We ate at a yummy new taco shop, walked the riverwalk, rolled down the steep hill behind the convention center, watched the Christmas fountain display, and wandered through Hubbell and Hudson, a unique market store.

Such a fun night!

Rolling down the hill. Poor Grant was just in there for the picture. :)

Kolbs and Dada

Grant loves his G-ma!

Our little Thanksgiving baby!