Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone!

For all you blog followers who always tease me about not updating fast enough here are some "real time" updates. These pictures were all taken last night or today.

It was very different spending the holiday in Utah but we had a great Christmas. Keaton was such a doll and loved opening all his presents. On Christmas Eve we Skyped with my family and on Christmas Day we skyped with Darren's. We were able to see each other open our gifts. You've got to love technology. Skype is amazing. If anyone reading this post has friends or family that lives out of state I strongly recommend it.

Here is Keaton on Christmas Eve

wearing anElmo Christmas

outfit from Ur Oma.

Look at all the presents Santa

left under the tree.

Christmas morning is here!

Keaton looking down into the foyer excited

to see what Santa brought.

Yeah look at what I found in my stocking!

Keaton ripped every tiny piece of paper off each box.

How does this look mom?

Bad to the bone!

So I just squeeze these together to make music?

And the ultimate, awesome, amazing, huge,

totally cool, super slide from Santa!!!!!

One for the money

two for the show...

Three to get ready...

Four to go!

Come they told me, pa rum pum pum pum

A new born King to see, pa rum pum pum pum

Our finest gifts we bring, pa rum pum pum pum

To lay before the King, pa rum pum pum pum,

rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

Here are some pictures of Keaton with all

the presents he received this Christmas.

As you can see he was very blessed.

Thank you everyone

for all my wonderful gifts.

Love, Keaton

xoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Christmas Pictures

I can't rave enough about Highlite Photography. We found them when I was about 8 months pregnant and signed up for the Belles and Beaus package. Keaton had his first photo session when he was just one week old and for the first year he had his picture taken every three months. It's amazing how much he changed over the first year. Mindy, Mark and then entire Highlite team are beyond excellent. They are patient with Keaton and capture the most amazing expressions.

The Belles and Beaus package ended in June when Keaton turned 1. Since then we haven't had his picture taken. A few weeks ago I got an email about their snowy day package. It is literally outdoor pictures in the snow. I thought it was a great idea to take a family picture and loved the idea of having it outdoors in Utah. It was very cold this day but Keaton was a real trooper and as you can see below the Highlite team are true artists.

Christmas Cookies

Last weekend we made cutout cookies using Grandma Hilda's recipe.

If you know me you know that I am not the most domestic person. I can barely cook let alone bake cookies. I had to call my Mom, Oma, Nicole, Claudette and Jeanette to figure out how to make these cookies. I made the dough and then Darren did the rest. I took the video and pictures.

Keaton played with a small pile of dough. We rolled it out and gave him some cutters and let him go to crazy. As you can see in the pictures he was covered in flour.

The cookies taste exactly like Grandma Hilda's but they don't have the same consistency. They aren't fluffy enough. We may make another batch this weekend. I've heard that you need to add extra flour to accommodate the elevation. We'll see.

We put up our tree last week. I just love the smell of a real tree. Darren would get a fake one that is pre-lit in a heartbeat but I persuaded him to get a real one this year. The minute the tree went up Keaton was obsessed with it. Pulling on the branches and the ornaments. We didn't put many ornaments on. I didn't want any of my special/favorite ornaments to get ruined. So the tree looks bare and is almost naked on the bottom. So far we've only had one ornament break. Not to bad.

One last piece of news to share with you is that our little monkey has figured out how to climb out of his crib. During a nap Darren heard him stirring but thought he would play in the crib for a bit so he could finish dinner. By the time he got upstairs Keaton had emptied all of his drawers and made a huge mess. I really didn't want my 18-month old to move to a toddler bed. So far we are keeping him in the crib and trying to get to him before he climbs out.

Everyone knows that Darren and I have never sent Christmas cards. This year isn't an exception. Even though you won't be getting a card in your mailbox we wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Love,

The Lemieux's

18 Month Check-up

Keaton had is 18-month check-up today. He is getting to be a really big boy. He weighs 24 lbs and is 33" tall. He had to get 1 shot and took it like a trooper. A few tears but by the time we got him dressed he was smiling and happy. Dr. McMillan gave him a grape lollipop which he loved. It was the cutest thing when he was licking it. I wish I would have had the video camera.

I was looking on the Walt Disney World website the other day and he needs to be 35" to go on a few of the kiddy rides. I wonder what the chances are that he will have a growth spurt and grow 2" by March? Maybe we can get him some platform sandals. :)

He is turning into a little monkey. He's started to climb on the sofa and jump off the back. And climb on Darren's chair and slide off the arm rest. If you turn your back for even a second he's trying to climb on the kitchen table or island. He's even figured out how to climb onto the horse by himself. Thankfully he hasn't attempted to climb out of the crib but I'm sure it is just a matter of time.

Here are some pictures from tubby time. Tubby time with Mama is Keaton's favorite time -- at least that's what we sing every time we have a bath. He really loves the tub. He would take a both 4x a day if we let him.

Happy Thanksgiving

These pictures were taken from my phone so they aren't the best quality and I wasn't able to make them any larger. We had a nice and relaxing day.

Keaton has his 18 month check-up next week. I can't believe how old he is. It seems like just yesterday he was a little baby. Now he's running around like a mad man and trying to talk. He says Hi and Bye. I'll be sure to update the blog with his stats. I'm guessing he's up to 25 lbs but I was wrong last appointment so we'll see.

Love to all. Happy Thanksgiving!

Halloween Fun!

I realize these pictures are very delayed but I figure better late than never. I hope that you all had a wonderful halloween.

Keaton and Darren carved a

pumpkin together this year.

Keaton was our sweet little elephant this year.

He practiced making the elephant sound &

perfectedit just in time for Halloween.

So let me confirm - I ring the doorbell then I get candy?

Keaton really got into it.

All the neighbors thought he was so cute.

Get this costume off of me!!!!!

This is a big bowl of candy.

Happy Halloween

I know how much everyone loves these jib jab videos. I thought I would add Ur Oma into the fun. Enjoy!

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Yellowstone & Teton NP w/ Ur Oma

Here are some pictures from our weekend in Yellowstone National Park and Teton National Park with Ur Oma.

We had beautiful weather on Friday and Saturday. It was brisk but not cold. A perfect fall weekend.

It's a Lemieux family tradition to have our picture taken in front of the park sign.

Keaton enjoyed playing in the dirt. He was picking up sticks and stones then throwing them. He's all boy.

One of the coolest experiences of this trip was that Darren and I saw a wolf for the first time. We had to take a detour through Bozeman Montana to get to our hotel due to the fire in Yellowestone. We were in the northwest boundary of the park and a wolf started to cross the street. There was another car coming from the opposite direction. As the wolf started to cross Darren slammed on the brakes. The wolf actually jumped off the road. It was so cool.

I love this picture of Keaton. I took a few of him peeking over Darren's shoulder but this one really captures his personality.

Oma really wanted to see a moose. She traveled to Vermont a lot but never saw a moose (except for a dead one on the side of the road). Within the first twenty minutes of arriving at Teton National Park we saw a bull, cow and calf. We watched them for about five minutes until they disappeared into the woods.

Then we drove a little further down the road and saw a bear with her cub. The cub was so sweet. Keaton slept through both!

We had a great weekend. I think that Oma really enjoyed seeing the park too. She loved the geysers and all the wildlife. What wonderful memories we've made. Keaton might not remember this trip but we have the pictures to share with him when he gets older.