Cohen Christmas Pictures 2016!

Here are our Cohen's Christmas pictures from this year. I can't believe how big he is getting. You will notice that there is only one picture of Cohen looking at me. He refuses to look at the camera when I'm taking pictures. I will say, "Look at Mommy!" and Cohen will say, "Look at Mommy!!!!" and not look at the camera. He is a terrible little model, but I do love him so.

It's a Very Merry Train Christmas

Cohen is 100% obsessed with trains. Jeff introduced Cohen to the Polar Express movie on Thanksgiving and we have watched it every day since. Nothing else will do! I took Cohen to the NYC Transit Museum Store in Grand Central two weeks ago and our outing for last week was a trip to the New York Botanical Gardens Holiday Train Show. It was a long trip up there, but COHEN was in HEAVEN! It was absolutely beautiful and Cohen sat for a good 20 min and just watch one train go back and forth.

 

Our Christmas Tree 2016

When Cohen was born I decided to start buying Christmas ornaments when; we traveled, to mark significant events that occurred during the year, or to represent something that Cohen loves. I love adding a couple new ornaments each year and remembering the fun times we have had together. This year it occurred to me that I should be buying two ornaments instead of just one. One for me and Jeff and one for Cohen to keep when he moves away from home (and if he isn't sentimental and doesn't care, like Jeff believes he will be, we can just keep them...the more the merrier, right?). So, since I have come to this realization, I have been letting Cohen select his own ornaments. It's been very entertaining watching him pick out his ornament(s).

2016 Ornaments:

Grandpa Anderson: My dad made us 5 beautiful ornaments that he gave us when he came out to visit earlier this month. I love the ornaments that my dad makes. They are so special to me and I know I will treasure them for always.

Disney Cruise: In September Jeff, Cohen and I joined my family and Jeff's sister's family (Sharon, Ben and Atticus) on a Disney Cruise to the Caribbean. We had a fantastic time and I can't wait till we can cruise again...especially if we get to go with the same amazing people!

AMNH - American Museum of Natural History (NYC): When I lived in New York the first time I probably only visited AMNH 4 times and it was alway when someone came to visit. Well, we have been in the city for two months and Cohen and I have already gone twice. He's constantly talking about going to see the dinosaur bones. Last time we went he learned in a video that the dinosaurs died and he had a hard time coming to grips with that. I decided since dinosaur bones have become a favorite of Cohen's, I should buy him a dinosaur ornament from the museum shop. I picked mine out and was planning on buying the matching one for Cohen, but Cohen saw a different one and insisted on getting that one instead. He has been pulling it off the tree everyday this week and playing with it. He loves it!

Three Little Bells from the Murch's: The Sunday before we moved to New York, Brother Murch walked up to me and handed me two little wooden boxes (with three little bells inside). He also gave me a letter that told the story of It's a Wonderful Life and how every time a bell rings an angel gets its wings. They hopped every time we heard the bells ring we would remember our time spent in the Eatontown 2nd ward.

Move to New York City: One of the biggest events of our year was moving to NYC. We have been working on this move since June 2015,  so I thought it was important to get an ornament to document the event. Cohen has been obsessed with riding the subway. He asks everyday to go to the train station to ride the train. I have even taken him for a ride on the subway just to turn around and come straight back. This boy loves his trains. So, I took Cohen to the NYC Transit Museum store in Grand Central Station. They have a holiday train display up and Cohen sat and watch the Polar Express going around and around for over 30 minutes. We bought two little glass subway cars to go on our tree. Cohen insisted on getting the red train, he wouldn't hear of getting anything else. :)

Grandma and Grandpa Anderson come for a visit....Day 4 - Making Christmas Cookies and going to Rockefeller Center Tree

On Monday morning Cohen and Grandma Anderson finally made sugar cookies. Cohen loves making cookies. He is currently obsessed with mixing "flour," so he's always asking to make waffles and pancakes.

After making the cookies, we ran down to Rockefeller Center to see the tree. Grandma and Grandpa left later in the afternoon. We miss them so much!

Grandma and Grandpa Anderson come for a visit....Day 2 - Making Christmas Ornaments and Getting Our Tree!

On Day Two Grandma and Cohen made some Christmas ornaments for Cohen's very own Christmas Tree. They made snowmen out of clothespins, stars and trees out of popsicle sticks, and little snowman out of little lights. Cohen really liked painting, but got a little tired of it so Grandma and I had to finish.

I was excited to go get a Christmas Tree from one of the charming Christmas Tree stands in the City. We went to one near our house. We asked about the price of a nice tree and was told it was $220 - $250 (It needed to be measured for official price). Well, I couldn't bring myself for paying that much for a treat, so we all jumped in the car and drove 20 min to Home Depot and bought a $40 tree. :)

Grandma and Grandpa Anderson come for a visit....Day 1 - Central Park

On our way back from the Plaza we walked through Central Park. Grandpa Anderson was totally impressed that Cohen walked with him the whole way. It was such a beautiful day in the park and Cohen enjoyed jumping in all the mud puddles. You will notice the chocolate on Cohen's face. He had just complete a black and white cookie.

Grandma and Grandpa Anderson come for a visit....Day 1

Last weekend Grandma and Grandpa Anderson came for a little visit. The main purpose of the trip was for Grandma to make sugar cookies with Cohen. I love my parents and their willingness to spend so much time with me and my family. They are amazing grandparents to Cohen. He has no idea how truly lucky he is.

On their first day here Grandma and Cohen made a gingerbread train. Cohen totally got into it! He really enjoyed eating the candy and frosting.  Some of the train was made of fondant and when we weren't looking, Cohen would sneak and piece and eat it. It was really cute.

We then headed to the Plaza for lunch. We had pasta and grabbed some black and white cookies for the road. The Plaza is decorated so nicely for Christmas and they have some some totally delicious treats.