Christmas Morning

We had a very busy Christmas weekend and it was great to be able to spend it with so much of our family. We saw both families on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day...we were able to go to church Christmas morning and celebrate afterward with brunch and more family time. Such a fun time of year...but I am ready for New Year's to come!

Two excited kids early Christmas morning...chomping at the bit to see if they'd been naughty or nice this year.

A happy little girl with a tiny little mouse toy.

One of the few times we've seen Luke smile as he opens up a gift with clothes inside...oh the power of Phineas and Ferb!

The stocking is the best part of Christmas!

A pogo stick for Lukey!

An accident waiting to happen...Bapo and Tio swinging the kids in a sheet next to bricks and a fire..."but the kids wanted us too"

Opening gifts with Bapo, Mimi, Tio, Jenn and Jenn.

Elle got a dollhouse for Christmas from Bapo and Mimi...its pretty awesome! She needs a stool to reach the top floor!

A few quiet moments at the end of the busy day...Elle and her Playdo.

Christmas Eve at Sal's

The kids and gramma.

GG Sal and the great grandkids!

GG John reading Luke 2 Christmas Story to everyone.

Another award winning Yankee Swap gift for Bapo.


Connor definitely took the cake for opening the best swap gift...a lobster Santa Clause from Maine...Thank you Uncle David for continuing to make the swap what it is!

Goodbye Crib!

We have opened a whole new can of worms...in the freedom of choice at bedtime department! Luckily...she pretty much gets in and out of her bed a bunch of times just to go to her bookcase and eventually reads herself to sleep.

Several weeks ago we had to finally take Elle's crib apart and move her into a toddler bed because she was climbing out. Once she got her bed she didn't want to stay in her room...so we added this tree to the wall and made it more fun for her and now she is warming up to the idea better than before.

All in a day...

Its great to see that my love for costuming has been genetically transferred to Elle. She goes into the toy room as Elle and emerges as something different most days!

Animal Lovers!

So several weeks ago Bapo and I took the kids over to one of Bapo's friend's houses...and she has several animals! It was no surprise to me that both Luke and Elle loved every minute of chasing and feeding chickens in the mud, brushing and riding horses...and of course...shoveling poo out of the stalls! They loved the whole thing..we really should just be farm people...but it is me that is holding us back!

The Tooth Fairy Pays a Visit!

Luke and Elle showing off their missing front teeth!



Luke lost his first tooth back at the end of October...and last week he lost his 2nd tooth! So now all he wants for Christmas are his 2 front teeth. Actually, he could care less about getting the teeth...he thinks he's pretty cool right now just the way he is...and today, randomly on the way to school he says to me..."darn I wanted to try wearing hair gel today." I will have you know that that is just funny because he never ever wants to wear gel or have anything in his hair. So basically I'm blaming this on Kindergarten!

A Freaky Halloween!

The Farmer and The Count

One Cute Chick

What does a chicken say? Bop Bop Bop

Trunk or treat with Dado



Let me start by saying this was the strangest Halloween I have ever experienced! We had a noreaster dump 2 ft of snow last weekend...which ruined the Halloween festivities for the 31st because most of our state had no power. It was strange to say the least to have so much snow soooo soon! Not to mention my kids still put on their costumes and we made snowmen in front of the house...and dressed them up for Halloween. Anyway...we finally made it trick or treating on Nov. 4th!

Thanks Aunt Denise and Uncle Bear

Thanks so much for thinking of the kids! They were excited to get something special in the mail. Stickers and books are always a hit around here. And don't worry...Luke tells me constantly that we need to go to Uncle Bear's house...I think he must be talking to Rand...lol.

How did you know that Elle loves stickers? Here she is using them to express herself through body art...

The kids opened the card and saw the stickers and thought...its my lucky day! Elle had to make use of them right away.

Also a huge hit...the halloween book...they love the sounds! Luke has started reading a little bit and so he tries to read and Elle pushes all the buttons...whenever she feels necessary!

Mac's Apple Farm

We kicked off fall by heading to the apple orchard and the pumpkin patch! The kids really loved it. We then came home and made apple pie and homemade applesauce...which my kids would not eat...but it was the idea that counts...right?!

1st day of Kindergarten!

We just finished up our first week of Kindergarten and it rocked! Luke loves it...we only wish it were a full day instead of just 3 hours...but we'll take it! It was really funny on the second day of school the teacher helped Luke get in the car at pick up time...and of course he didn't want any help and was talking to her about various creatures...and she goes..."Wow Mom...you've got an advanced one here." I just chuckled to myself...hehe Ms.Nancy...you have no idea!

Michigan Trip 2011 = FUN

Millenium Park Splash pad,swimming beach, giant playground and sunshine = one glorious day for mothers and children!

A gorgeous night sailing on the lake. 30 years old and this was my first time out on a sail boat...very fun! Luke loved jumping into the water and getting pulled behind the boat...but he didn't understand why we didn't bring fishing poles...LOL!

Evening swim in Lake Michigan...basically it looks like the ocean...ginormous and there are some waves. Our cousin Dustin got to see the 5 kids in action first hand :)

We spent a lot of time at different playgrounds by Carrie's...soo fun! Above is a picture of the kids eating lunch in her backyard at their woodland kids table...it reminds me of gnomes and fairies...haha soooo cute!

One of the first nights we were there with Bapo we all went down to Lake Michigan for evening swimming and roasting hot dogs on the beach...it pretty much rocked! We definitely missed having Keith there...hopefully next time he will be able to come with us!
Swimming, sand castles, sand dune jumping...and let's not forget eating on the beach...YES life is good!

We went to the cute town of Rockford one morning and walked along a boardwalk, ate delicious custard on the dam and managed to sneak in some quick window shopping with the 5 hooligans :) It basically had to be window shopping because there was no way we were getting 5 kids into those tiny specialty shops...oh in my next life I will be visiting Rockford...you can count on it!

A day out at Grand Haven...another beautiful beach on lake Michigan.

The trip wouldn't have been complete without a stop at Fredrick Meijer Gardens and the Zoo. Thank you so much Carrie and John for helping us make this visit possible...we loved over staying our welcome for 2 weeks and we miss you guys already!