Baby Jesus We Love You

Last week Brielle had her first all girl play date.  We have had friends over before, but this was a school friend that we picked up after school, had lunch with and played.  Just girls.  Well, when you are the little brother and you just want in on the fun, the following happens....

Brielle also had her 3rd trauma to her mouth in 6 months.  This time her tooth had to come out.  So she was the first one in our household to have the tooth fairy come for a visit.  Now all she wants for Christmas is a new front tooth!  

We finally got around to taking out the train this year.  Collin was beyond thrilled!  He has played with the choo choo train everyday since!

Steve got the urge to make cookies, so after a wonderful Christmas program performance, he and Brielle, aka the cookie maker, made some!  She loves to help dong most everything, especially baking.  

I have tried two times to upload a video of the Christmas program, but I have not had any luck.  I will keep trying, but I will also post it to Facebook, so check there.  

So You Want a New Post?

Tired of checking to see if the blog has been updated then let down to find out I haven't done a thing since September?  Yeah? Me too!

As you can imagine, a LOT has happened since September.  I can give you the short version of everything, but I assume that most of you just want to see the pictures of my little people.

September:

• The big 2 went to school.  Both, once they get there, love it.  Isaiah is breaking out of his shell a little more each day. He has even gotten in trouble for calling kids chickens. (not in a mean way, he was trying to be funny.)
• We went apple picking.  I asked the kids to stop for a picture, and they posed themselves just beautifully.  (see below)
• Steve's sister, Larissa, got married.  Steve and I traveled to NJ by ourselves!  The wedding was beautiful, but the trip was too short.
• Steve and Isaiah were invited to go to a Badger Football game and sit in a suite with some friends.

October:

• We raked a lot of leaves, and then threw them into the air only to rake them again.  
• I celebrated another Birthday....28 this year!
• Isaiah went on his first Kindergarten field trip, which I chaperoned.  I now remember that I dislike bus rides.
• We participated in our church's Trunk or Treat.  We had themed costumes and car of Cinderella.  Steve was Prince Charming, I was Fairy Godmother, Isaiah was Jaq (the mouse), Brielle, of course was Cinderella, and Collin was Gus Gus (the mouse).  
• We ended the month with a visit from NJ Grandma and Grandpa!

November:

• Of course we started the month off with a birthday!  Brielle turned 4!  She had a pink and purple butterfly party.  She invited 6 little girls to her party and it was a ton of fun.
• Brielle made a trip to the eye doctor and needed to use an eye patch for 2 hours a day.  She was only seeing 20/40 out of her right eye.  
• We traveled to MN for Thanksgiving.  It was fun to see all of the cousins playing and laughing together!

 

December:

• We kicked off the new month with our bi-annual Journey to Bethlehem.  It was a huge success!  It is really nice to have Steve back again, and back to normal!
• We watched a bunny, Thumper, for the weekend when he wasn't starring in Journey to Bethlehem!  The kids had a BLAST!  
• Brielle had another eye doctor appointment.  Using the eye patch has been working!  Her eye sight has improved to 30/20!!  She only has to wear the patch for an hour now.  We will go back again in 2 months to see how it is working.
• We are busy preparing for Christmas.  Our Christmas angel has returned this year, leaving new challenges for the kids each day.  They really enjoy the new ways she asks them to help serve others.
• I also realized that Collin can reach more of the counter than I thought!  He helped himself to cookies when no one was looking!

I will try to update this space a little more frequently from now on, but then again......it took me all day to write this.

Merry Christmas to you and yours.  

Oh Back to School

It's that time of the year again when the weather is beginning to cool off, apples are ripe, and school is back in session.  A few weeks ago I was waiting for this day to come, now it makes me a little sad.

We sent our biggest kiddo to Kindergarten this year......I know.....KINDERGARTEN!!!  We shopped for the right colored folders, crayons and nap mat.  The awesome backpack with a real propeller that spins.  We found new lunch supplies and practiced how to open it all.  We were ready.

Until that actual day when I was driving him to school, singing along to 'The First Day of School' by the Imagination Movers.  It got me.  I cried.  I cried walking to the school building and on my way into the school.  I somehow pulled myself together until the end of the day.  I cried, hard, when we picked him up.  I was just SO happy to see him, and it was only a half day!

I am happy to report that he LOVES school and the worst part of his day was coming home.  

Today, I had to drop off my little girl at her first day of school.  She, of course, was super ready and excited.  I actually thought that I was going to be just fine, but she just looked so grown up.  

She was only at school for an hour, but she had a very good time.  She was super excited to go back tomorrow, only to find out she has to wait another day.  

She is looking forward to having snack at school. 

The little man has asked when he gets to go to school.  I don't think that I would survive if I had to bring one more kiddo to school this week, so it's a good thing that he will be mine for this year!  

We are looking forward to a great year, which is off to a great start!

Caught up

Now I know 2 posts in one day, but after this, we are caught up!

Right after Collin's birthday we had two very special guests, Great Grandma and Uncle Carl.  What fun we had!

Isaiah was teaching Great Grandma all about his Leap Pad

We went to Little America Amusement park 2 times since it was so much fun!

 

our selfie

the train ride is the BEST

I think we may have scarred Collin for life! 

 

 

Guess not!

The rollercoaster was another favorite!  It was SO jerky!!!!!

Collin rode the fire trucks like a boss!!!  He rang the bell many times!

And they loved the cars!

We waited in line forever to go down the tiger slide.  It was pretty cool, but it was a long wait!

 

Then of course we had to celebrate Collin's birthday with Great Grandma and Uncle Carl.  My Mom also came since she wasn't able to come the week before.

Playing games with Great Grandma

 

Collin helped me make chocolate chip cookies to send with them as they drove home.

 

We miss them and wish that we could spend every day with them!!!!