Friday, December 21, 2012

We have had a busy Advent season. Now that winter is here, we are having even more fun outside! 

Collin has had his first, of many, makeovers.  Brielle has decided that Collin looks good in a headband!  Since this picture, Collin has had his hair brushed many times. 


We have been lucky to squeeze in a little cuddle time with a really hairy Daddy.

 
 
Steve, Calie, and Collin were in our church's production of Journey to Bethlehem, where people came and walked through the streets of Bethlehem the night of the birth of Jesus.  We were Joseph, Mary and Jesus.  Though I think we confused Isaiah and Brielle, because whenever Isaiah heard my speaking part, "This is my son; his name is Jesus," he would ask, "Why do they keep saying that?  His name is Collin."  :-)  It truly was an awesome experience and VERY well done.  There were over 1200 people who attended the two nights.

 
We carried on the tradition of making a gingerbread house. This year we even gotten some of the candy on the house, in addition to what was all over the floor or shoved in their mouths.  Isaiah and Brielle each got to decorate one side of the roof.
 

 




And while the older two are keeping busy doing all sorts of festive Christmas things like making ornaments, baking cookies, wrapping presents and so on... Collin is busy growing up and getting older--5 months!  He's now rolling over and also started eating cereal.  We're pretty sure that he is the messiest cereal eater of the three so that should make things quite interesting in a couple of years.  We can only hope it is temporary as the two other ones are anything but neat when eating!




This past week brought us our first heavy snowstorm of the winter... just about 18 inches!  After several hours of shoveling, we also had plenty of time to build a snow fort and have some snowball fights.  Isaiah LOVES being outside in the snow; he will stay out there forever, no matter how rosy and chapped his cheeks get.  Brielle loves the idea of being outside more than actually being outside.  She never lasts too long though as she is quick to get "super chilly" and asks to go "back inside."



Live action shot.  Look out!


Of course one of Daddy's and the kid's favorites is pulling out the traditional Santa train.  We almost forgot to take it out this year but luckily the train tracks and cars are now strewn throughout the living room now.  Isaiah and Brielle love watching it go and singing along with the music it plays.  Even Collin has enjoyed watching the train go around.


 
And of course we have been blessed over the last couple weeks with many presents showing up from all over the country.  Our kids are so fortunate to have family and friends that care and send all sorts of fun things.  It has been surprising that the kids have pretty much left all the presents under the tree untouched.  Though that is probably because they have kept themselves more-than-entertained with the big box Great Grandma from NJ sent her gifts in.  This has been the source of hours of fun; we told her that she should save money next year and only send the box!

So just how many Vera children fit into this box???



We're thinking maybe next year, we'll just package the two of them up and send them to different places to celebrate Christmas with the rest of the family in other states.  Don't think they'll mind one bit!

All 3 of our little munchkins!


What more could we even think to ask for this Christmas?  We are so blessed and thankful for these 3 kiddos in our lives... without question the greatest three gifts we've been given.  The excitement, fun, laughs (and headaches) never end with these goofballs.  Hope you all have a very blessed holiday season celebrating with those that mean the most to you.  Merry Christmas!!!

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Collin's video debut

Collin is a Vikings fan!  My Dad would be so proud!  He is watching the Vikings game and cheering them on!  Check it out!


This weekend Collin is also making his theatrical debut, starring as baby Jesus in Journey to Bethlehem at our church.  I will try to get a picture tonight to post.  Hopefully I can do it before Christmas! 

Other than keeping busy, all has been well here.  Except last night that is!  We had the text book definition of a rough night!  Steve was throwing up, Isaiah had bad dreams, Brielle was coughing, and Collin had gas.  So, I was one busy lady doing everything except sleeping!  Turns out Brielle was throwing up too, we just didn't know it, so she quietly slept in it.  I discovered this fact as we were about 10 mins away from walking out the door to go to church.  I had everyone else ready, as I was waiting until the last second before I had to wake her up.  Needless to say we didn't make it to church today. 

We have started our Christmas baking, and now all Brielle wants to do is bake cookies.  She gets really mad when I tell her not today!

We are looking forward to Christmas and all of the celebrations that go with it.

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

November Happenings

So, we are well into November and this post is way past due!  We have been SO busy here it is nice to have a moment to update everyone on what has kept us so busy.  Since the last post we celebrated my birthday, Brielle's birthday, Trunk or Treat, and Halloween.

My birthday was especially nice this year since it fell on Steve's day off.  We went out for breakfast, went to the zoo, had nap time, and rounded out the day with a quick dinner.




Isaiah loves to take pictures
 
We participated in our 2nd annual Trunk or Treat at our church this year.  I love Halloween, so I always try to come up with a theme for our trunk that matches our costumes.  This year it was Sesame Street.
Super Grover, Elmo, Oscar the Grouch, Big Bird, and Cookie Monster



 
 
We also went to a pumpkin patch to pick our own pumpkins.  Brielle would make her choice, then change her mind.  She would have walked all over the patch until she found the perfect pumpkin.  She settled on one finally.
Waiting to get our wristbands

Wagon ride to the patch

Searching.....

Found one!

Brielle found one

and another..


and another!

Bouncing on the huge pillow trampoline

 


The week of Halloween found our house extremely sick.  Both Isaiah and Brielle had 103 temps.  We spent most of the week watching Halloween movies and shows and of course the Imagination Movers (a TV show).  They were feeling a little better, so we let them go to a few houses for trick or treating.   
 
 
Ready to go trick or treating

 
Collin's first Halloween

 

He passed out while I passed out candy
 
 
The Friday after Halloween brought Brielle's 2nd birthday.  She knew it was her birthday and that she was turning 2.  Just ask and she will tell you, along with show you two with her fingers! 
 
Brielle and her cake

The Cake

"sota" (as in Minnesota) Grandma and Brielle

The food....We had banana splits, monkey bread, monkey poop (choc covered raisins), banana bread muffins and monkey munch.

and jungle juice to drink

Banana split toppings

the boys in the bounce house

pile on Daddy

blowing out the candles

With Daddy's help


Brielle and her future husband

Combing Daddy's hair with her brush from her new vanity set.
 
 
That was the end of our celebrations, but in the middle of all of that, Steve has been working on refinishing the cupboards.  He has sanded, stained and varnished each one.  They look beautiful.  Last Friday he and Pastor Charlie put in most of our new counter top.  Steve finished the weekend off by putting in our new sink and faucet.  Here are some before and after shots.
 

Old Sink

old counter top

old counter top
 
Where the sink was

Old counter top is gone

This is a collection on peanut shells and mouse poop. 
We have never had whole peanuts in our house.  GROSS! 

Closer view

More mouse poop

Finished! No more gap!

Finished

New sink

 Mostly done

close up of counter top

And then there is this........This is the breakfast bar (part of it).  It has been cemented to the 2x4 so it is almost impossible to get off.  Hopefully it will be done soon, but it requires a lot of work.
 
 
We love our new kitchen.  We will add a back splash, possibly under cabinet lighting and eventually flooring but we need to plant another money tree before we do that!
 
 
And now you are up to date on our happenings. 
 
Oh yeah, somehow during all of this Collin turned 4 months old!!!