Project days

I have been in reorganizing and redecorating the house mode.  One of the projects that I have been meaning to finish was Brielle's doll changing table.  We gave it to her for Christmas, but the box that I was going to put on the top shelf didn't fit, so instead of searching a million stores, I made 2 boxes out of wood.  I have to admit I am a little proud of myself.  I got the wood cut at Home Depot, glued and nailed them together.  Finished them off with some paint and even used the drill to make holes for the handles.  

Brielle recieved a game called Super Stretchy.  It is just like Twister only with Disney Characters. 

Collin LOVES to play.  He tries so hard!

If you look closely, there is a big arm under the pillows....Yup, that's Steve.  

And there's his face.

Collin asked to vacuum the other day. 

He asks us to take his picture all the time now.  So here is his Buzz Lightyear tower.

And then he asked me to take a picture of this...

We are just just enjoying life.  These 3 keep us entertained and busy!

Dates and More

Many things have happened in the 2 weeks since the last post.  We have all returned to a "normal" routine with little trouble.  Collin adjusted quite well to the quiet and peaceful house.  He has taken a big interest in Legos, mainly taking them apart, but also playing with them.  I have been very surprised that Isaiah is so OK with the broken pieces.

Isaiah had a dramatic couple of days that lead up to him losing his first tooth last week.

Steve was just looking at the tooth.

We actually had a weekend with nothing going on!!!!  What a rare surprise that has been!  Saturday we had a fun family day.  We went out for breakfast at the new Dunkin Donuts.  Then we took the kids to the Rainbow Play Systems showroom for an open play.  We even made a stop at the zoo on the way home.  We watched the movie Frozen and had popcorn in the afternoon.

Sunday was "date day".  Steve mentioned that he would like to take Brielle out on a date a few days earlier.  She was SO excited that she had planned her outfit and hair days in advance.  

He even bought her flowers!!!!

Since they were out on a date, I took the boys out for a date too.  When I asked them what they wanted to do, Collin said he just wanted to hold my hand.  

This week is a short school week.  Isaiah only has 3 days and Brielle only has 1.  Tomorrow we will be working on Valentines Day gifts, so watch your mailbox (in a couple of weeks)!!!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!  We have had a wonderful Christmas celebration this year.  Brielle became very sick with a high fever on Christmas Eve.  I tried to wake her up to go to church, but with no luck.  Finally, 2 1/2 hours later she woke up so we could make it to church.  She actually asked to leave the party later in the night because she wanted to go to bed!

The morning brought so much excitement and tears too.  All we wanted was one picture Christmas morning.  We tried many times!

The only way Collin would stand without crying was holding my hand.

Collin asked Santa for a doughnut and a football.  His morning was not a happy one until he found the doughnut that Santa brought!

Isaiah's Lego set from Santa

Brielle's new scooter from Santa

Putting the Legos together/

It's tough work!  Sometimes you just have to close one eye to get the job done!

It seems a bit weird I know, but we went to see Christmas lights after Christmas.  

They had milk jugs with Christmas lights in them.  Collin was thrilled looking at them!  I think he may have looked in each jug!

The kids even got to visit the North Pole!  Ok, not really but it's still cute!

Isaiah took this picture!

They had 3 trains!

After the lights, we stopped for dinner.  Isaiah said his tummy hurt while we were eating, and was convinced that he was going to throw up.  So we gave him a bucket for the ride home, just in case.  He ended up falling asleep with his head IN the bucket!

Isaiah had chosen his Birthday party theme about 6 months ago.  I was sort of hoping he would change his mind, because I had NO idea how I was going to pull of his cake.  Well, I had to figure it out because Tom and Jerry was his choice!  Here is the finished cake!

It took me most of the day to bake and decorate.

We had a bowling party, which was a hit!

He got a real bowling pin that everyone signed!

A holiday means a day off for Steve, and a day to get things done.  We re-painted the bathroom and bought Collin a new mattress.  He now is an official big boy!  We just have to get that potty training thing down.

Not the best picture, but my Mom and I took Collin's toddler quilt and made it onto a twin bed quilt.  We used every piece of the quilt!  

Something is just missing!  For the first time in 6 years we do not have a crib set up in our house.

Tomorrow brings great changes...it's back to school time!  I fear the morning will be a little crazy after so many jammy days.  It will be so quiet Collin and I won't know what to do with ourselves!

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.