Around the World with Jack & Annie

Before bed Eli reads a few chapters from a Magic Tree House book to Joel. They are currently on book #14. Joel's mom just told us about the Magic Tree House website where you can print off a passport. Then, after you answer three questions right about each book, you get an "official stamp" for your passport. They started last night with books 1-4, and Eli answered every question right.

Happy Birthday Jack!!!!

We had a lot of fun at your party on Saturday!

Happy Birthday Grace!!

We love you and miss you!

Happy Birthday Dad!

My whole family stayed at my parents' house on Saturday night to celebrate my Dad's birthday which is actually today. He played in a community charity basketball game on Saturday night, and he had the biggest cheering section (although the kids were more excited about climbing bleachers and running down the halls than watching Grandpa). Here he is scoring 2 of his 4 points. He didn't look too bad for being the 2nd oldest guy on the court. After the game, we had to have cake and ice cream (a good bedtime snack).

On a side note
* Joel's Dad spent a day with us over Christmas last year and commented on how much we eat. This time, even I was amazed. We got to my parents around noon. By midnight we had finished off almost 3 bags of chips, a little tub of cheese balls, 3/4 of the chocolate cake (I'm sure there were a few other snacks in there), and had two actual meals.

Sunday morning, the kids had fun on their sleds, and Joel and Grandpa helped them build a tunnel in the snow.

"I want to hang like spiderman"

Noah had his final gymnastics class last night. He was even more distracted than usual with Joel and Eli there watching.

silly clock

Eli has a digital clock in his room. He is done with rest time at 3:00. Today, he came bouncing up the stairs a few minutes before three.


Mom: "Eli, your clock didn't say 3 yet did it?"

Eli: "Well, I just pushed the time button and the button behind that and it said 2:57, 2:58, 2:59 and 3:00 really fast. It's a silly clock."

Their faces say it all!

I love finding new recipes to try out on my family. Unfortunately, they can't all be winners!

melting Kraft blue cheese crumbles in the oven = worst smell ever!!!

Vikings fans

Craig and Jen came over Sunday to watch the football game. Craig even had Vikings pants and socks on, and it still didn't help.

Can you believe...

that I've had my new camera (thanks Santa) for 3 days, and I haven't posted a picture yet??? I've been trying to take pictures of the boys, but they aren't being very cooperative. Plus, we've done nothing but sit around in pj's for the past week. Tomorrow could be a rude awakening!

Would you rather....

If you were having a wedding reception/dance, would you rather..... have 7 little crazy (tired, crabby and loud) 2nd cousins running around or 3 OLD cousins who perhaps have had too much to drink??? Luckily most people were gone by the time we decided to share our musical talents. Brent, Jen, and Joel decided to take kids home on Saturday, so Krista, Craig and I went to our cousin's wedding with our parents. We were trying to remeber the last time just the 5 of us went somewhere. One night must have been enough; Mom and Dad were not ready to take us with today as they were leaving for their trip to Mexico.

HAPPY 35th ANNIVERSARY!!!

Christmas #3

We went to my parents on Friday for our Christmas. The kids were SO EXCITED when they saw Santa out the window. It was a great day for playing in the snow!

snowball fight with Grandpa Steve

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Joel left for Iowa on the 13th. After a long week of lots of snow and being a single mom, the boys and I were supposed to head down on Friday the 19th. They ended up with freezing rain and snow in Iowa Thursday-Friday, so we only went as far as Krista and Brent's. With all of the snow here, we didn't end up leaving until Mon. morning. The kids played very well and Krista, Brent and I got in a solid 10 hours of CLUE playing over the weekend!!! We finally got to Ankeny around 5:30 Monday night. We had a little b-day celebration for Joel (check out his new Superman pj bottoms from the boys), and then went to play with Jake and Chase.

We didn't get to spent nearly enough time with the Kinney cousins since our trip was cut short, and they went to their other Grandparents' Tues-Wed. They got back just as we were heading to 4:00 church, and we had a great dinner after that! Oh and of course there were tons of presents involved!

Why do you suppose the boys have no problem on a 7 hour car trip, but they can't handle a 1 hour church service??????

gingerbread house

Eli's class made these. They turned out so cute!!

Preschool Program

Eli was a donkey for his preschool Christmas program today. He actually sang (most of the time) and did some actions. His teacher told me that when she moved him to the back and stopped looking at him, he started participating during practice . That's my Eli!!!!

I am not an artist!!

This was my attempt at making a cute Santa breakfast for the kids this morning. Ella said it was a monkey. I think she's right. Jack and Ella wouldn't touch them (don't worry Erin; they did eat plain pancakes). Eli ate whipped cream and m&m's for breakfast. Luckily I have Noah who ate his whole thing and all of the leftover strawberries.

10.1 inches

THANKS BROTHER!! I don't think this is what Craig signed up for when we moved here, but I sure do appreciate it!!!! Can you believe Joel missed out on the "storm of the century"? Good thing he bought his snowblower at least!

Seriously!

I think I remember saying something about never wanting a north facing house again... Technically I guess we are kind of NE. I made it through the thigh-high snow drift that used to be our driveway to get my paper. No paper. Check out how high the snow is on our neighbor's mailbox. Their house does face straight north. Here's our south-facing backyard. You can still see grass.

Note To Self

Do not take two and four year olds to Walmart to pick out their own presents....at least not at the same time and not on one of the coldest and busiest shopping days of the year. Luckily, the boys were really good!
Eli picked out two transformers... we need daddy's help. Noah picked out a Venom action figure (I guess Santa will have to take his back). He also picked out PART of a Diego railway. Yep, we'll have to spend $50 to get the rest of it. Pretty sure two year olds shouldn't be picking things out, but how do you say "no"??

early Christmas presents

The boys are having fun with the airplanes that Jack and Eli discovered in the back of the van the other day. Grandpa Jim gave each of the boys Christmas money today too. We're going to buy some toys this afternoon so they have something to do over the next few days while we're stranded in our house during a blizzard with -40 wind chills!!! (Yes, I am aware that it is +40 degrees in Ankeny!)

Happy Birthday Ben!

Wish we could be there! Thanks for the fun stuff Grandma!

Eli's short hand

This is the letter Eli wrote to Grandma Cathy tonight with his yellow IHOP crayon.

The first line: G (randma) I W(as) T(he) C(lass) L(eader)

2nd line: (using most of the letters from the first line) G(randma) I W(ant) T(ransformers) B(irthday) W(hen) I M F(ive)

underwear and life jackets

These are the outfits my children wore as we decorated the tree this year.

Dear Santa,

I would like a new camera!!! We met my parents in P.R. tonight for a little parade. I sure wish I would've gotten a picture of Noah's sad little face as he was walking back from not getting any of the first round of candy. Luckily, there was more right away. When the parade was done, we walked around for a little bit, and the boys got cookies from the bank and hardware store. Then we finished with the best hot chocolate, cider, and spiced wine drinks. Thanks Mom and Dad; we had fun.

Thanksgiving day at our house

We were missing Joel's family yesterday!! My family all gathered at our house for Thanksgiving. It's always a crazy day when the cousins get together, but they have a lot of fun! We had to take a little trip to the park after dessert!!!

Thanksgiving Feast

Joel and I were the parent helpers for Eli's preschool Thanksgiving feast today. His teacher asked me if he likes to do music and stuff. I guess they're working on things for the Christmas program, and Mr. part-shy, mostly stubborn isn't doing much. Will this be a repeat of the Bible School program where he held his hands in front of his face the whole time???
Thanks Uncle Craig for watching the crazy one! Eli thought that was pretty cool that we were both there!

choosing my battles

Noah has been wearing these same Spiderman undies for the past two days (over his diaper). Yesterday he wore his Spiderman shirt with the underwear, but he wouldn't keep any clothes on today.

Craft Day

Eli and I went with Jen and Katelynn to their church for the "Advent Fun Shop" today. The kids each did four "projects". Eli was VERY proud of his Hawkeye snowman!

sleepover

After a long week of work, Jen asked Craig to find them something fun to do on Friday night. His idea??? Pizza, beer and cards at our house. We put kids to bed and let the boys win two games of cards before we let them each win a game of Clue. I'm not sure sleeping at our house is what Jen had in mind, but I think she ended up having fun. The kids slept well, so that was a bonus!!

It looks like someone could've taken Noah's bed. He slept on his floor all night.

HAPPY FRIDAY

FASHION STATEMENT OF THE WEEK

Cute kids

I love, love, love, listening to kids "read". Ella- (reading a Bob the Builder book) "Can we build it?.... No, we can't".
Noah- (reading Green Eggs and Ham) "No (turn page), I don't like it (turn page), No..."
Katelynn was sticking pretty close to her Dora story line.

KLEPTO

This dinosaur "magically appeared" (that's his story, and he's sticking to it) at our house. It belongs to Eli's preschool. I spent a lot of time trying to get him to understand why it is not okay for it to be at our house. I must not be doing a very good job. He is now VERY scared of the police, but he's pretty sure that he's keeping the dinosaur.

12:03 am

I went in Eli's room to check on him as I always do before I go to bed. I stepped on something.


Eli: Mom??
Me: what honey?
Eli: (in a very sleepy voice) Does s-e-e-p spell sheep?
Me: No, its s-H-e-e-p.
Eli: Oh, okay. I'm going back to sleep now.

breakfast with my boy

What could be better than my daily bagel-ful and coffee (hot chocolate for the little one) date with my youngest????

girls vs. boys

This is probably the closest I will ever get to having a girl. And then there are the boys!!! Eli was at preschool or he'd probably be in the middle. Just kidding. He might be, but more than likely he'd be reading with Ella.


Mommy Ella did join in after a while. She is just so darn cute, and she can hold her own against these big boys (as long as they don't sit on her).