...5 and counting!

The kids are going to outnumber the adults very soon! This Christmas was a bit different because a little surprise was born. Owen John Schol was born on Christmas Eve morning. Tim & Natalie now have three kids under the age of 3!!

I think I can...I think I can...

Goal this week??!!

To go from looking like a home featured on Hoarders to a home worthy of some company!!

(P.S. This is TOTALLY not my house, however, mine is getting close!)

Christmas Day Tradition!!

Snowfall, wine and a hot tub are essential to our newest Christmas tradition. Christmas morning we spend time at home, with the boys, just the four of us. We eat pizza and then pack the car full of swim suits, towels, robes, and movies (this year it was Dispicable Me and the original Batman episodes from 1949!)...and trek over to Nonny and Babop's house for some hot tubbin'. It is so relaxing and we all actually enjoy it!!

Did I mention that the adults and Matthew are all members of the Polar Bear Club?? Ethan was initiated this year!! In order to be a member, you have to get out of the hot tub and make a snow angel. He did it without ONE COMPLAINT!! He did it so fast I didn't even take his picture the first time!! So...now we are all members! :)

P.S. This year I learned (I'm using that term loosely!) how to play Hearts! Do you want a good laugh...sit next to me during a game!

Christmas Morning - Part 1

This post will be quick. My point and shoot camera was acting up, so most of my Christmas pictures are on my other camera. These are the only few I had, but I wanted you all to see the unadulterated joy on Matthew's face!!

More to come...Stay tuned!!

Christmas 2010

Our Christmas Eves have always been kind of the same my whole life. As kids, we would go to church for the school program and then open presents at my Grandma and Grandpa's house. It was filled with aunts, uncles, cousins and lots of laughs and presents.

As an adult, my kids get to perform in the church program. Now, we open presents at my parent's house. It's still filled with lots of presents and lots of laughs, but it's a different feeling watching your own kids experience the magic of Christmas.

This is the only picture I got of all 4 of us the entire weekend!!

Fresh Alaskan Crab Legs from Uncle James!! YUM!! Matthew loved to eat them...and he loved to play with them even more!

Ethan helped my dad open a Christmas present. It was probably the best part of my night. I added some 'fake snow' to the package to make it more interesting. (Ok. Just to make my mom cringe when it fell on the floor. Sorry, Mom!) Ethan looked right at my dad after it all spilled out and said, "Dat was NOT a pwesent." He was so irritated with the mess!!

So...another Christmas Eve is over. The boys had a wonderful night, opened lots of wonderful gifts, ate a delicious dinner, and had a FABULOUS time! Thank you Mom and Dad for all you do to make the day so special. Thank you Blue Nanny, Old Papa, and Grandma! We are all so thankful for you!

*P.S. Mom -- I did take some pictures of you, but I knew you wouldn't like them so I didn't post them. Don't be mad! :)

Hard To Get

Ethan loves Sam. Ethan really loves Sam. He once told me he thinks she's pretty and he loves her curly hair. He loves her so much he won't even talk to her anymore. It's like pulling teeth to get him to sit by her. After a few threats, we managed to get him fairly close to her.

He wasn't too thrilled about all this picture taking!!
Sam moved in a bit closer...

...and then, BAM! She got him!!

Yep. That will be the last time that happens. I don't think he'll ever sit next to her again! Tell me he's not playing hard to get!! :)

Party With PreK!

Ethan had his preschool party last Thursday and I got to go!! It was a HOOT to see him with his friends and in his classroom. He's really loving his teachers and his school! I love how he comes home after school and shares his stories about Jesus. I love how I catch him singing songs about Jesus, letters and other random things he's learned in school. I love how excited he was to see me walk into his party!! This made my day!!

When Ethan opened his gift, he did a couple fist pumps and said, "Yes! Yes! Yes!" He was so excited to get Matchbox cars. Ya gotta love that!
Even better, you can't tell by the smile on his face that he had quite an allergic reaction to something while we were at the party! He didn't even eat his cake!! This kid's joy never stops...no matter what!

They Grew Up...

It happened and I didn't realize it until it was over.

They grew up without my permission.

Matthew was 2 months old when he had his first picture taken on Santa's lap. He's never once cried on Santa's lap. He's always been very polite and happy to tell him his long list. Ethan on the other hand has cried since his first visit! 3 times on Santa's lap and 3 times on the Easter Bunny's lap and he's screamed, kicked and cried.

This year, not one tear. In fact it was completely different.

Ethan wouldn't stop talking. He talked and talked and talked. Matthew waited patiently, just watching his brother. Ethan gave Santa 100 different things he wanted and Matthew gave just one.

I'm sad. I realized as I walked away that this year was probably the last year they will both believe in Santa. Next year may be a whole new experience for both boys...and me!

I'm not sure I'm ready for that!!

Dicken's In Dundee - 2010

Every winter, Dundee turns into a Christmas wonderland. Friday nights I'm usually crazy taking pictures of Santa and all the local kids. Saturday is our day to kick back and enjoy the weekend. The boys LOVE hanging out at my parent's building and watching the parade. They know they get hot chocolate, free popcorn and lots of candy!! Add some snow and for two little boys, Dundee is MAGICAL!

Deep Covered Baker - Review

I will admit. My excitement over this item convinced me to host a party, just so I could get my hands on this baby! What convinced me??! I heard that the Deep Covered Baker makes a rotisserie chicken in 30 minutes...IN YOUR MICROWAVE! I was sold.

So...Here is what I started with. NASTY.

This is what I saw when I opened the door. Nasty.

This is what I saw when I took off the lid. Nasty.

Let's just say the verdict is still out. I couldn't eat the chicken because it didn't look like what I was used to. I won't use it for chicken EVER again, but...I'm going to try a chocolate cake next. Hopefully I can find some recipes so I can get some mileage out of this stone.

Yes...

I feel as crazy as he looks.

I'm having a bad day.

Good thing I have some good things to come home to!!

Teacher Gifts

Finished.

I have to admit, I loved how this turned out.

Our boys are blessed to go to a Lutheran elementary school, so the real meaning of Christmas is taught all year long. This year, the teachers got cookbooks and notes from the boys, wrapped all pretty, with homemade dried orange ornaments. The boys wrote notes that said, "Thank you for teaching me about the 'main ingredient' of Christmas." (How clever was that?!)

Santa's Message to Ethan

Click the link below to watch a video from Santa to Ethan!!

Portable North Pole

Santa's Message to Matthew

Click the link below if you'd like to see Matthew's message from Santa. This website has AMAZING videos for kids who still believe!!

Portable North Pole

White Stuff...

We finally got some white stuff. It seems we went from 60 degree fall days to a freeze and lots of snow overnight. I'm not sure I'm ready for this stuff again. I know the boys are...they've been outside for almost 3 hours!! I may have to lure them inside with some hot chocolate before they turn in to icicles.

Say what?! You think I look like Cousin Eddie?!

Date with Laughter

For my parent's anniversary Tim, Natalie, Bryan and I got them tickets to see a comedian, Larry Reeb. My parents, Bryan and I saw him almost 9 years ago when I was pregnant with Matthew. We always said we'd go back to see him.

He didn't disappoint. He was hysterical.

My Turkeys

There are days when these two drive me completely INSANE.

There are days when these two make me laugh HYSTERICALLY.

There are days when these two make me CRY.

There are days when these two make me feel like I am the LUCKIEST mom around.

There are days I NEVER want them to GROW UP.

There are days I wished they'd GROW UP FAST.

There are days when I don't think I could LOVE them more.

Every day I remember how lucky I am.

Every day I know I am blessed.

Every day I thank God for my two little turkeys!

Today was that day when I was irritated with them, laughed hysterically at them, and loved on them...all because when I tried to take Thanksgiving pictures of them, they chose to make themselves look like they had turkey necks. Ahhh. What goofy kids!

Like I said, I love 'em!

My Popcorn Turkey

I'm not original, but I can copy pretty darn good. This little turkey was for the kid's Thanksgiving table. The body was filled with the 'white meat,' also known as white popcorn. The legs were 'dark meat,' of course, which was cheese popcorn. I didn't use a paper grocery bag for the body, only because I knew three little boys couldn't possibly consume that much popcorn. If you'd like directions, you can find them here.

This turkey was a HIT...and the leftovers were great during the movie after dinner!

Disclaimer: I don't have countless hours of the day to devote to fun ideas. But...when a person chooses to do something fun over cleaning, the possibilities are endless. P.S. After Thanksgiving I chose cleaning instead of shopping...so there!

Thankful.

I am thankful for a wonderful family. From grandparents, to parents and inlaws, husband and kids…I am blessed. This Thanksgiving was spent eating delicious food, around a very pretty table and sharing lots of laughs with *most* of the wonderful people in my life.

Happy Thanksgiving!

My mom's cute centerpieceThis was my turkey. My mom's turkey was already carved by time we showed up! I think my Dad was craving some potatoes!The 'big' kids gathered around the popcorn turkey! It was a hit!!