Christmas !!!!

Our Christmas started by attending the 10:30 pm candlelight service at church. The kids had a late evening nap so the late service was peaceful. After church the kids were off to bed. Pete & I got to work at helped Santa by putting gifts under the tree, then we were off to bed ...


This Christmas we woke up at our house on Christmas morning, in the past we had been at my in-laws in Michigan. Noah ,our early bird , was the first to get up at 7, which is sleeping in to him!!. It took a bit of pushing to get him to go down stairs. He really wanted to watch cartoons in mommy & daddy's room. When we finally made it down, it was pure excitement!!! The paper was flying, the smiles were BIG!! The most used phrase was, " Santa really listened!!" YAY Santa!!

We were very blessed to have Pete's parents & grandma to visit for the afternoon & evening. Once again there were presents galore!! too many to many to list & each very appreciated. We ate & ate & enjoyed watching the kids play with their presents!! It sounds corny, but the best part was having them here. Pete works retail, so there are very few relaxing days in the weeks before Christmas. This Christmas was peaceful & relaxing!!!! Merry Christmas to ALL!!!

Christmas early

Today was really special for the kids. The kids received their Christmas gifts from Aunt Judy & Uncle Garrett. We were expecting Lauren's My Twinn doll to be delivered today but it was an extra surprise for Noah's gift to come as well!!! Needless to say that the kids love their presents!!!

Tank you Aunt Judy & Uncle Garrett, I will post more pics later!!

Yes, Lauren is still afraid of Santa Claus

We made our trip to the far away mall on Thursday to visit Santa. The kids have been really excited about Christmas this year. Noah loves reindeer ( Rudolph ) he already cheers for the underdog! Last year Santa had a visible earring & it was a bit disturbing, but for some reason I thought we would try this location again. When we got there Santa was out for a cookie break & we had to wait an hour til it was over. ( i think the elves were behind this long break)
Noah kept up the momentum of getting to meet the big guy. Noah had rehearsed his list of " Batcave & the other guys,because he already has the Batmobile " speech. The look on Noah's face was of complete joy & awe when we finally turned the corner to see HIM!! Noah actually seemed a bit star struck. Noah immediately hopped on Santa's lap & started a conversation. Lauren turned the corner & her face told a completely different story. She was scared !!! She stayed several feet away from Santa. She stared, but mostly to give Santa the " back off" look. It was comical. So Santa if you are reading my Blog, Lauren really wants dolls for Christmas. Oh by the way Santa, she really didn't mean it when she said " you're scary & leave me alone!"

Thanks Aunt Jenny

Noah & Laurens awesome, Aunt Jenny gave Lauren a few of her toys from her childhood this past week. The swing, walker, Moses basket & feeding chair were all hers & with the help of the Internet Noah & I were able to assemble them correctly!! Thank you Aunt Jenny!!!

WE ALL WANT TO BE BIG ROCKSTARS?!!!!

Potatoes!!

Noah has started a bad habit of playing with his food. Today was no different when we had lunch at Kmart's eatery. Noah was squeezing his french fries when he excitedly said " Someone put mashed potatoes in my french fries!!!!" Peter & I were laughing so hard!! I had a friend in high school that was completely amazed that french fries that were made from potatoes, she thought they were bread. ( Lindsey :)!! )

gold, frankincense and myrrh?..... Not from Noah

We had a great trip to Michigan for cousin Dylan's birthday party. I am pretty sure that the kids were still on a birthday party "high" on the way to church this morning.


Noah & I had a discussion about Christmas & Christ's birthday on the way there. Thinking that I was explaining things well for my 41/2 year old, until Noah said " What should we get Jesus for his birthday?...(pause).. you know what Ive been thinking... TOYS!!!"


I am pretty sure that he didn't hear a word that I said....

Blue or Pink

Mommy play with me ( hopscotch) , ok, blue or pink?, pink, no! it matches me, mommy play with me, ok, blue or pink?, pink, no it matches me..... this conversation happened 3 more times!!!

TUTU FUN

My friend Mary has introduced me to the book Crafty Mamas. ( Thanks Mary)We made no sew fleece hats a few weeks ago & more recently we made tutus for our girls. These were so fun & simple to make.

MY TWINN

Faith, Hope & Trust & a little bit of Pixie Dust

Noah & Sami with Nana

Noah & Wendy

Sami & Wendy

Naoh & Peter Pan

Noah, Sami & Tiger Lily

On Friday night I was able to take Noah & Sami to see the community theater production of Peter Pan. It was an 8 o'clock show, ( the kids bedtime). So there were naps all around during the day. We were geared up & were ready to go at 7, picked up Sami & away we went. We had will call tickets & no idea where our seats would be. I was pleasantly surprised that we had front row center seats!! That meant that there no grown ups blocking the kids views!!!! YAY!!!

The kids had snacks galore & special glow lights that they waved when Tinkerbell drank Hook's poison to save her!!! Noah thought that Tinkerbell was just so tiny that they could only see her green light. ( I am not ready to dash his belief system) The kids were troopers, they clapped & laughed, booed Hook, & cheered for Peter. The best part was at curtain call when Peter came out & flew right over our heads dropping pixie dust!!! If only I could have captured that in a picture.

After the play, there was a meet & greet, Noah received more Pixie dust from Peter & was smitten with Wendy!! Sami adored Tiger Lily!!!

I hope that there are more kids plays in our future!!!

NANANANANA

Right now through the baby monitor I hear " Barack Omama, Barack Omama, I will save you president" " The joker will not get you" *** laughing*** " Batman saves the day!"
I wonder if they need any 4 year old secret service agents?

Who is your President?

Noah & Lauren are really excited about the electon. Thanks in part to the Peanuts special on tv last week & all of the discussion at home.
During the primaries, Noah & I watched a PBS documentary about Barack Obama. When it came time to vote my little guy was all prepared to let his voice be heard. When we walked into our polling station, Noah yelled to everyone there that he was voting for Barack OMAMA!!! Needless to say he received several laughs!! Since then the candidates have been Barack OMAMA & Johnmccain ( one word).
This morning Pete, the kids & I were all watching cartoons in bed, when Lauren started going through, " Noah's the brother, I am the sister, Peter's the daddy, Lisa's the mommy" spill.
A commercial came on for John Mccain, which put us into a politcal discussion, well it put Noah into a political discussion, he told Pete that he needed to vote today & promptly gave him his choices, OMAMA or Johnmccain...... Lauren chimes in " silly billy, daddy cant vote for OMAMA, he's a boy, he has to vote for ODADDY "

Link to the person who tagged you.-Post the rules on your blog.-Write Six Random Things about yourself.-Tag six-or-so other people at the bottom of the post.-Leave comments on their blogs, letting them know they've been tagged!-Let the person who tagged you know when you've written the post.

Michelle

1. I like pickle & peanut butter sandwiches
2. I wish I finished college
3. I always thought that my favorite boys name was Travis, until I was pregnant with a son...
4. I think Adam Sandler is hilarous
5. I dont have an ipod

There is just too much Halloween for only one day

Our October has been pretty fantastic so far. I love Halloween & all the imagination that goes along with it. Pete, the kids & I have had an absolute blast celebrating our first fall in Ohio. Here are some of our adventures.

We have found our way through corn mazes, decorated pumpkins galore, read not so scary Halloween books, drank a few gallons of cider, ate yummy donuts, watched the silly Count Wackula perform magic & partied with some preschool friends. We can't wait to see what the rest of October has in store for us!!

Hay slide at the pumpkin farm

The Ries family four decorating at Michaels ( we reccomend the knack Saturdays!)

decorating halloween pails

everyone on your brooms!!!

digging for candy in the bone yard

Count Wackula & little Wack

Awe so cute, but read the price tag on this pumpkin!!

which way do we go??

the road less traveled is easier to do so with a friend

Our dollar tree decorating ( look in the windows!!!)

Noah & Lauren with their ghostest friends

Noah's new fave

At the pumpkin farm

Our preschool friends

GUNS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As we were waiting in the pick up line at preschool there was a car that pulled ino the lot & parked. A man with a white tshirt & black pants proceeded to get out of the car & walk towards the doors that the kids go in & out of. Peter & I noticed that his man had a GUN on him. The black was so vivid against the white shirt. I second guessed myself & then panicked. The kids line up on the inside hallway when its time to go home.... my 4 yer old son is in there..... We are several cars back in the line, I tell Peter I am going in to get Noah, he tries to keep me calm... its not happening, just a minute goes by as every horrible thing runs through mind, then the man reappears with 2 kids & they all get in his car, I quickly look for the plate on the car, thinking that this is something horrible, waiting for any moment for the police to arrive, sirens, something...
Ms. Erin, Noah's teacher brings out the first kids for pickup while I am getting all of my visuals burned into memory.... We move up one car & I get out to ask what just happened... The man is an off duty police officer that comes directly from work to pick up his children, he doesnt stop at home to leave his weapon & since he has it, it has to be on him...., She assures me that if any person that they didnt recognize eneterd the building the kids would put back into the classroom. I am quickly relieved, but still scared & very angry... How can this happen???
When we first started going to church Noah pointed out the very prominenet decals on the doors, those very same doors mentioned above, the decals have an image of a handgun & with the big circle with the slash over it... How sad that this is at church..... but I completelyget it.. I just dont get today. Why would this officer ever think that it is ok for him to enter the building with his gun & not be in a uniform, why would the school allow this to happen, why was I the only parent who even said anything about this????
My son is now in his bed sleeping, as safe as I can keep him

bedtime prayer

Tonight Noah wanted to say his own prayer before bed after he , Lauren & I had said our family prayer. It went like this

Dear God, thank you for letting Jesus love me & Lauren, thank you for Dylan, RJ, Sami, Ian, baby Jonathan, big Aaron, baby Aaron and all of our new friends and the Michigan friends, like Ella, but she lives in Colorado now.......( Long pause).....
Before mommy makes me go to bed, thank you for making all of my friends special, Jesus really does love everyone .. Amen

Preschool

Today was Noah's first day of Preschool. Last night he got a new pair of pjs as a present to start his school year. I took a ton of pictures. I dont know why I snapped so many pictures of last night, I think I expected him to be 6 foot tall & to have grown a beard overnight.How can my little baby boy be starting school already? After a couple of night time books & some very extra special prayers for my BIG guy, I tucked him in extra tight.....

There was no beard or growth spurt through the night, he is still the same little 4 year old guy whoLAUGHS at everything, HUGS & KISSES babies, picks at his sister, KNOWS that Jesus is in his heart & has never met a stranger . He woke up ready to go this morning!!!!

we made it through the morning & then we were on our way......

He said he is ready to go back tomorrow... just dont know if Im ready yet.....