Saturday, November 26, 2011

11.24.2011 Thanksgiving

This years' Thanksgiving day was pretty different from other Thanksgivings. Both of my kids were under the weather-Eli had run a fever on Tuesday and Wednesday, and Leah was coughing a lot and had a very runny nose. Since our plans involved being around Edgar's grandfather (who is not in great health) a pregnant mommy (10 more weeks!) and a 10 week old (give or take a few days) we decided we should keep our germ infested kids home :) It was kind of sad to be home away from family on a holiday, but we made the best of it :) Edgar tried to teach Eli how to work his remote control car. Eli can make it go forward...then it crashes into the wall and Eli gets mad...so Edgar was trying to show him 'reverse'.
Leah just enjoys chasing it :) She gets so excited when daddy gets his car out.

This was our Thanksgiving feast :) Edgar went over to Krista's and picked up some food for us...so we weren't 'turkey-less'. In fact...we had PLENTY of food...for a couple of days :)

Eli and Leah nibbled on their food..they haven't been very hungry lately...

Edgar with his 'bounty' :)

After dinner we decided that we should set up the tree. We figured we should get as much enjoyment out of our Christmas decorations as possible :)

Eli could hardly stand still, he was so excited about the tree. He kept bringing us ornaments saying 'hereya go'. So cute.

I got new ornaments this year that don't break nearly as easily...which is probably a very good thing, because the kids are having a very hard time keeping their hands off :)

Although our Thanksgiving wasn't exactly what we had planned, we really had a nice day. It's been a very long time since we've all been home as a family with a required 'no work' day. We just hung out together, looked at the newspaper ads, watched the Lion's game, and enjoyed each other's company.

We really do have so much to be thankful for. I can't believe how richly God has blessed our lives. Each day He gives us countless gifts that, even though we sometimes miss, He keeps on giving us. If you would have told me 5 years ago, when Edgar and I were happily engaged, that our family would be this amazing and wonderful, I don't know that I would have believed it :) My husband is an incredible man. As time goes by I get to know him better and better, and I am so impressed by and proud of him. He's so smart, wise, kind, thoughtful, an incredible father...and he does the dishes every night after dinner. I am SO thankful for him :) My kids are a daily joy. I hardly remember life without them :) Every time Eli says 'I love you mommy', or Leah gives me slobbery kisses, I think about how thankful I am that God made my dreams come true.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

11.21.2011 Potty Training

We decided it was time to try potty training again. The first time we tried I was a dismal failure. I don't think I was ready to go for it. This time, however, we realized that if we didn't work on it over Thanksgiving break we wouldn't be able to do it until Spring...so we went for it. Eli has turned out to be a natural :) He caught on so quickly. It will be good to not have to buy diapers any more...

One thing, though...

Make sure that when you are potty training... ...you look cool...
...very very cool.
That's my boy. :)

11.18.2011 Thanksgiving Playdate

The other day we had some friends over to play. It was a 'Thanksgiving Playdate'...ya know...we had turkey sandwiches...we also did a little Thanksgiving craft and had pilgrim hat cookies, but I didn't take pictures of that... With all these cute kids, who has time to take pictures of cookies? :)
Eli always loves it when his buddy Kaeden comes to play.


This little guy was trying so hard to steal a kiss from Leah. It was adorable.

I'm not sure she knew what to think of it :)

'Please let me kiss you!'

Most of the kids at the table...So fun to see our table full of kiddos.

It was a very fun morning...and wonderful to hang out with some of my friends and talk. That's always so nice :)

11.14.2011 Playing with Isaac & Ethan

The other day Isaac & Ethan came over to play for the afternoon. Issac and Eli played out on the back porch most of the time.
I think they had a ton of fun.

I don't think Isaac stopped moving the whole time he was here :)

Leah got in on some of the fun too.

Gotta love all of those teeth! (5 new teeth in 2 weeks!)

Fighting over the toys...I'm sure I NEVER did that with my brothers and sisters.

Eli and Isaac always have so much fun hanging out together!

Ethan slept most of the time, so I didn't get any pictures of him :( He's getting so big! Next time I see him I'll have to be sure to snap some pictures of him :)

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

11.11.2011 Eli's Birthday Party

If you know Eli, you know he loves Lightning McQueen...so we had to celebrate his birthday by decorating with Lightning and Mater :)
Eli had a blast opening all of his presents.

I think Leah enjoyed it too :)

Eli got load of very fun toys...he hasn't stopped playing with them since his party :)

There was cake...

BLOW!

He didn't have a bite of his cupcake. He wanted to go play with his toys.


I got this sparkler...it was in the shape of a '3'...it didn't really burn the way I thought it would...

...but the kids seemed to like it :)

Everyone was exhausted at the end of the evening :)
Fun day. Fun party. Fun kids.

FUN

11.10.2011 My Big Boy!

Guess
Who's

Three!

Time flies...

10.29.2011 Fall Festival

The Saturday of our church's fall festival Eli woke up pulling his ear like crazy, so we ran to the doctor, and he did indeed have an ear infection. Then I ran 11 miles back home...horrible, long, hot run, but I got it over with. Then I spent the rest of the afternoon finishing up the kids' costumes. Leah was Pebbles...

Eli was Bam Bam. I tried to convince Edgar to dress up like Fred, but he wasn't up for it.

The kids had a lot of fun playing at all of the games that the church had set up.

My crazy boy :) (Doesn't look too uncomfortable for having an ear infection...)


This was Leah's favorite spot. She was SOAKED by the time she was done...but she was happy.

The ball pit.

Mommy and her girl.

Eli proud of his ducks...

Eli hanging out with his buddy Kaz. These two chased each other around for quite a while.

At the end of the event our church put on a 'Bluegrass Musical'...they did 'Fiddler on the Roof'...bluegrass style. Very entertaining.

Ryan was in it.

He's always hilarious.

Fun evening :)