Emma's Birthday Week!

Emma turned 4 on Valentine's Day! We have had a week full of activities and still more to come! We started off our week on Monday by taking our best buddy Collin to the Louisville Cards basketball game at Daddy's Big Big Building (KFC Yum!Center). The kids were Wonderful. (It was the kind of night you pray for but usually doesn't come true!) Everyone was pretty good!

On Tuesday - the kids had thier Valentine's parties at school. They ate lots of candy and sugar -and then Zach and I took them out to dinner. It was Emma's choice - so we headed to "Chick-Palay" as Emma calls it! After dinner and some play time in the kids area we headed home for cake and presents.

We opened just a few presents - including a new suitcase to take on vacation this summer to Mexico for Aunt Carrie's wedding! (The gift we want to get her hasn't been on shelves since Christmas - darn Leapfrog Leappad - so the suit case will have to do for now!)

There is more birthday to come - tonight it's our daycare friends party at McDonald's and then Grandma Nesie, Papa Knute, Aunt Carrie and Uncle Josh arrive on Thursday to finish off the birthday week with a trip to see some tractors and, of course, more cake and presents!!!

Last but not least...

Finally - Christmas #3! Grandma Debi came to visit the week of Christmas. The kids had a great time with some craft projects, a basketball game and just hanging out.

Here's some pictures!

Making ornaments out of rice krispies!

Another trip to Daddy's "Big, Big Building" (as Chase calls it)to see the Cards play.

Christmas Eve we opened our special bags from Grandma Debi after church and then headed up to bed so Santa could come!

This is sad...I know - but my mom always makes coffee ring for breakfast when we're all together on vacations, holidays, etc. So since we weren't going to be able to be "home" for Christmas again this year - I decided to try to make us one. Let's just say that this is the better of the two we made. It's at least round (obviously the other was not!).

Not my best baking - but it tasted good!

The kids had a great Christmas with all thier grandparents! And now that Christmas is over - Emma has started asking/talking about her birthday everyday. (I'm re-thinking the fact that I told her a few months ago that her b-day was just after Christmas.) It's going to be the topic of discussion for the next few weeks I'm sure!

The week before Christmas...

The week before Christmas, Grandpa Randy and Grandma Donna came to visit! We didn't have too much planned other than hanging out and catching a little basketball - but Chase ended up adding a trip for he and Grandpa to see Dr. Joe for a little case of Strep throat. We had a great time - as always - and really missed them when the headed back home. We can't wait for them to visit again...soon...hear that Grandpa...Soon!

Here's a few photos of thier trip...

Emma cheesin it up at the UofL game...she's good for only about 1/2 a game and then she's over it!

This little man is good for the whole game and then some - he LOVES baseketball!

Emma and her scary monster face - I think she was getting bored!

Me and my babes!

Grandma Donna, Emma and Papa Randy

Sassy Little Cheerleader!

While they were here - we of course celebrated Christmas #2 for the year.

Now I can have coffee right away in the morning when we camp - Thank the Lord!!!

Chase in his Tonka box - he fit perfectly!

The kids each got a Dora and Diego backpack as well as a talking Dora and Diego - they run around the house exploring and saving baby animals on the weekends now!

Buzz jamies

Dora jamies

It was a great visit and we miss you guys - sorry we got everyone sick!!!

Christmas #3 to come - check back soon!!!

Christmas Play

Emma and Chase had thier Christmas Program at daycare a few weeks ago. It was Hilarious!!! Chase was a Christmas kitty and did a song with bells. Emma was an Angel and she was Wonderful (and LOUD!!). She and her friend Alley (next to her) were quite the show!
(My photos are awful and the video is not much better - but it's still cute!)

Christmas Card Time

So each year I try to get some good (I settle for just shots) shots of the kids and of us as a family for Christmas cards. Each year I'm getting to this later and later - but in case you didn't get a card (Sorry) - here's some of the photos from this years shoot!

And after the Christmas Card Shoot - we sent Chase over to wardrobe to change for another shoot!

When Chase was born, Grandma Debi brought down an outfit that used to be Zach's. It's been sitting in the closet and I kept meaning to put Chase in it and take a picture. I decided it was time since it was nearly too small!

So here it is - Blue polyester bellbottomish pants, polyester vest and a blue and white checkered shirt...Isn't he Cute! And Zach's dad said he went home and compared these pictures to one's of Zach when he was this age...they look JUST alike.

Thanksgiving - and Many Reasons to be Thankful!

My family came to visit for Thanksgiving this year - just like when we first moved to Louisville. It was really nice to have Everyone here for the holiday. While they were here - we celebrated Thanksgiving, Christmas and cousin Tyler's birthday. We packed a lot in to their trip - even a stop to the Yum!Center for a UofL game.

Here's some photos of just a few reasons we have to be thankful this year!

The Whole Fam!

How Cute is this Face!! - Happy Late Birthday Tyler!

"Here - let us help you with that Ty!"

Uncle Drew and Ty

The Happy Couple...they're giving me a reason to head to Mexico again this summer! And for that - I'm Most Thankful!

Santa made an early appearance on the deck...he went home with Grandma Nesie and Papa Knute - but on Christmas morning when we said Santa had visited us - Chase still ran to the sliding door to see if he was still on the deck!

Checking out the photos - Em got a new camera for Christmas - she LOVES it!

And mama loves that she's not carrying mine around anymore!

A big hit this year was our Pillow Pets from Aunt Carrie and Uncle Josh - everyone got a big and a little one!

I love this silly boy - and the big guy too!

What a crew!

As I said before - we have much to be thankful for this year and we've been Very blessed...note all those gifts. Spoiled and blessed!

Daddy and Em

And one last one of the boys drinking a "smoozie" as Chase calls them.

We're Thankful for All our Family who has been able to Visit us this Holiday Season! We miss you All Already!!!