Keeping Busy

This past weekend, Matt had a "Fantasy Football" End-of-the-Season Party. Quite a few guys showed up to celebrate the past football season. We also had a few women and children in the house full of guys - thanks to Abi and Jen who kept me company. Abi and Brett also brought along their 2 girls (who are very close in age to our girls). It is always great to see them and let the kids play together. Looking forward to more "play dates" in the future!

Then today I decided it was time to get Jill's bangs out of her face. I ended up getting her hair chopped! It was very thin and I guess you have to keep it short in order for it to get thicker (length weighs it down). We will see if it works! Will take some getting used to, though. Enjoy!

Fun in the Snow!

The girls and I decided to go outside this afternoon so mommy could shovel the driveway before daddy got home from work. Jill wasn't so sure about the cold wet stuff at first, but by the time we pulled out the sled she was grinning from ear to ear! Lexi did great holding on to her on the sled while I followed them down the driveway. So glad the girls got boots for Christmas from Gra-Nola and Papa Gary! Thanks!

Christmas 2010

I know I am slow at posting this year. Time has just flown by! Christmas is over, the tree is down, and all the new toys have finally found a home. I think I am ready to get back into the groove of every day living (at least until the next holiday). Christmas Eve day was spent at Chris and Chuck's house. We did manage to get our traditional family picture taken in front of their fireplace. After dinner, we came home and let the girls open their gifts from us. They are so spoiled! Then we had to set out cookies, milk and carrots for Santa and his reindeer. Bright and early Christmas morning, Lexi bounded into our room and wanted to know if we had seen Santa. We said we hadn't seen him, but that he probably left the gifts and ran to get to all the other houses in time. We came downstairs to find that Santa had indeed come in the night! The girls loved their gifts from Santa. After lunch at home, we left for G.G. Eileen's house. We got there around 3 pm and opened yet more presents. After dinner at G.G.'s we finally made it to Grandpa Gary's house. The kids were tucked into bed and then the adults opened their gifts. That was a GREAT idea! Then, after church and lunch on Sunday we let the kids open their gifts. They all had so much fun and loved their gifts... thanks everyone! The next weekend (New Year's Day) we set out once again for Grandpa Gary's house for the Ginter Christmas. Good to see everyone there! Enjoy the pictures!!
Our Christmas

Saris Christmas

Thomas Christmas

Ginter Christmas

New Year's Day

Preparing for Christmas!

This month has been full of Christmas things to do! First, Lexi's class met one morning at Pat Catan's Craft Store for all the kids to make candy jars to sell at their Christmas Program. Lexi sat beside her best buddy Logan and they both made wonderful snowman and penguin candy jars (I ended up buying both of Lexi's jars). The following week, her whole Preschool performed a Christmas Program. I wasn't sure Lexi would take part - thought she would cry and not go up front - but she surprised the heck out of me and went up there with no tears and sang her little heart out! She knew EVERY SONG! Maybe the present sitting at home that I promised she could open if she didn't cry helped a tad?!?! So proud of my big girl. We even got a picture of Lexi with her teacher Miss Sharon. The next morning was the final day of Preschool for the year and they had a Birthday Party for Jesus - complete with 2 bouncy houses. Even Lexi's teacher got in one of the houses. She couldn't wait to wear the Christmas Tree shirt she had made at school.

With school being over for the year, we must have other things to look forward to... like grandma and Papa Gary coming! They came out so Matt and Bethany could both work on a Friday evening. I think they have a lot of fun when they visit - oh yeah, the kids do too! Last Saturday night (while grandma and Papa Gary were still here - Marc and Jen came over and Matt and I went out to eat with them. Thanks for babysitting again g'ma and Papa! When Marc and Jen showed up, they had 2 gift bags for the girls! Books and dress up clothes!!! They loved the gifts! Thanks so much! Anyway, last but not least was the preparing for Christmas weekend. We were in charge of taking a shrimp ring and Krazy Krunch to G.G.'s house this year for Christmas dinner. The girls - especially Lexi - had to help mommy cook in the kitchen. I think Lexi would rather eat than cook, but she was a great little helper. Jill still needs some practice! Enjoy all the pictures and Merry Christmas!

It's that time of year!

Yes... I made them do it! I made the girls go see Santa at the mall! Lexi was her usual emotional self and Jill wasn't too fond of sitting on the big guy's lap, either - so mommy got in on the picture, too! Enjoy!!!

Thanksgiving Weekend '10

Matt and I were fortunate enough to get a 4-day weekend out of this Thanksgiving! Usually one of us is due to work the Friday after, but we both got to stay home this year. As per our little tradition... we went down to Smithville on Thanksgiving Day to spend it with Matt's family. "Baby" Zach is growing soooo much! Lexi also got to open her birthday gifts from Matt's family. Then we put up our Christmas trees on Friday and headed out Saturday morning for Paulding county. Nola and Gary hosted this year and it was a full house! After lunch, Lexi opened even more birthday presents and later that evening all the girls (minus Jill) plus Papa Gary went to Van Wert to see Tangled! It was Kaitlyn's very 1st movie in the theater!!! They loved it! Anyway... enjoy the pictures!

Lexi is 4!

Last Saturday we had a birthday party for our big 4-year-old! She wanted to go with a Toy Story theme... wow! There are a lot of great ideas online right now for a Toy Story party. She had 10 friends/family members come and every child made a Buzz Lightyear rocket ship and a blue or green "egg" alien. We then moved downstairs and had a potato head contest (to see who could build the best-looking potato head) and then finished with pin-the-tail-on-Bullseye! Of course we had to have cupcakes and ice cream after the kids were done playing. All the kids had a great time and Lexi opened some great gifts. Thanks to everyone who came and we'll see what theme she comes up with for next year.