Some "fun"ny things...

We have had a first recently. Even though all the kids have been to a wedding (most when they were only a few months old), they got to go and see a wedding and understand it this time. We got to celebrate with Alicia and Pete as they got married in March. The couple looked beautiful and we had fun enjoying the day with them.

Peter and Alicia

The couple was arriving in a horse drawn carriage so the kids had fun watching for them.

Pictures courtesy of Jackson

Taken by Lizzie

Here are some funny quotes I have been recording :).

• We sponsor a girl in Haiti and as we were preparing to write her letters we must have been talking about a babysitter and Hannah said, "The girl in Haiti can babysit us because she is 12!"
• Lizzie had a weekend where 2 of her friends were over one right after the other and I heard Lizzie say, "Sorry Alyssa, she's my other friend."
• Jackson had a friend over to play and dinner and in the midst of conversation his friend said "Oh My G_ _ and Jackson said, "You said a bad word!"
• Hannah likes to say, "That is horrible!"
• Hannah told me, "Can you please tell Lizzie to relax!!!"
• Jackson asked me if Uncle Tony (Alicia's dad) is nocturnal because he works at night.

Winter

I love winter, the snow, the cold, snuggling, everything, even shoveling. So I was disappointed to hear this winter would have below normal snow fall and pleasantly surprised to have several snow days and lots of snow around for several weeks. I do have to admit I loved the 70 degree day last week, but I am also glad it is only February and more snow is in the forecast for the next few weeks.

We have had a fun time playing and sledding in the snow the past month. We also built a snowman and igloo which was used as a fort to eat m & m's in that day.

Ice Storm caused our power to be out for 4 hours.

Snowman

M&M's igloo

Lizzie and her friend Bella sledding at Bella's house.

Kelly, ahhhhhh!

Joe and Lizzie also go to enjoy a night of daddy daughter fun at the "Daddy Daughter Dance" on Friday. I had left the camera at church so I will have to get the pictures from Joe's phone.

Some cute quotes:

Hannah told me that 4 year olds don't take naps so she only has to take them for a little bit longer.

Lizzie asked me to buy her deodorant because her arm pits stink and then proceeded to ask everyone to smell her underarm with her new deodorant.

Jackson was chosen to be a bully buster for his class at school which meant he got a cool shirt and performed in a little skit with the Ghostbusters theme music for bully busters. So the other night he wore his shirt for PJs, and then proceeded to hold Hannah against the corner because he was mad at her. I gently reminded him he had his bully buster shirt on and yet he was being a bully. Ahhh, kids!

Long Time...

Oh my!! I have not posted since September, wow!!

Well, we have been having a blast here! September was wonderful with school starting and I am enjoying my quiet afternoons with my "baby" wow!! It is so fun having just her with me while we do errands and go to city campus (anything to avoid a nap of course). I love when we drop Jackson off for afternoon kindergarten and suggest we go food shopping and she says that is great or "you've got it mom" as long as I don't mention the nap!! Jackson loves school and is doing well with his work. Lizzie is in 2nd grade and her BFF is still Alyssa. She is doing well and learning the difficult rule of slowing down while doing school work.

At the end of September, we made our way on the 18 hour trip, straight thru, to Disney!! It was a blast and the kids loved it. I really was prepared for the worst, a meltdown to beat all meltdowns, a fit in the car, something, but it never happened. It was a peaceful ride through the night and we arrived in good shape. It was a wonderful trip and we all had a good time meeting all of the characters and having fun as a family!

Halloween Party

Pirate, Buzz Lightyear

Hannah's Favorite Character

Jackson had a crush I think.

Notice who is the happiest!!

Dad :)

Awwww...

November and December flew by with Holidays and trips to NJ. Joe and I had fun celebrating our 11 year Anniversary! I love that the kids always refer to us getting married in different situations like: Hannah says, "Mom, did daddy get you those earrings when you got marry?" and "Daddy had hair when you got married, ha, ha!" It makes me smile for them to think about our life before them.

December was full of holiday parties at school, our daily nativity story from the ornament we got from Grandmom, rearranging the nativity scene every day before nap (again procrastinating before the nap), and a snow storm while in NJ Christmas Weekend.

Joe got a huge surprise, an iPad!!

We started 2011 with some sickness. Hannah was hit the hardest and seemed she had some ailment every other week. She always had some energy though. I am glad to have the kids back on schedule and then this week we had a delay that turned into a day off and who knows what the next few weeks hold with back to back snow expected. But I do love the SNOW!!

So...I will TRY TRY TRY to post more regularly in the future!! One of the many goals set before me.

JOE

This is a tribute to my wonderful husband, Joe!! I could not be the mom I am and the woman I am with out the support he gives and love he pours out. He is a great father and I am in love with him!! I could not do this life without him by my side!! (He feels slighted that it always seems I am a single mom in these posts and he is not mentioned...so there!)

Summer Ends...

We had a fun, hot, busy summer and excitedly began the fall and school this week. Lizzie started 2nd Grade this year on August 30th and Jackson started Kindergarten on September 2nd. Lizzie was sad, but is now glad to be back with her friends, even with her fresh stitches in her chin from Sunday night. She even saved a seat for her brother on Thursday for his first bus ride home from school. He looked so little next to the window, but had a good time on the short 2 minute ride. Here are some pictures from the first days.
Hannah was a little sad that first lonely afternoon with no big sis or big bro, but very quickly picked up on the positives of having me all to her self and being able to pick what she wanted to listen to, and read what she wanted to, and have whatever seat in the cart she wanted at the grocery store. I am really thankful for this special time with the two of us and can't wait!

We also have been helping Mom-mom and Pop-pop with renovations on the new house. We went down the other weekend to work and it was fun! It was neat to see each of us "adult" children take a task and complete it throughout the day. Joe pulled out the old master bath toilet, sink and cabinet and installed all new pieces. Brian tore out all the old carpet upstairs and pulled out every nail in the floor. Chris used a hammer and broke up all the flagstone in the entry way. Liz painted all the molding from brown to white. I worked on getting all of the nails out of all the molding and prepared it to paint. The kids enjoyed helping me and would occasionally come down to pull a few nails or dump out the ones already pulled.

Yesterday, the kids had off for Labor Day Weekend and I scheduled follow-up dentist appointments to have cavities filled, tooth pulled, and visit to pediatrician for stitches to be removed. Jackson did great with his cavity at 9:00. Thankfully Mrs. Carter met me to help as I took Lizzie to get her stitches out and then to go back to have her tooth pulled. It was a little stressful, but was fine in the end. She was tired though and we had a good time having a "family movie night" watching Camp Rock 2 on Friday.Saturday was relaxing, we decided to wash the work van and our car and it was a beautiful day!
Then we came in to cheer on the Irish who won!! Joe made ribs all day and enjoyed them with Lizzie at half time!!
Cute Quotes:
Jackson was still numb after he had his cavity filled and I asked if he was ok because he was being really quiet. He said, "I can't talk because my talk is all numb!"

Lizzie, the drama queen, after getting hurt and before her stitches said, "Why does this always happen to me?"

Horses

So for Lizzie's Birthday this year, we decided to give her 2 horseback riding lessons. She was asking about them for a while and the kid loves horses. She reminds me of myself at her age. I would dream about riding up and down 9th Avenue on my own beautiful horse and of buying the house next door to have enough space for my horse to live.

Anyway, Joe and I gave them to her this year and we finally were able to connect with someone we know who gives lessons. Jackson and Hannah came along to watch.

Waiting for the lesson at the barn.

The first lesson is an hour so that she can learn about caring for the horse and getting it ready to ride. Lizzie was very timid at first, since the only horse she had seen up close was a pony at Aunt Dori's school fair.

As she began her lesson, she got comfortable and had fun learning about the different brushes, cleaning the horses hooves, and putting on the saddle and bridle to prepare for the ride.

The horse's name was Chester, Chesie for short, and here he was talking to Lizzie as she was brushing him.

Jackson and Hannah were great sports and endured the hour well.

Looking for mischief I believe.

She was taught about moving up and down with the horse and had VERY tired legs the next day. Poor kid, her helmet was too big and kept falling over her eyes.

What a good brother!

All done and posing for shot.

It was all a fun time and we are being reminded to schedule another lesson soon.

Some fun extras:
Hannah has some new words that she likes to say in her very high pitched voice (I think my sister-in-law Liz said something about remembering when Hannah is talking that it is not an emergency every time!):

she likes to say "probably" a lot now, for example: Mommy: Hannah what do you want to eat for lunch? Hannah: Prob-a-bly...Peanut Butter and Jelly.

she also refers to the sandbox as "the sand in box" and says it fast so it all runs together.

Lizzie lost both her front teeth within one week of each other. The first came out the day of a sleepover and she insisted the the toothfairy would know she was at Alyssa's and would still come to collect the tooth...nice!

Jackson likes to write me notes and his latest is "i lof u" he is my sweet boy :).