Sweet Moments

Today was filled with gymnastics, and preschool, and lots of cuddles at home.  Semi busy, semi slow.  Those are generally how days go as a stay at home mom.  However, in the midst of the "normalcy" my kids said some pretty cute things that I want to remember.

Kinlee and I stopped by Wal Mart for some baby wipes this morning, and she was jabbering in the cart.  I told her that she was perfect, and she busted out in song singing "I'm not perfect, I'm a pretty pretty girl, but I'm not perfect".  Seriously? How cute can she be??

Caleb has innocently referred to his Dusty the Plane toy all evening as the "Crap Duster" (aka CROP Duster).  It's too cute to correct...don't judge me.

He also told me he loved me, and then said "Mom, I am never going to stop telling you that I love you".  Melt my heart.  I love his sweet little soul.

So, today may have not been super exciting, or even blog worthy really, but those sayings, are ones that I want to remember forever.

Meeting the Big Man

My kids have been super excited about Christmas this year.  They are really at such a fun age for all the Christmas magic. They are enjoying their Elf, Leonardo, and look for him first thing every morning.  They have enjoyed learning about the real reason for the season, and celebrating Jesus, and Santa is very exciting to them this year. We have already sent their Christmas list to the North Pole via Leonardo.

Mckinlee asked for

1. Mermaid
2. Princess/Dora
3. Buzz Lightyear

Caleb asked for

1. Avengers
2. Games

They are all about acting out Santa's sleigh, and talking about the naughty/nice list.  This past weekend we attended the second annual Claus for a Cause put on by our friends.  I thought for sure Santa would be a hit, but they were both timid at first.  Caleb told me that he would let me know when he was ready to talk to him, and Mckinlee held on to me tight for the first hour we were there.  Finally we told Mckinlee that if she sat on his lap she could have a cupcake.  She ran up to him, sat on his lap, smiled, and then asked for cake.  If you ask her about it she will say, "I sat on Santa's legs, smiled, said cheese for a picture, then I got a piece of cake".

The bribery didn't quite work with Caleb.  He was fine standing beside him, but didn't want to sit on his lap, and he did not want a picture.  He did however, tell him that he wanted "all the toys that he sees on TV".  Thankfully Santa told him that he could not bring all the toys, and that he needed to pick one.  Caleb picked Avengers (thank God).

So Santa wasn't a complete success this year, but it beats their feelings about him from last year.

Santa pics from the past

2009 

2010

2011

2012

Snow

A winter storm has come to our area, and the kids were bursting at the seams to play in the snow.  It didn't arrive until almost dark yesterday, so we promised them a snow filled day today.  As soon as they awoke they were basically begging me to play in the snow.  Nick participated in a Arctic Run 5K today, so once we arrived home we ventured out.

Let me just side note that getting two toddlers, and myself dressed while 29 weeks pregnant was a workout.  Layers, pulling, tucking, me trying to squeeze into my snow clothes.  I was sweating and having Braxton Hicks once I was finished.  Thank God I made them go potty before we started, because I think I literally would have cried if one of them would have had to go once they were dressed.

We began our snow adventure by building a snowman.  He ended up being a snowman laying on the ground, because the snow was not great packing snow, and because a certain 2 year old kept patting down our middle layer.  Caleb had brought a carrot to place for his nose, but we got distracted throwing snowballs and forgot.

Next up the kids went sledding.  They each used their own sled this year, and enjoyed racing each other.  Nick taught them to lay backward to make them go faster, so  that was a hit.  Bella was also joining in the fun, and at this point she and I were both cold.  I took her inside to give her a warm bath, and Nick continued to play with the kids.  It wasn't long before they came in, and my living area was covered in snow clothes (I really need a mudroom).

It is currently 6 and they are all asleep.  I am sure they are going to wake up soon and be up all night, but I have some fun Christmas activities planned and a few Christmas movies recorded.  They are predicting more snow and ice tomorrow, so chances are we will be stuck at home...which means a late bedtime will not matter.

Fall Finale

I keep telling myself that these "make up" posts will soon become a thing of the past. After each one I write, I vow to "keep up" with the blog....but then life happens...weeks pass, and I have a buffet of moments to catch up on.  So, we will call this one the Fall Finale...even though it is winter....it's all good.  Better late than never right?

Lets see topic number 1.....Our Leaf Pile.

Hubby built a large leaf pile as promised.  We don't go small in this house. He pulls out the leaf blower, goes deep in the the woods, and makes a huge pile for us to enjoy.  To say the kids loved it would be an understatement.  I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

Topic number 2.....Caleb's Thanksgiving Performance

Caleb had his preschool Thanksgiving performance and lunch this past week. He was a little less shy than last year when it came to performing. He did all his hand motions but did not sing.  He was still adorable.  Lucky for us, we were able to hear his songs at home, and let me tell you, watching him sing about the plump turkey, and singing out Jesus Loves Me with motions, melted my heart.  I just love that boy.  I asked him where he wanted us to sit of the performance, and he said "in the chairs you sat in when I was three,  you know, when I didn't sing" :).  There is a little girl in his class that is a PERFORMER.  She was breaking it down. Caleb sits next to her at lunch every school day, and she sings all throughout lunch.  I asked him if she did that every day, and he said in a very man voice..."I don't even care anymore..." HAHA.  The lunch was a good time, and Caleb had fun playing with his friends.  He had a fall at the end that scared me to death, but after a few tears he was fine.  

We picked up his thanksgiving art, and the teachers had him fill out leaves stating what he was thankful for...his answers 

• Landon
• family and friends
• iron man mask
• house and car

The only family shot we got......I need to work on making pictures a priority. 

Topic 3 Nick's Fall

Yesterday, took a turn towards horror around 3:30.  My father in law received a call that Nick had fallen from a ladder, and was not able to move.  I immediately jumped up, threw on a sweatshirt, and boots with no socks, and left with my father in law for the er.  Once we got there we had to wait about 15 minutes until we could get back to see Nick...so frustrating.  Once we arrived in the room, he was moving, out of the neck brace the EMT's had placed on him, and trying to get his coveralls off. He kept saying "I hurt", and the left side of his face as covered in blood.  I helped him get his wet clothes off, and the doctor had an x-ray and a ct scan done on him.  Thank God both came back clear.  In fact, he fell 16 ft off a ladder, landed on the ladder, dented the ladder with his knee, and somehow walked away with only 7 stitches in his face, a slight concussion, and some bruising/scrapes.  I still don't think I have processed how bad it could have ended up,  but I am so thankful that God kept him safe.  He has been sore today, and has been taking it easy at home.

He fell from the roof line.....

So so thankful he is safe

Topic 4...Random

Mckinlee has a thing for blue eyed boys, with curly brown hair.. ...She told me that she "needed to see Hudson so she could kiss and hug him, because he's my boyfriend"....SHES TWO.

I passed my glucose test, and Mr. Paxton is doing great.  We are currently 27 weeks along, he is moving all the time, and my belly is starting to grow.  So far I have gained 11 lbs.  

This is the most recent belly pic I have. This was taken at 25 weeks. 

The kids and I partnered with another family to donate a Thanksgiving dinner for our church food drive.  I wanted to teach the children the importance of giving and being thankful, so I took them both to the grocery....this never happens.  They both wanted to wear super hero costumes, so I told them that our super power was "fighting hunger", and that we were going to buy food for the people who didn't have food.  They were totally into participating until 1/2 way through the trip, then they decided they no longer wanted to push their cart.  I placed all their items in my cart, and then they decided they were hungry and tired.  I ended up pushing an extremely full cart of groceries, along with 60 lbs worth of children.....That is a moment a stay at home mom should get paid for! 

 I think that about catches us up for now.  Stay tuned for what is sure to be another catch up post :).

Dive, Trick, School Pics

This past month has been filled with lots of fun fall activities.  The only thing left on the fall to do list is, jump in a pile of leaves.  We are waiting for the leaves to dry up, and then Nick promised me a huge pile for the kids to enjoy.

Nick's birthday was this month and he was gifted the ultimate birthday present, sky diving. His dad joined him to make the experience all the more memorable.

On the ground saying our goodbyes.  

Watching the plane take off

We made the most of Halloween this year despite the horrible weather.  2nd year in a row for horrible trick or treat weather.  Our area had a 100 % chance of rain and 30-50 mph winds predicted and they did not reschedule......UGH! So, instead of dealing with the rain we met some friends at the mall for dinner and trick or treated there.  The stores were giving out candy, and to say it was clustered would be an understatement. We trick or treated half of the top floor before we called it done.  The kids had fun, and that is all that matters.  Kinlee was all about this holiday. She got to dress up, and get free candy.  The girl was all about saying "Trick Treat Thank Foo" in one quick sentence, and smiling from ear to ear looking at her candy.  Caleb was lost in a world of Captain America, and made sure that none of the bad guys would take our candy.

This past week we were given Caleb's school pics.  I think we can rule out a career in modeling.  He told me that he "half smiled"....the scratch just makes them all the better.  Sigh.....