Kindergarten Christmas Program

Once again, my posts are getting a little spread out!  Too many late nights doing paperwork...that's my excuse this time! Or maybe I could blame all of the time we have spent in urgent care.  Brody has been to urgent care three times in less than a month for strep.  Brenna has had it once during that time. Brenna also got a case of the hives.Thankfully we had already gone to urgent care last year for that, so we knew to just give her Zyrtec. Tonight, Brody starting getting itchy.... I am hoping that a week and a half off from school will be just what the doctor ordered. 

Last week on Thursday, Brenna and Brody had their first school Christmas program.  Brody sang a duet with another little boy.  I posted a video, but you might dizzy watching it because I kept moving the camera too much.  Brenna and Brody enjoyed performing for family and friends, and it was a nice concert.  Surprisingly, I didn't cry!

                                                       

Brenna and her dance partner, Micah.  He was busy looking at the audience most of the time. 

Brody and his dance partner Ada.  On the way home, he told Steve, "I just had to smile every time I looked at Ada.  I don't know why, but I did."

I love that the little girl in the picture below is checking out her fingernails...Brenna only lifted her dress one time.  Of course she had a hole in her tights. :)

                                                              "If I were a Snowflake"

Besides school, work and battling illnesses. we have spent a lot of time playing outside. Brody finally decided to try the Mini Z snowmobile, and he loves driving it. He also likes to ride on the big snowmobile. Brenna and I went to Eau Claire for some girl time, and Brody was very excited to go on the trails with his dad!

                                                 Brenna catching snowflakes with her tongue.

                                                             They love each other!

                                                               "Help me, I'm stuck!"

                   Brody is going to regret this picture, I think.  I was just happy that they were playing together!

Merry Christmas!

A Little Song from Brody

I am glad that Brody is still willing to perform for the video camera.  I took advantage of that after Brenna and Brody's church Christmas program and had him sing one of their songs.  Brenna was not willing to sing... imagine that!   

It was a really sweet song.

Belated Thanksgiving Highlights

The kids and I enjoyed five days at home together over Thanksgiving.  We kept ourselves busy! 

Cousin Abbi joined us for a day or two...

First, we thought we would make cinnamon/applesauce ornaments.  They turned out okay.  

The kids were in the baking mood and they wanted to make roll out sugar cookies. They actually did a lot of the work.  They had to make it look like they were serious bakers by putting flour all over their face.  I think Matt and Carrie helped start that tradition while baking bread with Brenna and Brody. :)

Black Friday, it is a tradition for Sarah and I to venture out shopping.  Thursday night the kids decided to stay at Nana and Papa's house.  So the one morning when I could actually sleep in without children, I left the house at 3:15 A.M.  I got most of my shopping done, and we were home by 1:30.  Friday night we went to the Osseo Christmas Parade. It was cold, but we still ventured out.

                 My beautiful niece Abbi trying to be mad, but not doing so well.

We walked from Aunt Jessie's house.  Tyler was hard to miss with his bright yellow snow pants.

                        Aunt Jessie made us hot chocolate to help keep us warm.

                      Brody snuggled with Tyler while waiting for the parade to start.

                              The parade always ends with Santa and his reindeer.

All for now!

When is My Birthday?

Steve and I have been married for seven years, and together quite a few more than that.  He has never forgotten our aniversary or a birthday...until now.  I can't say he really forgot my birthday. He just forgot what day it's on, and he was certain it was November 12th. If only he checked his facebook acount more frequently, he would have had a reminder, or had he just glanced at the calendar that had "mommy's birthday" written in kid size letters on November 10th! Needless to say, Steve felt very bad! I am sure I will never let him live this one down. He felt so bad that he bought a cake and invited my sister and her family over for pizza and cake.  

The "32" was actually a joke as well. I'm 34!

Steve and the kids brought me a picture frame to take to work, and picture frames for home. I got big hugs from my two favorite people. 

    

Ipod buddies

 Saturday night, we went out for dinner to celebrate Heather's 21st birthday, which was November 9th.  After celebrating with her, we headed to Eleva to help my cousin's wife, Jennie, celebrate her 40th birthday. Tyler babysat the kiddos and Abbi spent the night as well.

                                   The kids were up, and ready to head outside to play in the snow by 7:30 Sunday morning.  Abbi did not have any of her snow gear on so she is wearing all of my winter clothing.



Editing pictures on Picassa is kind of fun.

And to end with things that make me smile:

Brody and Brenna waking me up on weekend mornings telling me that "You are the best mom in the whole world"

Every night after I tuck Brenna and Brody in, Brody always says, "Mom, home sweet home." I'm not sure how this got started, but I think it's cute. 

Hearing Brenna and Brody "read" as I get ready in the morning... amazed that occasionlly they don't even turn the TV on.

All for now!

Happy Birthday Heather Ford!

I don't know what makes me think about my age more. The fact that my oldest niece turned 21 today, or that it is my birthday tomorrow.  I think it's that my niece is turning 21! I was only in 7th grade when she was born, but I was so excited to become an Aunt. I got to babysit her quite a bit when she was a baby. One night, I remember that she would only stop crying when I walked around with her. I guess it was good training for motherhood. When my babies were born, Heather became my baby-sitter and helped me take care of them for quite a few weeks during her summer vacation. Now she is a young adult with a job, friends, and a busy life!  Thankfully, she still makes time for us. :)  Brenna and Brody adore their cousin Heather!  

Happy Birthday Heather!

Fall Fun!

We managed to get our pumpkins carved, and our trip to the pumpkin patch in this year! Thursday night, we carved pumpkins with cousin Abbi. It was nice to have so much help with getting all of the seeds out. 

                                               We baked the seeds, and they tasted pretty good. 

 Friday, I took two hours of personal time so I could watch the costume parade at Brenna and Brody's school.  I then got to take them home with me when the parade was over.  We went home for about two hours and then headed back to Osseo for the Caring Parents' Halloween Dance.  My sister has the pictures from that event. 

Brody, the Ninja



Brenna the cupcake



Cousin Abbi, the cupcake on crutches

I was determined to make it to the pumpkin patch this year, and we made it one day prior to Halloween.  Thankfully, it was a beautiful day.  Heather and Abbi joined us, which was nice since Steve had to work.

I will have to find and post the pictures from Brenna and Brody's first trip the pumpkin patch when they were 6 months old.  They have changed so much!

We saved the carameled apples for last

                                                           I think Brenna has outgrown the car

                                                                  Brody having fun on the bales