Happy New Years 2011!

Tonight, we will be celebrating with friends at home and this morning and I am thinking of new year's goals for all areas of my life: personal, spiritual, and professional. 2010 was quite a difficult year for me personally with lots of disappointments and setbacks. Despite all the hardships, I do have special blessings that followed me into this year. I feel that 2011 brings so much promise of hope, love, and miracles. Our family is praying for just that for you as well!

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011!

Should I be concerned?

Yesterday, I saw the above and just had to take a photo of it. Cody became very concerned about his beloved Jessie and took her off right after I took a shot of them. Of course Carleigh suspended them from Cody's basketball hoop. You just never know what that girl will do next! We now have "Toy Story 3" and when they watch it, they must have Buzz, Woody, and Jessie in their arms. Too cute!

And, I am planning a 7 year old's party. How can that be? These birthdays come around faster each year. This year's theme is obviously "Toy Story" and we will be having it at a bowling alley. I am looking forward to inviting some of Cody's friends from school. It's going to be such a fun time for him. I still cannot believe he will be 7 years old!

Wordless Wednesday

More Christmas Pics

Christmas Recap

On Christmas Eve, we celebrated with Matt's family over at his sister's house. Carleigh enjoyed playing with her cousin's Nintendo DS which was a good sign that Santa bought the right toy for her! That night, the kids were so keyed up that they would not go to sleep until 11pm! They LOVE "A Christmas Story" and were watching it on TBS which had a Marathon of that show!

Christmas morning, Matt and I were up before the kids. This is HIGHLY unusual!! Around 9am Carleigh awoke and her little face was so surprised to see all the presents under the tree! I told her to wake up Cody and we'll open presents. Both kiddos LOVED opening presents. Of course, if it wasn't a present that interested Cody (preferably anything non-toy) he refused to open the entire gift! LOL! Luckily for him that Santa only brought him one non-toy which were Toy Story slippers!

The rest of the morning was filled with cleaning up the mountain of wrapping paper (that took HOURS to wrap), trying to get the kids to eat breakfast (failed miserably), and opening lots of toy packaging (ugh!). Carleigh LOVED her Nintendo DS and Cody was glued to his Leapster Explorer. There was one moment when we didn't know where they were. They were QUIET and playing with their hand held games in Cody's room.

Matt's parents came over to exchange gifts and round 2 of presents happened. Cody's favorite was the piano horn that they bought for him and Carleigh LOVED the Barbie pool and Princess roller skates.

Around 4pm, we went to my parents' to celebrate with my family. There was so much food and I think I gained 5 lbs (must start working out again!) and the room was brimming with presents. It took 5 trips to the van to get all the toys and gifts that the kids received from my parents and my sister and niece. Cody loved the boom box he received from my parents and the Buzz, Woody and Jesse dolls from my sister. They both received Pillow Pest from my sister and enjoyed sleeping with them that night.

Cody's speech has progressed over Christmas break and he is just HILARIOUS! You just never know what he is going to say! This morning, he was playing with Carleigh's Barbie guitar and sang "I'm a Barbie girl in a Barbie world!"

Today, we have played with Cody's Toy Story Basketball Door Hoop game, air hockey table and trying to organize the toy chaos. (I think we had Toys R Us in our family room!) I promise to post some pics as soon as can! We had such a wonderful Christmas!

Milestone in the making!

Just a few minutes ago, Carleigh comes to me and says "Mommy! I lost my tooth!" To which I reply, "Let me see!" And yep, her mouth was slightly bloody but her bottom front tooth was missing! My big girl pulled her first tooth all by herself! Another milestone for my baby and although I am happy for her, I am sad because she is growing up and is not a baby anymore. It's funny because the Tooth Fairy will visit the night before Santa visits.

Snow Day Pics

I have not been able to upload pics on my blog. Not sure why, but I have tried numerous times. Here are a few pics of the kids during their second snow day last week. Carleigh would have stayed outside all day if I would let her!

My Early Christmas Present

I was so excited when my in-laws gave me an early Christmas gift today.....this wonderful video camera. It is the size of a credit card but a little bit thicker! I cannot wait to record Christmas morning and be able to post it here and on Facebook. So cool! I also have a secret project that I also need it for this week.....nope, can't tell you what it is....a total secret that cannot be exposed!

There's no day like a SNOW DAY!

Today was my first snow day and the kids' second snow day of the school year. I have NEVER had a snow day before Christmas in ALL my days of teaching (12 years). I think this winter is going to be very snowy!!

The first thing Carleigh said when she saw more snow was...."Can I make a snow angel?" Of course I said yes and the three of us tromped in the snow for awhile. Cody lasted maybe 10 minutes and Carleigh played while I shoveled the driveway.

This afternoon, we are coloring Christmas pages and reading Christmas books. It's a blessing to have this extra time with them!

I love snow days!!

Wordless Wednesday

It's one of THOSE weeks!

I so enjoy Christmas, but the weeks beforehand are quite exhausting! This week is my final week of teaching before the holidays, so it's craziness! Ornaments, parent gifts, and wild/hyper children. I have such a wonderful class this year and that has been such a blessing! However, I am still trying to do too much in a short time period. Then, throw in a snow storm and a snow day for my kiddos and not for me (grumble) and I am hitting that red line....you know when you just don't think you could handle anything more. Ick! Lots of appointments and meetings and parties as well. All of this will disappear next week when I am OFF! On Monday, I am declaring a "ME" day since my two children will still be in school. Tuesday, I get to be "MOM" and attend their parties. The rest of the week will go by at lightning pace and soon Christmas will be here. Is
it Friday yet??!!

It arrived!

Well, two kiddos are going to be excited this year! Cody is getting the Leap Frog Explorer which was EXTREMELY hard to find, in fact, I had to order it online. It's for ages 4-9 years of age and we can download more games online and I can track his progress from my computer. For his birthday, I am going to get the camera/camcorder attachment for it and we also bought him a charger. Miss Princess is getting a Nintendo DS with lots of girly games. Both hand held toys will hopefully help with their fine motor development.

What is something you are excited about giving your child(ren)???

Sick Again

The stomach bug has yet again struck my poor Cody. The poor thing catches it like a magnet. In fact, the school nurse said that it really wasn't going around "this time." My mom picked him up before lunch on Tuesday and he has been home ever since. Today he turned a corner and is (hopefully) on the road to recovery. I called home to find out that he did eat his dinner well for the first time since Sunday! We so hope he hasn't lost any weight! To see Cody lifeless and sleeping is VERY unusual and it hurts this Mommy heart to see him sick.

Just one more week of school (for me) and Christmas vacation begins. I cannot wait! I also looking forward to helping out at both of their "holiday" parties as they have to go on the 20th and 21st whereas I am out! Some "me" time and then "kiddo" time! Yay!

This is how she rolls

or should I say sleep?

December 25 cannot get here fast enough for my kiddos. Once the tree was up, they immediately thought Santa was coming. I love this season and cannot describe the joy that I get when I see them open presents! This year, I will be videotaping it thanks to my sweet father-in-law who will be giving me one of my Christmas presents early! I am getting a pocket sized video camera!! Woohoo! Stay tuned for actual VIDEO of my two opening Christmas gifts!

Over the last 24 hours...

....Matt and I went out for a much needed time alone. A special thank-you to my sweet niece who offered to take them for the evening (and she originally was going to keep them overnight, but she was called in for work today). We went out to dinner and did some Christmas shopping. I also came home and did a little bit more Christmas shopping online since Santa could not find a sought after toy in at least 5 stores.

...Carleigh fell asleep under the tree for the first time this season.

....Our first real snowfall is currently happening (early for our neck of the woods) and Carleigh was itching to play in it!

...This evening, Matt and I are going to our friends' home and his parents are baby-sitting for us.

....Cody received an EXCELLENT report card and I am very happy with his progress!