snow!

So Saturday to Sunday we had our first "real" snow!!

I knew that our family would have lots of fun playing together in the snow so I was really excited and anxious to get out and play! Sunday after church we went to my parents house for lunch...and then we went straight home to play! Mark said he'd shovel the driveway and the sidewalk while we played and then he would join us...I was a little sad that he had to work while we played and miss out on the fun...and guess what! We got home and the doorbell rang---the neighbor boy and his friend were wondering if we wanted them to shovel our sidewalk for $5...Mark said sure, and how about you do the driveway for another $5? and they said yes! How perfect was that?

So we got to play together as a family...and look what we did:



Even Krypto got in on the fun!

After the snowman was made and the boys were done shoveling...we had a big snowball fight against the neighbor kid and his friend!! We all had a great time!! I don't think I'd had a true snowball fight in years and years! Isaiah loved it, the whole time we were outside he just wanted to throw snowballs so the big fight was just what he was looking for!

Needless to say we were all worn out after our snow fun...Isaiah even slept for 2 1/2 hours and then we decided to wake him up! Hopefully we have more fun in the snow this winter!!

our final Thanksgiving hoorah!

We had our final Thanksgiving celebration at Mark's mom and dad's house Saturday evening.

It was a lot of fun! Almost all of the family was able to come--his mom and dad, Colten (Mark's step-brother) and his girlfriend Teri, Kim (Mark's step-brother's wife, his brother was off fishing!), Brittany (Mark's other step-brother's wife, his brother had to work!) and her two kids Dakota (3) and Khia (8 months), and Matthew (his brother)!

The evening plans were to eat, eat, eat and play some friendly poker while grandma played with her grandkids! Mark's dad made lots of yummy food and we (the kids) contributed a little bit...we brought a (really yummy) chocolate silk pie--thank you Perkins!

Isaiah had a blast! Before the games began for me, Cindy (Mark's step-mom) got out her microphones (she owns a DJ business) and let Dakota and Isaiah sing into them They both thought they were really cool...and really they were just down right adorable...check them out:





After the singing, the poker games began, so downstairs I went while Cindy and Kim watch the four little ones...They had lots of fun and even got to play dress up...


The little, little ones had fun too!!

The little ones continued to play and the big kids continued to play cards...and before we knew it, it was way past bed time! Thankfully I remembered to bring Isaiah's jammies and Dakota and Isaiah had a pajama party while we hung out a little longer...


...and by then it was 9:45 and Isaiah needed to go to sleep!! So we headed home, what a great way to finish celebrating Thanksgiving!

another celebration!

On Saturday we had two more Thanksgiving celebrations!

We got up and drove to Ames to celebrate with my Grandma Carol and Aunt Sharon (my mom's mom and twin sister) along with my sister, Jay and Liahna. The drive was pretty uneventful...my parents, Mark, Isaiah, Levi and I all fit into our Rendezvous so it was pretty full...as our double stroller filled the only open seat!

We met at a really yummy restaurant called Olde Main. I was hoping that after a long car ride Isaiah would still be able to sit through a nice meal and a nice restaurant...and he did great! We sat in a really big round booth with Isaiah in the middle and he just hung out playing with Grandma and Daddy. Thankfully my Grandma brought an apple and my mom cut it up for Isaiah to eat until the salads got to us...and then Isaiah was good for quite some time...He kept asking my dad, "more please grandpa" wanting to eat more of his salad with honey mustard dressing. When that was all gone, my mom donated the rest(pretty much all) of her salad to Isaiah and he sat and ate the entire salad...dipping each piece of lettuce into the ranch before he ate it...When there was just a few pieces of lettuce left Isaiah said, "I'm all full now." But of course he managed to eat the last of the salad...he hardly touched his chicken strips, but that was just fine...However, in the middle of our meal, Isaiah says very loudly, "I tooted!!!" Ha Ha.

(Can you believe all the sentences Isaiah says? He has really started talking like a little boy...he knows what he thinks and wants and isn't afraid to say it!!)

While we were waiting for our food, Grandma Carol and Aunt Sharon got to meet both Levi and Liahna...they loved them both so much of course...


We even got a picture of the two baby cousins together...how cute are they?

After all the salad was gone, Isaiah did get a little restless...it started with him stiring the ice in his cup with 3 or 4 forks...

and he ended up being a monster that crawled around under the table! After while Grandma got up with him and they walked all around the big restaurant. Which was great...because after the restaurant we were headed back to the car to make it home for our next celebration!

Liahna is still the sweetest little baby girl! Don't you think she's adorable!?

our tree.

After we got home from our Thanksgiving Day celebration we decorated our Christmas tree! Isaiah did such a good job hanging on the bulbs! He put them on very carefully with just a little bit of help here and there. We let him put them wherever he wanted them and we only have a few spots where there are several all together. It looks so pretty!




Levi got to watch from the sidelines...maybe next year he'll get to help!


I still have more to put on it and we haven't put "our" ornaments on it yet, but it sure makes our house seem so Christmasy.

Every year at Christmas time my mom would buy my sister and I a Hallmark ornament. (and sometimes my dad would get one if they had a really cool one he liked--like a funny looking Star Trek ship that made noise or something fun like that:) ). We'd each pick one out that symbolized something that was special to us that year...Looking back at them is really neat...When Mark and I got married, we continued the tradition and each picked out an ornament each year...and we have gotten one for Isaiah each of his Christmases too...(We still need to go pick out ornaments this year---we are behind!!) . But I'm glad my mom did this for me, and I'm thankful I can continue it on!! I'll let you know what ornaments we decide on for this year!

Isn't this a fun family picture??? Too bad Levi was moving, but I still love it!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Our family had a happy thanksgiving! We had several celebrations and we had lots of fun with lots of our extended family!!

On Thanksgiving day we drove to my Aunt Sandy and Uncle John's house in Dubuque. This is for my dad's side of the family. They have a beautiful home right on the Mississippi River. Isaiah, my dad and I played outside for a little while and looked at the river, we even got to see a few trains go by way out beyond the river.


After our big lunch, we decided to pose for a four generation picture! My sister and Liahna, my grandma, my dad, Isaiah, Levi and me...how neat, huh?

Of course everyone wanted to hold the babies!

Soon after the pictures it was time to head home...It was way past Isaiah's nap time and Isaiah without a nap is not a good thing come 5pm. He can get very ornery (okay so that's a pretty big understatement)! We made it a few minutes in the car and Isaiah fell asleep and slept all the way home! How perfect...because I had plans for us when we got home...you'll see them in my next post!

yummy pretzels!

We needed to make something to bring to my dad's side of the family Thanksgiving on Thursday...I couldn't decide what to make and my smart husband thought of making yummy pretzel sticks...it was the perfect idea! It was easy, quick, yummy and Isaiah could help! So Wednesday night we had a family night in the kitchen!

melting the chocolate.

snitching a pretzel.

putting on the first layer of chocolate.

the best part.

We had a great time...this is what the holidays are all about!!

I am thankful...

Every day I am thankful...
Every day I realize how lucky I am...
Every day is perfect...
Here's why...

**I have a wonderful husband who treats me with respect and love...
**I have two happy and healthy little boys who say they love me with a simple smile...
**I have great parents who would do anything to help me and my family...
**I have a sister who treats me like a friend...
**I have lots of extended family who show they care in so many ways...
**I have so many friends who make me laugh and smile and remind me to have fun...
**I have a job that is so flexible with me that I get to work two days a week so I can be home with my family and gives me the opportunity to be involved in the lives of two other little ones...
**I have an amazing God who provides for me no matter what, who teaches me how to be, who to be, and what to be...and forgives me when I'm not.
**I have a perfect Savior who has promised me eternal life in paradise...

For these things, along with many, many more, are the reasons I am thankful today and everyday.