1 day till Christmas

Do you have all your shopping done? Yes
Are you ready for Christmas? Yes
Are you really ready for your kids to stop asking can we open presents yet? Yes

We can not go a day without Lauren, Ryan or Elizabeth asking can we open a present. I say no and point to the countdown to Christmas on the frig. They are super excited and can't wait for the big day, which make me love Christmas all the more. I just which I could bottle up all their excitement and save it when they are older. I'm guessing when their are 18, 15 and 13 Christmas's won't be as exciting as they are now!!
Our Christmas plans are pretty mellow this year. I only took off Christmas day this year. So, tomorrow night(Christmas Eve) we are just going as a family to look at the Christmas lights around town. Then Christmas morning, we have our traditional breakfast for us 5 and we open our presents as a family. Then my parents will be driving up in the morning to have Christmas with us and probably stay around for 2-3 days. We aren't have Christmas with Mike's side until after the 1st of the year so the kids will get to have Christmas a little longer this year. Hopefully I will get our Christmas mess picked up here at home and put away before we bring more Christmas presents home from Mike's parents.

Everyone have a safe and wonderful Christmas and don't forget Jesus is the reason for the season!

Catch up

Ok, I have a lot of catch up work to do tonight. Well, lets see we should start with Lizzie's 9th B-day. Her b-day this year was the Saturday after Thanksgiving on 11/29. She took one friend with her to Jiva in CF and got turned into princesses for the day. She told me to get metal tiara's not the plastic ones. I guess she is the princess who knows what kind of tiara she wants. Her friend Leah and her looks so cute and don't just love their nails. My mom and I walked uptown CF with the girls and went shopping in a few stores that morning. All the lady's we ran into just loved the girls and their tiara's and boa's. Then we had lunch at Panera and took the girls back home so they could play until Leah had to head home. We then had a family party that evening. I think her 9th b-day was a hit.
Oh, my sister, newphew and new baby niece came for Thanksgiving. We had a great time being together. My sister,Holly and her kids live in Michigan 8 hours away. I was so thankful they all came and I got to spoil my nephew and niece. Ava, my niece is above.
I also go my Christmas cards completed last weekend. I call them my 5 minute Christmas card, because it really only took that long. I wasn't going to do the photo card from Walgreens this year but I just couldn't help since I could get 40 cards done in a matter of 1hour and 5 minutes. I just download to photo.walgreens.com and select my photo card. I choose to use the two pics above of the kids infront of the tree. They did really good for me this year I was so impressed. Hope you all are ready for Christmas, I know my household is. I only have a few more last minute things on my list. YEAH!!

Trick or Treat

Yes, I can say we are done now and have quite a bit of candy. Of course, I forgot my camera when we went trick or treating around the neighborhood. I hate that. Here is the kids after the fact. All and all they had a great Halloween. Now, what do do with all that candy, I know they are not eating it all and neither am I. I have to be strong at least until the morning!! HEE! HEE!

Halloween - the easy way out

Ok, I'm admitting I took the easy way out this year with the kids' pumpkins. I found this really cute Mr. Potato head kits at Target for pumpkins, only $2.98 on clearence. Got Elizabeth the witch and Ryan the pirate one. I don't think they turned out to bad. I hate cleaning out the pumpkin and guts, but really who does. Elizabeth cleaned her pumpkin out at school so thankful none was done at home. Lauren didn't really care about not having a pumpkin this year. She is more excited about her Tinkerbell costume she will be wearing Friday at school and for trick/treaking the neighborhood Friday night. Ryan will be the ever popular StarWars clone trooper and Elizabeth a dream witch. I will post pics of this on Friday night.

Not so plain kids rooms any longer

Last Monday, my mom and I painted the girls room as well as Ryan's. Wow, the girls when from sky blue to purple, orange and neon yellow. They room is very colorful and looks like Dora's place house. They really love the colors and love the circles we put up as well. Ryan's room when from stark white to purple and neon green. We also had to accent with a skateboard guy too. Have at good rest of the week.

Quick Post - Princess Lauren's birthday

Here are a few pictures of Lauren's 4th birthday on Sunday. Wow, did she have a great day. She was really happy and loved being the center of attention. Just look at that smile.

Summers End

Yes, I'm still here. I haven't forgotten about my blog. Really. I'm sure you all have wondered if I would ever make it back. My life is getting back to normal so I am promising to post more often.
As most of you know Ryan started having seizures the last part of the summer. We went to Iowa City to the pediatric neurologist on August 7th. God was truly with us ever step of the way. We saw a great doctor their how prescribed Keppra which new drug which only side effect is crankyness. Which we can tolerate. He is taking the liquid for of 3ml/mg three times a day. He takes it at school so we have gotten to know the school nurse really well. What a blessing she is at the kids school. He is doing so awesome on his dose and have not had a seizure for three week. We thank the Lord daily!!
I'm sad and glad to have summer coming to an end. Glad to get back in a routine with the kids, glad to have kids in bed before 9pm and glad to have two now in school full time. We are such a blessed family. Oh, yeah and I'm the only one in our family that isn't in school now. Well Lauren goes to Hawkeye with Mike to their child development center and she call that her school. It is really nice to have Elizabeth and Ryan in the same school this year. Elizabeth is in 3rd grade and Ryan in kindergarten. They both really love school and are very excited each morning to go!! Lets just hope this countines all year!!
Much more postings information to come including some scrappbooking events and pictures of layouts/cards soon!!