Enjoying the Weather

We have spent a lot of time outside the past couple of days....

Yesterday we went to City Park (along with half the town it seemed) since there is no wet grass or dirt there.  Owen and Mason were amongst the old kids there and definitely acted like they were kings of the playground.
Miles on the balance beam wearing his new shoes (bought these this summer because they were cute, almost forgot about them--they are exactly his size now).
Today Owen and the neighbor kids (and some friends) put together this "fort/tent/Christmas trash" structure out on the island.

Old People's Night Out

We went out with Michelle and Rhett (for Rhett's annual Scoreboard get together) for some adult time before they have to head back to Denver tomorrow.  The kids will miss their cousins for sure!  Below are Michelle, Rhett, and Girlfriend!  

My Little Artists

Since receiving their crayons, markers, etc.  the kids have been busy coloring as much as possible.  Since Miles refuses to use crayons (markers only) he has to do his art on the "mat." Aunt Nancy, Owen decided this picture was for you (and of course, Miles did too) so be checking your mail.

Lots of New Toys

We had a great Christmas!  Santa came to our house this year since we were home on Christmas morning.  Owen got an art case and Miles a Play-Do station.  We spent the day in Council Grove at Aunt Nancy's.  My parents and brother and sister-in-law came to Manhattan Christmas night for our final round of Christmas.  The boys got a lot of really neat stuff.  Owen got a lot of games, Star Wars stuff, trading cards, etc.  Miles got the Fisher Price fire station and all of the rescue equipment, a grocery cart and a bunch of fake food.  They are having fun playing with each other's stuff, and have done a good job sharing (so far).   Adam and I got some great stuff too; I'll put some pictures up when I get some "action" shots.  

The Clone Trooper.
New PJ's and robes.  
Miles got a sock monkey to match his new PJ's.  He carries it around saying, "My Monkey."
Shopping at Target.  

All Set for Christmas (I Think)

After a near disaster with the Christmas cards (making/paying for prints that require square cards, tracking down the few 5x5 cards in town, make-shifting the others, mixed messages at the post office which resulted in me putting over $1 worth of postage on a bunch of cards, not to mention the fact that I'm still waiting for a few addresses and the others may or may not have made it to the recipients on time)...... I think I am ready for Christmas!  For the first time ever we are home on Christmas Eve, which was fun with the kids.  They are so excited for Santa to come.  We'll be at my aunt's tomorrow and then my parents, brother and sister-in-law will be coming to spend the night with us.  Owen figured out that he will have three Christmases.

Though my Christmas cards ended up being a pain, my present wrapping was 100% enjoyable. Definitely something I love to do!
The kids celebrated early with their cousins. Raly invited me to a "girls only" party and the boys to a "boys only" party at Mike and Connie's.  Of course, it turned into and adults/kids party when she realized she'd be the only little girl.  Owen and Miles were excited about the transformer and Diego movie they received.
Chillin' watchin' Diego.

Trip to the ER

I had to take Owen to the ER in the middle of the night on Friday because he was having trouble breathing.  Turns out he had croup.  They immediately gave him a breathing treatment, then a steroid.  We had to wait it out in the ER for 3 hours.  Then they decided they needed to keep him and repeat the treatments, so we checked into a room.   Since they kept giving him treatments until the pediatrician came round, we ended up having to stay until 6:00 Saturday night to make sure the medication wore off and didn't produce any "rebounds."  It was amazing how quickly the medications worked.  He's completely back to normal right now and was bored all day on Saturday.

We thought he looked like an elephant.
He always has an appetite--in less than 12 hours time he ordered 3 pancakes, grapes (twice), eggs, and a cheeseburger!
Adam told him he could pick what he wanted for dinner tonight--steak!  Yes, Adam fired up the grill in 2o degree weather!

Girls Gone....Shopping!

Last weekend I met my Papio friends for a girls shopping trip in KC.  We've been doing this each year since I've moved.  This year we rented a limo for the evening--totally worth the money!  We had a great time shopping and going out.  We even caught the tail end of an office Christmas party in our hotel ballroom.  

One of the limo stops was the Gap on the Plaza (for the restroom.....sort of)
Waiting for the limo in the hotel lobby.
The goods I made it home with.

Happy Anniversary!

We've been married NINE years today--hard to believe!  Adam bought me a North Face jacket.  It was a perfect gift--something I always want, but talk myself out of buying.  Next year's the big tenth anniversary; I think that calls for a vacation!  Not that he is reading this, but Happy Anniversary!

Gift Giving

We picked some cards off of the tree at church and the kids helped me pick out some gifts for them.  It took Owen at least 20 minutes at Target to decide what toys a four-year-old boy would like.  As if the big five-year-old knows it all!!  We also picked out some stuff for kids who wanted clothes (Of course, I enjoyed that more than the kids did).

The PTO at Owen's school organized a "snack day" for the teachers.  I made my Mom's party mix AND..... it actually tasted the same!  Must be all of the butter!  

No Snow Day...

I've never really thought about the location of the high school, but in order to get there you have to go up a hill, whether it's Poyntz, Sunset or somewhere else.  It took me an hour (and trading cars with Adam) to get to school today.  Luckily I don't have a first hour class.  The picture below shows the last block going up Poyntz to the high school.  The people that you can see were helping cars and trucks that weren't going to make it get turned around and go back down the hill.  

Friday Night Fun

I took the kids with me to the game Friday night.  They were very good considering they came for two full games, plus pre-game practice.  They loved the game and band, and particularly enjoyed the holiday theme.  Too bad the Indians couldn't pull out the wins.

Miles yelling "huh...." like the big kids do when we are on defense.  Below the boys with one of their baby-sitters.  Loving the Christmas vest!!

Kansas City, Here We Come!

Tomorrow I get to meet my Papio friends for some shopping, etc. in Kansas City.  This is our third year for such a weekend.  MISSION: buy Christmas gifts (and not just come home with new clothes for myself)!

Little Man Thong!

Miles has been wearing underwear in the evenings in an attempt to work on potty-training. Last night he proudly put on his underwear by himself and came out to show us.  If you look close you'll see they are on backwards and are pretty much a man thong.

Rear view.
Front view.  

Get Together

We went to a little get together for Lisa (our "retired" baby-sitter) Sunday afternoon at Valentino's.  The kids had a great time--mostly running around!

Hmmmm......wonder who's in the curtains????
It's us!!!!

Art session...

The Wedding!

I'm finally getting around to posting some pictures from Emily and Josh's wedding last weekend.  Fun, fun!  The reception was in a community type building in Atwood, but you'd never know after we finished decorating--so pretty.  Rosie went all out with the decorations--I think she bought anything that lights up!  Pretty much Adam's entire extended family was there which made for a fabulous time!

Josh being serenaded by his buddies...."Friends in low places"

Owen dancing with his "surrogate parents."  He was digging Ryan and Kelli.  
Owen loves hanging out with Cole (whose back was probably sore after carting him around all night)
Miles liked being the "big guy" around cute little Jasmyne.The guys singing for the crowd.  I'm not sure what song this is, but they started with "Sweet Home Alabama" which I guess was brought back by popular demand after last year's experience in Corpus.
The fam decked out in matching gear.
The new couple and Raly.
Lots of dancing which is right up my ally!  For those of you who know Adam you'd be amazed how much he danced--more in one night than he probably has in a lifetime!  
The boys waiting for directions at the rehearsal.  They must have listened well, because they did a great job.

A Little More Christmas Spirit!

The boys were excited to put lights in their rooms.  Adam helped them figure out where to put them--in Miles' room we wrapped the gumball machine; in Owen's room we decorated the castle.  I bought them each a tree for their room as well.  I still haven't found a tree for the living room.  It's looking like that will have to wait until the weekend.

Christmas Spirit!

To get in the Christmas spirit (and to put off downloading the million pictures I took this weekend) I thought I'd take Jana's Christmas survey...
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Definitely paper, but it must have a theme. I get new stuff every year. Most likely polka dots this year.
2. Real Tree or Artificial? Fake. Actually I need to buy a new one since I got rid of our old one at my garage sale.
3. When do you put up the tree? Soon after Thanksgiving.
4. When do you take the tree down? Immediately after Christmas--time to move on!
5. Do you like eggnog? Have not tried it; don't plan to.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? Definitely the red-headed Cabbage Patch Kid and all of her homeade clothes from "Santa."
7. Hardest person to buy for? Dads
8. Do you have a nativity scene?--Yes
9. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail; who doesn't love to get mail?
10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Can't think of anything...both of our families are really good gift-buyers.
11. Favorite Christmas Movie? Christmas Vacation
12. When do you start shopping for Christmas? As I see things during the year, but mostly in December.
13. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?--I don't think so...
14. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?--Party Mix (homeade)
15. Lights on the tree?--Yes, I like the big bulbs and scraggly trees.
16. Favorite Christmas song?--I love all kinds of Christmas music!
17. Travel at Christmas or stay home?--Mostly travel, although this will be the first year EVER we are in own house for Christmas morning (at least I think we'll be here)
18. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's?--Of course!
19. Angel on the tree top or a star?--Star
20. Open the presents Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?--Both
21. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?--Cold weather, keeping track of the kids' hats and gloves
22. Favorite ornament theme or color?--I like themes, but don't actually have one. If I did, I'd want all old-fashioned ornaments.
23. Favorite for Christmas dinner?--Pretty much anything; we do different things each year.
24. What do you want for Christmas this year?--I want lots of things, but don't really NEED anything.
25. Who is most likely to respond to this?--Sharla (okay, you too Ed), Lindsay, Michelle, Lori (time to update...), and???