burrrr.........

burrr........ it is so cold today. The cold front moved in and it is in the mid 20's today. The kids and I stilled braved the weather to do a little grocery shopping. They both like to look at the lobsters when we go. That is almost the first thing Ian says now, in his little voice. So cute. Of course too, going to the potty seems to be a routine now when we go to walmart. It usually takes us an hour and a half to two hours to get it done, so I guess Izze can't hold it that long. I am learning patience every time we go to Walmart now. It is good for me. LOL We rush home to get lunch done, and play a little before nap time. Now, sections of my floor are covered in crumbs and leftover food, so I guess I better get to cleaning. Hope to have a great weekend coming!!

Forgot/Today!

I forgot in my last post to mention that Brian and I got away last weekend on a date. This was nice because since the holidays it had been awhile. We grabbed a bite at BJ's, which we tried the chicken Parmesan this time, and I would recommend it if you didn't want pizza. When we went in the restaurant it was in the 60's, and when we came out it was freezing, that cold front had moved in. We walked over to the mall to do a little shopping/looking, but the main purpose was to watch a movie. We shared our meal at BJ's so we could indulge in the butter popcorn at the movies, and indulge we did. It was great!! The movie was a really good one, but I told him it was a "watch at home" movie, because I had a tear or two come to my eyes a couple of times. On the way home we stopped and got a couple of different cake slices to take back and enjoy. It was a great night. I am excited to get back on a normal routine with those date nights with my man!!!



Today, the kids and I met with our friends to have some lunch. Izze really enjoys doing this. She always ask who is going to be there, so we go through all the names, and then where we are going, and what they have to eat. If they don't have pizza, or spaghetti it is usually a no go for her. Good thing this place had pizza. We had a fun time eating and trying to get in a conversation around taking care of our kiddos. So glad we have these friends in our lives. Have a great Wednesday everyone!!

Past activites/Ramblings......

Well, I meant to do some blogging a few days back, but got distracted with other things it seems. I had someone tell me they look at my blog every day to see if I have posted new things, so I will try and do better. This blog will be dedicated to some fun things we have done lately.
Last week, we met Brian for lunch at one of our favorite places to go as a family, which is Saturn Grill. They have some of the best soups, sandwiches, salads, and pumpkin spice cookies with cream cheese icing, and good tea too. The kids seem to like this place because of the big half round seats and all the stars on the walls. We also enjoying shopping/looking at the shops around there too after lunch, a favorite is shoe gypsy. We got to meet with some friends and have dinner one night last week. Brian got back from his trip, and he brought gifts for all. He usually does that when he gets back from a trip. Ian got a football, Izze got a little jewelry box that you use markers to color on, she was really excited about doing that, and I got a fashion magazine and chocolate, great stuff. We got to have dinner with paw paw jack this last weekend, which we always enjoy. Izze always talks his ear off. I think I already mentioned this in a previous blog, but Izze is no longer in pull-ups at all. She is doing really well, we are very excited, and she has gotten a lot of little prizes since the big experience, so she is loving it. You can tell she is proud of herself too. This Monday, we had a fun mom's group at one of the mom's home. Izze and Ian always enjoy playing with other kids toys. Today, Tuesday, we had a fun time at the Library. Today was parachute day, Izze really likes when they have that. Ian and Izze were on opposite sides of the parachute and Ian did so well holding it and doing stuff this time. Isabelle did great by herself. I would watch her and she would smile at me as if to say look at me mommy I'm doing it all by myself. She seems to grow smarter, more independent, and just bigger all the time. I really have noticed it lately too, it seems like the closer she gets to the four year mark. Today, we also got a visit from papa Lin and Nanny Carol. The kids really enjoy seeing them, and yes Izze talked papas ear off. Time was too short, but maybe we will get to see them again soon. Tonight, we have band practice, the kids like going and playing and seeing Easter. Well, that about covers it all, hope to keep up a little better. Have a great Tuesday everyone. American Idol starts tonight!!! Yeppy!!!

Random Pictures!

Isabelle, Me and Ian at our mom's group Christmas party.








Ian with his new backpack, I had to post this one because of his eyes!









Ian in his Christmas outfit. I had to take this, he was laying back relaxing on sisters potty.








Ian at our staff Christmas party. Look at that smile! Those eyes too.








Isabelle and me at our mom's group Christmas party!








Isabelle and her art project! We were practicing writing Jesus! She was very proud of her art work.




Thought I would post some random pictures that were taken over the holiday season, just for fun! It was a busy time, but a fun time! Look at those kids, they are so much fun, love them so much.

Moving On To 09'

It's hard to believe we are in a New Year already. To me saying 2009, is strange. Well, we wrapped up 08' with a great Christmas and then a great New Years' Eve with friends. On New Years' Eve we celebrated with some friends of ours and their families. Last year we met at Red Robin to eat, so we thought we might as well make it a tradition, so we all settled down with some good hamburgers and steak fries. Yummy. (planning to start the "good" eating the next week).haha I have already begin to plan in my head some things I would like to accomplish this year and get done, just have to get them on something I can see everyday. This will be a new year of change, and growth. Not only in our church, but with the kids. Izze will be four in July and starting pre-k this next Aug. "Gasp". I only have a few more months to her all by myself, and then no turning back. She is becoming such a big girl. We have mastered the potty, both in #1, and #2 now. Now we are done with pull-ups all together, she is pull-up free! This is a huge milestone for those of you who know how we have progressed in this area. She shows so many signs of being independent, and can I just say how much I love her so. Ian will be turning two in April, can it be, yes it is. He is starting to talk more in little sentences, saying, mommy go, or I'll ask him something, and he'll say, don't know. He picks up on so much, I think Izze talking so well helps him along too. He is so sweet, and loud. lol. He wants and tries to everything his sister does. We have a song we sing together at night and he is so cute singing it. His little voice will go up high, and then he humms with me the rest. Can I say I love this little guy so much. Well, here is to a new year, new changes, new accomplishments, hope it is a great one for all of us.

Christmas Day 08'!!!!!!

This Christmas we decided to wait until Christmas morning to open gifts with the kids. The night before we read to the kids about baby Jesus being born, and why we have Christmas, Izze gets it a little bit, and Ian just repeats what he hears right now. So cute! The night before we sat out the bicycle and the basketball goal that nanny Carol and papa Lin had got them, so they would see them in the morning. Christmas morning, Isabelle, ran into the bathroom (I was showering, I thought I would be done before they woke up, but....), she said mommy, there is a new bike in the living room, I tried to ask her a question about it, but she had already headed back to the living room. Izze and Ian were both so much fun this year. You could see the excitement on their faces as they opened up each present, and you knew which ones they really liked and then those they didn't really care for, like clothes. So many new things to play with, it kept them busy for hours and now days. We cleaned up the paper and preceded to Ponca City to have Christmas lunch/dinner with the family, not without some of our new toys making the journey with us though. haha. Paw paw Jack was able to go to Ponca with us and share in the Christmas festivities. Nanny Carol, Papa Lin, Nanny Faith, my brother and his family were there, aunt Jessi and her family, aunt Cindy, and her family so many I can't remember them all. We had everything you could ever want to eat, it was all there. I have to say some of the best cooks run in my family. I kinda missed out on that though. LOL! The kids got to open a few more presents from Nanny Faith, and uncle Tom, and aunt Jessi after we had some good eating. Izze got a Dora horse that really moves and she just loved it, she played with it the whole time, along with my brothers girls, who she loves to play with so much. Ian joined in on the fun as much as he could, he didn't get to venture outside like the big kids, but he tried. Nanny Carol sent us home with all the goodies she makes every year. We had banana bread, pumpkin bread, fudge, peanut butter balls, and the list goes on. Well, as you can imagine it didn't last long, it was gone within a few days, and now for the New Year we need to break out the chicken and vegetables. LOL We just had a great Christmas with family this year, and are so thankful for everyone of them.
(The pictures are as follows: Isabelle and Ian in their Christmas outfits the Sunday before Christmas, thank you Nanny and papa for them, Izze riding her new bike, such a big girl, Ian with his new music guitar, he loves that thing. I don't think he put it down the first two days, and would burst into tears if we had to leave it behind. Ian and daddy resting on Christmas Day. Ian couldn't hold his eyes open any longer, so daddy worked his magic so he could rest. Look at that face, so precious. Izze and Ian opening presents from Nanny Faith, and uncle Tom & aunt Chloe and the girls. They got some good stuff. The last four are of the kids opening presents on Christmas morning at our house. Isabelle on her new bike, Ian with his basketball goal, and Izze with her ballerina jewelry box.) I think that covers it, couldn't have asked for a better or blessed Christmas together. Love to all the family, and looking to a New Year!!

Christmas Eve 08'

This Christmas Eve we spent at our house with Brian's brother, Mike, and his family, and paw paw Jack. We decided to do a big family breakfast. The best part, the guys did the cooking. We had biscuits, sasuage, eggs, and of course coffee. It was a nice morning. Then on to the exticing part, (at least for the kids), opening presents!!! Ian as you can see in the picture got a backpack, he was very proud of. I like the picture with Paw Paw and all the kids, Isabelle, Jackson, Goldie and Ian. The one with Ian in his stocking is funny too, because the stocking is almost as big as he is. I have many more pictures I could post, but maybe later, it takes so long to upload them. We had a great Christmas Eve with family. It was fun to see the kids play together and enjoy each others company. The holidays make you realize how important spending time with family is. love you guys, thanks for sharing your Christmas Eve with us!!

Christmas has passed...

The Christmas tree has been removed from it's standing position in the house, and now resides in the attic, until the next Christmas season begins. The presents are gone, lights and decorations have their place in the attic as well. When we open the attic they will remind us of the holidays still to come. It's always a little sad to see all that sparkle go, but nice to feel neat and orderly again, at least as neat and orderly as you can be with two small kiddos. Sometimes, it seems they know we are trying to clean up, and start dragging everything they can out, as fast as they can, to keep up with us. I have pictures to post of our Christmas with family, but will do it in the next blog, hopefully. This Christmas season was so much fun with the kids, seeing their faces light up,telling them about Jesus, the reason we celebrate Christmas ( They will understand even more as they grow). It was fun to go look at Christmas lights. Ian, every time he seen lights he would say "Christmas lights" in his little voice, so cute. Papa Jack got to go with us this year, so it was extra special. He showed us one place that was lite up like crazy, so pretty. Every year seems to be more special as the kids get older, and understand more.

We had a great Christmas this year with family and friends, and are thankful for every one of them. We are still eating the baked goodies from nanny Carol. Whew, almost ready to finish them and be on our way to chicken and vegetables for the new year to come. Now, we are waiting, anticipating the New Year, and all it will bring. It is interesting to look back at an entire year and remember everything that has happened, too much to comprehend at one time I think. Hope everyone has a great New Year, hope to post more later.

Tuesday - and Random thoughts as well.....

burrrrr................ Cold one today!! The kids and I headed to the library today, all dressed in our puffy coats, as we call them, hats, gloves, check. Brian says we look like marshmallows, or Ian does when he wears his. If you have ever seen the Christmas story with the little kid in his puffy coat that can hardly move, well, that is Ian. He can barley bend over without falling over. At least it keeps him warm, I express. If the roads aren't slick tonight we will be headed to practice, hopefully.

I finally got our Christmas cards ordered on Sunday. I am a little behind this year, or maybe I say that ever year, hummm. ... I think starting things before Thanksgiving is the way to do things, and have things done and not feel rushed about it, and enjoy the holiday season, maybe next year. Although, we have finished Christmas shopping this year and we did that before Thanksgiving, that is a first for us! Hopefully, I will get the cards in the mail this week or next. Running out of time, it seems like Christmas is already upon us!! I did get the rest of the decorations out yesterday too so we are moving ahead!! Well, here is to a cold Tuesday, may it be warm within your hearts and homes.

Thanksgiving Day!!

We enjoyed a great Thanksgiving with family. We headed to Ponca on Thanksgiving day for some great homemade cooking and some family get togetherness! We had everything from turkey (which was the moistest turkey I have had in a long time), potatoes, white gravy, rolls, broccoli cheese casserole, and much more. Plus, all the desserts. Wow, I think I ate three times that day. After the feast was over, a bunch of us headed outside for some frisbee time. Izze and Ian had to join in on the fun. They would run and get the frisbee and try and throw them, they were so cute, and full of energy. Izze had so much fun with Andrea, Danielle and Whitney. She didn't want to go home, she wanted to stay and play outside with them. Ian was fun to watch too, he wanted to be just like the big kids, doing everything they did. We had a great visit, then back home that night. Friday we spent with Brian's brother and family, and paw paw Jack. They came in from Little Rock. Jackson, and Goldie have both grown and changed so much. It was nice to spend the day with them. It was a great day to be thankful for family.