December Updates

Wow, how the time has flown by over the past couple of months. It's hard to believe Christmas is only 2 weeks away! That is really scary considering how much shopping we still have left to do! The kids are pretty much done- they are easy! It's the rest of the family that is much more challenging. The kids are very, very excited to say the least about xmas. I can't wait to see their faces on Christmas morning. Morgan will be so fun this year too because she is older and understands more. She is going to LOVE it!

On another exciting note- the cabin that I spoke of in my last post- our favorite one just north of Wisconsin Dells......... well, it might actually be happening. We finally worked out an agreeable contract and have the home inspection this weekend to make sure there are no major problems with the house. Then, we will be closing sometime before the end of this month! Wow- two mortgages. We are crazy! This cabin/ house is wonderful though. We are looking forward to making many wonderful family memories there. And for anyone interested, we will be renting it out cheap if you are looking for a family get away to Wisconsin Dells. It has 4 bedrooms, 2 baths and a great 3 season room which has an air hockey table! The kids will be in there all the time. I hope all goes well with the inspection tomorrow! Fingers crossed! We are planning on spending 3-4 days over New Years at the cabin getting organized and moving some things in. Very exciting time for us!

We will upload our recent family holiday pictures soon and of course I will add some xmas pictures within the next few weeks. In the meantime, we wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful, happy, healthy 2010!

Trick or Treat

Latest Family Updates
We had a lot of fun this year carving pumpkins with the kids. The loved scooping the mess out and decorating them(and eating the seeds). I was shocked when Morgan actually drew a face on her pumpkin with eyes, ears, nose, mouth and cheeks- all of which were in the right spot. She is only 2.5 years old! She is a genius! Plus, she is starting to wear underwear now- even when we leave the house. I think she has got this potty training thing mastered!

Then, we made it through another FREEZING cold halloween! The kids looked adorable in their Star Wars attire. They lasted about 45 minutes trick or treating which was plenty! Unfortunately we have tons of candy left over and I can bet who will be eating most of it! Darn it!

We had close to 50 people over on Halloween night for our annual party which was a lot of fun! The costumes were hilarious as always. Al and I went as embarrassing 70's "Swingers" which got a few good laughs. We also had a couple H1N1 costumes, Billy Mays and the Mighty Mendit, Shamwow guy, the Travelocity Gnome and so many more funny ones. We spent all of Sunday cleaning the jello shots off the floor. It is so much work to have the party but it is a ton of fun every year. Thanks to everyone who brought along a toy for the toys for tots donation we collect for. Our dining room table is full with toys and we can't wait to donate them later this month.

"Swingers"

On another note, the cabin we fell in love with in Wisconsin didn't work out. I am really upset that it fell through because it would have been so perfect for our family to enjoy for years. Nothing has compared to this one so its very upsetting. We are probably heading up north again this weekend in to look at other cabin options but it is so hard to get over the one we loved. Hopefully we will find something amazing (and cheap!)

Next week I head to Jacksonville Florida for work and I am already thinking about how I will miss my babies so much! Thank goodness its only a couple nights. Al has at least one more business trip too before the holidays which will be 6 nights long.- Lord help me! So much to do before the holidays arrive!!!!! Let the stress begin!

Fall Updates

Life has been busy which explains my lack of blog updates. Here we are already nearing the end of October. Where has the time gone? I can't believe Christmas is literally right around the corner. I need to start shopping now! I am really looking forward to the holidays this year because Morgan is older now and will understand more. She is going to be so much fun to watch open presents. Every time a commercial comes on with girl toys she starts screaming "I want that! I want that!". So cute!


The boys just finished the soccer season and now we are getting ready for Halloween. Lots of prep for the party and every year I ask myself- Why do we we through a party? The kids are counting down the days though and are very excited for trick-or-treating. They are going to be star wars characters and will look so cute!


We did make it to our annual Apple Holler apple picking day a couple weeks ago and had a wonderful time. This is something the kids and I look forward to every year. It is great family time and makes for wonderful memories. Here are some of my favorite pictures from the day.

Florida Family Photos

Well our family vacation was WAY back in July and I am finally uploading these professional photos we had taken at our resort in Orlando. It was about 95 degrees out so we are pretty happy the kids cooperated enough to get these pictures.




Other updates- we have a busy weekend ahead starting with soccer tonight, then dinner at a friends house, soccer again tomorrow, and then on Sunday we are visiting with Baby Luke and family. I haven't seen him since he was 3 weeks old and now he is 4 months old so I am sure he will be huge! It will be nice for our kids to see him again too. Then next week Al heads out of town again but at least this time will only be for a few days.

Remembering 9/11

Remembering all who lost their lives or loved ones 8 years ago today. What a horrible day that we will never forget. We are grateful to everyone serving in the military to protect our family and everyone else. My children are safe because of each of you. Thank you and God Bless!

Cards Win 4-3!

We took the kids last night to the Cardinals game in Milwaukee. We tailgated first with our Subway sandwiches and then played at the park outside the stadium before heading into the game. The kids had fun cheering for Albert and their favorite team. Unfortunately, the time Albert hit the home run, we were playing at Bernie's dugout inside the stadium so the kids missed it! We left at the top of the 8th with the Cardinals down by 1 but luckily they pulled through and beat the Brewers! The kids fell asleep on the ride home thank goodness because we didn't get home until almost 11pm! YIKES! I'm exhausted today so I can only imagine how our kindergartner and 2nd grader are doing. Poor kids! Oh well, family memories are more important. Al is only working a half day today and heading back to the game.
Lets hope its a sweep!

Gavin Made the Paper!

So remember the bloody nose Gavin had on the first day of kindergarten? Well, it made the Gurnee Review this week!
http://www.pioneerlocal.com/gurnee/news/1747037,gurnee-kinder-090309-s1.article

They interviewed one of Gavin's classmates- Megan about her first day of Kindergarten and she told the reporter about "a little boy with a bloody nose" (see 2nd to last paragraph.) Here it is, the first time he makes the paper and it's about his bloody nose. (No name or picture which I guess in this case is good.) I think this is totally hysterical and very sad all at the same time.