First Snowfall and Christmas

Wisconsin is a great place to enjoy the beauty of every season.  Although winter can be long, cold and gray, I still look forward to it and always appreciate the beauty of the very first snowfall.  We had our first snowfall a couple weeks ago.  Riley was so excited to look out the window and see all that white snow!  He couldn't wait to get outside.  Jason and I took the kids out to play and we had fun too.  We had a snowball fight and I tried to make a snowman but failed.  Jason pulled Riley in the sled and Austin just crawled around in the snow with a smile.  I took some pictures of course.  now always makes Christmas better.

Christmastime
I love the decorations, I love the Christmas songs, I love the family time, I love the Christmas shopping, I love the opening of presents, I love the snow, I love the Christmas tree and I love the anticipation but most of all I love that Jesus was born on Christmas!  I am thankful for all that I have and above all the gift getting and gift giving Christmastime is about Jesus.

We made some good memories this year and soon it will be next year.

 

Thanksgiving, weddings and family updates

Haven't written in a while. Had a good Thanksgiving. Dressed the kids in their matching outfits and enjoyed some good food. We are so blessed to be surrounded by tons of family it is the best part of the holidays.

My cousin Noelle was married this past weekend on12/1/12. It was a combination wedding. What I mean is it was a Jewish/Lutheran wedding. It was really neat. Noelle's pastor from her church did part of it and Peter's Jewish pastor did part. I really enjoyed the ceremony. They got married just after sunset and they stomped on broken glass after they were married to celebrate their union.  Can't believe Noelle is all grown up and married now.  I have so many memories of Nick, Noelle, Kelly and I when we were growing up.  I remember our Door County vacations and the one year when we hit a deer on our way up North for vacation.  We had to stay in a run down old cabin which was not so nice.  We even saw a squirrel roaming around, how cute that was!  I remember sitting in the back of Pete and Julie's station wagon playing on our way to Door County no seatbelts on.  Now a days kids wear seatbelts until they are practically teenagers.  I remember the time we stayed at a hotel and I got a black eye from getting slammed in the face by the hotel door from Nick accidentally.  I remember birthday parties together, watching "The Peanut butter Solution", eating Kool-Aid and sugar , sledding at Grandma Weber's on Indian hill, dressing up at Aunt Betty's house(Noelle and I in dresses, Kelly as a baseball player), and many more fun memories.  Not only were we cousins but we were good friends.  It is hard to believe we are all grown up now.

Family updates:  Austin has 4 teeth now.  He just got his 2 front teeth in the last 2 weeks.  Breastfeeding is interesting these days.  He can clap his hands now which we just noticed about 3 days ago.  He can walk with a push toy now and he is talking more.  His new favorite words are dadadadada.  Riley says the darndest things.  He loves to be the center of attention and he loves making people laugh.  We have taught him a few jokes and he loves the reaction he gets from them.  "Does your face hurt."  you say "no" he says " well its killing me."  He had fun telling everyone that joke at Thanksgiving, everyone was laughing which of course just eggs him on more.

   

Journey Of Firsts

Austin is 8 months now.  He is such a happy, content, laid back and easy going baby.  He is not much of a talker like Riley was at his age he is a quite the little mover and shaker.  He is very curious about everything.  He loves to try and stand by pulling himself up on anything and everything he gets his hands on.  He loves to play with all of Riley's toys, especially the ones he is not supposed to have.  He tries so hard to walk but hasn't quite figured out how to do that yet.  I think he will be an early walker.  Riley took his first steps at 10 months.  His first words were mama as Riley's first words were dada.  He has 2 teeth on the bottom middle which he got at 7 months old- Riley's first teeth were in the same spot at 4 months old.  He is a wonderful sleeper and sleeps through the night on a regular basis.  He has been a good sleeper from day one, Riley was a good sleeper too as a baby but didn't start sleeping through the night until at least 4 months old. 

Riley is a wonderful big brother.  He is always saying how he loves his little brother and loves talking and playing with him.  When we first brought Austin home, Riley asked "Is he big enough to play cars with me?"  Austin is already after Riley's cars every chance he gets and now Riley asks "Can you tell Austin to stop drooling on my cars?"  Kind of funny.  These days Riley's favorite things to do are:  Playing basketball, going to the park, going fishing with daddy, playing Wii video games and of course playing on the "little computer" AKA my iPod.  Riley is at such a fun age we enjoy just hanging out with him.  He is quite the conversationalist and is a very social little boy. 

The holidays are already upon us and it is a reminder of how fast time is going.  I thought Riley's first year went fast but Austin's first year seems to be going even faster.  Life is so busy that sometimes we forget to stop and appreciate all the wonderful things going on in life.  It is ironic how your first child is born and you just can't wait for them to grow up.  You celebrate every milestone.  You can't wait for their very first word, their first smile or laugh and of course their first few steps.  With every new first you are looking ahead to the next.  Before you know it you are pregnant again and your baby is now about to become a big brother.  For me, with my second child I find myself holding on to every new first as if it could be my last.  I have been through this once and as exciting as it is to experience every new baby milestone it is a reminder each one will fade away with time and I will miss and long for those precious firsts that I can no longer get back.  The good news is their will be a lifetime of firsts throughout our lives and we can always look forward to more precious memories yet to be made.  Life is a journey of firsts and the precious moments we have already experienced will always stay with us. 

Happy Halloween!

Austin's first Halloween and Riley's first Halloween that he really had fun trick or treating!  Riley was a pirate and Austin was a parrot!  Riley was so thrilled that every time he went to a new house he got more candy.  Now we have a bag full of candy that I keep eating and trying to limit the amount that Riley keeps eating.  Jason wore an eye patch, an earing, and a red bandana to join in in the Halloween spirit too!  I wore a winter jacket for my costume!=)
New things happening in our lives....Austin can sit up on his own, he can pull himself up on his own and is trying so very hard to walk.  He is into everything!  Riley is his active little self and Lightning McQueen is still the love of his life.  He helped dad carve a pumpkin this year with Lightning McQueen on it.  I am having tons of fun dressing Riley and Austin up in matching outfits and taking pictures.  I just cant help myself!  Jason is out deer hunting with the time he has been getting off of work, hopefully he shoots a big one!

1 Year Anniversary

Hard to believe it but we have now lived in our house for 1 full year.  Last year on 10/14 we signed our lives away.  That was such an exciting day when we bought our first house.  Still, a year later, I sit on the couch and think how awesome it is to live in our own home.  I love looking at the backyard knowing it is actually OUR YARD!  I love having a place to call home.
Also Austin is 7 months as of yesterday. 

Country girls night out!

Went to Kelly's house to go to "Church".  Getting our spiritual time in for the week together as sisters!  Ok not really church, church.  Eric Church!  Went to the Eric Church concert last night in Milwaukee with opening performances by Kip Moore and Justin Moore.  The concert was AWESOME!  Had a blast and it was a great time for me to be away on my own like a single girl no kids, free to do whatever I want.  Rare moments these days!  Although I do miss my little ones and will be happy to see their sweet little faces.

Cousin Time

Spent the day at Aunt Marianne's house with cousins Abby and Brody.  Went for a walk to the park on the last warm day of the year.  The fall colors were at their peek and it was a beautiful day for some pictures.  Ran into Taylor who was on a field trip to the park, weird coincidence.  So much fun seeing the little ones play together.  Brody and Austin are almost the same age and Riley and Abby are less than a year apart.  They are all so cute and play so nicely together.  Had pigs in a blanket for lunch and root beer floats for dessert.   

Oktoberfest Fun!

Took the kids to the Maple Leaf parade yesterday.  Riley got lots and lots of candy.  Austin enjoyed the parade too.  It was a beautiful day for the parade.  Riley also got a giant horn. 

River fun, Apple orchards, Pumpkins and more

Well thought I would share some of our latest adventures and precious moments.  Tookm the kids to the Apple Orchard with Nana and granpa Ken.  As always had a wonderful time.  It is such a great place to take pictures.  Riley had a blast feeding the goats and Austin seemed to love the animals too.  We went through a corn maze to find "Charlie" the scarcrow!  After much walking and a few times getting lost, Riley, our leader led us to him!  We also road on a huge John Deere Tractor(and mini ones), took a ride in a spinning apple, climbed atop a mountain of hay, walked through a haunted house (all accept Riley and Nana) and played in a pumpkin patch.  Was a beautiful fall like afternoon and was a great day! 
Our next (first time) adventure we had recently was taking Austin out on the boat for the first time.  At 6 months he did great!  he only cried once when he got hungry otherwise he enjoyed the boat ride with all its waves and bumps.  Riley loves the boat and caught lots of blue gills and some small bass.
Our last precious first moment I wanted to share was Austin's dedication.  Austin was dedicated at church today.  I chose a bible verse for him.  Proverbs 3:5 and 6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and he shall direct your paths."  I hope Austin does trust in God throughout his life and that he lives a long life under the blessings of the Lord.  Both my parents and Jason's came to the dedication too.  It is nice having so much support from all of them for our kids.  We are truly blessed.

  

Growing Fast

Well Austin is officially 6 months old as of September 14th.  My dad just turned 62 on the 14th as well.  My how time flies!  Can't believe both my parents are retired .  So happy for them and hope they are able to enjoy many years of retirement.  Riley and I went to the store and picked out a card and cake for Grandpa!  The card that Riley picked out and I emphasize Riley is so cute.  Its a picture of 2 penguins and says "Grandpa, You're cool, I'm cool.  I guess coolness skips a generation."  My child is so funny!
Well it is a beautiful day outside today.  Love fall like weather.  Not so excited for the shorter days because that will mean less time of being outside at night.  Will have to get creative with indoor activities at night especially with a sleeping husband downstairs!

First Blog entry

Austin had his 6 month check up yesterday.  He weighed in at 17lbs and is 26 inches long.  Hard to believe he is 6 months already.  New things he is doing are scooting all over the place.  I set him down on the floor and within minutes he is on the other side of the room.  I just fed him cereal for the first time yesterday and he seems to like it although he does make some funny faces.  Riley is doing awesome too.  He turned 3 in May and has been potty trained for a couple months now.  He loves playing outside and is very active as most boys are.  One of his favorite things to do is ride his Lightning Mcqueen bike around the neighborhood.    He talks our ears off and the things he says keep us quite entertained.
Our house has been such a blessing for us.  The kids love playing in the yard and Jason loves planting in his garden.  The tomatoes and peppers Jason has planted have been awesome!  Jason also made a sand box for Riley to play in and he loves it!  Our most recent excitement is that we were able to get a free roof!  It looks beautiful and we are so thankful that the odds were in our favor with a hail storm right after we moved into our house that blessed us with a new roof.
Well I guess this was my first experience at blogging.  Hopefully I can look back and remember things by keeping this blog, that is if I remeber to do it.

 

Pop-tart Crumbs and Soft Warm Kisses

Will the day ever come when my kitchen chairs are not covered with pop-tart crumbs, my floor not sticky from popsicle drips and my sink not full of knives coated with peanut butter? Will I ever not awaken Saturday morning to cartoons on the television? Will the day come when I can rearrange sofa cushions without finding puzzle pieces, pennies and popcorn?
Will I ever again buy cereal because of the cereal, instead of the plastic toy inside the box? Will I ever eat dinner at a restaurant that has cloth napkins, fancy water glasses and cocktail sauce, instead of paper napkins, paper soda cups and little packets of ketchup?
My life has changed so much over the past few years! I wonder sometimes if things will ever return to normal? Will there ever be a bathtub without plastic sailboats and a recurring dirty ring? Will we have a sliding glass door without nose prints and fingerprints? Will I ever fill bookshelves with the book-of-the-month selections instead of broken toys waiting to be glued?
Someday will I open the coat closet and find jackets on hangers instead of sweatshirts and mittens on the floor? Will there ever be a wash day without diapers, and a backyard without jump ropes, toy trucks and tricycles?
I’m really not complaining, but my child-related activities seem endless! Will I ever drive in the car without pointing out every dump truck, crane and bulldozer? Will I ever leave the library with just a historical novel instead of Dr. Seuss books? Someday, will I make a trip to the grocery store without having to buy a box of animal crackers or bubble gum? Will my husband and I ever plan a family vacation without having to work around little league and swimming lessons?
I get so weary of the routines! Will the time come when I don’t have to referee an argument? Will I ever serve fish almandine for dinner instead of fish sticks?
The house is quiet now. They’re all asleep and I welcome the solitude. But, as I think of the pant legs growing short on my boys, and my daughter trading her dolls for a boom-box, I’m suddenly reminded, this is all passing so quickly.
The day will come, too soon, when my husband and I will trim a Christmas tree without the help of little hands. I’ll miss shopping for toys at Christmas.
Many things I’ll miss; such as hearing the first one home from school come in the door calling, “Mom, are you home”? There will be no comic tales of school antics around the dinner table and no one to help bake chocolate chip cookies, or to lick the spoon.
I’ll still take walks, but I’ll no longer have to stop while someone throws pebbles into a puddle. There will be no 5-year-old to point out the beauty of the early evening sky or the first star.
Who will help me plant flowers in the spring? I’ll miss the excited delight of a 3-year-old who marvels over animal pictures in an encyclopedia, or the beauty of a waterfall in a travel brochure.
I’ll miss the squeak of the teeter-totter in the backyard and the mother’s day cards made from construction paper and magic markers.
I’ll miss rocking a baby, and having a small child climb on my lap, wrap his arms around my neck, and say, “You’re my best friend, mommy”. I’ll long for those small bowed heads around the bed for nighttime prayers. I’ll remember a time when I could make a bump on the head feel better with a kiss.
But most of all, when my blessings are grown, I’ll miss getting a soft warm kiss and a sleepy “I love you”.