Busy Sunday at Church

Last Sunday was a busy day at church!  I sang in the multigenerational choir.  The idea was to have Braden join me.  He loves to sing and has a really good voice.  He came to one practice but it was too difficult without him being able to read the words.  We'll shoot to have him join me next year.  I haven't sang in forever and it felt good to loosen up those vocal chords and let it rip!  :)

There was no religious education because the sermon was actually a play put on by the kids depicting the nativity.  Braden kept himself busy both watching the play and drawing in his sketch pad.

Olivia participated in the play (Braden didn't want to).  She was a little lamb.  You can see her in her green shirt with pink pants right in the front row.

Isn't she cute!!!  It was really nice to have them part of the service.  I am glad that we don't have to do it every week. I love that it is a time for Steve and I both to sit together quietly and also for the time to self-reflect.  It was nice to concentrate on them though and have them be a part of our church community. 

Shalom Wildlife Sanctuary

Last Saturday we traveled up to Shalom Wlidlife Sanctuary in West Bend.  It was a little drive but definitely worth it!  We bundled ourselves from head to toe and hopped aboard a covered wagon.  Santa was our host and what a host he was!  We sang songs, laughed, shouted, "Ho Ho Ho," and "He He He," and gathered goodies along the way. 

We met a number of families there,

and snuggled under blankets to keep warm!  

The animals were fantastic!  We saw a bobcat, albino deer, horses, skunk and many others.  Santa had stories to tell us about each animal.  It was heartwarming.

Norah was a really good girl. She was probably colder than she has ever been but stuck it out none the less and smiled for most of the time.  She did fuss a bit but a candy cane from Santa quickly changed her mood. :)  

I love traditions and I think we've found another to add to our holiday list!

Frosty the Snowman

This was how Olivia and I spent Norah's nap time this morning!  Oh and a little shoveling as well. :)

Picky Popsicle

This is my picky popsicle.  In most facets of life she is uber flexible but NOT when it comes to food.  At least not lately.

When I give her puffs, crackers, cheese, or pureed fruit she is happy as a lark.

Those eyes are amazing!

This however is the face I get if I even try to get diced peaches, pears, mandarin oranges, etc.

Fa La La La La

Both kids had Christmas concerts this week!  We've been singing carols around the house and in the holiday spirit. 

Olivia's was first.  There is nothing quite like a preschool concert. The parents are as excited as the kids, no one has any inhibitions and both adults and children alike will stand up and wave fanatically at their family members.  Olivia found us right away and continued to smile and wave throughout the whole concert.

The Normans sat with us and Braden was in heaven.  Lele and he drew and wrote love notes to each other the whole time. :)

This is dark and fuzzy - I don't have the best camera... YET!  You can see Olivia's cute red dress and curly pony tails.  

This is she and her best bud Ava afterwards.  They had a little reception in the basement with cookies and punch.

Next was Braden's concert.  It was crazy!  We left our house 30 minutes early and got some of the last seats in the gym.  Oops. I guess next year we need to get there at lunch time and camp out!

Norah spent the first part of Braden's concert on the floor playing with my phone!  Hopefully she didn't call anyone. :)  The next half she spent eating cheerios on Steve's lap.  Poor thing has a double ear infection but despite the pain she continues to smile.

Braden looked very handsome and did a great job.  They sang a handful of songs, had a bunch of different movements, and props.  I can't believe he is in elementary school already.  WOW.  

Christmas music coming from children does good for the soul so sing on kiddos!

Learning is FUN!

We continue to work on letters and numbers at home.  Many ideas I have gotten from this great book my neighbor recommended!  It has very quick, simple activities that I prepare five at a time and keep them ready to go in ziplock baggies.  

Braden has come so far.  He works hard and is really having fun finding success and gaining confidence. Here he put all the letters into alphabetical order.

This was another idea from my neighbor who happens to teach kindergarten!!  Braden numbered the stairs and we've practiced finding numbers, counting and adding on them.

Here we were practicing the days of the week and reading!  I gave him the shirts that we were going to hang on a "clothes line" in order.  He had to identify which word was which and then he got to decorate them before hanging them out to dry!! :)

We have both been in our glory and I'm so glad that we've been able to keep it fun and light!  

Life this week...

Olivia had a time out in her room one day this week.  She had missed a nap and she pitched the BIGGEST fit at Braden's school.  She literally cried the entire walk home.  She marched straight upstairs and not 10 minutes later I peeked in because it was quiet.  This is what I saw.  I didn't dare move her because I didn't want her to wake up unrested and go through the whole rigamaroll again.  When she finally came downstairs about 30 minutes later she was well rested and ready to, "be sweet!"

Braden had another family homework assignment.  It was to cut out and decorate a tree.  He drew the tree, cut it out and then chose what to decorate it with.  He used stickers, puff balls, beads and googly eyes.  Then we named it Elfy!

Eric, the Scout Elf, is visiting our house.  He flies away to Santa each night to report on the happenings he's seen and heard.  The next day he resides somewhere new.  Braden and Olivia have had fun looking for him each morning.  Santa also visited Braden, Olivia and Norah through email. Thanks Auntie Chris!! We hope to mail our letters this weekend.  

Grandma Grete

Thanksgiving time continues to be both a time of joy and sorrow for our family.  The Monday after Thanksgiving, Steve's grandma Grete passed away.  We knew it was coming but that somehow didn't make it any easier.  She was an incredible woman and is already greatly missed.  

The day before her death she asked one of her nurses for a hug and then proceeded to tell her that she had just seen her husband and two boys (all of whom had previously passed away).  She had a smile on her face and she asked the nurse if she could go see them.  The nurse reassured her that yes, she could go to them.  This story is so comforting during a time of heartbreak and loss. 

We traveled to the funeral with Norah but left Braden and Olivia with my mom and dad at our house.  We are very thankful they were willing to come down and help out.  Norah was a trooper and took a mini-nap in Steve's arms but other than that she delighted everyone with her smile and scrunchy nose.

Steve and his Aunt Cheryl are holding a yellow rose signifying Grandma Grete and her kindness.  The service was beautiful - it was personal and loving.  Cheryl mentioned a few times that Grandma Grete would have just loved the whole day.  She wished that she could have been there to enjoy it.  I don't think one can ask for more than that since the day of a funeral is a day to rejoice and celebrate the life lived.  The fact that it was "perfect" for her made it a perfect day. :)

This is Norah and her cousin Lola!  Lola had a great time chewing on the tray.  Norah enjoyed showing Lola one of her toys and just as Lola was about to take it, Norah would snatch it away.  What a little stinker.  They are going to be soooo cute together as they get older.

Grandma Grete had 9 children!  These are the 7 still living.  It was so nice to see everyone and catch up a bit.  It's too bad that it takes such an event for everyone to gather in the same place at the same time.  Darrell mentioned that it would be great if we knew when people were going to pass away and we could have the funeral the day before so that they could be a part of it.  He's exactly right!  We have to make the most of all of our moments together while we are all still here on earth.

Grandma Grete will be missed.  I know Steve is having a hard time with the loss and I imagine that Darrell and all of the other people in her life are as well.  She was a positive light in everyone's life and from the pictures at the funeral I see that she was quite the character at one time as well.  

We love you Grandma Grete... You will remain in our hearts forever.

Parenting as a Pair

My iMom group continues to be a source of inspiration, encouragement and friendship for me.  It takes some energy to get us ready to go on a day that we wouldn't have to normally head out of the house so I find myself on those mornings debating wether or not to go.  Each scheduled Tuesday I have consciously made the decision to pack us up, knowing it will be good for us all.  It is good for Olivia to be learning about God in a loving environment, it is good for Norah to have some time without her mommy, and good for me to reflect and be with other moms.

Two weeks ago the speakers were Elizabeth and Mike Murphy.  Their talk focused on parenting as a pair and what a wonderful blessing it is to have two parents present in the home.  I could relate to most all of what they said and found myself shaking my head, smiling and feeling a sense of relief while listening.

A few of the highlights for me were...

1. Even though Steve and I parent differently, those differences aren't bad.  In fact, they may be good for our children.  I need to work on letting Steve parent in his own ways and not feel that they way I do something is the "right" way.

2. They talked about owning certain things with the kids which I really liked.  One parent always did baths.  Another always did bedtime, etc.  We don't do this and I think it'd be really cool if we each had our own special things we did with them.  Something to think about.

3.  Parenting with a purpose was part of the discussion.  Deciding ahead of time what type of person we want to be raising.  Who do we want them to become?  THEN... always parenting with that in mind.  She also talked a bit about planning out with her husband ahead of time what they would do for discipline when the situations arose.  Brilliant! I loved that idea.

4.  There were many other points that I loved but the last that I'll highlight is her thoughts on taking care of yourself.  She said, "You don't have to shave... but that doesn't mean you shouldn't."  "You don't have to shower in the morning and look nice each day... but that doesn't mean you shouldn't."  Ugh - this is so huge for me. I have given myself freely to my children and need to be better about making time for me.  I always said I wouldn't lose myself. I don't think that I fully have but I certainly am having a hard time justifying time for myself to shower and get ready in the morning, exercise, etc.  I feel selfish doing so even when in my head I know that is ridiculous.  I think there is a fine line of balance in this situation of making yourself available for your children and taking time for yourself.  The never ending battle with finding balance!

It was a wonderful morning which left me with much to think about.  I am really thankful that I chose to join this group and that the small group of women I meet with each Tuesday has been so welcoming and warm.

Happy Birthday Norah!

Norah turned one yesterday!  WOW - I cannot believe my baby turned one years old.  I will post more later this week but for those of you who like stats...

She is 21 pounds 1.5 ounces which is just under the 50th percentile.  She is 29 1/2 inches tall which is between the 50th and the 75th percentile.  And of course... she is 100% adorable. :)

Poor Little Olivia

Olivia and I went to a tour at Edwardo's Pizzeria.  We got to see the kitchen, the giant bags of flour and were able to walk into the cold freezer!!  

Afterwards the kids got to make their own pizza's.  Poor Olivia... this was hers.  We have her off all dairy at the moment so she had crust, sauce and sausage!  We are thinking that she may have a dairy sensitivity.  We'll find out more after I talk with our doctor tomorrow.  It's a good thing that she is SUCH a flexible little girl and is able to go with the flow.  She didn't complain once. :)

Decorating for Christmas

It's become our tradition to decorate for Christmas the weekend after Thanksgiving.  We bought our tree, let the branches fall overnight and set to work the next day!  I pulled out the Christmas PJ's I had bought the kids, we jammed to some holiday tunes and drank hot cocoa.  

I LOVE this picture.  Moments like this melt my heart.  When did they get so big?

Their PJ's are absolutely perfect for them!  Olivia's are pink with ruffles on the edges.  The Santa's are very jolly.  They fit her personality perfectly.  Braden's are skulls with candy canes.  A little bit sassy and a little bit sweet!  They fit his personality perfectly as well.  Norah did get in on the action and her's are footie PJ's with sweet Santa's and Snowmen.  

Steve and I finished decorating after the kids went to bed.  This is the final product.  I think it is our most beautiful tree.  My sister-in-law would be so proud... I spent a couple of hours wrapping branches. I think there are a mere 800 lights illuminating our living room. :)  Not only do the lights give the tree such depth but we inherited a box of Santa ornaments last year when my grandma passed away so they have filled the tree.  There are ornaments hanging all throughout from the inside branches all the way to the outside.  I loved hanging them and thinking about Christmas' growing up visiting their house.  It's nice to have some things from her favorite holiday to remind me of her each year.

This is the same picture in another light setting on my camera.  I couldn't decide which I liked better.  I love the warmth this time of year brings to the house.  The decorations are very busy - opposite from what I normally prefer - and maybe that is why I love it!  Yipeeeeee..... Christmas is on it's way!

Thanksgiving 2010

Thanksgiving morning was the third annual Turkey Trot.  We ran it two years ago, then last year skipped it because I was about to have Norah.  This year Norah stayed home with Em and Sam.  Braden, Olivia, Steve and I got bundled up and ready to run.

It was FREEZING!  You can see from the picture how gray the sky was... a gloomy, cold, day.  That didn't stop us however from having a really great time.  All of us but Dick ran the 2 mile run.  He was the brave soul who ran all 5 miles.  Braden ran/walked the first mile and then rode in the stroller for the second mile.

Olivia rode the whole way and believe it or not fell asleep.  I don't quite know how one falls asleep amongst roughly four thousand runners but she managed to do so!  

Braden was quite proud of his first race number but I think his favorite part was the pumpkin pie that you get at the end.

On the way home Steve and I hit one of the only Starbucks open in the area.  We had 8 drinks in total which was a little comical.  It was the perfect treat to warm us up after the run.

This was a picture of the beautiful table.  I love it when my mom pulls out her china.  It feels so fancy!  Kind of like Fancy Nancy. :) Can you tell I am the mom of a three year old?  I hope to continue on in the tradition of bringing out my dishes for special occasions.  

We have the most wonderful discussion at the table each year.  We go around one by one and talk about what we are most thankful for.  This group, there are 14 of us now have been gathering for as long as I can remember.  Although not blood relatives, they are truly part of our family.  Our sharing is honest, heartfelt and at times emotional.  I love the tradition.  It's one of the reasons I love Thanksgiving so much.

This was our family shot.  I am absolutely shocked that we are all smiling at the same time! Even Norah. Next year at this time Sam and Em's baby will be with us as well.  We can't wait to meet their little bambino. :)

One more whole group shot!!  Even my mom's newest cat, Harvey, is posing!  Can you see him?  

Thanksgiving this year was quiet in comparison with the last couple of years.  Last year my grandma died and the year before I had my miscarriage.  We welcomed the quietness with open arms.  I love my family, my extended Thanksgiving family and the opportunity the holiday give us to reflect on all that we are grateful for.