Fun with Bart and Sheri

Brt and Sheri took us to see their new house, which is beautiful. We had all the things there for a "proper" celebration... We had fun people, good wine, and fantastic conversation. We did not have a wine bottle openner... Bart solved that problem with screws and his power drill.

Can't fault me for making some Christmas wishes...

One foot in front of the other.

This week has been CRAZY! Next week is going to be just as bad.

1. Cooper had a cookie dough fundraiser at his school. I was the chairperson. I spent all day there yesterday organizing cookie dough and distributing it. When I say all day, I mean it. 9:15 AM until 9:45 PM.
2. Our beloved worship leader is leaving our church. She has been transfered to IN, another excuse to visit that fine state. We have a going away lunch and party Sunday after church.
3. My cousin and her boyfriend are coming to visit for the weekend. I have to finish cleaning the family room and figure out how to use the blow up matress by tomorrow evening.
4. I have a Christmas party tomorrow evening that requires 2-3 dozen cookies I haven't even thought about baking yet.
5. Travis has to be at work next Monday and Tuesday morning at 2AM!!!! Holy Cow! That's early.
6. We have to pack suitcases, the van, and the luggage carrier before Wednesday morning. (You know it's going to be a "Big" Christmas when you are instructed to bring the luggage carrier up to Chicago. There better be a MIx Master with my name on it!!!! That won't go in the luggage carrier, that will be buckeled in the van, a child may have to ride in the carrier to make room.)

The good news is, I've done 2 loads of laundry today (folded and put away). The kitchen floor was washed (on my hands and knees). The kitchen table and counters were also washed. Dinner is planned and defrosting for tonight and tomorrow night.

Some hodge-podge

Cooper loves waiting for the bus! He will go out as early as I will let him just to wander the end of the driveway and wait for the bus. Notice the new driveway we had laid this week! It looks beautiful.


Nelson working very hard to beat a level of Donkey Kong Country. Yep, he still wears the "batman animal cape" everyday! He's stopped wearing it to school, but it does go in his backpack.


We have discovered that Maddox really likes lime wedges.

Nelson's Christmas Program

Nelson had his big Christmas program last night. Like the 3 yrs past, it was the night of the first St. Louis snowfall. In the past I've gone to this program to see a camel, a wiseman, and a camel again. (the preschool and Pre-K classes do the program together. Cooper has done this program 2 times and now Nelson has done it 2 times.)
For the first time, one of my kids had lines! Nelson was so excited. He was the Inn Keeper. He had the daunting task of telling Mary and Joseph, "No room". He delivered his line with confidence and clarity. Now if only we could say the same about his singing... He sung most of the songs, and from what I could tell, had most of the words right too. There were moments that he was just lost in thought, or something. I would like to think he was thinking of the Christmas story and just lost in the awe and miracle of it all, but I know better than that.

What's wrong with this picture?

Just for Sophie!

Sophie, I got your message last night, I'm sorry I didn't call you back. Bible study ran late and I didn't want to wake you. Here are soome pictures of my hair. I hope you like it. See you in a couple weeks.

An important reminder

The older 2 boys were coloring at the kitchen table this morning while Maddox was finishing breakfast and I was washing my face and putting in my contacts.
All of a sudden I hear, "Cooper, God saw that!!!!"
Aparently, Cooper didn't like it that Nelson was taking his time passing the box of crayons and just snatched them.

7 random facts about me.

Kasey this was a tough one!
Here's how it works:
The meme: 7 random facts about me
The rules:Link to your tagger and post these rules.
Share 7 facts about yourself: some random, some weird.
Tag 7 people at the end of your post and list their names (linking to them).
Let them know they’ve been tagged by leaving a comment at their blogs.

1. I'm petrified of spiders. Big or small, they freak me out!!!!!
2. I have an unhealthy (some say) obsession with Kitchen Aid stand mixers. I dream about them, drool over them, and pet them in the stores. I want one more than anything in the world. Seriously people, imagine all the cookies and mashed potatoes I could make...
3. I have a twin sister that looks nothing like me! We couldn't look more different.
4. I love mornings! I love the stillness in the house, the smell of freshly brewed coffee, and the anticipation of the day that lies ahead.
5. I have a love for purses and diaper bags. I've had 3 boys and I think about 7 diaper bags... I won't even tell you how many purses I have. Let's just say the boys don't get to use their closet shelves for clothes becasue they are already full of my purses.
6. I could eat Chinese food everyday and not get sick of it.
7. I struggled to come up with a 7th, Travis offered to help me... He says to pick between my "gadget whore" behaviors (I love gadgets, I don't need a GPS but I've researched them and can tell you the best one out there for me. I don't need a palm or smart phone either, but can tell you the best ones of those too.) There's also my lipgloss obsession (there are 12 tubes of it between my make up drawer and my purse) they all serve a different purpose and all have a different "flavor". I have the Buxom Amber from Bare Essentials that give my pucker plump and sheer color... Then there's the Philosophy trio from Sephora that all have a yummy to my tummy flavor (cinnamon roll, cranberry or hot chocolate). I could make a post a mile love just about my lip gloss, but won't bore you with it...

I tag: Kimberly, Shanelle, Niki, Penny Karma, and Erin. (I don't have 7 faithful blog readers and bloggers to tag)

Shepared boys.

Cooper and Nelson were asked to be the shepards this morning for the Advent reading. Our interem pastor and his wife are absolutely amazing! They love the boys and do everything in their power to get them involved in the service. In addition to being the shepards, they also were the special music again. I swear if Travis and I have to listen to "Every Move I Make"(the Na Na song) one more time we are going to scream!
They sang and then got to participate in the "children's message" by making a paper chain out of angels.

Visiting Santa

We took the boys to the mall on Friday night to go visit Santa. It went surprisingly well. Cooper and Nelson surprised us with a few requests from Santa, so there was some scurrying around on Saturday. Maddox didn't hate the jolly old man, he didn't love him either. Thanks to Travis's quick trigger finger and creative angles, we got one shot of all three boys on his lap and none of my arm. Maddox had to reach out and be able to touch me, or else he would scream.

More Thanksgiving Fun

Layna and me ejoying some cuddle time.



Grandpa and Maddox enjoying some cuddle/wrestle time before bed.


Karl looking at all the sale flyers helping us girls chart out our next day (which began at 3:30AM)

Because Effingham wasn't enough fun first thing in the morning...

We pulled out the iPod and rocked out to some Bon Jovi.

Ferris adventure up to Chicago.

We stopped in Effingham, IL right after 6AM for breakfast. Cracker Barrell is so good early in the morning. The boys got dressed (they were loaded into the car before 4:30AM in their jammies).

I want a front porch big enough to hold a family of these rockers.


Happy brothers, happier minutes later when the pancakes came!

Happy Early Thanksgiving!

I'm scrambling around trying to get laundry finished, bags packed, dogs bathed, and the house ready to go away tomorrow morning!!!!
Our family started celebrating early. Sunday we had a Thanksgiving dinner with our church. The food was amazing the fellowship was great and all of us had a good time.
I raced home from church Sunday morning, and put the turkey in the oven. (it was the second turkey I've ever made) Thanks to my parents, the Thanksgiving pros, the turkey turned out juicy with perfect skin!!!!!

Never a dull moment

This is Maddox's new favorite place to play. He can stand up and pull the fridge open. For some reason, there is great entertainment in there for him.


I would rather Maddox take lessons from his brothers and entertain himself quietly (and less destructively) with coloring books and crayons. He has been offered crayons as recently as 2 days ago... He likes to eat them.

Our Kindergarten Indian

Cooper came home from school last week with a piece of paper with instructions for an Indian vest. I groaned and cringed when I saw it. I HATE PROJECTS! I'm not artsy at all! I look at creative memory albums with envy. I'm good to get my pictures loaded on Travis's computer and in the right folders. I see homemade jewelry and long to make it. I see cute wall art and decorations and think they would be easy to throw together. Then I'm thrown back into reality. Heck, I can't even hang my UpperCase Living decals alone!!!
Anyway, all that to say. I'm very thankful for the husband I have. He sat down with Cooper on Sunday afternoon and the 2 of them made an amazing Indian vest. When Cooper glued his final piece of maccaroni on Travis exclaimed, "Gosh, I was born for this!" I'm thrilled that he was! I sure wasn't and will never claim that I was.

Pumpkin cookie goodness

The pumpkin cookies Cooper and I made.

Maddox enjoying the pumpkin cookies.

Steak-N-Shake

Since it was a special day today, it called for a special lunch. Cooper decided Steak-N-Shake would be the perect place to end Grandparents' Day. The food came in a (surprisingly)timely fashion. The order was 100% right (a first for me at SNS). All in all, it was a great lunch!

Grandparents' Day

Cooper and Grandma.


Playing games with all his classmates and their grandparents.

Book-It

Yummy pepperoni pizza.


Cooper was so proud of his accomplishment!

One night, no children

This past Saturday night, we went with my family to the Art Museum in Chicago. It was a benefit dinner with time to wander thru the art galleries. We had a really good time. I got to see paintings that I hadn't seen since grade school field trips. Travis saw the museum for the first time.

Travis and I really excited to be out child-free.


Sheila and Clint really excited to be out without the kids.

Ryne's Birthday Party.

Cooper cheesing it up for the camera.

Ryne and Nelson enjoying Transformer cupcakes.

Maddox rocking the activity table.

All the cousins.

It could be worse...

Ever since Cooper started school he has become much more aware of what he wears, what he watches, and what he says. He's always worried about looking cool, sounding cool, and watching cool shows. His current obsession is a great zip-up hoodie. The kid wears it over EVERYTHING!!! He puts it on in the morning and tells me it's part of the "outfit". He comes by this honestly. I have 13 hoodie sweaters and sweatshirts in my posession. "What Not to Wear" would have a field day in my closet. I want my child to dress in the clothes he wants to wear, the struggle comes into play when he is more concerned about what his friends at school will say about the clothes. We had a HUGE fight yesterday over a shirt. I wanted him to wear it, he wanted nothing to do with it. In my defense, I still see him as my little boys. I want to dress him in cute clothes. He sees himself as a cool, too big for mom's help, Kindergartner. I put him in an undershirt and then had him put on a brand new turtleneck shirt. It had blue white and gray strips (was from the Children's Place, an approved store to shop at). Cooper threw a fit because the shirt wasn't cool. He got off the bus yesterday afternoon wearing nothing but the blue undershirt. He took the turtleneck off and had it stuffed in the bottom of his backpack. This is where I'm struggling. Do I make him wear it becasue I said so, or do I just let him start picking out his clothes everday and keep my mouth shut?
Gosh, being a parent is hard work!!! It could be worse, he could have been a girl...

It's confirmed...

I'm an addict. The good news is, I'm a "just above average" addict. This means, there is no need for any kind of 12 step program, intervention, or other forms of counseling. Just leave me and my cup o joe alone!

I am 75% Addicted to Coffee

Get a cash advance

Happy Holloween

The older two boys drew faces on their pumpkins, and then with help, carved them all by themselves. I do not have any progress pictures of the carving becasue that was a special project each boy did, individually with Travis. Maddox did not carve a pumpkin this year or draw on it. We don't trust him with sharp objects yet and he puts EVERYTHING in his mouth. I didn't think giving him a marker would be the best idea.

Raphael, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle.

The Dark Knight. Don't ask, we aren't sure who Dark Knight is. Nelson just really liked the costume.

The cutest bear on the block! Okay, the only bear on the block.

The Dark Knight (minus the mask that's too big) and the Ninja Turtle posing for the camera.

Layna being the cutest Tootsie Roll on the block!