Our Christmas 2011

Valerie and Austin's piles. Valerie was right in front of the tree and Austin's was off to the side. With our Disney tickets in the middle of the tree.

I kept telling Austin the only way we could go to Disney is if Santa brought us tickets. This made him pretty upset because he did not put them on his list and thought for sure there would be no tickets. Daddy tried to reassure him and said that he asked for Disney tickets for the entire family. So Austin Kept say...boy I hope daddy was a good boy so we can go to Disney:) I love the innocents

Savannah's pile

The only half good picture of Valerie

We had the most perfect Christmas we could ever ask for. I get pretty excited for the kids to wake up and see if Santa came.
Thanks to Granny my wrapping this year was painless!

This year we did an advent Calender that The kids all enjoyed. It was more of an activity calender, no goodies. The last week we focused on doing things for others, except Christmas eve it was our traditional open 1 present of mommies choice. Last year we did away with matching pjs and got ones specific for each Child. They were a big hit.

Rob mentioned to me something his family did as kids and thought we should give it a try. When I was growing up we always knew what pile of toys was who's because of the stocking sitting in front of the pile, so this is what I have always done. However Robs family always had the stocking sitting by the bedroom door, so the kids knew Santa had come. I have to say I wasn't sure about it until Christmas morning. Austin woke up first and when he came to our room he announced Santa had come because there was a full stocking sitting at his door. He never went in it, instead asked if he could bring it to us. We were pretty happy about this because it was only 630. Both Valerie and Austin brought their stockings to our room sat on our bed and opened them. This was great, it gave Rob and I some time to wake up, brush our teeth and gave Savannah some more sleep time before we had to wake her. Then she opened her stocking. I have to say the kids were all good and patient never in a rush to get down stairs. We finally started to make our way down the steps around 710.

I was very impressed with the kids again this year. It makes me pretty happy that they don't run down the steps and tear things apart. They kind of look around soak it in and then Valerie and Austin try to get Savannah into it. Savannah didn't need as much help this year, she got into it pretty quick. They all took their time and opened their gifts. I have to say it's hard when you want to get a video and still pictures and be a part of the action. I think a tri pod and better placement are in store for next year.
The most played gift this year...by both daddy and Austin. They both really enjoy it.

Oh the computer, thank goodness...Nanny and poppy :) Whenever you would ask Savannah what she wanted for Christmas her response was a computer.
I tried to upload a video of the morning but after an hour it still said uploading, maybe I'll try u tube

Christmas tree

Our Christmas tree is up! Granny and Grampy came this past weekend and with them they brought our tree. This is a first of many years I am sure, a little hard for me to get use to. But $80 for a real tree is just not ok! So a fake one it will be.

Everyone seemed to have a great time. I sit back and watch everyone and it is quite fun to watch. Our tree has now become 60% Penn State and 30% homemade 10% left over from my tree decorating days.

Daddy and Austin have been playing with the racetrack under the tree. Daddy got a little frustrated getting it up, and about has a hart attack when someone goes near it, but I think the longer it is up the more relaxed he will become with it.

as usual

So once again behind. But we will catch up at some point. I just feel as though pictures need to with a blog post, so that takes more time. Plus with the ease of facebook uploading and sharing, it makes keeping the blog up to date seem like a lot of work. Even though we all know it really isn't

Anyway for Halloween we took the kids to a farm...there is no picking your own pumpkins here in Fl, but they just as much fun doing a maze, seeing the smelly animals, and jumping, then picking their pumpkins out of cardboard boxes.





So once again behind. But we will catch up at some point. I just feel as though pictures need to with a blog post, so that takes more time. Plus with the ease of facebook uploading and sharing, it makes keeping the blog up to date seem like a lot of work. Even though we all know it really isn't

Anyway for Halloween we took the kids to a farm...there is no picking your own pumpkins here in Fl, but they just as much fun doing a maze, seeing the smelly animals, and jumping, then picking their pumpkins out of cardboard boxes.

Halloween 2011

This year was a little more organized than last year, since we have been here a year now! I can't believe we have lived in Florida of a year. I am lovin the life, and I think everyone else is as well. Not too many complaints.

Our "Angel" and Mario

a little blurry, boy is it continually getting hard to get pictures of her. I wasn't even out the door and she was gone. A month before she didn't want to go trick or treating, than a week before she wanted this elaborate costume that I just could not muster up before Halloween. So she went with the Dark Angel. The shoes (mine) lasted about 15 minutes.

His school parade. The kids were only allowed to dress as story book characters, so I frantically stitched this supper man outfit, which he now wears as pajamas. Turns out he could have worn his supper mario outfit

Austin and his best bud Josh the robot

The 2 neighbor girls that val went with. There was a boy in the mix, however he didn't want to get in the photo.
I caught this one photo as they were passing. Sara (prisoner) and Amanda (witch), came home way before Valerie and Jarrad Sara's brother. Jarrad's mom had to go searching for them because trick or treat was over and they still were not home.
Around here there is a dentist office that buys candy back for $1/1lb. they send the candy to the troops and less in our house. I am not sure but I think i missed it, if not I will be heading over on Monday with lots of candy:)

t-ball

Well t-ball is almost over and I am finally getting some pictures up. He is having a good time, but doing t-ball 2 times a week and biking 2 times a week is enough to send me over the edge. Daddy is enjoying the assistant coach part and next year he wants to actually be head coach.

It's been a while

Finding the time to blog is rough...we'll figure it out. In the mean time here are some photos of the kids the last few months. They are growing so fast!


Valerie helping me make sure my fixed lens works

Austin started t-ball, it's a little different down here, it's almost like they are grooming them to be all star players


Savannah enjoying watching Austin bike. Valerie has been out of commission with her wrist

Where does time go?

You think it would be easy to just sit and update the blog. Really how hard is it, apparently too hard. Well, now on to what is new. Austin had his birthday party and the only thing we got were videos, so I will have to download them to share. I think he had a really good time. He especially loved daddy as Bowser and hitting him with water balloons at the end of the "Mario World" we created.

Austin also started t-ball last week. He seems to like it, it's getting tiring traveling to do everything, but he is having fun non the less. His first game is next Thursday. I'm not sure who is more excited, Daddy or Austin. They are quit serious around here when it comes to T-ball. Austin had to go to evaluations, then they had a draft. After the kids were picked, he started practice 2 times a week, with homework (yea you read right homework). Nothing major, just learning where all the pl ayes are SUPPOSE to be. SUPPOSE to be, come on they are 5! I always though Austin was pretty good, the when I went to his first practice, some of the other kids, blew him out of the water. It's like these dad's have been grooming them for this. Now don't get me wrong, Austin is pretty good, t-ball is just not his primary focus in life. He is doing great in biking, he is standing up around the track for almost the entire time (a hug feat for him). He hasn't had a race in a little while. But he has moved up in the rankings for his age.

Valerie, Valerie, Valerie. Well all I can really say is I do believe we hit the teenage years. She is taking sometime off from biking for a little. We are trying to regroup, and find a happy medium. I love that girl to death, but I think we are TO much a like sometimes. She's growing like a weed and is taller than me and has bigger feet now. It was nice the other day, I went in my closet and I had new shoes. Ones she had barley worn and of course I liked, because I had to approve the purchase. Score for mommy! Her grades are doing great this year. She just got her interims yesterday and all except 1 grads were A's. We are just working through some things to get her back on track with the home life.

Savannah, she is a riot. In the last week she has dumped pain on the floor 2 times. Both times while someone is right next to her "watching her". She has learned what the corner is and even put herself there 2 weeks ago. She too is growing fast. I think it is safe to say she will be taller than me as well. Yesterday I put her in her room for a nap, I went to my sewing room and on the monitor I heard a very excited little girl yell I did it, I did it. I thought did she climb out of her crib? But I heard more talking and thought no, she would have come out. Then about 5 minutes later, I heard her calling for me (I shut my door because I am loud). I open my door to find her on the steps. Trying not to laugh, I picked her back up, put her back in the crib and said sternly stay here, don't get out, night night. A little while later a big thunder cracked (she is terrified of thunder), and as I was opening the door, she is screaming at the top of her lungs lunging into me. So this week it looks like we are switching to a toddler bed. I am so not ready.

Joepa is home with us now. The last time Bob and Mary came we asked if they could let Joepa stay. Everyone here is very happy, but I am sure he is missed in Altoona