More Snow Fun

The kiddos have been having a great time with all of the snow. Greyson even liked it. He is borrowing a snowsuit from his cousin - he loves going down the hill on the sled. Raleigh does a better job of holding on to him than Sydney does.

SNOW DAY!

Raleigh had a snow day last Friday - the girls went out in their PJ's and snowsuits until I made them come in to get dressed and head out the door.

Our deck is great for Snow Angels!

Greyson was trying a reverse-inside-under-the-chair-non-snow angel. He did not get to go out with the girls...uh...because I was not out with them either.

25 Things To Be Thankful For...

Here is my list of 25 things to be thankful for this THANKSGIVING...
1. Thankful for James (how did I get so lucky??)
2. Thankful for Raleigh - a wonderful girl who is smart and talented in many ways
3. Thankful for Sydney - she keeps me smiling and she's always up for splitting a Panera frozen mocha
4. Thankful for Greyson - my little boy that I was not sure I would ever have
5. Thankful for our new house
6. Thankful for our old house - James picked a great place for spend the first 10 years
7. Thankful for our extended families - parents, siblings, nieces and nephews
8. Thankful for being healthy
9. Thankful for James' job
10. Thankful for Raleigh's school and her teacher
11. Thankful for Sydney's school and her teachers
12. Thankful for our church and the people we have met there
13. Thankful for M&Ms
14. Thankful for lots of good friends
15. Thankful that baby James and baby Hudson are in Heaven - there is no better place for them
16. Thankful that our family has boots, coats, hats, gloves and mittens
17. Thankful that our house is warm when it is cold outside
18. Thankful that the girls (on their own) put some of their money into their banks that go to the children in Mexico who live in the dump
19. Thankful for having money to pay for food and extra stuff
20. Thankful that the snow is coming! (I love snow)
21. Thankful that James and I both have vehicles that run
22. Thankful for the plunger that I bought today - 2 less clogged toilets (where is our other one??)
23. Thankful for Thanksgiving!
24. Thankful that the kids have Jesus in their hearts
25. Thankful that I have Jesus in my life and EVERYTHING that goes with that!

Water EVERYWHERE!

Normally when I give Greyson a bath, he is in-and-out in about 35 seconds. I wash him up, rinse him off, and wrap him in a towel. He normally gets mad because he likes the water but...I have stuff to do...so out he goes. Well, last night I let him play in the water. He was splashing like a crazy kid. There was water EVERYWHERE! All over the counter, all over the floor. James and I were laughing so hard. We tried to get his attention so he would smile for a picture and he would not even look at us. greyson, GREYson, GREYSON, G-R-E-Y-S-O-N!!! Nothing...just splashing. So between that and the fact that the girls want to take a bath in our tub so they can be dolphins, bath time is going to take a long time at our house:)

Minnesota

James and I took Greyson to Minnesota for a quick trip last week. James had a conference near Minneapolis so we stayed there for a few days and I took Greyson down to Rochester to visit one of my college roommates. We had a great time! Grey did great on the airplane - he even got his own seat on one of the flights because the plane was not full. The girls stayed home and got to spend time with both of their grandmas - they loved it too!

Halloween

As much as I don't love Halloween - I do like trick-or-treating with the kids. Sydney was funny again this year - she talked with the people handing out candy - telling them how much she liked their dog and telling them she was Cinderella... This year was fun - James and I walked with Greyson and the girls ran from house to house. Sydney broke a heel about 5 minutes into the evening - I am glad I brought tennis shoes with us - she was going slow but did love the sound that the high heels made. The girls got a lot of candy - and I got some butterfingers!

Go Go Greyson

Greyson surprised Raleigh and me last night and got up on all fours! He has a ways to go before he starts crawling but he is getting frusterated that he cannot do it. He can get himself to go backwards - there is drool all over the floor:) In our new house we will actually need a baby gate for the first time - weird.

James and Raleigh

James finished his first half-marathon this morning. He made it in just under 2 hours. The kids and I did not go to the race because it was so cold but the kids attacked James when he came home!

and...Raleigh lost her first tooth. Her new one already is coming in - she is so excited!

Goodbye House!

We did it! We sold our house in 1 week. We don't know where we are going to end up yet but the girls are ready to MOVE! Raleigh put up the sold sign last night!

Sydney's New Friend

Leave it to Sydney to make us wonder...

For the past year, Sydney calls all of her animals Sara. When she plays house, she is to be called Sara. Her dolls...all named...Sara. I really think she wants to be Sara.

So she comes home from preschool the past few days and I ask her who she played with. Her answer...Sara.

Hmmmm...Raleigh had her "friends" Eja, Tika, and their little brother Tobexen for a long time. I was beginning to wonder if her little preschool friend was on of those "friends". So I asked her if there really was a girl in her class named Sara. Yes Mom. I like her.

The next day I asked again and I got the same answer. I played with Sara. So, I finally got out the class list and yes indeed there is a SARA in her class.

I finally asked Sydney if she was frineds with Sara because she liked her or because her name was Sara. Her answer...because I like her...and her name is Sara.

Fun in Pentwater

James and I took the kids to Pentwater this weekend and stayed in a cottage we rented. The girls loved it! We were glad we brought our bikes and the girls really wanted to go climbing on the sand dunes by Silver Lake. Of course I left my camera in the car for that part but it was a lot of fun. Greyson flew a kite for the first time - he actually held onto the string thing - it was funny.

James and Raleigh built a big sand castle - and then it caved in before we could get a picture of it. The water in Lake Michigan was totally clear but a little cold. All in all - a fun weekend in a cute cottage!

Raleigh's First Day of School

Raleigh was looking forward to her first day of 1st grade! She woke up before the alarm and was ready to go in 10 minutes. She kept trying to get James out of the door so she could go to school. I have not gone school clothes shopping for her yet so he is wearing her clothes from last year - oh well - she doesn't seem to care. I am looking forward to getting her from the bus stop and seeing how her day went.

Missy is Married!!

Missy and Dan

Sydney and her cousin Mallory

Our family - we never did get a great picture of all of us

nor did we get one where all the kids were looking and smiling at the same time...oh, and Greyson's shoes were not on yet either

the reception was fun and the food was great!

Sydney

My sister Missy got married last night - the wedding was beautiful and we had a lot of fun!!

Stuff about Grey

Greyson is SO EXCITED that I am finally getting around to feeding him food - the girls were pros by this age and I have just been putting it off - you know - wait until the 10 days of diarreah are gone - wait until after vacation...anyway...FINALLY I got around to it...

...and he HATES it. Everything about rice cereal he hates. Doesn't want to swallow it. Doesn't like it on his tongue. Spits EVERYTHING out. He is CLUELESS about eating. Although I do think his 4 bottles a day are really easy - I am not pushing him too hard - it is more work on me when he does eat:) He will get it sooner or later but as of now - I just feed him and laugh at him and keep telling him - "Keep it in your mouth - SWALLOW IT - you WILL LIKE IT!"

James did ask me the other day if Greyson's clothes could get wet. Huh??!! Sure - they can get wet.

I went downstairs only to find James with the newest member of the family helping him wash golf balls - at 5 months old! He loved it. The girls love helping James wash golf balls and now I guess Grey does too. He is lucky he cannot stand up yet - there is not room for 3 kids on the stool - I can only imagine what that is going to be like...

And as I am looking at the laundry room/work room...it needs a makeover! That looks horrible! I wonder if James wants a nicer/more updated space to wash golfballs in??

I guess this is just Sydney...

Today the kiddos and I were running around getting few things done and in the car Sydney says..."Mommy, I gotta frow up" - hands over her mouth
"do you have your bucket?" (we keep one in the car for such occasions for our carsick girl)
"no, I cannot reach it"
"well, we are here, I think you will be all right"
We get out of the car into the parking lot...
"are you going to be all right?"
"I don't know - my belly feels funny - I want the round orange medicine" (Dramimine)
"You don't need the orange medicine - we are in the car 10 minutes"
Since Sydney throws up in the car all of the time I was not worried because she has never thrown up outside of the car. So we walk into the store - the one where I get my sewing machine fixed... In the store, nobody is around - nobody wants to help me. I go to the side room to show the lady that I was there - she sees me and ignores me so I go back and wait.
"Mommy - I gotta frow-up"
"Here, if you throw up - do it in this trash can" (a small trashcan with a plastic bag in it)
Head in the trashcan...
"BBBLLLLUUUPPPPP - BBBLLLLUUUPPPPP"
"Ohhh - I feel better now - can I go play??" (Now, full of smiles and back to normal, my 3 year old is back to her self).
I am standing there with a trashcan full of vomit - what am I going to do? I see an open door in the back of the store - out I walk - dump the vomit into the bushes - return into the store - still nobody cares that I am there - nobody noticed - put the trashcan back...waited a few more minutes for the saleslady...Sydney is playing - everything is Great!

I DO NOT UNDERSTAND this car sick stuff. Short trips, long trips, not every time, always enough warning to make it into the bucket...I don't get it!

Rollercoaster Girls

James and I took the girls to Michigan's Adventure earlier this week. The girls LOVED it. I cannot believe how well they did all day long. We stayed until it closed at 9pm and the girls were not done. They loved the rollercoasters. Both girls put their arms up going down the hills - it was too fun. Raleigh was in tears when she found out that she was 1 inch too short to ride the biggest rollercoasters. I cannot believe next year she can ride them with me. They loved the water park too - the wave pool was fun and James got to take Raleigh down some of the water slides. I was glad I did not have to carry the camera with me all day long but I do wish I had some pictures. My sister-in-law was so nice to watch Greyson all day long. She said he did well - he even peed (how do you spell that??) on her when she changed his diaper - with a smile on his face. I am so glad we took the girls this year. Sydney is "8 days past tired" as James says. Hopefully she will catch up on sleep soon!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RALEIGH!

Happy Birthday Raleigh -

6 years ago was one of the best days in my life - it was an answer to a long time of praying and hoping. You are a Joy and a Blessing. You have grown up to be such a great girl - you are a great helper, a good student, a wonderful sister, and most importantly you have Jesus in your heart...I could not be happier. I look forward to many more wonderful years watching you grow up. I love you more than you will ever know. Have a great birthday today.
I LOVE YOU -
Mom

'Cause We're Sisters...

"'Cause we're sisters - we stick together."

On our Tennessee trip I overheard Raleigh saying that to Sydney - how true it is.

Trip to Tennessee

We took a family trip to Tennessee to visit my brother and his family. They live on the side of a mountain so were not sure what to expect. We had a great time. Sydney lost her cookies twice on the way there - luckily for us we are used to her random motion sickness and drove prepared with a yack bucket. She really does do a great job of getting everything into the bucket with smiles after. I did stop and get some Dramimine - we were not sure how she would react to it but it seemed to work. She did not get sleepy or hyper either so that was good. THe girls were great travelers (Greyson was too). I could not have asked the kids to behave better. It made the trip really nice. Grey's ears bothered him I think going up and down the mountain. He would get a little fussy while we were going up and down but then was fine after. The girls swam a lot at Ben's house and had a great time with their Tennessee cousins.

Butterfly garden at the aquarium

We let the kids play in this river thing by the aquarium - it was really cool. Some parts were up to their knees and some was shallower. The kids all took off their shoes and had a good time. Sydney was a little wet after (big surprise).

The girls are always up for a good aquarium- they like the gift shops which we amazingly left empty-handed. A family can only have so many pink stuffed dolphins. THe aquarium was fun.

Ben and Janet took us on a tour of the mountain - we played at a great playground with the biggest slide I have seen. We got in a few games of Euchre which I think I lost every time, and got to see a lot of Tennessee - which was great since I don't remember going there when I was younger. We will have to go back since it was so fun. Maybe next summer!

Ruby Falls

We went to Ruby Falls - it was fun to go through the mountain and then see the falls. The light show was fun - we got to walk under the falls too. The girls loved it and keep asking to go back. I told them they could go back together when they are adults and they could bring their kids...imagine that...

We picked a busy day - the kids were not thrilled about waiting but I think it was worth it.

Top of Lookout Mountain

Sydney held up the mountain for us - she is so strong

Raleigh loved it too.

I am sure glad we saw the signs that said SEE RUBY FALLS everywhere. Apparantly everyone else did too...

And we got a flat

We got a flat tire on the way home from Tennessee. Luckily we were right by an exit with a gas station. The girls helped James change the tire to the spare. We rode on it for awhile and then called Ben and Janet who looked up a tire place for us that was open on Sunday. Who would have thought of WalMart??!! It was 4 miles up the road so we stopped and they told us the tire was un-repairable but they did not have the right size so they called around and found a tire place 12 miles back. James dropped the kids and me off at a McDonalds Playland. We ate, played, and then ate more - we split a McFlury and finished just as James walked in with a fixed van.

James helped Sydney with the Jack and he helped her tighten the bolts. Because it all took so long, we skipped Dino-World. We told the girls we would stop there next time.

Raleigh was looking under the van to make sure the spare tire came down. The spare is under the front seat - she told me when the tire was down far enough.

Grey's Baptism Day

Greyson was baptised on Sunday - never my favorite thing to be in front of a bunch of people but it went really well. We had a cookout at a park near church after. The kids and cousins had fun playing.

Greyson seemed happy too! He slept through the whole thing and most of his party - I guess you can do that if you are 3 months old...

We are so glad to have Greyson as part of our family - what a blessing he is!