Christmas 2010

Papa reading "Twas the night before Christmas"- a tradition since I was little

Paige and Jack

Abby would not sit still for a picture

attempt #1 and the only one with all of them looking

D and her "magic beans"  the are chocolate covered coffee beans that she takes everywhere

Jack

So we did it.  We broke down and got Paige a dog for Christmas.  I was the only one holding out against a dog.  I had my rules in place.  He must be small- he is.  He must not shed- he does not ( I sound like tons of fun).  No puppy-- he is over one year old. Must be from the Humane Society- he is  Must be potty trained--he is.  Must make Paige more excited than I have seen her-- he did!! 

We went to "look" at the Humane Society in Lincoln.  Paige fell in love with him.  We got to take him to a room to play with him.  He fit in with our family and was great with the girls.  I looked at Rob and said "OK".  We said we had to think about it and then I took the girls home.  Rob had met me there.  He pretended to get in his car.  We left and then he went back in and got Jack.  Then he came home and surprised Paige.  Jack has been a great dog so far and I am starting to like him :)

Santa Baby

Monday night we went and saw Santa.  He is the same Santa who's lap I sat on when I was little.  Our old neighbors who we grew up next door to have a Christmas party every year and Santa comes!!

Delaney was excited she kept saying ""Look it is Santa"

Abby was not sure of the man in the red suit until he handed her a present.

Paige had many questions on the how and whys for Santa ( I know I know)

Santa got bonus points in my book because he kept saying how skinny I looked and how much weight I had lost.  I think Santa was crazy but I will take it.

Jesus in a Box

Delaney with her Jesus in a box before bedtime

This was so funny to me.  Delaney Loves our mini nativity set at home and really loves baby Jesus.  Tonight she HAD to go to bed with all of them and when I asked her what she was doing.  She said I going to bed with Baby Jesus-- Baby Jesus in a Box.  I do not know why but the Baby Jesus in a Box thing really seemed funny to me.  Abby thought we gave her a snack and was yelling about that until we showed her.  Yes it is a really small baby Jesus and it fit in a crayon box :)

Dishwasher and D-REX

New dishwasher my Christmas present!!  So excited!!

Abby's new love D-Rex a robotic dinasaur-- all other children would be scared but she loves him

I would also like to ask for prayers for Grandpa Dwight ( Rob's stepfather) thank you

Hello again

I have not been very good lately.  We did just get Internet yesterday and I have been busy unpacking.  So what have we been doing?  Rob and I went to Mexico and had a great time.  We stayed at an all inclusive resort and had a view of the ocean from our room.  We also had the dolphins right outside our window.  Our resort had a swim with the dolphins activity.  We did not do it but it was fun to just watch them.  Rob even said they were cute :)  We also went snorkeling I got an underwater camera and need to develop the pictures from it.  I hope they turned out.
We have also had a sad month we lost two very good women to cancer.  They both fought long and hard and were two of the nicest people I have ever known.  One was my moms good friend, Sherry and the other Kathy worked at Amigos forever and was the mom of one of Rob's good friends.  Our thoughts and prayers go out to both of their families.

D playing in the leaves

A and D helping at the new house

Paige's first leaf jumping

dolphins from our window

ocean view from our room

We are now moved into the new house.  Upstairs in unpacked and we can get one car in the garage.  We need to paint and hang up pictures and work on the playroom ( downstairs).  Favorite things so far.  Delaney loves that water can come out of the refrigerator.  Abby loves the garage and the "magic" door that comes up when we get in the car.  Paige loves her room. Right now she has zebra print bedding and wants to hang up dragons on the wall and also wants me to paint the KC Royals emblem on her walls.  We will see how it all comes together.  Rob and I like having a room and a master bath.  The dryer here is bigger than my old one and it drys everything in one cycle!!  I need to still decorate from Christmas I am a little behind this year with the move.  We had a wonderful Thanksgiving, EVERYONE was home.  Katie and Joe, Jenny and Jason, Ryan and my whole family as well.  It was a good day.

Butter anyone?

Abby can get into the fridge.  Today this is what she brought out to me first thing this morning!  Yes she took a bite out of it!  Oh Abby!!

Moving DAY!

Today we move into our new house!!  We are very excited! 

Bad new, Bad news, Bad news, Good news, Bad news

OK It has been a week.  Wednesday we took Benny to the vet, he has been sick and not using his litter box.  We found out he is really sick and not going to get better and in pain, very sad day.  Benny is only 8 and has been a member of our family since we got him in Bennett, NE.  That is why at only 18 months Paige named him Benny.  Thursday I took Delaney to the Dr's and she had a sinus infection and now has an inhaler.  Friday my mom found out her good friend who has brain cancer had a stroke and is now on hospice.  My moms friend's son also just was in a really bad motorcycle accident and has many broken bones.  Please pray for their family.  Saturday- GOOD NEWS!!!  Jenny and Jason are engaged.  I am so happy for them!!!  Yeah!!  Jenny is my sister and Jason is her 6+ year boyfriend.  YEAH YEAH!!  Sunday Abby climbed out of her crib and fell and had three stitches  and  we had to tell Paige about Benny, what a rough night. 


In the middle of all the bad there is good and I know God does not give you more than you can handle.  So thank you God for the good.  It was really good news

I also know God never meant for us to go through the hard times alone that is why he gave us each other.  I am so blessed to have good friends who really care about my life and all the things I am going through.  I am so very thankful for each and every one of you!!  Meghan

Liam

This is my godson Liam Joseph baptized 10-10-10

This is my little Godson.  I am a proud Godmother.  He is the son of my good friend's from highschool Barb and Todd.  They have three boys and we have three girls so we like to spoil the other's children at times.

Sorry

I know I have been slacking lately with my posts.  So I will post a few things.  Abby has been keeping me busy!!  She is into everything and you can not even go to the bathroom or she will destroy everything.

 My sister Jenny got a dog today and Paige went with her and helped her all day.  Paige did not even want to come home.  If you know me you know I do not want a dog ( sorry) but we promised Paige one when we got a new house.  I never thought we really would get a new house so I thought I was safe!!

 My sister Katie is getting married in June!!  She bought her dress and Paige is the maid of honor so cool!!

 I am Godmother tomorrow and I am so excited!!  I might be getting a part time job soon!  We could use more $ and I could use some time away!  Love to everyone reading this!!

Weekend with Paige

I hope to add a picture later they are on my friend's camera.  This last weekend Paige and I went to the YMCA's camp Kitaki.  Paige has started to swim for the swim team and it was a team building outing.  Paige and I ended up having a good time and it was nice for her and I to have some time together.  They did crazy games on Friday night and then we had a camp fire and roasted marshmallows for s'mores.  We sleep in a cabin on a bunk bed and Paige got the top.  In the morning Paige did the climbing wall.  I was SO impressed with her, she climbed to the top on the beginner and advanced walls.  She had a slow start but she stuck with it and she was able to do it!!  She was proud of herself too!  It did not look easy.  We then went horseback riding.  Paige told them she was an expert.  I had to laugh I don't think I would say all that.  I  myself was a little nervous.  I had a bad experience when a horse ran wild and threw me off when I was little in Arizona.  I have riding horses since then but always get a little nervous when I do.  It was fun and everything went well.  It was a good time.

What have we been up to?



Dora at the zoo with A and D





Paige ready for her first Huskers game



Rob's Birthday!











Grandma and Grandpa with our family at World of Fun



I have not posted anything for awhile so I thought I would give everyone an update.  We are settled in with my parents and things are going well. We all have our own space and it is nice to have extra hands with the girls.  This last week we have gone to the park, the play center, the zoo.  We have tried to give my parents some quiet time.  Rob and I looked at 100 Open houses on Sunday and by the end of the day we were confused and tired and hot.  This is harder than I thought.  We went to a few more last night.  We have found nice houses in OK neighborhoods and houses that need work is great neighborhoods.  What is better?  I guess we will keep looking and figure it out?

We have a new address!

Love this picture of the girls hugging




I love this picture of the girls and they have been fighting a lot lately so I thought it would be great to see them hugging.  Well we have officially moved.  We have a new address and we live on a lake---- how wonderful.  Oh wait I forgot to mention we live with my parents.  Things are going well---- at least I think.  A and D ask where Grandma and Papa are when they are not home it is pretty cute.  We are looking at more houses tomorrow so I hope we can find some good ones.  Moving is STRESSFUL!!  We keep having to do one more thing and we will see how renting our place goes.  I went in there today and it was SO weird to see it SO different.  Different is good right???

1st Day of 4th Grade!!

Paige started 4th grade today.  She has a new Royals backpack and a smile on her face this morning.  She was not so happy last night about school starting.  She remembered that this year as a 4th grader she gets to help run the Seagull Supply Store so she was happy.  It is a store that sell school supplies like cool pencils, pens and erasers to the other kids in school.  I hope she has a good day and a great year!! 

Kansas City weekend

I am having trouble loading pictures and text so I am doing two separate posts.  We had a great trip to KC this last weekend.  Friday night we went to a Yankees-- Royals game.  Paige is a HUGE Royals fan and has a crush on Alex Gordon!  Rob is a Cardinals fan and I am a Red Sox fan.  Rob had never been to a major league baseball game.  He had a great time and was very into the game.  There were two rain delays and the second one was for two and half hours so needless to say we had to leave.  Not sure why the girls would not sleep for us that night :(
 Saturday we went to Worlds of Fun.  It was VERY hot but we had a great time.  The girls went on a few rides.  You had to be 36 inches for a few but they loved the ones they went on.  Grandma and I took them on a little roller coaster and they loved it.  You can tell from the pictures in the last post they were worn out!!  Sunday we got free tickets to a water park from a friend who could not use them.  It was an awesome water park and had a great little kids area.  Everyone LOVED IT!!  Much needed get-a-way!!  Now back to packing and moving!

KC

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Abby sporting a KC hat

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Abby and Delaney playing in the puddles during the rain delay

All of us at the Royals game Rob's and A and Ds first Major League game

Busy Weekend and House hunting!!

Abby and Delaney is their life jackets

This weekend was Crazy busy.  Saturday I ran a 5K.  I did OK.  I had a goal to run under a certain time and I ran 5 seconds over that.  It was really hot and I am just proud I finished.  I really am doing pretty good at staying with my running.  I just want to keep doing better and better. It has been so hot here I have not been running as much as I should.  No records set here but I am proud of what I can do.  I had a SUPER PROUD mommy moment this weekend.  Paige swam in her all City swim meet.   They divide the heats by time so everyone has a chance and she WON her heat on Saturday.  I was jumping up and screaming!  Rob did not know they got a ribbon for winning the heat so he thought I was crazy!  Paige's coaches were SO excited too!  You would of thought she won a gold medal!!  We went to my friend Angie's ( love her) on Saturday for her lake party.  She has a cabin and this is totally what I needed.  I relaxed and hung out with friends and it was SO great.  I know why she loves her cabin because you CAN relax!!  My girls loved it and it was such a nice day that we did not want to leave.  We had to go to Paige's swim team party that night.  It was fun and Rob learned how hard it is to keep track of them (the twins) at the pool.  They are so brave when it comes to the pool and Rob was amazed at them!!  Tonight we saw a house we really liked so who knows!  Life is good!!

Stress???

Older picture of Abby and how she "helps" me do laundry

Ok trying to pack a house with two little ones is hard.  I was a little stressed today.  Rob and I are so different in one area.  I start packing right away.  I hate waiting until the last minute.  I like to get everything done right away.  Rob does not stress about it and says we have plenty of time and it will all get done.  He is usually right but I still like to get going. So I have been packing in FULL FORCE!   Delaney tried to help me pack this morning.  Abby was not so happy that I was trying to pack.  She was mad tonight and yelled "NO" at me and slammed the bedroom door in my face.  I wonder how she will be as a teenager? We have a busy weekend.  I have a run tomorrow, then Paige has her City Championship swim meet, a birthday party at night.  Sunday a lake party at a friends and a pool party for Paige's swim team.  Next weekend we are going to KC.  I really hope Rob is right and we will get it all done.

We are moving!!!

our townhouse

Ok I have been waiting two years to type this.  Yes two years.  We first talked about selling our house when I was pregnant with the girls.  We then got serious about it when I found out my one baby was two babies!  Then I was put on bed rest and the girls were born two months early and we were not allowed to have people in the house.  We then stopped trying to sell our house on our own for awhile and started back up with a Realtor for nine months-- no luck again and then a rest and then six months again with a new Realtor.  There has been many ups and downs.  One extremely low offer, many days cleaning the house quickly and many stressful days.  I am glad to say that is all over.  No we have not sold our house but we did find someone to rent it.  The kicker?  They want it ASAP like August 20th.  We do not want to lose our one chance so we said OK!!  We are moving in with my parents.  It should work they have five bedrooms. I was so proud of this house when I bought it on my own as a single mom to Paige--- but times have changed and so has our family.   We hope to find a new house with the three Bs as I call them.  Another Bedroom - we now only have two and Rob and I sleep on a hide-a- bed couch every night.  A Basement- we do not have one now and a Back yard- we now have a commons area and I am tired of sharing.  I am so excited, scared and nervous about this new chapter of our lives.  I also feel like something will go wrong and it will not happen.  We have dreamed of moving for over two years and I just recently decided that I would give up on that dream and be happy with what I have.  OK believe me I am very happy with what I have.  A wonderful husband, three beautiful daughters and so many loving family and friends.  That is why I have been able to live in our little house without complaining ( too much).  I am thankful we have a house and people who love us.  We are safe happy and healthy.  In the back of my head I just wanted a little more.... I am excited for us to have our OWN space.  I hope it all works out.  I know that no matter what I am a lucky woman and I am so happy for what I have.  I hope to have all I have had before and a little more space and maybe a bedroom for Rob and I to sleep in.

Baby dolls and the jacket

Baby dolls eating lunch grapes and cheddar cheese?!?

Here are a few funny things the girls have been doing lately.  Delaney has to have her baby with her at all times.  The girls have a few baby dolls and they all have to have diapers on or sit on the potty.  One sat in the real potty the other day!  That one had to be washed.  When I was done washing it I put it in the dryer it was all cloth ,and I thought, I would speed up the time so Delaney could play with that baby again.  Delaney screamed like I had put a real live baby in the dryer, she threw herself to her knees and put her hand over her eyes.  I quickly pulled baby out and we made a nice towel dry station for her.  Baby also has to have lotion on her cloth skin, I guess it must be really dry?

Abby and her new favorite jacket

Abby's new thing is this "jacket".  It is a winter vest.  She wants to wear it all the time and it is 102 here!!  She screams jacket when she can not wear it and tried to wear it to bed the other night.  Oh we have two very stubborn two year olds around this house.  Fun times!!


Paige would like everyone to know she jumped off the first tower at Woods pool today.  I was a bit nervous but she was tall enough. She did great and her new art project is to make a shirt that says--  "I survived the tower at Woods pool."  She is a funny girl.

Sad :(

These pictures are the only ones I could find with Rob and his girls. ( Notice Abby is already trying to start texting)   Rob is on our couch a few months ago with A and D and the other one is Paige on her first communion. 



We are all going to miss Rob when he goes back to work tomorrow. We have had a fun week. This weekend he spent most of Saturday at an auction by our house!! He rushed through the farmers market to get home to the auction!!  I will post pictures of his and Paige's great finds. I am not a fan of more stuff. We have enough and no room as it is but Paige and Rob had a good time at the auction. The girls are going to be so sad tomorrow when daddy is not home. I wish we could win the lottery and we could all have fun together. The good news is I have been slacking on house work a little and so I will get back on track. Rob works really hard and we appreciate all he does. We are a lucky family!

Rob's week off

This week we had daddy home for a WHOLE week. Rob works for Amigos as many of you know. It is rare that we have him home for a week. He works very hard and since he is head manager he always has to be available by phone as well. The week started off with a scare as one of his full time employees called in the first day he was gone and quit. Things never go smooth when Rob take a week off. It all worked out and we were able to go do all the fun things we had planned. We went to Omaha and the Omaha zoo. It was very cool to see but man it was hot that day. The girls kept thinking that many of the animals were night night and that we should be quiet so we did not wake them up. I think the animals were too hot to move. A and D loved the fish and monkeys and the hippo. Paige was happy to see the cat complex and quiz us all on the different types. She brought her book from home and read up on the trip to Omaha. Have I mentioned she is smart ?!?! We then went to the amazing pizza machine. A and D had just as much fun as Paige. Paige won three stuffed animals out of the crane. She also has crazy crane skills. The next day we went to Morrill Hall and today we went to the wildlife safari between Lincoln and Omaha. Tomorrow the farmer's market!! Wish Rob could be home more but we are having a lot of fun this week!!