Christmas 2008

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Merry Christmas everyone! Since Mike was on call this year we had to stay home and celebrate by ourselves so we had a fairly laid-back, quiet day today. Macey woke up at 3 a.m. - yes, 3 a.m.! I had fallen asleep on the couch in the basement so she came down by me and pretty much was asking every half hour if we could get up and open presents! Finally she fell asleep until Lilly got up at 8 a.m. It felt like I had been awake the whole night though. Anyway, the girls had a great Christmas and loved everything that got from us and Santa.

What's New

Macey at her holiday concert. Not a great picture, but she's in the third row, next to the boy.

Here's the cute gingerbread house Daddy did with the girls while I was at work this past weekend.

CHEEEESSSEE!! Lilly all dressed up in a pretty outfit!

What a busy past couple of weeks! We've been trying to finish up last minute shopping and trying to get some baking done as well. I ended up having to bake to raise money for patient aid at work so I must admit, I didn't do quite as much for at home this year, just not enough time! I am bad...really bad...still haven't wrapped any presents yet and am dreading it. That's by far my least favorite part of the Christmas holiday!

Last week we had Macey's holiday concert at school. One of these years we WILL get a good seat! Mike ended up being later, so guess what seat we got - none! We stood against the wall the whole time, but I guess this way we were at least able to get some video and one okay picture unlike past concerts! This concert, after her kindergarten ones, was probably my favorite because they sang with the older kids and did skits as well.

I am sooooo excited to announce that Lilly is now wearing underwear full time - YAY!! The first few days with Pull-Ups were okay, but then each day got gradually worse, with Lilly actually laughing each time she wet her Pull-Up, like it was some sort of game and she didn't care one bit if she was wet! We were going through the Pull-Ups like crazy because each time she wet, even the tiniest bit, she would throw it in the garbage. So last Friday I decided enough was enough...and got the undies out again! The first day she had two accidents. Saturday I had to work and Mike worked with her and she had only one accident. By Sunday she stayed dry the whole day, including her nap. Today at daycare she didn't have any accidents either and stayed dry for her nap again. I'm so proud of her. I'm sure there will still be accidents to come, but hopefully they are few!

More to come soon.

Visit With Santa

Winter Fun

Lilly can't wait to drive herself in a few years! She wants Macey to give her a ride now, but we're thinking that's not happening!

This past Saturday it was so nice out that we decided to take the girls outside and let them have a little fun in the snow. First they made snowmen, and then Macey got a chance to ride her snowmobile for the first time this winter.

We also took the girls to see Santa. Lilly walked in and immediately began talking away to Santa and wasn't scared at all, but when it was time to sit on his lap, she wasn't having it! She wiggled right off his lap! We did end up getting her to sit next to Santa on her own chair for the picture (to be posted as soon as we get it back).

Christmas Parade Weekend

Here's a pretty cool Green Bay Packers float that was in the parade.

Lilly loved the big red Blue's Clues chair!

Here's Lilly, Macey and Mateo....brrrrr...they already look cold and this was right when the parade was getting started!

This weekend we headed back to my home town on Saturday mainly for the 38th annual Christmas parade. We left home early Saturday morning, and Mike and the girls stayed at Grandma and Grandpa's while I met up with my friend Jeni and went to do some Christmas shopping. It was a fun day since us girls don't get together too often! That night we bundled up and headed out to the parade despite it being below zero with the wind chill! The girls had a great time, though Lilly was in tears at one point - only because Barney and Baby Bop didn't stop by her! We thought for sure she would be afraid, like Macey was when she was about her age, but she wasn't at all and even got a few hugs from a few different characters and also shook hands with the clowns. The only part that scared her was the big dragon that got really close to her!

Potty Diary: Week One Update

As you can see from the picture, it's going...but going very slowly and not quite as well as I had hoped, but that's okay! Lilly's doing great as far as going most of the time she is put on the potty but has been having lots of "accidents" or lack of bladder control in between each sitting. I'm sure it will get better each week that we work at it (hopefully anyway!).

Lilly's Updated Room

Lilly got a new Tinkerbell bedding set so I wanted to change up her room a bit. It had been painted yellow when we first moved in, way before I was even pregnant. We decided to go neutral back then just in case we were lucky enough to get pregnant! So anyway, here is Lilly's new purple room. She loves it, although she was really wanting a pink room, her favorite color! So maybe we will end up changing it in a few years to pink (I'm sure Mike would love having to paint again!). These pictures aren't the best but about the best I could get.

Potty Diary: Day 1

So here we are on day one of potty training. Lilly has been doing really well with going potty before baths and usually before bed. I say usually because Mike informed me that she hasn't gone the last four nights before bed but tells me she had! I have been picking up days at work so this week was really our only option as far as having a few days in a row to REALLY work with her. I had off today, but she does go to daycare tomorrow so we will see how that goes. Then I will be home with her Wed., most of the day Thursday and Mike will be home with her on Friday so hopefully that's enough to get a good start.

So day one started off very well. She was so excited to wear underwear and couldn't wait to go pee on the potty first so she could wear them. She had the choice between her new Dora underwear or Tinkerbell...and chose Dora! She was very excited to put her star sticker on her chart and get an M&M, especially so early in the morning! About 15 minutes after she went potty, she came up to me and asked me for a paper towel. I of course knew right away why and asked her what it was for. She smiled and said, "I pee on floor!" Of course...it was on the carpet! So that changed my original idea of thinking we would go straight to underwear instead of Pull-Ups like we did with Macey. Of course I also knew accidents were going to happen, but since it was only 15 minutes after she had gone potty, I knew we might have issues! Overall, she did very, very good today, but yet we are on our fourth or fifth Pull-Up. She goes almost every time she's put on the potty, but I don't think she's getting it all out and then goes in the Pull-Up shortly after. If that's not it, maybe she just doesn't have the bladder control quite yet, although I couldn't believe it - after a 2 1/2 hour nap today, she woke up dry which never happens! I'm optimistic at this point but yet won't get my hopes up too high that she will be 100% ready now and get it. We actually attempted Macey right at or a little before she turned 2 and she wasn't ready so we had to wait about a month and then it worked. We will see!

If anyone has any tips or advice, feel free....Thanks!

Ice Skating with the Girl Scouts

Tonight Macey went ice skating for the first time with Girl Scouts. Since I don't/can't skate, Mike took her to get her started. It only took her a bit, and she caught right on and had a blast! She already is asking to go again so hopefully they will be able to sometime this winter.

Macey With Bangs

Macey has been begging and begging to get bangs, and I have been going back and forth on whether we should let her. Apparently a friend of hers has it so that's what started all of this begging. Anyway, I finally gave in and took her to get her hair cut tonight and we LOVE it! Here she is!

Our First Snow!

They were having a little snowball fight before the bus came.

Brrrrr!

Mmmmm...snow!

Well, I guess last week we had a little dusting, but this morning we woke to the ground actually being covered. Both girls screamed when they saw the white stuff and couldn't wait to get out to the bus stop! I was glad I didn't have to work today and drive in it because the roads were clearly a little slick. I had to laugh when we got Lilly all bundled up; she looks 10 lbs heavier!

Happy 34th Birthday, Mike!

Today is Mike's #34 birthday. He's on call this weekend so we don't plan on doing much to celebrate. I made him a cake and plan to make a favorite meal of his tonight - beef enchaladas. The girls and I got him a much needed new pair of work shoes and some cologne for b-day gifts. Macey and I went shopping yesterday and stopped to get her a quick lunch at Burger King, and in her meal she got a Simpson's toy so that was her present to her dad!

Silly Lilly

Here's the little princess being silly today before our shopping trip. I was trying to get a nice, big smile out of her and this is what I got!

Happy Halloween!

Now this is one scary looking dead bride!

And a cute little bee...

Whoa! Lilly couldn't believe she was so close to such a scary looking bride!

This year Macey decided to be a dead bride - not a pretty bride like I wanted her to be - a DEAD bride! So, in other words, she was going for a scary look, which I think she pulled off rather well, judging by the pictures!!! It's no wonder Lilly about jumped out of her seat when she saw her! I had gotten a bee costume some years ago at a garage sale actually, so that's what Lilly was this year. She made a rather cute bee, but this bee was a little shy and scared of all the Halloween happenings at first. We went to Pat and Teresa's house (Lilly's daycare) for trick or treating and had a blast! A few of their neighbors and kids all gathered and we headed out. Lilly had her buddy Osker so she did great after the first few houses and just followed him right along - very cute! Macey, Teresa and the rest of the older kids were WAY ahead of us slow pokes so decided to keep going without us and ended up with LOTS of candy! Macey said this was the BEST Halloween ever because she had such a blast with Lindsay, Sylvia and the rest of the gang. She's already begging to go there again next year!

33 Years!

Wow - it cannot be! Today is my 33rd birthday, and I must say, now I am starting to feel a little old! I remember thinking, when I was a teenager, how 30's seemed ancient and here I am today! Oh well - hopefully my kids will keep me young in some way! Today I had to work, but after work Mike and the girls surprised me and took me out for dinner at a favorite pizza place nearby. They also got me a gift I have been wanting - a "Mother and Daughter" Willow Tree figurine (love these things!). Macey made me TWO birthday cards (how nice of her!) and also gave me one of her favorite rocks :) It was a very nice birthday.

Clean-Up of Leaves and Pumpkin Carving

Yesterday we all headed outside to clean up the TONS of leaves we have around here! What a job that was, let me tell you! Mike had gotten tons of piles raked up when I was at work and then my job (with the help of the girls) was to load the trailer and then unload at the huge leaf pile in the woods! The girls had fun riding in the trailer full of leaves!

Mike also carved pumpkins with the girls today as well. Lilly decorated her pumpkin with a marker, but it's kind of hard to tell that! Macey can't wait to bake the pumpkin seeds, a definite favorite of hers!

Later on today I'm taking Macey and her friend Lindsey to see High School Musical 3: Senior Year. I'm sure we will enjoy it as much as the other High School Musicals!

UPDATE: Just got back and H.S. Musical 3 was AWESOME! We already decided this will be one to buy and watch over and over again!

Who Do They Look Like?

Above is me...I'm guessing around 3 years of age...And below Lilly at 2 years (sorry so crooked!). Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures of Mike at this age.

Below is Mike at 8 years old....

And me at 8 years old....

And of course Macey at 8 years old...

With the girls recently getting their pictures taken and Macey just getting her school pictures back, thought it would be fun to dig up some pictures of Mike and I to compare and decide who the girls look most like! It's funny all the comments we get; most think Macey looks exactly like Mike (and even Mike's sister Cheryl) and Lilly exactly like me, but once in a while someone will think just the opposite, like my brother Eric who thinks Macey looks just like me and Lilly like Mike. So enjoy these lovely pictures I have dug up!! So what do you think???

A Visit With Uncle Tom

Here is Lilly with cousins Marlee and Mabel.
Here's Lilly and Grandma holding baby Loftyn, who Lilly just loves!
Uncle Tom and Jen
Jeff, Tom, Mike and Doug. Can you tell that they are brothers??!!

This weekend we headed back to Grandma and Grandpa's house because Tom, Mike's youngest brother, was going to be visiting from Nevada. All six of Mike's siblings were able to be there so we did Christmas gag gifts for the adults since Tom won't be there for the real Christmas holiday, and that was lots of fun! We got to meet Jen, Tom's girlfriend, for the first time and she's very sweet and great with the kids! The kids definitely had a great time playing with their cousins, and I think will sleep very soundly tonight from all of the excitement!!

Macey's 3rd Grade School Picture

Is it just me or does Macey look older than 8 years old in her school picture this year?! As we added this new picture to our 8 x 10 frame on the wall, we had to look back at her other pictures starting with kindergarten and boy has she changed! Her hair has gotten so much darker from kindergarten and of course is also much shorter. She has definitely changed a lot from last year as well, looking more like a tween than a little girl, which is sad, for me anyway!

A Trip to the Pumpkin Patch

The picture below is a corn-filled tunnel that the kids can play in. They had a blast in here!

Since Macey didn't have school today, I decided that I'd take the girls to the pumpkin patch. We went right away this morning so it was a bit on the cool side, but at least the sun was out. We thought we'd do like every other year and pick our own from the field. Both girls had a blast and were pretty fascinated by the rotting, bug-infested pumpkins, but they ended up managing to each find a rather nice pumpkin so that was good! There was a bus of kids there so Macey and Lilly had fun running around with them for a while before heading back home.