Trip to go see Grandma GG

This is me, B, Mama and Grandma GG. Mama says she's 88 years old. Can you believe it? Even though she had a hard time seeing, she played with us and even went with us to Jamba Juice!

We loved having the sun around and see huge, gigantic cactuses! Grandma GG says they're a lot older than me.

And there were all these cool trees for climbing. Too bad we didn't have more time to explore them all.

Mama really wanted to go to this burger restaurant that was really busy. It was pretty tasty and they had these cool hats, although I don't really understand the name...In and Out? What kind of name is that. Why not just name it the cool burger place?

Grandma GG gave us lots of hugs and love. Yeah, she's pretty cool.

This is where we had breakfast every morning. The pancakes were really big and delicious!

Here's Mama and Grandma GG.

She even got down on the floor and played ball with us!

B really surprised Mama and Daddy by wanting to be with Grandma GG all the time.

Mama says this pic makes her laugh...that we look really ready for a nap.

I don't see it.

Grandma GG wanted to ride in the back with us. I liked having her back there.

Mama and Daddy found this really cool park that had a train you could ride and a carousel.

And I got to put Daddy in Jail. Maybe next time he won't drive so fast.

Look at me!!!

Mama and Daddy also took us to this town. It was really old and full of people, but we got to ride on another train around the town and even got robbed! Mama says they were just pretending, but they really shot each other!

Look out, there are some new sheriffs in town!

The train was fun, but really loud when he blew the whistle.

I didn't know they took this picture, but Mama says that I was so tired I didn't wait to climb into bed before going to sleep. I didn't care.

My family and Grandma GG

Grandma even wanted to play follow the leader. She's really good at it!

And to top it all off...the pilot let us come and take over flying the plane! Well, okay, so we just sat in his seat, but one of these days they're gonna listen to me and let me fly it!

Answer for my cousin, Lily

Hey Lily!

I'll be your valentine!

Better me than any other boy right now!

How do you shovel snow?

One little boy likes to shovel snow like this...

Right into the face!

over, and over, and over again. But to his credit, he didn't cry at all:)

B is for birthday!

B had a birthday! Bummed you couldn't make it, but wanna come check it out anyways?

B wanted the day to be all about airplanes...and who doesn't love a tracking a little flight time?

B wanted an airplane cake...I think it turned out pretty well:)

And I have to tell the story and I'm sure A is tired of me telling it, but I want to tell it anyways:) So tip for your future...don't let the hubby watch Cakeboss right before you have to make a cake. The cake started as a 9x13 pan with an oreo runway, plop an aiplane on top and call it good. Easy, not much to it and then A decided to get involved! He wanted to add a helipad, control tower and lengthen the runway. I nixed the helipad, the control tower toppled in the night but the runway did grow:) Once we got going, I got more into it and A was great at helping me figure out how to make one of the planes look like it was about to take off.

And needless to say...B loved it!

When asked what his favorite present was...his answer? Dessert!

The boys were so excited before the party they couldn't wait for the guests to arrive.

We played a couple of fun games. Flying planes on the Wii and I'm bummed I didn't get any pictures of it, but we made paper airplanes and had a race.

But as you all know, here's my favorite part of the party. The singing and cake time (with a little present time thrown in) I love everyone coming together to show love to my boy...

Doesn't this make him look so big. Can't believe he's three!

He got an aircraft carrier to carry all those new planes and he has been in heaven ever since. I think his smile says it all!

Happy Birthday B! We love your smile, your enthusiasm for all things car, your love of desserts (just like your Mama!) and your desire to be just like your big brother.

We love you!!! Mama and Daddy

What's new in our world:

- I got a kindle and I'm having a hard time doing all my normal work when all I really want to

do is read

- Our current ordinary life just seems to dull to post about. We're really busy keeping up with

school and friends and things around the house, but that's nothing you all don't do too!

- For A's birthday a couple of weeks ago, N (on his own) picked a couple of items from his

room and went down and wrapped them to give to Daddy. Love that he wants to give- maybe all our hard work is showing through!

- I'm in the process of planning a girls weekend away for my small group girls...can't wait but

its more planning than I thought. Thankfully its almost done!

- Between pinterest and finding new books for my kindle, I'm spending a lot more time on the

computer than I should:)

- I've found some great sites for free Christian ebooks. Love to pass on the websites if you are

interested.

-We have had one very disappointed boy with the lack of snow mountains this year. Every year

the snow accumulates in our cul-de-sac to the point that the mountain lasts for most of

the winter. But this year, between the rain and warm temperatures (which this mama is

happy about!) the snow mountains are in short supply this year.

And its all together too close to B's 3rd birthday for my comfort!

Mom's day at Preschool

So yesterday was Mom's day at school. I wasn't sure what to expect but it was fun to watch N in his element. In his preschool, he moves to different rooms throughout the morning and we Mom's shadowed our kids all morning.

In each room, each teacher would mention N by name and have something to comment on his personality. One teacher told me that when any of the teachers are having a bad day, they can count on N to make their day brighter and better. And one teacher said that whatever church we went to, it was a really good church because N knew the ending to any bible story, could answer any question and as per usual, knew it all:):) She gave all the credit to the church, but it looks like all our talking at home is paying off too! And his main teacher let me know that he talks ALOT. They've worked really hard at helping him understand that he can't interject his opinion at everything but to raise his hand and wait until called on. Something tells me that if I tried this at home, my child would develop really great arm muscles.

They gave the kids an interview about Mom before we got there and I thought you might enjoy some of N's answers:

How old is Mom: 26 (yes! if I could only stay that age!)

What is Mom's job? Nothing (we are her work) (who knows if they added that or he did)

Mom's favorite job at home? Fold Laundry (yeah right!)

I would like to give her: a race car but we don't have the right equipment for that

But the highlight for this Mama was the answer to how much I weigh...24 lbs. Looks like I can finally stop working out and really eat all that delicious really bad for me desserts! yes!

And for the grandparents and documentation: he's getting really good at his first name, but the last name needs a little work:)

Gingerbread house contest

The only reason I'm gonna post about this waaaay past Christmas is so that those family members who chose to celebrate elsewhere will atleast have a fighting chance in our next Christmas Gingerbread house contest...but they're gonna be up against some pretty tough competitors!

The best part of the weekend and the now new family tradition: Gingerbread house contest. It was so much fun to watch everyone come up with some pretty cool houses.

The best line of the weekend..."Don't worry, I've got a plan". Dad had it all planned out in his head, but didn't want to share it with the rest of his team and Nonni and Papa got the joy of both N & B on their team. When the knife came out, we were all a little worried, but their house turned out great.

Funny though how much the boys get away with when they're with their grandparents. Papa told the boys that they could eat any of the broken candy and suddenly half of their candy was deformed, crooked, or broken:) Mama finally had to step in and put a kabosh on the candy intake.:)

Robb and Mel decided to mix things up and do a re-design on the house too.

Lily decided to sit this one out and take a nap:)

And A and I actually got to decorate a house without the help of any little people. Last time that happened was pre-N and B! We went all traditional on our house:)

House #1 Nonni, Papa, N & B!

House #2 The winners of the contest, thanks to our impartial judge Miss Lori and the helpful judging criteria thanks to Papa.

Way to go, Robb and Mel!!

House #3 A & E's traditional house:)

Christmas wonder

We had so much fun celebrating Christmas with my family. (or atleast part of the family) Its been way to many years which made this Christmas extra special.

We had fun opening up stockings Christmas Eve

the boys looks so big in this picture!

Uncle Robb had fun opening presents with L:)

And I have no idea what we're doing, but it sure looks like Mel is the entertainer of the evening:)

Even though we live long distance from both sets of grandparents, I love the relationships they have.

And I also love that after several recent really tough days of parenting, I can look back and remember that my children do sit still, obey and can be respectful:)

Nonni and Papa were excited at the opportunity to get a full family photo since the last family photo dates back to when my littlest brother was still in elementary school!

B was really excited to get "a Hitting stick"!

All the kids were so helpful in delivering the used wrapping paper to Papa

And I love that just about everytime we get together with Miss Lori, I can count on the fact that there will be lots of books read!

The best part of Christmas was my brother, his wife and their little girl coming out to see us. It meant a lot to me that they would drive forever in a car just to be here 2 1/2 days-really short, but so great!

Wish this could be a complete Family Christmas photo, but I'll take what I can get! We missed you, M & M and D & K!!!

God gave me a great gift in my friend Lori. Glad she could come and celebrate with us!

And of course, I'm so thankful that my parents could take the time to come up to see us. Our time with you was way to short (proof being the 2 sobbing boys after you left!) but we're looking forward to the next time we'll get to see you!

What a great Christmas!