Bedtime Stories

Tonight, after I tucked the kids into bed and said prayers, and gave lots of kisses and hugs, I went back up to check on them because I heard noises coming from their rooms about 15 minutes later. I quietly walked to the the doorway to their rooms, and listened. Allyson said, "Caden, you better go to your room, I heard a noise, it's mommy or daddy." Caden gets out of bed and runs across the hall to his bed. (I was standing 3 steps away from him, and he never saw me!) I stood there for a little bit, and Caden got out of bed and started going back to Allyson's bedroom. He saw me this time, and ran back to his bed. I proceeded to tuck them both in again, and tell them goodnight, with more hugs and kisses. Allyson had to explain to me that "I was just telling Caden a bedtime story."
Now part of me says - go to bed -it is 30 minutes past your bedtime, and I know what you are like in the morning when you don't go to bed. Then the other part of me says - awwww! How sweet.
Is this what my parents felt like when I was little and my sister and I would "sneak" into eachother's rooms to talk and fall asleep? Those were some of the best memories. We would fight during the day, and be best friends when we were supposed to be sleeping.


Caden also has told me twice tonight "I wish I was a dult" I didn't understand him and asked him to repeat himself. Finally he told me again - "I wish I was a dult - so I could sleep downstairs." I asked him why - "so I can sit in the chair and watch tv."
(If it takes a couple times to catch on - Caden wishes he was an adult!)

Celebrating Chrismas in January

Today we celebrated Christmas with Grandma Mary and Grandpa Wayne.
We had a great dinner. Pork loin, mashed potatoes, green beans, and the best chocolate cake for dessert. ( made by Schwan's)
Allyson loved the white mousse layer of the cake and the chocolate chips on the top.
Caden loved the chocolate chips on the top the best. I, of course, loved it all - it's chocolate!














Then we opened gifts. Allyson got a baby doll that talks and snores, etc. She loves it!














Caden got an Iron Man mask and gl0ve that shoots discs. He loves it!














Broc got personalized floor mats for his truck and an auto defroster. (It was also his birthday present)



















I got a personalized cake pan and an auto defroster. (no pic)
The kids each got a stuffed puppy from Aunt Tami.
Thanks for the great gifts!

Happy New Year!

Happy 2009!
We rang in the new year by going to church and then going to dinner with my mom's family.
We had soups and grandma made homeade cinnamon rolls. After dinner, the ladies and cousins played Apples to Apples. We had a lot of fun. Broc was the winner of the game.

Caden loved playing Duck Hunt.














Allyson and Eli played Spirograph with Tessa.

New Year's Eve

On New Year's Eve, we went to Dan and Dana's to celebrate with Brian and Doni K, and Brian and Steph F, and their families. The kids had a great time playing together, and the adults had fun playing Battle of the Sexes. We were home around 11pm.

Brian K horsing around with Caden and Eli.




















































Carly and Jackson were being cuddly with thier favorite blankets. (Jackson is Brian and Steph's youngest (2))

Happy Birthday Broc!

This morning, Allyson woke Broc up by saying, "Daddy, wake up - it's your birthday!" She was disappointed when he didn't wake up right away. (I guess he wasn't as excited about his birthday as she was!)












We celebrated Broc's 31st birthday this evening, by having chicken lasagna (one of our family's favorites) for supper and had Creme de Mint cake for a birthday cake.

Christmas Night

On Christmas Night, we got together to celebrate the birth of Jesus with my mom's side of the family. It is always fun to get together and see cousins and aunts and uncles that don't live close.
Here is a picture of my mom's immediate family.
















Here are some of the great-grandkids.














My cousin Jesse and his wife Melissa, and my cousin Tessa and her friend Ryan.














The little kids played bingo while the adults played Bunko for grab bag gifts.

Sunday School Christmas Program

Last night, we had our Sunday School Christmas Program.
All the kids did a great job. Caden and Allyson both knew their parts, and said them without any help. They passed the microphone to each other without any trouble. (What a difference a year can make!)
They sang 3 songs, and Allyson sang her heart out. Caden knew the words, but didn't feel like singing for all the songs. I was so proud of them!

Christmas Wedding

On Saturday evening, we were planning to have Christmas with Grandma Mary and Grandpa Wayne, but grandma was not feeling well (sending get well wishes to Gma Mary), so plan B was to find a sitter and attend a wedding at our church. The wedding was very pretty.
Here is a picture of the bride and groom at the reception. Congratulations Aaron and Kim!



















Here is a picture of Doni, Amy, and I. (Amy is the groom's sister)














Makayla watched the kids for us. The kids loved having her "come to play" with them. Neither kid cried or anything when we left (which is amazing for Allyson especially!) They loved all the attention that she gave them. They played Candyland, read books, and lots of other fun stuff.

Christmas Goodies

Here is a picture of the Christmas goodies that we made this year (excluding our gingerbread people).
We made Andes Mint Cookies, Dipped Ritz Cracker snowmen, Peanut Butter Balls, Peanut Butter Blossom cookies, and Peanut Clusters. Yum!














Also wanted to share a picture of Allyson with the whale that we made out of Pixos. She is pretty proud of it. We will work on Caden's tonight. I think he wants to make a helicopter (which is harder than the whale - wish this mom luck!)

It's Christmas Day!

On Christmas morning, Allyson woke up first, and then Caden. They were so excited to see all the presents underneath the Christmas tree.














The each opened their presents from Santa before church.
Caden got a Wall-E Leapster game and Allyson got a Pet Pals Leapster game. They also got a set of Linkin' Logs to share.



















We then got ready for the Christmas Day service at church. On the way to church, Allyson kept thanking us for all her presents (even the ones under the tree that she hadn't opened yet). She said "I love all my presents. Thanks for them." So sweet.
After church, we opened the rest of our gifts under the tree.
Allyson got a Bitty Baby from Americal Girl Dolls,



















Caden got the Geo Air High Flyin Airport. When he opened it, he said "This is just what I wanted."



















Both kids got a set of Pixos. The kids loved these and were so excited to open them. They begged every day to play them. (edited - I would not recommend these unless your kids are older - they are very little and take lots of time and patience. From a mom's point of view - not a very good gift - I can say that because I bought them!)














Out of all of their gifts, their Leapsters are by far their favorite gifts. Then it is a toss up for what comes next - Allyson loves all her babies, and Caden loves his trains and his tractors.