Trip to visit Mike and Family

This is the view from Mike's road as we approach their driveway. They live on the side of a mountain.

While we were there, Jeremy and Mike hung a few rope swings in the woods. Not sure if it was the beer or their bad aim throwing the rope over the tree, but it took about four hours to hang each swing. The kids (and adults) loved it!

We got to see Julia (right) and Tommy (second from the right) play basketball.
Julia taking a warm-up shot
Elliot took a little nap

We also got to see Mikey's game. My pictures didn't turn out though

Here's the twins with Elliot. A few too many puffs, Elliot!
We hiked around a few nearby parks. It was freezing there too, but it was sunny.



Keira, back on the swing


Hannah, Leah and Keira playing dress-up





Leah and Hannah
Uncle Mark's horses.
Elliot liked the tractor until Jeremy started it up. Then he cried! I guess he may not share his older brother's passion for John Deere vehicles.

Uncle David surprised everyone and flew in for the weekend too. He just showed up at the pizza place Saturday night. Joe was in on it.

Aunt Shauna baked cookies with all the kids. Yum!
Mikey was a good sport and read the same book at least five times to Carter and Leah in the back seat.

Barb and PaulSam and Michael
Kel and Jake
Rocking out with some Rock Band


All the kids, except Elliot. He was already in bed.
We had so much fun and can't wait to go back!!

Great-Grandma and Great-Granddad

During our trip down south last week, we visited my Grandparents (my dad's parents). We haven't seen them since October of 2007. They're both in their 80's with many aches and pains but sharp as a tack and without complaint. It was the cutest thing. They're so in love with each other, happy to be alive and needed.

We met my grandmother in the lobby of their retirement community. She now uses a walker, but rushed as quickly as she could to give us hugs and kisses. I could tell immediately she's not quite the strong swimmer she once was, but she's the warmest grandma you could ever ask for. She just laughed and smiled giving us hugs, immediately checking out her youngest great grandchild of many. We toured around the facility. I asked her, "so, what do you guys do here?". She joked, "as little as possible!". They still attend daily mass and follow with a trip to the local diner where the waitress refers to them as the sweethearts. And they are. Just enjoying their years together. The kids immediately warmed up to them, especially Grandma.

I've always admired her and wanted to be near her. I can't cook a pork roast without thinking of her as the smell of garlic fills my home. I religiously bake her biscotti at Christmastime in honor of her. She's a wonderful mother and wife, grandmother and great-grandmother, still sending my children Cracker barrel gift cards on their birthday. She's thoughtful, no other way to put it. She made the kids feel special in the few short hours they were with her.

Grandpa seems better than in recent years, more needed b/c my Grandma doesn't get around so well. They are the perfect example of how helping others leads to happiness. He's so proud to go up and get her meal in the cafeteria. He loved showing us around their apartment, pointing out all the old family pictures and telling stories. It was a small tidy place, not cluttered, but so cozy and full of pictures and one shelf in the den with an orderly row of stuffed animals, all gifts from my grandfather. I remember she always had one rose. He would bring her one, I think once each week. It's a nastalgic feeling when I think of them. I hope we see them again soon. My mom's parents have passed away and I would have also loved for my kids to remember them. Grandparents are special people that remind me of my childhood and the most simple times in my life.

A Big Week In Our Nation's History

As Americans, we have so much to celebrate this week...

Monday, Martin Luther King Day - a day to honor a man that stood for peace.

Tuesday, the peaceful transition of power. Our nation inaugurates its first black president, Barack Obama.

Thursday, on the anniversary of the supreme court decision to legalize abortion, Roe v. Wade, a few hundred thousand people will march in Washington showing support for the pro-life movement.

I can't help but think of the significance of these three events all occurring in the same week. What an opportunity for prayer, reflection and consideration for the important issues facing our nation. In reading up on these topics, I found many good articles but just attached a few.

http://www.cnsnews.com/public/content/article.aspx?RsrcID=42220

http://www.renewamerica.us/columns/childress/081028

http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/nov/08111705.html

As a family, we will continue to pray for Obama and those in his administration each day. We respect the office even if we don't agree with Obama's policies. I pray that Obama change his views, especially on partial birth abortion and the born alive act. With power comes great responsibility. I hope he does the right thing for our nation and for mankind. We our an example to the rest of the world and without the right to life, we have nothing else.

Lesson Learned

This morning I loaded the kids in the car rushing off to pre-school. As I backed out of the garage I heard a metal crunching noise. Carter of course says to me, what's that noise? Ugh! I immediately remembered Jeremy saying last night that we've got to remind the kids to put the snow toys away after playing outside. Otherwise they will end up plowed into the snow bank. We've gotten at least 18 inches of snow in the last few days. Anyhow, I got out of the car realizing whatever I ran over was now caught underneath my van. Carter's huge metal toy truck was flipped over and wedged under the car. Not good!! I'm such an idiot for not looking after opening the garage door. I even have the back up camera. Double idiot! So, I moved the car back and forth until the truck was finally released. I'm just now worried that it might have broken something underneath. We're leaving town this afternoon for SC so of course not good timing. It did drive ok to the school, so hopefully everything is fine. From now on, new rule! Toys must get put away when they come inside and mommy needs to make sure driveway is clear before backing out of the garage.

Elliot - 6 Months Old

Elliot turned 6 months old on December 26th. Changing fast...he sat up alone for the first time on Christmas day. He grabs everything and is making lots of sweet sounds, talking away. He is most interested in watching Carter and Leah run around the room.

Merry Christmas!

The much anticipated Christmas morning....Carter woke first and had to drag Leah out of bed. We told them they couldn't go downstairs without us. And they listened, can you believe it?! When I was a kid, we when straight for the stockings. Then woke up my parents.

They love the snow, and play outside even in the brisk weather. Santa brought them each a new shovel and here's Carter with a "T-rex".
He was so excited about the orange dragon!
Carter kept asking, "What about Elliot? Will Santa bring something for him even though he can't talk?" We assured him that Santa will remember Elliot too.
You'd think after getting a few new toys, they'd want to stay in and play on Christmas morning, but all they could think about was getting outside to test their snow pants.
Carter's geared up for spring too.
Later in the morning, we headed over to my parents' house to celebrate with them. Uncle Matt is such a good sport. Here he is helping Madeliene give Barbie a manicure!

We went to Jeremy's parents' house for dinner. Here's Elliot with Great-grandma.Anna with OliverLeah and Hayden playing with G-ma's decorations.David went back to Colorado a few days later.
He stopped to have breakfast with us on his way to the airport.


Our tree was on its last leg by Christmas week. Instead of unwrapping the lights from the tree, Jeremy thought it might be easier to just slide them down the tree into a big circular pile (the branches were so flimsy they were falling down anyhow). This made for a disaster when putting them away. You can tell by his face how thrilled he was. It took him a good hour to get them untangled. Amazingly, they still worked.