What's going on...

Nora started swimming lessons and is absolutely loving it. She was a little nervous the first week because Sophie had told her she would have to dive into the pool, and Nora was scared because she didn't know how to dive. Of course she wasn't expected to dive, and she had a great time!She loves going in the locker room and taking a shower afterwards!

Sophie had really caught the reading bug lately! It's funny how things just happen so quickly sometimes. She has been reading simple books for quite some time, but hadn't been able to read chapter books on her own. She finished her first chapter book completely on her own, The Magic Tree House Dinosaurs before Dawn, and started her next one last night. I love watching her love to read, especially because I have always loved reading. What a sweet girl she is.

Here she is reading during dinner. I don't want that to become a habit but it was the first day she started this book and she was so excited.

Our church changed times with the new year so Miles' nap is right during church. We haven't quite figured out what to do about it yet - skip the nap or give him a late one and then have him up later that night? He fell asleep in Brian's arms this Sunday and waking him was impossible (I tried!) so we'll just have to see how it goes. By the way, Miles is loving nursery (as long as I drop him off and not Brian) and his nursery leaders have told me he is good in there. Yay!

Here is Brian playing mermaids in the tub with Nora and Miles! What a good dad. (And yes, he is wearing his swimming suit) Nora was very insistent on taking a bath with him!

One of the best things a mom can have is kids playing happily together! All the kids were up on the top bunk playing so cute and I came in and saw them all in their shades.

Favor...

Hello! It seems I've missed out on asking some people to add me to their blogreaders. If you read my blog and we know each other and your blog is private - please send me an invite if you can! Thanks! brian.lexie@gmail.com

New Years Eve and a P.S.

I had to document that we actually did something on New Years Eve! We had our neighbor's (the ones who were home) over for games and snacks, and it was so fun. Especially because we waited until the kids were all down for the night and then started the party! It was strange to sit there and visit and play games without 8 little munchkins running around and causing all kinds of chaos. We played board games, darts, and ate some yummy snacks. The funniest part of the night was when none of the dad's could open the drink bottles - but once they were handed over to the women we got 'em open in a flash! Haha!! (We will not allow them to defend themselves by saying their hands were slippery from the sushi they had eaten.) Fun times!

Brian, Lexie, Ryan, Ruth, E.Jay & Ann

P.S. Remember when I had a dream of mine come true and I went to Chicago with 3 of my friends and watched a taping of the Oprah show? Well, it will be playing tomorrow (Tuesday)! Go to Oprah's website for channels and times. I can't wait!

Good News & Bad News

Well the good news is that Miles is feeling much better - the bad news is that both of the girls spent yesterday evening up until 3 this morning puking and going potty about every 45 minutes (sometimes simultaneously). Poor things! I spent the night on their bedroom floor alternating catching puke, getting drinks and changing bedding. Brian had done most of the work with Miles the last three nights - since Miles is such a daddy' s boy and often didn't want me (it does have some benefits!) So Brian was finally getting a good night's sleep. I stayed home from church with all the kids and no one has been sick since this morning so I think we're in the clear and on the road to recovery. Whew!
this picture is from a few months ago - but I had to post a picture on here and I don't think I ever posted this one...

Sick boy

Miles has hardly been sleeping the last two nights and not taken his naps either. So I took him to the doctor today and he has an ear infection. Which I was actually happy about - it meant they could do something for him! There is nothing worse then taking a sick baby to the doctor and having them tell you it's viral and you just have to wait it out... ugh. So I am grateful for some antibiotics! Here's to hoping for a good nights' sleep!

On a side note - there is a weird finger poking out from his thumb in this picture and I seriously can't figure out where it's coming from!? Maybe he has his other hand hidden and one finger is poking up? Weird!

Fun with Naunie and "Pa"

My mom and John came to spend Christmas with us and were here for 10 days! It was so fun to have them around. The kids could hardly wait and Sophie had the day marked on our calendar and was counting down to it for about a month.
We had a great time with them!
Every morning the girls would go downstairs and climb in bed with naunie and grandpa. It was fun to hear all of them laughing down there (which I think had a lot to do with grandpa getting his feet tickled!) When grandpa would come upstairs each morning Miles would drop whatever he was doing, run to grandpa and say, "Pa! 'mon!" (grandpa! come on!) then he'd go grab a couple of cars and give one to grandpa to play with him.

We went sledding down the street from our house on a perfect kid-sized hill.

Miles was thoroughly enjoying himself being pulled around and eating snow!

Naunie wanted to be sure not to get lost in any sudden blizzards :)

We went to Chuck E. Cheese's for a night of games and fun!

Here is Nora concentrating on beating grandpa at air hockey

and Sophie practicing her circus tricks on the carouselMy mom and I took the kids to a fun place called Jumping Jax - a big warehouse type place with a bunch of jumpy things in it. Oh boy did they ever love it there! I would follow Miles into one and by the time I got out the door he was going in the door of another one!

We went to the Capital to see the lit up Christmas tree and get a picture - but it was SO cold this night we literally parked right across the street from the capital, ran up to it, snapped a few pics and ran right back to our cars. It was a good taste of typical Michigan winter wind. Brrrr.

Some snuggles with grandpa

Some night time story reading...

Thanks for everything Naunie and Grandpa - it was such fun to have you guys in our home!
We love you.

Christmas re-cap

I love the feeling in our home on Christmas Eve! A warm and quiet house filled with the smells of Christmas, precious thoughts of the birth of our Savior, and the anticipation for the morning! It was fun to have Naunie and Grampa with us for this very special holiday.

There were quite a few more gifts under our tree with Naunie and Grampa visiting!

The stockings were hung...

Oh, look! Santa came!

Sophie's place on the couch

Mom and dad got her this parrot she's been wanting for months
(ever since she saw one our neighbor's have!)

Naunie came through for her and brought her the Bump-It!! It is so cute to watch her put it in - I have to try really hard not to laugh, this girl hates being laughed at! With her beautiful hair I think she can totally pull the look off (confession: I tried it but it didn't work for me...)

And she also got this story book maker - perfect for our girl who is constantly making books out of construction paper and staples! She was thrilled about this one.

Here she is chilling out with her new stuffed animals, and the mp3 player she got to put her Scripture Scout's stories on for bedtime! Sophie's been asking for a violin for a very long time... Brian's parents actually had one at their house and sent it to her for Christmas! She was so excited but when they asked her (on a webchat on the computer) if she was going to take violin lessons she said, "No. I just wanted a violin!" Haha. Silly girl. I am going to have to look into some lesson for her.

Nora's place on the chair

Nora wanted a gumball machine really badly - thanks Santa!

A Dora camera - now she has a camera like Sophie does!

A baby panda bear that sleeps and squeaks - Miles loves it, too!

A Hungry Hungry Hippo's game - this was at the top of Nora's list this year.

A Color Wonder book - she loves these - and I love the look on her face in this picture!

Naunie also made Nora this beautiful Sleeping Beauty dress - so cute!

and here is Mile's spot

of course he got cars (and this very cute track from Naunie),

cars,

and more cars!!

He was very happy with all of his new cars!

Here is Naunie and Grampa opening their gift from all the families - a family album.

Brian got a dartboard from Naunie and Grampa. It was so funny because right after they bought it they brought it downstairs and wrapped it. Brian walked in about 10 minutes later and my mom told him it was his. He said, "Oh yeah, it's a dartboard. I can tell by the shape of it." Of course he was totally guessing, but it took us all by surprise! It was pretty funny to watch him open it and find out that it really was a dartboard! We all had a good laugh over that!

Brian and I decided to do our Christmas shopping together this year - I got a pair of shoes, a necklace and earrings from the kids and a sweater and coat (okay - I bought the sweater and coat after Christmas but I am counting it as part of my Christmas!) Brian got some grapefruit spoons, a bag of jelly belly's from the kids, and a mousepad with pictures of the kids on it to use at his office at the school. And he's still in search of some new suit pants...

We had a great time being together and giving each other gifts to celebrate Christmas! On Christmas day we got to do a music program at a Nursing Home/Care Center that is near our home with our friends the Seedall's. It was so fun to be there. Of course they asked John if he could come back (hmmm... I just realized they didn't ask the rest of us!) It was a wonderful day!