My least favorite chore...

More than anything I do not like grocery shopping. I don't like the preparation, I don't like actually going and I don't like putting everything away. I usually shop for one month of groceries at a time, which makes for a horrific day, but I get it out of the way and then I only have to do it 12 times a year and that seems managable for me. Normally I plan to go grocery shopping in the evening when Brian is home so I don't have to take any kids with me. This month however, that didn't work out. I had to go during the day, with two kids, in the snow and feeling and looking more and more pregnant every day! I was anticipating a nightmare of a day, but was happy to have a different experience. Kelli had a horrible attitude that morning and for some reason as we entered our first store, she had a complete attitude change that lasted the rest of the day. I was so proud of her and she was a big help! I had Emily in a backpack so that makes it difficult to bend over to get things on lower shelves, so it actually proved quite useful to have a little one that could get those items for me! Our last stop was Walmart and they were starting to get restless so I got some popcorn chicken and that kept them both happy while I finished up! Then at the check out, Emily had had enough of the backpack, but I needed her to be restrained while I finished unloading the cart. So I grabbed a container of those mini oreos for Kelli to open and share with Emily. I was scared to know the mess that was being made in the backpack and on my back and in my hair, but it worked and we made it through our morning! Normally I can get the shopping all done in 2 hours, this day....4 and a half hours!!! But we survived and least until we got home. After we got home, my body said...you are done for the day! I got the groceries put away, but then curled up in a chair and watched tv the rest of the day! No more shopping with kids, especially with one on my back! =) I had to grab these photo when we got home....Just glad we ended with smiles instead of tears!

Andrew's 7th Birthday Party!!

I can hardly believe that my "baby" is 7 years old tomorrow! It has gone SO fast! We made a decision recently that the kids would have family birthday parties on their 1st through 5th birthdays and then could have friends birthday parties on their even years. On their odd years they would have a special dinner of their choosing and invite their grandparents over. So this year was the first year Andrew didn't get a BIG birthday party, which was a little hard for him (and truthfully for me too!), but he had an amazing attitude and we are SO proud of the person he is and is becoming! We had a great evening with a football theme. He is a football fanatic. He has an amazing recall of teams, their names, where they play, and even of specific plays from a specific game. He wants to be a quarterback for the Chicago Bears, but I tell him he should be a sports broadcaster since he can remember so many of the specifics! It is fun to see him get so excited about something! Here are some pics from the day!

Christmas Day, The day after, Day 6, Day 7. Day 8. Day 9....In other words...catching up!! =)

So my idea to chronicle every day of our Christmas break has been less than successful! Today we are just laying low so I am going to try to get caught up!

Christmas Day we had a wonderful time at home and then with Brian's family. Christmas morning becomes more and more fun as the kids get older and are more excited! The kids were very grateful for their gifts both from us and Santa (Andrew even added in his prayer, "Jesus, tell Santa thanks for my presents).


Andrew and Kelli love playing Life on the comptuer at Grandma and Papa Mauch's and were very excited to get the "real" version for at home!

A new kitchen for Kelli (and Emily)

Training utensils for Emily

A 4 car electric race track for Andrew...just like his daddy used to have!

Stroller and Pack and Play for Kelli's kids

And a specific request from Kelli to Santa...A baby for my sister so she stops taking mine!

A pink glove and baseball from daddy

A blanket for Emily made with love by Uncle Rod!

Easy Bake Oven!!

A personalized 64 piece art set!

The day after Christmas we went to Freeport to spend the day with my family. After a photoshoot with one of the cutest babies on the planet, we had a wonderful time together celebrating! Papa Cronk asked Andrew if he would read a portion of the Christmas story. He was very excited and did a great job! Brian surprised me with a 10 piece set of Calphalon stainless steel cookware!! We stayed until midnight playing games and hanging out and then had a lovely 2+ hour drive home in dense fog! Got in bed after 230! Brian set the clock back in the kids room and told them not to get up until 8am, so we got to sleep in until 9! I guess I didn't take a whole lot of pics that day...here are a few from the trip up there...excited to see their cousins!!









So day 6 we did nothing! We just relaxed, played with our new toys, and recupperated from the previous days.

Day 7, again we just hung around the house, getting things picked up a little and resting some more. Sunday night we took the kids to Brian's sister's house to spend the night with their cousins and Brian and I went out to dinner and did a little Christmas money spending.

Day 8, I had the whole day to myself and boy was it nice! I slept in a little, got some work done, and then went to Bed Bath and Beyond all by myself! That store is WONDERFUL when you don't have kids with you! I got 2 new knives, a pastry brush, tongs, corn holders and a utensil organizer! Whoo Hoo!!

Day 9, was again pretty uneventful with the exception of a hair cut...








Today is Day 10 and we yet again are doing nothing structured. But that is what break is about, right? I did get a Bissell Steam Mop with my Christmas money and I do plan on trying that out on my floors today....keeping my fingers crossed that it works because NOTHING else does! Otherwise we are gonna just snuggle and be together! Emily loves to have books read to her, today she was reading it to me...thought it was cute!



Happy New Year!!!

Day three...in pictures

Huge snow flakes this morning! It was beautiful!







Picture Thank You cards

Making a birthday cake for Jesus...and a lesson on measuring liquids















Helping Daddy clear off the sidewalks and porch

Merry Christmas Eve!

Day Two

Oh my did we have a full, fun day today! I hadn't gotten as much accomplished yesterday as I had hoped because we had a frozen pipe in our kitchen so that set me back a few hours. So after a little cleaning up we bundled up to run out and finish the last few Christmas errands. I decided to cut that trip a little short because the roads were bad and I had a very cranky, whiny, tired 4 year old on my hands! Got home, had some lunch, the girls took a nap, Andrew watched the rest of the Bears/Packers game from last night and I did some more picking up. When Kelli woke up she and Andrew worked on some fun craft projects I picked up on clearance at Walmart. This kept them occupied for hours! Brian got home from work, he is fighting a cold, so he rested for a little bit. Andrew and Kelli went through their toys up in their room to sort out some of the things they don't play with to make room for new ones that will come at Christmas, and they did this with no prompting! Whoo Hoo! Sat down for a nice family dinner. Then family fun in the living room, including Emily trying to do sommersaults! Kids and Brian went to bed and I wrapped presents! Now I am pooped, but wanted to get this up before heading off to bed! Oh and in the midst of this lovely day I am very certain that I felt this sweet little baby move! I thought I did one other time, but since I was only 12 weeks, just dismissed it as a gas bubble. But today I am confident that it was the baby! I guess with your 4th you might be aware of it earlier! What an amazing miracle taking place in my body! Such a priviledge! Here are some photos and videos from today!





I feel like I look ancient it this one, but I love a picture with my girls!

One more for day one

A few weeks ago Emily started dancing any time she heard music. I finally got some on video and know you will love seeing it! And it seems I always have to have some disclaimer with my videos...but just ignore Andrew's pink shirt. He and Kelli decided to switch pj tops! Those of you who know how shy Kelli is will also appreciate this video! Shows a side of her that few get to see!!

And so break begins!

Today is the first official day of Christmas break (although there was no school because of snow Friday). I have not been good at posting lately, so I thought I would so a post for each day of break, with the exception of Christmas Day and the day after as we will be out of town. I also have sent my camera in for repairs and I feel like I have lost an arm! It will be a 4-6 week process before I have it back...so I will have to go back to my little point and shoot, but I am actually a little excited about it! So today is our first day and we have deemed it a take it easy, mom needs to get some work done day so we can have fun the rest of the week day! The kids were all snuggling together watching one of their favorite shows on PBS called Super Why and they looked so sweet together so that will be our picture of break...day one!