Christmas 2011

Well...I decided to just start blogging again where we are at. I had thought I could "catch up" but that just felt way too overwhelming, I mean that would have to include spring fun, Easter, Ethan turning 5, Olivia turning 7, a huge whole family vacation to the Outer Banks of North Carolina, Ethan starting Kindergarten, Olivia starting 2nd grade, Olivia having an overnight stay at the hospital for dehydration from a bad bout of the flu, fall fun, Halloween, Thanksgiving, far too many cute & memorable things coming out of the mouths of my sweet babies, etc. And that last one is one of the main reasons why I must return to our family blog...I don't want to forget ANYTHING (knowingly full well that I will). These moments are too precious not to document.

Christmas was so much fun! We left Santa a key to get into our house to save him some trouble ;)


The kids all ready for bed on Christmas eve...


What Santa left (besides presents and stockings, of course). Note: the long letter for each child...


Sprinkling magic reindeer food...


Some quick shots of opening presents...






Ethan was curious about how Santa could leave him the exact same skateboard he saw at the store. Then he realized that the elves must have made it just the same for him because he liked it so much. It was nice that he could actually try it out on Christmas day due to the fact that there wasn't any snow.

Olivia came to the conclusion that Mrs. Claus must have made the candy in her stocking because Mrs. Claus likes to bake and the elves are too busy making toys. Olivia was starting to not believe in Santa this year much to my dismay (I blame the playground!) but our little "magic" touches this year got her back on track!

This is FAR from our entire Christmas celebration but I would be here all day if I included everything...from our traditional Chrismtas Eve breakfast out with my whole family, to all of the extended family celebrations we attended, to Christmas with my family and Scott's family, to Ethan's trip to the hospital for a friendly fire eye injury - on Christmas Day! See what I mean :)

March...out like a lamb

March started with Papa and Grammy coming home after a month in Hawaii all tan and relaxed! Daddy went to a tree conference (or "tree school" as the kids call it) in Novi. We had our neighbors over for a playdate (Tara and Derek). Mommy and Daddy went to Kindergarten round up for Ethan! Ethan will be in the class of 2024!! My baby boy. That sure makes a Momma's heart hurt...can't he stay my little boy forever?

Mommy and Olivia went to see Disney on Ice "Princess Wishes" with her Girl Scout Troop. What a wonderful night! We started with dinner at Olive Garden and went to the pre-show exhibit of princess treasures and even saw the real Princess Tiana! The show was amazing - Disney knows how to do it up...complete with grand finale fireworks!


Our favorite princess's stuff...


Tiana...


With her friend Taylor Lamsma...


The troop...


With Mommy...


Finale...


While us girls were watching princesses, the boys were eating at Ethan's favorite restaurant...McDonald's. He loves riding in Daddy's truck. They headed home to Ethan's favorite activity...playing Star Wars lightsaber battles. This is Ethan's idea of a perfect day with Daddy.

St. Patrick's Day we went to the Conklin parade for the very first time. We met Uncle Schaz and Parker & Cobie there. It was a very short, but nice parade! we headed to MCDonald's witha playplace for lunch. The kids had a great time playing together...they get along so well. Unfortunately my camera battery was dead so I didn't get any pics this day.

The next day me and the kids got our hair cut - short! - with Ms. Deb. Surprisingly Olivia wanted to get her's cut chin length. I wasn't so sure she would liek it but she loves it...no snarls, doesn't have to wear in it but a headband, can style it herself. I got my cut short also...now we match :) Ethan got his first professional cut also and did a fantastic job sitting still.




The kids went to Papa and Grammy's for a sleepover and had a fantstic time as usual. We met them at Grand Valley the next morning for Justice's Robotics competition.



Olivia then went to a tea party with her Girl Scout Troop. Ms. Karla and Ms. Wendy put on a beautiful table setting with delicious delicate snacks.

We had one "Snow Day" which was actually due to ice.

The family went to the PTA Carnival where the kids each won a goldfish - Olivia on her first shot! Olivia named her's Lola and Ethan named his Ethan. Unfortunately, the fish did not make it through the night. The next day Daddy took us to the pet store where we purchased a fish bowl and needed items and the kids bought their own fantail goldfish. Olivia's is silver with a bright orange stripe down it's back. Ethan's is bright orange and very energetic. When we got home Olivia made a list of possible names for her fish and took a poll...Ariel was the name most voted for. Ethan had already named his Obi-Wan. They are doing well and are fitting in nicely with our family.


The Preschool family night this month was at Playworld. Olivia and Ethan were so excited...Playworld is attached to our church but we have never been there. It is so nice that there are a lot of kids in Olivia's class that have siblings in Ethan's class. It makes for perfect playdates!
The group, including some of the older siblings, very sweaty and red-faced from all of the running around and good ole fun...


Ethan and Annikha...those two get along sooo well...

February was filled with fun and LOVE

Well...it was but it started out a little rocky. Ethan woke up one night at about
10pm wheezing and gasping for air. It.was.so.scary. He hadn't been sick at all, no cough, no fever, nothing. He was panicky which made the wheezing worse and we decided it was best to get him to the ER. He was so good and compliant there. They determined it wasn't in his lungs and that it was croup. He was given a steroid to take and let me tell you he takes medicine like no kid I have ever seen. Such a brave trooper. After another dose the next day and lots of hot showers he was all better. We love you so mcuh Ethan!! That was very scary.

We also had a few snow days in February due to a blizzard (about 16inches at least!). The kids had a great time in their fort - the one outside and the one inside.



Our dates this month were super special! It was the Daddy/Daughtert Dance and Mommy/Son Rollerskating. We both went out to dinner before our dates - Daddy and Olivia to Friday's and Mommy and Ethan to McDonald's with a playplace. Daddy took some pictures at the dance and was sad to discover that this was the year when Olivia wanted to dance and goof around with her friends more often than dance with him. We knew this day would come but it still hurts when it's here. On the other hand we are so happy that our sweet, shy little girl is comfortable at school and developing great friendships.







Ethan and I had a great time rollerskating! I was pretty good at it back in the day...about 20 years ago that is. Ethan was so determined and I love that about him! He wanted to try it by himslef after a while. First he tried the inline skates but we soon discovered that the old fashioned ones would be better. He was the sweetest guy out there I tell you. One time when we were "skating" around he suddenly stops and turns to me and asks, "Why do bears (as in the Berenstain Bears) call it a honeymoon and people call it a date?" I thought that was the sweetest thing. He was wondering why he couldn't call his date with Mommy a honeymoon. It was pure joy to watch him sitting holding out his hand to give high fives to the people skating by when he was taking a break. He makes friends quickly and is a bit more social than his sister out of the gate.








I am so grateful that Scott has a flexible job...he was able to attend both of the kids' Valentine's Party. They both have fantastic teachers who do a phenomenal job! We are so appreciative of all they do and what a wonderful school Coopersville is.









About a week after the blizzard the snow melted quite a bit...enough for the majority of the sidewalks to be clear and for us to go on a couple of bike rides! Don't ya just love Michigan?


Literally the next day it snowed a ton and the kids had another snow day!

At the end of the month the Preschoolers were invited to say the Pledge of Allegiance between the boys and girls varsity basketball games. It was so sweet! Everyone cheered and teh players high 5ed the kids. We had a great time at the game! That night Olivia had her sweet friend Jocelyn spend the night so she was with us at the game too.