I can do it by myself

This week has been an exciting week. I realized Josiah can do more things than I think. I just have to ask and he usually willingly does them. We also had three epidsodes this week that were very unpleasant. He pooped in the bathtub twice and in his toy box once! Disgusting!!! Probably the grossest things to date to clean up. I'm sure there will be yuckier things later... such as loose teeth. They turn my stomach just thinking about them.

On a much lighter note, Lillian has rolled over. She's been working on it for a little bit now, but today was the first day that I couldn't keep her on her back. Now I have to be careful with the bed, couch, changing table, and all that kind of stuff. We made a venture to the mall today. Grant and Eric watched the kids while I went into Dick's all by myself. I think he now understands why I just don't "run" to the grocery, the mall, or out for an errand with them by myself. No way Jose! It's way more work than it's worth. Not to mention my that my closest enjoyment to shopping anymore is "shopping" in the grocery store. I'd rather eat stale bread and drink soured milk than take them both with me. Although I am counting down the days until I can drop the kids off at mom's, aunt's, or a stranger's and go shopping for three solid hours, going down each and every aisle at Marshall's. Sounds like pure heaven, almost until my gift card runs out.

Well enough daydreaming. Back to reality where I'm typing this with the computer propped on the toilet while Josiah takes a bath. let's just hope I don't have to give the bathtub another bath after Josiah's done with it. Lillian holding her bottle He wanted to eat his eggs with his "dig". He surprisingly did a good job.

A picture mom took. She looks so old and cute.

Merry Christmas

I hope everyone had a merry Christmas. We had a good holiday season. Last week we did take Josiah and Lillian to see Santa. He wasn't scared at all and really enjoyed the sucker that Santa gave him. We spent Christmas Eve at Grandma Star's. It was a really nice evening. We did the traditional gag gift exchange. Luckily we didn't come home with anything too bad. On Christmas morning the grandparents came over for eggs and sausage and to watch the kids open their presents. Josiah did have fun opening his presents, but of course he wanted each one opened right then and didn't want to open the next gift. Grant helped Lillian open up her gifts. Later that day Aunt Christine, Cousin Mark, Mom, and Dad came over for the traditional Christmas Day waffle lunch. Josiah then took a nice nap for round 3. We went over to Aunt Kandy and Todd's for the Kissel Christmas. We had delicious food as usual and had fun spending time with our family. We are so blessed with such wonderful families. My favorite thing about Christmas is just spending so much time with family. I feel my parents did a good job in celebrating Christmas with us growing up because I have never really felt that the point of Chrismas is to get stuff. I love the traditions that come with the season and all the wonderful memories made with spending so much concentrated time with our families. Thank you everyone for such a wonderful time. She didn't get a bag of coal...she's way too sweet. Now....him on the other hand. That's what he'll be getting next year. :)

Cousin Mark and Lillian

This golf set is awesome. He was so excited. It's set up in garage. He loves golf!!!! Lillian's first dollhouse, it's only the first of many. She'll inherit 3 of mine and my grandma's. Mommy and Daddy

Grammy and Lillian

Grandpa and Alma

Checking out the tree

I couldn't pick out a favorite picture of the bunch. He did cut his finger on a bulb the other day. Otherwise he hasn't done any other damage. Then there's a picture of Miss Lillian doing her tummy time. She's definately getting better head control. Today at church they told us she was a "perfect" baby. The ladies said she was so good and was talking to them almost the whole time. There were 3 workers and she was the only baby in there. So I'm sure she was eating up all of the attention

hmmm.....where do I start

where's Jojo? She was holding herself up for quite a while.

Yummy

Grant made some yummy Girl Scout milkshakes for us after dinner tonight. Josiah thought that it was very tasty. It was hard to capture how he really felt about it.

Tonight was Lillian's first time in her Bumbo. She did fairly well. It was nice to have her at the dinner table with us for a change instead of swinging away in the living room.

She has been sleeping until about 5 in the morning lately so that has been nice. Unfortunately she has had a little cold that has been making it hard for her to breath when she's laying down. Grant was looking at her today and said, "She is so beautiful. Daddy's gonna get you whatever you want. Josiah's gonna have to buy his own car, but Daddy will buy yours. Well, no, Jojo is special too. I couldn't do that to him." I think she is already starting to get him wrapped around his finger. Let's just wait until she says, "Daddy, pleeease."

Jojo was blowing bubbles the other day with Weewaw . I was a little late getting to work because it was so hard to get a picture of him and the bubbles. Needless to say I have had to change where I keep them because it's all he wants to do.

He has been pretty cute this weekend. We put up the Christmas tree and he spends alot of time by it. It hasn't been knocked down yet. He goes up next to it and tries to blow the lights out. Today he was in a rare mood and was literally running as fast as he could around the house for no real reason. He also spent quite a bit of time spinning around in circles until he fell down. What can I say he is my child. Hopefully he will like spinning as much as I do so that I'll have someone to ride carnival rides with. Also, Grant got Jojo a Christmas gift yesterday that he saw. It was a set of Elmo's World movies. He wanted to watch one right then. So of course Grant opens it up for him to watch one of the videos. At the beginning Elmo sings a "La La La La" song and when it started Jojo started to sing La La with his tongue sticking out. It melted my heart. So needless to say he is now in an Elmo craze and has to point out any Elmo that he sees. Please, I beg you, do NOT buy any Elmo toys or apparel ! I can only handle so much tractor that I don't want it replaced with Elmo. His love for the big Green Machines has still not wavered.

Aren't these the coolest!

Uncle Todd and Aunt Kandy added these fabulous slippers to his tractor collection. He thinks they are awesome. I do too. I have a feeling we are going to have a a very Green Christmas

Finally a picture of mommy and her babies.

I'm always the one with the camera so I was feeling jibbed.

Happy Thanksgiving

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

We enjoyed a turkey lunch at Grandma Star's and then a ham sandwich dinner at Grandma Reilly's. It was been a wonderful year. Grant and I are so thankful that God has blessed us with two amazing kids and two great families. We've been adjusting to reality that we are now a family with 2 kids. It just kind of boggles out minds that we have children when we almost still feel like children ourselves. I guess we aren't the 6 year olds fighting over who's yard it is, the 10 year olds figuring out the lyrics to Guns N Roses, the 13 year olds fighting over friends, the 16 year olds staying out too late, the 19 year olds getting married, the 21 year old Marine, or the 24 year olds buying their first home. It's been 20 years since we first met and I am thankful for all the days the Lord has blessed us with. He has been with us through it all and I could never thank Him enough. I also want to tell all of our family and friends how thankful we are for you. We appreciate all of your love, help, time, and friendship. Happy Thanksgiving.

Zonked

Grammy and Lillian

Bubbies!!!

Daddy and Jojo had a good time in their bubble bath. I'm not sure who had more fun.

Marge Simpson

It was impossible to get both of them to look at the camera together. "BUBBIES!!!!" aka bubbles

Headband

When I took Lillian in to see Grant after I got her dressed he said, "take that thing off her head." Then I said "now she looks like a girl." ...Grant..."You look pretty Lillian." It's just another new girl thing for him to get used to.

Pics from this week

I'm all about coordinating outfits, but they are hard to find. I'm one of those corny people who if had two boys, yes, I would dress them alike. It's so hard to find clothes for a boy and girl to wear. Gymboree is one place that I know I can go and find outfits. I also found some at H&M the other day. Also, today has been the first day for me to put a headband on Lillian. As soon as I can capture a picture with it on I will put it up.

Here is Big Lillian and Little Lillain together. Grandma came over to visit the other night.

Little Lil' was actually good for her as she is usually very attached to mommy.

Grant put his helmet on him in the house and he went crazy. I bought it this summer and "big head" is already growing out of it. I guess will just buy an adult one for next year and Sister can wear this one.

Happy Halloween

I thought this was so funny, look at their mouths

He's in a firefighter outfit...sort of

We had a decent Halloween this year. Josiah has had a cold so we didn't do much. Our neighborhood had a cookout so we went down there and had dinner. Then we went to two houses on our street. He didn't really know what was going on. He did get a tootsie pop that we worked on for a while. Grant was disappointed that I didn't get the kids real costumes, but I figured next year will be different. He will understand more and hopefully he won't be sick.

Emma, Ellie, Amelia, Madeline, Josiah

Last night we had a cookout down at the bottom ground. The weather was perfect. It's funny when we first started having bonfires we didn't have any kids and now we are up to two. It's definately not the same just sit around a fire and relax. We now worry where the kids are at, not in the creek or too close to the fire. It'll be fun in a few years when they are really in to roasting marshmallows and writing their names in the air with a burning stick. Then we'll be worried about someone getting poked in the eye. I guess it'll always be something new.

California

All of us on the beach together, that's cousin danny

Noah dancing with Lillian, in his words "She's so beautiful" Mom and Lillian

Look at the cutie smile from Lillian

We tried to dig a hole deep enough for Jojo to fit in

He didn't like it when the water hit our feet because it was so cold

Nathanael and Niko

Can you see the evil in his eye?

We had a wonderful time in Sunny California. We had too many pictures to share them all. The kids did well on the flights and decent with the time change. My mom was so nice and offered to fly out there with Lillian and I so that Jojo could go and see his cousins. It was so much fun to share all the time with my sister and her family. My nephews are getting so big and grown up. My sister fell in love with Josiah. I knew she would because his onryness is so irresistable. We also were able to visit with my cousins Danny and Erin. They had moved 3 days earlier just 20 minutes away from Jennifer. The weather was really nice. It actually got hot for the first time when I've been out there. I always hate saying goodbye. I wish they lived closer. Our time out there is never long enough, but luckily memories last forever.