Arizona

We just came home from visiting GG and Grandpa George in sunny Arizona.  We were so excited to visit them out there.  As it had been way too many years.  We had two nice days of weather before the rain came in.  So one day we took the kids to the train park.  It was so cute.  I had never been there before.  It was a perfect day.  Of course spending time with GG and TT meant good food.  So we ate some yummy foods while we were out there.  

I loved getting to spend so much time with gram and gramps.  In our busy lives here we only ever get to see each other an hour or two each week.On the other hand I'm sure they were glad to see us go because they're not used to having kids around 24/7.  They can resume the sleep, eat, awake, sleep, eat, sleep schedule.  Whew, it was a busy few days.  The kids actually kindly woke up at 4am the first morning.  Let's just say there isn't any good cartoon at that hour.   

 I also want to say thank you for anyone that said prayers for us flying.  Our flight arrived 45 minutes EARLY on the way out! (God was making it up to me since he was on my #*%! list for extending the Florida flight an extra hour)  Then the kids were really good on the flight home.  I'm not kidding I was really dreading the flights.  We are already looking forward to the next time we'll be out in AZ.  Although I'm sure it will be in a few more years.

All aboard!  It was the cutest train.

GG and TT braving the world's unofficial fastest and longest carousel.

This was the train that went around the park

Lillian has black olives on her thumbs. 

 It was so funny.  She ate all the olives (yuck) off of our 4 plates

Jojo actually was able to sit in the cockpit of our returning flight.

How cool is that!  Gotta love Southwest.

THANKS GRANDMA AND GRANDPA

In other news I'm excited to tell you that we finally got a new computer and our modem hopefully fixed.  As most of you know I don't really like or just don't care about technology, but our new Mac Computer is awesome.  I didn't know that a comp could be so easy or dare I say fun to use.  So my intentions are to get back to blogging a little more regularly and checking my email more often.  Oh and our house phone is back to working also. 

Rub-a- dub- dub two ducks in a tub

 My kids have this thing for eating forbidden fruits which include: crayons, paints, hand sanitizers, window cleaner, lotions, diaper creams, laundry soap, you name it they've at least licked it. Weird, I know. Josiah, when he was little lived to lick/eat yucky things. He almost licked the crazy green anti-freeze on the garage floor once when he was small.  Lillian isn't as bad, but still thinks everything needs checked out at least once, twice, and probably a third time.   

This was a baby animal marker episode.  Lillian thinks they are sippy cups.  Which they do kind of look like.  Jojo has paint on his face. 

Yes, her poo is weird colors afterwards.  They still take 99% percent of their baths together.  I think I might have to replace the dry wall in the future. They get crazy.  There is usually rain on the walls and a small lake on the floor. 

He needed to wear a necklace.

I hope everyone in Indiana is enjoying the beautiful snow. We are holed up this morning.  Lillian is mad since Jojo has her in a scissor hold with his legs right now. My kids are running on less than normal sleep. (Wish me luck)  They were up late for the Super Bowl only for me to drag them down to an all day Ikea trip the next morning.  Lillian was bad the whole way down to C-town.  I'm thinking about buying some whiskey on the flight to Arizona...  little for her and a lot for me. :) Surprising she was really good in Ikea, especially when she fell asleep sitting up in the cart.  Jojo stayed awake the whole time up until 5.3 seconds after he was buckled into his carseat.  I even carried him into Skyline Chili only for him to sleep the entire time in the restaraunt.  Hopefully today they will, fingers crossed, get some catch up rest.

Sunny Florida!

We had a wonderful time down in Florida with Grandpa and Grandma. It was beautiful weather and we had sooo much fun.  Just the right mix of running and relaxing.  Grant and I were even able to get a way for a few hours so that I could go golfing with him.  Well, I guess I was actually just his caddy, but either way it was a great time.  Jake and Emily were able to go and look at some wedding colors.  Have I mentioned they were getting married?  We're really happy about it.  Enjoy the pictures.

Getting ready to take off.  Lillian did terrible on the trip down.  We had "that" kid on the plane.  She finally fell asleep while sitting up literally during the landing.  She was perfect on the way home though.

We spent a day in the Magic Kingdom.  It was lots of fun.  I can't describe how perfect the weather was.  wow! 

Josiah waiting to ride the first ride of the day, Dumbo.  He loved it.

checking out his "scary" teeth

Uncle Jake and Lillian getting ready to go into the Micky's philharmonic symphony.  It was really cool.  I loved listening to Josiah laugh at it.

The Front porch of John and Alma's house.  It was fabulous.  So big and relaxing.  I was jealous that Jake and Emily slept out there for two nights. 

Savannah and Jojo on the rocking chair.  Savannah is Alma's granddaughter.  Her and Josiah were born in the same month.  They were so cute playing together. She is a real spitfire.

On our last day we went to Gatorland.  I have to say it was awesome.  It was amazing to see so many gators. We watched the gator jumparoo show, gator wrestling, and a what's in the box program.  I would highly recommend it to anyone heading down to Orlando.  Josiah got to touch a real alligator and Lillian fed some birds in the avairy.

Didn't want to tote the double so the single got the job done.  They both actually enjoyed riding this way.

This isn't an albino gator.  It is a white one.  I just thought it was crazy.  His eyes were blue.
Thanks Grandpa John and Grandma Alma for the fun times and memories!

Also, I must say I'm sorry for the lack of post and communication lately.  Our modem has been out the majority of the time for the past month.  I'm actually getting used to not being on the computer but 2 or 3 times a week total.  If you need to get a hold of me best chance it my cell since our home phone works off of the modem also. 

Puddle Stomping

We had fun when the weather warmed up a little.  We spent some time out in the puddles.  It was lots of fun even though I know the water was really cold.  Josiah thought he was awesome in mommy's dirt bike helmet.  Lillian loved trucking through the length of the puddle.

Reilly's + Waffles= Christmas

This Christmas Eve we had a great time with everyone of the Reilly's gathering at Mark and Brenn's house.  It was really special that we were able to get all of us together in one place for celebration and a picture.  The traditional waffles were cooked up and the calendar exchange took place.  I love looking at our family photo because I think it's so beautiful that a family gets so large just out of two people's love.  I can't believe that just the 10 of us used to go on vacations together and now we are doubled in size!  Family is truly one of life's greatest blessings. 

Reilly Family 2009

Weewa and Papaw with their 6 grandkids

Jennifer, Nathanael (9), Brent, and Noah(7) Nims

(they had a more serious one, but I favored the funny faces)

Sophia(3), Jeff, Anna, and Jensen(10 mo) Reilly

John, Brenn, Christine, and Mark Forcum

Uncle John and Aunt Christine with "their little people"

I love it when we get a picture of the girls. 

Who do you think looks most like mom?

Do I really need to say anything?

Bonding

(The first official bonding was 10 years ago in CA.

remember Grandma?)

I've been a blogging fool tonight. Look down further. I posted an additional 2 new post below this one.

Christmas Eve at Weewa and Papaw's

Today started off with a yummy spaghetti lunch.  Then we moved on to presents. Of course, the kids had a great time.  It's the been three years since my mom and dad had Christmas with all of their kids together.  3 years and 3 more grandchildren added.  Needless to say we had a wonderful time.

Is Jensen not soooo adorable?

After present time my parents emptied their giant money jug.  I guess it hadn't been emptied for many years.  So we all had alot of fun sorting all the change into piles and then putting the coins into the counter.  Nathanael LOVES money.  He had a lot of fun running the coin through the counter.  So much that I think he actually forgot about his presents and the goodies that were all around!

Christmas time is here

We had a busy pre-Christmas weekend.  We celebrated with Grandpa John on Sunday.  Then we did the Kissel Christmas at Aunt Kelly's that evening.  I just love it when we get to spend so much time with family.  Too bad everyone doesn't live right here anymore. 

Lillian got a kitchen

Sadie had the treat to lick Uncle Jake's head for 10 minutes

Josiah's watching his dvd player with Grandma Alma.  He loves the princess video that came with it.

We went to see Santa at the apartments last Friday.  Josiah told him he wanted a "chick truck" from the movie Cars.  Lillian wanted nothing to do with him.  I must add a note that Santa was on his bluetooth for part of the time that he was holding Jojo.

The Nims are in town!  Here is Jojo, Nathanael, and Noah. Josiah loves being with his big boy cousins.

The Jones's 4th Annual Christmas Party was on Saturday night.  Always a good time.  Yes, we laughed that we looked like we were taking a prom picture. Jess and Dustin are the couple on the front right.