32 and Not So Blue...

What a great B-Day! Loving the age of technology...texts, FB, emails, and calls! I was worried since it was my first day back to "reality" and my "better half" would be back to work after 2 wks off...we get so spoiled! But it was a good day and I have so much to be thankful for! :)!!!

I didn't get pics of the celebrations...Sad! But Mike and I went out to a nice dinner on Sat. night and the kids spent the night at MiMi and PaPa's. Then last night The Graham Fam came out to our house for dinner, cake, and ice cream!

And we are slowly adjusting back to our school routine...yesterday was nice bc the kids stayed in their jammies til we got back from the bus stop in the morning...today was a little more fast paced bc M had school and Carter and I had our Neighborhood playgroup...but we did it and Carter even managed to get some pointers from the fellas on his gaming this morning! :)

Slumber Party!

Bro Night usually = Cousin Sleepover! The kids have such a blast! Here is the wake up committee waking Mike the morning after the guys played video games into the wee hours of the morning...We let them sleep in, but the kids were itching to see them mid morning...Upon waking Mike said, "I don't want to go out there do I?" ...He knows the cousins have been hard at work all morning and our Fam Room looks like this... :)

Fort Central...

The kids have so much fun together and A and T really take good care of our little ones...

Story break...notice the little balls of hail on the back deck...they came down on our way home from eating ice cream and they were still there in the am...it is way to cold these days in my opinion! brr!

And an aerial view...Mal's Christmas tree is the last decoration out...we undecorated a little early this yr (4 days after Christmas...we usually do it Jan. 1st) Always so sad! But I'm glad we had it done and could enjoy the rest of the break without it looming over us...We get a good month in, so I'm happy! We let the kids stay up the night we took down the decorations and let them watch one last Christmas movie as they helped us...M was like, "What's happening? Is Christmas over? Why?" She had fun helping us take the ornaments down and looking at them as we put them away...Then we stopped for bedtime and then Mike and I spent the next 2 hrs finishing and cleaning...it was the most enjoyable undecorating yet...might have started a new tradition...

We had our black eyed peas for lunch yesterday...and Carter was a huge fan and tried to lick his bowl when they were all gone...M said, "Mom made us cool beans" which we thought was funny! Think I only really eat them on New Years...but they're good...maybe we will have them more often in 2010! And Carter got his second hair cut in the morning before lunch...he was more aware this time and didn't stay still...they had to work harder to cut it! But we got it done! Aunt Susan is our witness! Thanks for coming along! :)

Our Hermie...

Here is our little Hermie in action...it is to be noted that he doesn't actually like it when we brush his teeth...he just likes doing it himself and dipping his brush and playing at the sink...His hair is wet bc his sis decided to do his hair while they were both "brushing" their teeth...it's good entertainment around here and they both fit on the stool at the sink at this point...We were busy switching their beds and rooms back from life at the "Morin Motel" over Christmas when I stopped and took this video...M had moved on to something else, but not our little Hermie! :)

First Day of 20 10!

What a relaxing start to the New Year! We just hung out in the house all day long! I finally dressed the kids after we ate dinner! (How sad is that!??!) Aunt Susan invited me and the kids (cousins included) out for ice cream tonight! Mike and Matt are having Bro Night...The kids were so excited to go and ate every last bit of their ice cream! Thanks for treating everyone Susan!

Caught my man snoozing this morning while the kids were watching a show! :)

Uncle Matt and Thomas helped Carter with his dunking skills before dinner...I wanted to make this, but will tomorrow bc we had leftover spaghetti and I thought that would be a better crowd pleaser with the kids...They def can all eat their weight in spaghetti....must be a cousin thing! :)

One of my B&A kids gave us this train table before Christmas...What a blessing! Both kids absolutely love it and Carter can often be found in a drawer...it's his new fav. spot! :)

We wish everyone a blessed 2010!! :)

Pumped Up with Pepere!

Pepere took us to Pump It Up today! Such a fun morning! Mal would've stayed all day if we let her! She has gotten much braver @ places like this! Carter was a good sport and watched his sis...won't be long til he can get in the mix!

Carter loved looking in on the action and Pepere held him up and bounced him on the outside...and I love how Pepere is holding a "man bag"! :)

M loved this little part...sack em! See her on the ground? We had fun in there! Mike and I took turns playing with her in all the different bounce houses...

She was so quick it was hard to get a good pic on the slide...it was so much fun to play with her on this stuff! (You can see Mike at the top of the slide about to take the plunge after her...)

Our little climber!

They had little toys for the younger ones to play with...Carter took his first drive...We are all glad he has 15 yrs til he gets his license...the streets are safer for sure! :) Thanks for a fun outing Pepere!:)

Just the 4 of Us...

So grateful for Christmas Break and being able to have some time as a family to just "be"...having lots of R&R around the house...

Then we headed out today to have lunch and go visit the animals at the pet store...gotta love free entertainment on a windy, cold day...

16 Months

Carter turned 16 months yesterday! Can't believe it! Time is flying! He had a great time this Christmas. He loves music and loves to rock out to the radio...I could turn on a Christmas CD in the kitchen and he would come tearing in from another room to dance! He also likes waving his hands around in the car listening to music. Must be genetic! He got a guitar that plays all kinds of rhythms when you touch the buttons for Christmas and he loves playing with it! It has been pointed out by PaPa over the holidays that I call him Buddy more than Carter. He is my little buddy...I can't help it! :) He still has a smile for everyone and loves to walk over and shake hands with people. Our little Glad-Hander! :) He is always on the go and often gets going so fast he crashes into things. He has gotten so many bumps and bruises lately...he's going to give Mommy an ulcer! Hopefully he will learn soon to put those hands out to catch his falls...currently his noggin gets the brunt of the falls! He has learned the word "No" and says, "NoNoNo!!!" and kicks those legs when we are done brushing teeth each day and it is time to get down from the stool at the sink...Maybe he's like Hermie and wants to be a dentist! :) We love him so much and love watching him learn and grow! :)