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! :)

Bye Bye Brunch...

The Graham Fam came over yesterday to Cafe Morin...Thanks for cooking Mike! It's always so sad when the holidays are over...

Aunt Lu headed home after and Pepere and the twins went to watch the game together for the afternoon...then Pepere went to stay over at the other Morins house for a few days...

The house felt so empty with only my 2 little people in it...at least the decorations are still up and Mike will be home for another week! I'm so spoiled! I'm so grateful for such a wonderful Christmas 09 with so many of the ones I love! :) I'm such a "lucky duck!" (Just like M's new game!)

L-Burg Christmas

We head to L-burg every yr the day after Christmas to celebrate with PaPa's side of the family! Always a good time and such a great house for hanging out! So many options!

Playing pool in the basement...and listening to music!

Time to hang out and chat...

Another house without gates...Carter was in heaven!

Cutest little pool stick around!

Sink em!

A White Christmas! M loves her new slippers from Aunt L and wanted to wear them! They match so perfectly with her outfit-- I love it! :)

Hanging out on their back deck looking at shells in their candle...

Back to the basement for a Dance Party!

Dancing with my boy!

Aunt LuLu cuts in!

Aunt Susan gets in the mix!

Got both of the Bug-a-boos!

Dessert...Reindeer cookies included! (Our meal was incredible too!)

Beauty Salon...

The gift exchange!

Saying Good-bye to Maggie the dog...

Smile-y Magoo!

The whole gang before we left...

Done 1 and Done 2...they were out like lights! Carter didn't even make it out of the neighborhood before conking out..

And our entertainer after they woke up...love going on trips with the fam! Hope they are always fun trips as the kids grow! The other Morins got us "Car-i-oke" for Christmas...can't wait to try that out sometime soon! Should be hilarious! :) Thanks for hosting Martha and Ricky! Always a good time!!! :)

Christmas Part II

We got to the Graham Casa around 1pm...Carter enjoyed looking through their opened gifts...

Then we did our exchange!

It was like old times watching Carter play with a toy laying down like that!

Mallory got a play doh set...it was so hard for her to wait til we were all done opening gifts to play with it! And the kids also got a Zhu Zhu pet from Rita! M named her Mocha after Aunt Laura's dog...the kittens didn't know what to think of it!

Then late afternoon naps for the kids and hang out time for the adults...such a great Christmas of fun and family!

We finished the day with a delicious dinner out with Pepere...So many blessings to count this Christmas 09!

Christmas Part I

The kids woke up on schedule??!?! I keep thinking this yr will be the yr they "get" it, but...Carter got up at 730 and enjoyed eating the crumbs that Santa left behind...

Then when Mallory woke up we all went on a hunt to find Baby Jesus...Pepere found him in the playroom and M put him back into the stable before we opened gifts. We had fun playing this game throughout Dec. and we hope our kids know that He is the reason for the season! Thanks for this tradition Ginny! We love it!

Now it is time to open gifts! Santa left M a little tree for her room! :)

Carter was so excited when his new basketball was unwrapped!

The ball popper was a hit...and I love how M is still wearing her helmet and knee pads to help Pepere open his gifts! He was so gracious to ask for help! M was all about it! And loved helping Carter too bc he still isn't in to opening his gifts yet...

Then the kids got to play with their new toys, Carter got an awesome morning nap, we had a lovely brunch, and then we got them dressed and were ready to "scoot" on over to MiMi and PaPa's for Part II! It was so nice...we really got to saver the whole day by stretching it out!

I think Carter might want one of these next year! He loves it! :)