Party, party, party

I'm trying to remember all the things we have done in the last week or so! Last Friday night we had Jeff's mom and dad over for mom's birthday dinner. We had a yummy dinner and then went hot tubing and then watched a show. Jeff and I both fell asleep during the show and I heard the upstairs door shut and I woke up. I woke Jeff up and we realized that mom and dad had left:) Too funny!! We are definitely getting old!

My 2 favorite boys...
On Saturday we woke up to some snow! The girls were so excited and wanted to go outside and play. We bundled them up and out they went. They "helped" Jeff shovel our driveway! They ended up playing with the neighbour girls all morning.
They had a fun time...except Megan came home crying:( Our one neighbour girl told Megan that the snow plows have men in them that kidnap kids!! Can you believe that!! Jeff and I were SO upset and Megan was terrified. Now Megan has had some nightmares and talks about being scared a lot. Even yesterday we were at some friends for a playdate and she didn't want to play, she just wanted to stay right by me. Jeff went over to the neighbors and talked to her grandparents(they are raising her). They were upset with her too and said she will get punished. Jeff and I aren't really interested in letting Megan play with this girl too often, if at all. She's only 6 years old and already had a big problem with lying.

Anyways, enough of that! On Saturday afternoon Megan had a birthday party to go to. She loves birthday parties and was so excited to go! The kids got to go mini- golfing and this was Megan's first time doing this. She did really well, she even managed to get a hole in one! Then they got to have pizza and cake!Playing in the cars...
This girl loves chocolate cake...Meggie and the birthday boy...
And a few random pictures...

The girls love to play our memory game! Gabby asks to play it several times a day and both girls are pretty good at it.
Part of our living room decorated for Christmas...On Sunday we went to church and then hung out at home in the afternoon and then we went to my parents house for dinner. And we have another busy weekend ahead of us. Tomorrow I am watching my friends kids for the afternoon and then she is bringing pizza over for dinner!

Saturday morning we have practice for the girls because they have their Christmas performance at church on Sunday morning! Can't wait to see that! Then after the practice we have another birthday party to go to and then in the evening Jeff and I are going to the church Christmas banquet and possibly another Christmas party at our friends house after that!! Whew...Should be lots of fun:)

December festivities!!

WOW...it's December!! I'm feeling pretty ready for Christmas this year. I'm pretty much done my shopping, just a couple last minute things left to buy. We put up our Christmas decorations last week and the girls loved every minute of it!!
I was a little worried about putting up the Christmas tree, because Marty is into everything!! But, to my surprise, he doesn't seem too interested in the tree:) The girls loved looking through the boxes of decorations and especially liked hanging the decorations on the tree.
Hanging their stockings...
Megan had her final ballet class this morning! Oh...it was so cute to watch all the little girls! My parents and Jeff's mom came to watch also. Then after the class they had drinks and cookies to celebrate! The girls thought that was pretty great:)
We had a playdate at our friends house this week and the kids decorated Christmas ornaments and cookies! Megan and Gabby love to do crafty things...so they loved it! Check out how many candies Meggie has on her cookie here!!
I forgot to mention that Marty is right back to breastfeeding! It was about a day and a half and I'm pretty sure it was from his stuffy nose and not being able to suck and breathe at the same time. Anyways, I'm so happy about it:) Breastfeeding is SO much easier than pumping and then feeding him a bottle...I don't have time for that!

The many happy faces of Marty...
One day last week, it was sunny and so warm(well, for November it was)! I think it was about 7 degrees that day. The kids played outside in the backyard and I played on the deck with Marty. It always feels so good to see the sunshine in the winter!Gabby was posing here for me...
Well, we didn't win anything at Jeff's work Christmas party this year:( They had 2 big prizes this year...a home surround sound system and a big screen TV. The dinner was really good with lots of choices, I especially liked the dessert table!!

And a very happy birthday to my wonderful mother-in-law today!! Thanks mom for all you do for us...we love you:)

This is getting ridiculous...

I can't believe it, but....we are sick again/still!!! Actually, just the kids are. They have been sick off and on for over a month now. They have snotty noses and are coughing now:( I am SO ready to be over this season of sickness!!
Marty has a pretty stuffy nose and is just not himself these days:( He wouldn't breastfeed at all on Saturday. I tried and tried and he would not have it. He was having trouble breathing and sucking at the same time. Although, he would take a bottle! I have been pumping and then feeding him a bottle and it is SO time consuming!! He sort of just bites the bottle and milk comes out, so I think it is easier for him to breathe that way. I was able to nurse him twice yesterday and once so far today, but it's only when he is half asleep, otherwise he won't do it. I'm not ready for him to be done and I really want to nurse him through the winter/flu season. So, we'll see what happens!
Jeff took the girls to the park one day last week when he got home from work! Isn't he such a great daddy!! It was pretty chilly, so we bundled up the girls and sent them out! They still had a blast.
Helping make brownies for grandma and papa...Last Friday night, Jeff's parents came over for dinner and to watch the kids in the evening, so Jeff and I could do some Christmas shopping! Seriously...all I can stay is we are SO blessed to have our parents in town who watch our kids whenever we need it! We got a few more gifts bought and then we went to Montana's and shared a delicious caramel deep fried cheesecake! Our favorite!!
It was my mom's birthday on Friday, so my parents came over for dinner on Saturday night! Jeff made a raspberry cheesecake specially for my mom. Well...he kind of made her a bet and so he owed her!

Before my parents came over on Saturday, we went for a family walk around our neighborhood. It was cool outside and after about an hour long walk...we were all cold and ready to get home!Speaking of cold...we had our first snowfall last week...I'm totally not ready for this.Just because he's so cute...I have a ladies get together/party on Friday night at my friends house! There are SO many new people at our church and tons of young families and Sunday mornings seem to be so busy and hard to talk to everyone. So, my friend has invited a bunch of ladies and we are just going to hang out and chat. I'm really looking forward to it! We have prayed for so long that God would bring young families to our church and he has totally exceeded our expectations! Last week, Jeff and I taught kids church and we had 23 kids between 2.5 and 5 years old! Last year at this time...we maybe had 5 or 6 kids!! God is good:)

Then, on Saturday night we have Jeff's work Christmas party. It's at a banquet hall at a hotel and it is usually really good food! Oh, and they have awesome door prizes. Last year they gave away a big screen TV, laptop, gift certificates, tools, etc. I'm really hoping we win something good this year!

Fall is here...

I can't believe we are half way through November already!! The weather here has actually been SO nice lately. Today, it's beautiful and sunny outside...I love it!! I think we are going to go for a walk when the little ones get up from their naps:)
I went outside to rake some leaves in the backyard last week and then I realized that I hadn't taken any pictures of the kids in the leaves! I love fall pictures because the colors are so beautiful. Anyways, I didn't rake anymore leaves and then when the kids woke up from their naps I brought them all outside and took some pictures. And once again...it was difficult to get the kids to cooperate!
Megan didn't have ballet today because of the holiday. She was sad to miss it and she was hoping that daddy could come watch today:( I think she will have a recital in December sometime, so hopefully Jeff can come to that. She is still loving ballet and she gets so excited to go every week! Gabby wants to to be in it too, but she's not old enough yet...maybe next year.Some of the girls in Megan's class...they are all so cute!
Meggie went to the dentist last Friday for her first real dentist appointment...cleaning and all! She went about a year ago, just to see the dentist and get her teeth counted and she wasn't too sure about it then. But, this time she was awesome. She sat SO nicely for the hygienist and held her mouth wide open! She was happy to watch the little cartoon while the cleaning was happening. Oh, and she wanted to hold my hand...so cute!!
Sunglasses on to protect her eyes from the bright light...Jeff turns 31 on Sunday and we are having a bunch of friends over for a birthday party for him on Friday night! Jeff loves apple pie and much prefers pie to cake. I'm not good at making pies and they are so time consuming, so I made a deal with my mom and she is going to make some pies for his party:) What a great mom I have!!
I thought we were all over our sickness around here and on Sunday morning, Marty woke up with a runny nose...again! I seriously could not believe it. I think his cold was gone for maybe 2 days and came back again. I have talked to other friends and they said the same thing is happening with their kids:( He's still happy and active and eats like crazy, so I'm not worried about it.
The other day I found all the kids in Marty's crib...This year I have really been on top of Christmas shopping! I'm happy to say that I'm done all my shopping for the kids and some for other family members:) It's usually a little hard to get my Christmas shopping done early because before Christmas we have Jeff's bday, my mom's bday and Jeff's mom's bday!!

Megan and Gabby have been playing SO nicely with each other lately! It makes my heart so happy to see them play together. My prayer is that they will always be great friends and great sisters! We often go down to the playroom and hang out together and we play house, or grocery store, or book store...whatever they come up with!

Gabby is talking more and more everyday! It's so cute the sentences she comes up with. She is such a funny kid and she has so much personality...I love it! And, she eats like a horse!! She is so tiny, but often at dinner she will have 3 or 4 helpings!! I think she eats about what I eat:) I don't know where she puts it!

Okay, I'm off to hang out with my family now!