Lilli's New Nap Mat

Although I've had the materials to make Lilli's nap mat since September I just finished it up last week. Her current mother's day out program has nap mats available to use at school so she didn't really 'need' one. But of course out of being fair to both kiddos, and for germs sake I wanted to make sure she had one too. Here are pics of her new favorite place to snuggle up! When Josh picked her up from MDO yesterday her teacher told him that her nap mat is a "God send" because she actually slept an hour! Apparently she usually only sleeps a few minutes and then tries to convince her teachers to wake up the other kids.

Trying it out!

I used my simple sewing machine to "embroider" her name on it. I did the same thing for Roy's, Lilli's turned out a bit more straight, Roy's looks like a preschooler wrote his name in crayon, but it gets the point across.

Her cute little buttons and a close up of the owls... she's loved owls since she was a tiny baby. Every time she'd see an owl in a book she'd get super excited. Now she has an owl to sleep with, an owl purse, several owl books, some owl shirts and this cute little owl nap mat!

(If you'd like the pattern for this mat just let me know, I can e-mail it to you. I got it off of a blogger's free tutorial page. You won't save much money by making it your self but it's fun to be able to customize it.)

Roy on his Career

This morning while I was getting ready we were talking about why daddy didn't wear his Packer jersey to church. I simply explained that it's because daddy talks at church and there might be other people there who like the other team so he doesn't want to hurt anyone's feelings. Here's Roy's reply:

Roy: "I don't want to hurt people's feelings either. I want to be a passenger when I grow up just like daddy."

Me: "You mean a pastor?"

Roy: "Yeah, a pastor and then everyone can call me Mr. Roy. :o) That would be funny. And then I can be on stage. And I can sing."

Me: "Well daddy doesn't really sing."

Roy: "I can be in the David Crowder Band cause I'm a good singer."

Me: "You are a good singer."

Roy: "Yeah, and dancer too."

(Roy's response to me explaining that I was going to post this before I play play-dough with him... "I can't wait to hear it!")

Snow Day!

Yesterday I was supposed to work but instead was able to stay home with our family due to a snow day!! We got about 2-3 inches of snow Thursday night. Now to my Wisconsin and Minnesota friends - I know this seems ridiculous but in a place where snow is rare they don't have equipment to clear roads for safe driving, so we stayed homebound like the rest of the town. It wasn't supposed to get above freezing all day so we planned on heading out to enjoy the snow after lunch. However, by the time we got out there is was nearly 40 degrees in our backyard so unfortunately some of the snow had already melted.

We had some unconventional snow clothes (we leave our snow gear in WI so we don't have to travel with it each year), and lasted only a few minutes but it was enough to create two masterpieces!

Snow Day 2011!

Lilli loved the snow, she just kept yelling "Snow! Snow!" and grinning from ear to ear

Roy and his snowdog named Toilet

(did you notice our new van in the background!)

Lilli and her snowman named Snowflake

North Pole Express

A couple of years ago, before either of our children were 2. We went on a Polar Express ride down in Palestine, TX. I wanted to make somewhat of a tradition out of it and since we weren't able to go last year I was determined to go this year! Through some research I found an alternative train ride in Grapevine, TX that was closer, and cheaper for the 4 of us so on the 21st we drove up to spend the evening celebrating all things Christmas!

Prior to the train ride there was a 25 minute stage show which the kids and I loved but Josh could have done without.

Daddy and Roy ready for the show!

Mommy and Lilli ready for the show!

In line to board the train.

Getting settled in our seats on the train!

Lilli was super excited! She couldn't wait to see Santa.

Singing Christmas Carols.

Pausing from the dancing.

Roy's favorite part - getting his ticket punched by the conductor.

Here comes Santa!

Out of dozens of other parents there was only one other mommy and daddy in their pajamas. But we didn't care, who rides to the North Pole without their jammies on? Not us!

What a fun ride!

A sneaky shot of the kids on Santa's lap... unfortunately I am too cheap to pay the $15 to get a picture of them looking at the camera.

On our way back to the car.

After not being able to get a good pic with Santa we tried going to the Bass Pro Shop to find out that to get a "free" pic with Santa we needed to be one of the lucky ones with a Santa pass. Oh well, at least Lilli got a ride on a reindeer out of the trip!

Oh Christmas Tree

Each year since we've had kids we make the trek out to Meridian to the Radde Tannenbaum Ranch to cut down our very own Christmas tree. The 40 minute drive is completely worth it to us as it's usually our kick off to all things Christmas. On the way out we explain to the kids what we're going to be doing and listen to Christmas carols. On the way back we make sure to sing some of our favorites as a nod to the Griswolds and hope that we don't lose our tree along the way! Occasionally when we have guests for Thanksgiving they get to come along for the adventure. A few years ago my sister joined us for a day in the rain, and this year Nana and Papa (Josh's parents) joined us for a day of perfect tree cutting weather. Here's what our adventure looked like.

hayride out to the trees

nana and papa on the hayride

walking in a winter wonderland... wait is that possible without snow?

we found the perfect tree!

while singing "o christmas tree" roy not so politely requested we stop... apparently he doesn't appreciate a good tune when he hears one

rugged

hitting the road in style

excited about the ornament he picked for his ornament exchange at school,

and about his new advent calendar

we made it home!

this is the last year for the camry to make the trip, next year we'll be mini-vanning it.

Wisconsin Summer

Well... better late than never! Here are some pictures from our trip to Wisconsin this summer. Coming soon... or as soon as I can get around to it... Disney Pictures!!

Well, we're here... now what?

S'mores!!!

Really, I can eat this!

Beach time!

Castle building with Cousins.

Lilli makes friends wherever she goes... this is one of her friends she made at the beach.

A boy's dream - fishing in pajamas!

The 4th of July parade... it was so cold we had to go buy blankets for the kiddos!

A pre-parade snack... can you tell they're related :o)

Grandma Debbie always has pudding for us!

Grandpa Russ just got back from Japan and brought Roy and Lilli some "Kung Fu Fighting" pajamas. And yes we do sing the song every time they wear these jammies :o)

A little bit of Kung Fu Fighting action.

Ice Cream scented bubbles with Daddy.

Look what I did!

More fun in the water.

A tractor ride around Grandma Debbie and Grandpa Russ' yard.

The tractor ride driver.

Attacking Aunt Toot-Toot (aka Aunt Angela)

Swinging after a delicious Friday night Fish Fry!

Lilli and her cousin Wynton (aka Bubba) were caught watching Zoe together.

Roy and his friend Kirsten... I especially like the gender matching poses they gave.

Heading home. Regression: one of the things we came home with was Lillian's night-night. She had kicked the habit already but we brought one along for emergencies and every night we were there was an emergency. :o) I guess we'll have to try again another day!

Constipation

After a short bout of constipation a couple of weeks ago I explained to Roy that when it's hard to poop it means he needs to eat more vegetables and fruit, and drink more to make the poop come out easier. So after a relatively easy visit to the toilet this afternoon our little man who *never forgets anything* exclaimed "See mom I ate more vegetables and fruit, and drank my milk so my poopy came out!!" I can guarantee that he will diligently eat his vegetables and fruit now that he has a logical reason as to why :o)