Happy 33rd Kyle!

On Friday it was Kyle's birthday. We went with him to breakfast with his brother and his family on a freezing cold morning. The temp in Kyle's truck said -16 degrees (that's not including windchill). Brrrrr!! We ran from the car to the restaurant and it wasn't too bad. Kyle took off from there and had to work all day. Later that evening, we went to his mom's house for dinner with his family. It was great! He got a Coldstone birthday cake and the girls helped blow out candles and open gifts. I hope he had a great day. He's a wonderful man, father and friend and I'm so lucky to have him in my life.

This is a picture of one of the favorite places for the girls to play. They have a whole room filled with toys but they love to pull my pans out of one of the big cupboards and climb in there will all kinds of stuff. They love to read books with the flashlight and pretend to go to sleep with their babies. It's so fun. The only not-fun part is walking around all those pans in the kitchen then them not quite getting the hang of "clean-up" when they're done. Oh well, they enjoy it...

We've finally warmed up around here to about the upper 20's. It was so cold last week! Zero degrees for a high but with the windchill it was about -30. Not fun! I'm not used to that kind of cold. We just spent most of the time indoors and didn't venture out. At least that front has passed for now. Already looking forward to spring even though it's a long way off....

Birthday parties!

Kira had her birthday celebration on Tuesday at school. I was able to stay and volunteer the whole day and it was alot of fun. It was cool to see her interact with all her friends and she seemed so happy to have me there. She had a little celebration time with her class and teacher then we gave them all cupcakes to take home. Great day.

On Weds., the 14th, we had a party with a bunch of her friends. We woke up to 4-5 inches of snow and I started getting a few phone calls to see if the party was still on. Luckily, it had stopped snowing early in the morning and it looked like by the time we were supposed to meet, it would be better so I figured we'd try it. We had it at a little gymnasium (similar to the YMCA) where all the kids could run around, jump on trampolines, etc. We probably had about 12-14 kids there with their mommies. It was alot of fun and the kids seemed to really enjoy it. I felt like I was running around alot, though, so I didn't get to spend much time visiting with my friends but we were so glad they all were there. What a happy birthday!

I set up her candles and lit them and we all sang then it dawned on me I didn't have any cameras out! Duh! So I had my friend relight them while I took pics and Kyle did video so she got a song and blowing out candles twice. :)

Lots of fun stuff!

In the treat bags for all the kids, I put a princess lip gloss. I didn't realize they were so dark. Kaylee always LOVES putting on "my Mmmmm" as she calls it. She certainly didn't miss any spots.

Eating the leftover cupcakes after dinner.

Happy Birthday Kira!

This is the first time I was able to get Kaylee's hair in two big pigtails. She loved it. They didn't stay in long, however. Kira wanted her hair to match and they had a very loving moment that I had to capture.


Today was Kira's birthday. She got a package from Grandma Reid in the mail yesterday and was so good and patient about opening her gifts. She was so excited to get up this morning to open them although I was in the middle of cooking breakfast and Kyle was getting ready to go to work for awhile. She had to be patient a little longer but then she got to open them. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa!
We had Kyle's family over for cake and ice cream in the evening. She pretty much ran the show. As soon as everyone was here, she was ready to blow out candles and eat the cake. Then, she announced it was now time for the gifts.

Kaylee wanted a turn to help blow the candles out.
She was excited by the cash. Already learning how to fan it out and examine it...
She got a Leapster from mom and dad. She really didn't have a clue what it was at the time but seemed excited then once it was opened, she hardly put it down.

We're doing her preschool celebration on Tuesday then a party with her friends on Weds. Still alot to look forward to. Hard to believe she is so lucky to get to do so much when she's only 4! I asked her to help clean up her toys earlier today and she said "I'm four now, I don't have to do that". I told her the older she gets, the more she will be expected to help. All of a sudden, she said "I'm not getting any older than four." lol Learning quickly...

It's so hard to believe how much life has changed in the last 4-6 years. I am so lucky to have such a wonderful family of my own. I am grateful for wonderful, healthy children and a great husband. I really try to stop and enjoy little moments each day with them because time does go by so quickly.

We have Kyle's birthday coming up this next Friday then Kaylee three weeks from today. January is a busy month for us but so fun!

Happy 2009!

Well, I can't believe another year is upon us already. I am amazed how each year seems to fly by faster than the last one. I'm really looking forward to a great year. I haven't really had time to sit down and think of resolutions. They're always along the same theme lose weight, exercise, eat healthier, yell less at the kids, make more time for my husband, do more things just for me, etc. I know you need details in order to really try to accomplish them so I need to sit down and write it down. I suppose that will be my first resolution, to make the list. Hope that actually happens. ;)

We had a really fun New Years. Kyle's neice and her friend came over to watch the girls while we went to a party at a friend's house. We had a fun time hanging out, eating, playing card games, etc. Kyle really got into playing poker and didn't want to leave. We didn't leave until 2 a.m. (getting home about 2:30). I was about ready to go just after midnight (yes, I'm getting old!). Speaking of midnight... know where my darling husband was at the magic moment? In the bathroom! He couldn't wait even two more minutes to go. So, I got my little kiss after midnight. Nice. lol

We got home and went right up to bed and we always check on the kids before we go to sleep. Mistake! Kira was fine but we must have woken Kaylee up and once she saw me, it was all over. She started fussing and crying. We tried to let her go thinking she'd go back to sleep but didn't. Kyle went in after a few minutes and tried to rock her. He said she was back asleep (for about 3 minutes) then she started crying again. I went and checked her diaper, got her a drink, gave her a kiss, etc but she still kept crying. By this time (3 a.m.) I just wanted her to stop and to get to sleep so I took my pillows and a blanket and laid down on her floor. I figured if I was there, she'd go back to sleep and I could sneak out. Nope. She talked to herself, sang, played and just had a great time until about 4:30. I kinda dozed through that but by then I had enough. I told her goodnight and went back to bed. She cried again but I just let her go. Didn't take long till she fell back asleep. All was good until Kira came in at 7:30. I made her come into bed with us and watch a couple shows while I tried to doze a little longer (and I wanted to give the girls downstairs more time to sleep). Anyway, we finally got up and I cooked breakfast for everyone. It was a very long night - about 4 hrs sleep (reminds me of having a newborn and being sleep deprived), I'm very tired and it will be a long day but overall, lots of fun. At least the girls have been playing pretty good together this morning so I have a little space (as I watch Kyle snooze on the couch). ;) We're supposed to go to the mall in a little while and go see a movie while Kyle's mom comes to watch the kids. Don't know if we'll make it for sure but I sure hate to pass up the opportunity to get out when she volunteered to watch the kids.

I hope everyone had a good New Years and wish you all the best in 2009!