Happy New Year's

Happy New Years to all! Everyone please be safe and have fun! And especially be safe!!
Heath has marinated some of those Jasper County geese and bacon wrapped them so we're going to take those to a little get together tonight and grill them. Should be tasty! Don't worry there will also be burgers and hot dogs for the kids...and Gabe got to come along on the Dollar General trip this morning to get a few snacks. He picked corn curls, Scooby Doo fruit snacks, and cookies. And some Spiderman candy for $0.10...I think it is those old play cigarette things. Who knows. He was sure excited! And he picked Kendra a pink box of them too. So stereotypical of him!

The kids are napping now just as I'd hoped so they should be rested up this evening and ready to run and play. Hope everyone has a great time ringing in the new year. We'll probably be in bed when the ball drops but we'll party extra hard up until 9 or 10pm to make up for it!!

The "Hu-Mit"

So yesterday was Sunday...football on TV of course. So as soon as we got home from our weekend in Newton, Gabe had to immediately put on his "football clothes". His Colts uniform has shoulder pads and all...it is COOL. If you want to toss a football around, you have to "WAIT...I have to get my 'hu-mit' (helmet) on". And then he has to adjust the chin strap so it sits perfectly on his chin...too precious!! He was pretty excited when he saw the Colts were playing and they had the same "hu-mits" as he did! We did get him to take the jersey off for his nap yesterday and then we got pajamas on him for the duration of 9pm last night to 7:30am this morning but as soon as he woke up he immediately requested the football clothes again. SHEESH...am I going to have to do laundry late at night just to find time when he's not wearing it? Hope we can break the habit before preschool starts back up again next week!!

Kendra, on the other hand, has been personally testing out all of her baby equipment. She got a pack n play and a swing for her dolls...much too small for a 1 1/2 year old yet she insists on getting in them. The stroller makes her MAD cause she can't get her feet in the slots. She's a mess. She's also been cooking up a storm. Everything gets stirred real good and lots of taste testing is occurring. She also knows how to do "cheers" with her tea cups. Too cute!

I played the part of Scrooge yesterday and took down my Christmas tree. Or at least that's what my sister called me. But honestly, it was time for it to go. Our house isn't big enough for the new toys and the tree. It didn't take that long and I feel much better.

We also wanted to give a big CONGRATS to my cousin Mark that got engaged over the weekend. How exciting! We're looking forward to another family wedding!!

Santa Found Us!

Well, we must have been really good this year. Santa found us...he actually followed us around for several days and showered us with gifts several times! I think we're ready to get back to a normal pace, normal schedule, normal naps, etc though. It was nice getting to see lots of family though, eat lots of good food, and just enjoy ourselves! It is at this time of year especially that we are so very thankful for all of our blessings...health and happiness are not to be taken for granted!

Below are some pictures of a few of our new gift items. Gabe received a big four-wheel drive John Deere tractor, golf clubs, monster trucks, Colts uniform, books, games, fences, tractor implements, lots of boy stuff!

Kendra got a new kitchen (to share with her brother), a couple stuffed doggies that she loves to hug and squeeze and love on, dolls, kitchen accessories, a radio, etc.

Any and all are welcome to come visit anytime. We'd love to show off some of the new "loot" and have somebody new to play toys with!

Hope everyone else had a wonderful holiday as well. And a special thanks to all the family that put together family gatherings, prepared us meals and sugary treats, and gave us the gifts we've always wanted. My favorite gift was my carpet cleaner from Mom...can't wait to put it to good use!

Just Two Songs

So Friday night was Gabe's Christmas Program at preschool. His second stage performance (1st one was at the preschool graduation ceremony last May when he "sang" Twinkle Twinkle Little Star). For the Christmas program, his class sang Dashing Through the Snow and Ten Little Angles (to the tune of Ten Little Indians). Grandpa and Grandma Ochs made the trip to Evansville to watch our little singing star get a slight case of stage fright. Not only did he decide not to sing, but he wouldn't shake the jingle bell given to him...you can see it on the floor next to him, and he covered his face so no one would see him. I wasn't the least bit shocked though and was quite proud anyhow!

Of course, the onery little terd has sang his songs at least a dozen times since the program but he just wasn't in the mood that evening.

Afterwards, in true 2-year old form, he was back to normal...and after a good 20 minutes of singing and another 30 minutes of an art auction, he opted to lie on the floor for a bit. Someday, I'll show him this picture to remind him what being a PATIENT parent to a young boy is all about.

After the program, we came back to our house to have some birthday cake with Grandpa. We made him his favorite...the yellow cake with jello in it and cool whip on top! Yum! Kendra also got her gift that she'd won at the St. Thomas breakfast with Santa last weekend. Who'd of thought she'd love it this much...she's not really into dolls all that much yet. She didn't particularly care for someone else trying to play with the "doggies" though. Those were her favorite.

Preschool Christmas Party

Gabe had his Christmas party at preschool today. I was supposed to go and help out but Kendra was sent home with a fever yesterday and she hadn't been fever free for the full 24 hours yet so I had to stay home with her. That's okay...13 or so kids in one classroom with two teachers and a handful of parents and younger siblings is plenty of chaos without adding me to the picture!

I did lend my camera to the teacher though so I was still able to get some pics. Looks like he had a good time. I think they read stories, made an ornament, had some Christmas snacks, and got treat bags.

Jumpin on the Blog Train

I guess it is time I jump on the blog train. I've enjoyed reading several blogs of family and friends recently so I'm going to give it a shot myself. I make no promises about the frequency of updates :)

In recent news, we've been making Christmas cookies at our house...and eating them too!
























We've also been to see Santa...whether we wanted to or not!
















Gabe has his Christmas party at school tomorrow and then his Christmas program at school on Friday night so maybe that'll get me off to a good start with my blogging. Thanks for reading!