Year End

OMG, there are only 2 more days left of 2010. Where did it go? This year has really flown by! I hope everyone had a fantastic Christmas, I know we definitely did! I think we need to buy a bigger house just to fit the kids' presents. And we're not done yet, Kailyn's birthday is in 2 weeks and Myer's is in 3! I've gotten all the Christmas put away and the house is back to normal so we can prepare for birthday-mania! Here are a few of the kids' favorite presents:

So Kailyn also got Bitty Twins from Santa, which she LOVES, but I just realized that we videoed that part and I don't have any pictures of her with them! What a horrible mom :( Myer got a rocking horse, but didn't really think it was all that cool.

Today has been kind of a crazy one. Myer is feeling under the weather and is heading to the doctor with his Papa Ray at 10:40am. I am very blessed to have such a wonderful family! Kailyn, on the other hand, is unknowingly about to have one of the greatest days of her life! Since she is out of school this week, her dad is going to give her her birthday present early. Are you ready for this? He is taking her to a kid's spa for a manicure/pedicure, then to lunch and then on to the new American Girl Store!!!!! Honestly, I should've put a diaper on her, because she is going to poop her pants! I CANNOT wait to hear all about this trip!

Alright, I have got to get busy! I hope everyone has a very safe and happy New Year!!!!!

Performing Arts

Kailyn had 2, that's right 2, performances last night! She had her cheer exhibition at 4:30pm at Shapes, where they did a cheer and dance and showed off their building and jumping skills. Kailyn can also do an assisted back-hand spring (just a little mommy brag right there), I know plenty of other kids can do all that stuff too, but I couldn't, so it really makes me proud that my daughter rocks at it!!!!!Then we headed home to change clothes and leave again for Kailyn's 1st grade Christmas Program at Benton at 6pm. They sang some awesome songs, including Jingle Bells, which featured a 2 verse solo by none other than my sweet baby girl! You wanna talk awesome? Oh Yeah! I hope I make it through her school years.....I was SO nervous for this solo, I can't even imagine what's to come!

It was a really great night, and we were even home by 7pm. Plenty of time to get supper and baths before the finale of Biggest Loser started! GO PATRICK!!!!!

Just for fun, Kailyn and I made our traditional gingerbread house the other night, so here are some pictures:

Have a great week!

Coming or Going?

I debated on what to title this post, since it'll just be a quick update. 90 second update? I don't know how fast you read! So I went with how our life has been lately, so busy that we don't know if we're coming or going! Anywho, I've been a crappy blogger (what's new?), so here's what's going down:

Kailyn - is the busiest kid. She has dance on Monday's, girl scouts every other Tuesday, cheer Thursday's and goes to her dad's every other weekend. That being said, she's probably also the smartest kid. She is an amazing reader and mathmetician, she is extremely athletic and artistic and she is by far the best big sister on the planet. We are truly blessed to have such a gorgeous daughter!

Myer - is an ornery tornado of destruction! He is standing on his own and climbing all over. He babbles lots and has mastered "Dada" and "Mama". He is a high-fiving, waving, dancing machine! He has discovered that feeding himself is much more fun than being fed, and also gives him the opportunity to throw bits of food on the floor for the dogs to fight over. We are completely in awe over how fast he is growing and learning. We are also blessed to have such a handsome baby boy!We are so excited for Christmas to come! Joe has a wrestling meet tonight and a tournament this weekend (GO OWLS!) and then they get a little break. School is out after 12:30pm on Friday and Dance is done after next Monday's holiday exhibition as well, so other than Holiday hustle and bustle, I think we'll get to slow down for a few weeks. *Fingers Crossed* ;)

Here Comes Santa Claus

This past Saturday we went to see Santa Claus! Kailyn was so excited to get to see him and tell him what she wanted! When I told her she was going, she asked if she could take her American Girl Catalog to point out the specific dolls she wanted, but I convinced her that Santa is always watching, so he knows which ones she likes. Now she knows that the man at Community Bank on Saturday was not the "real" Santa, because the "real" Santa is way too busy at this time of year to visit each boy and girl. Community Bank did a really great job! Not only did they have the best Santa, they also had cookies and coloring books for each boy and girl. It was super nice!

Have you noticed that I have yet to mention Myer's first experience with Santa?

That would be because I'm pretty sure he hates him.....

Isn't that sad?! Myer was having NOTHING to do with the big jolly man in red! No worries, though, big sister, Kailyn, told Santa what she thought Myer might like for Christmas ;)Well, it's already 9:30am and I've gotten nothing accomplished. I'd better get my rear to work!! Have a great week!

Holy cow, today is December 1st!!!!! Christmas is a mere 24 days away! How exciting is that?! I got my Christmas cards in the mail yesterday and will be promptly sending them out! I LOVE CHRISTMAS!

So I've been reading a new book. The Good Sister by Drusilla Campbell. I am super hoping to get an Amazon Kindle e-reader for Christmas and have been only buying one book at a time. I found this one at Wal-Mart one day and the synopsis is this:

"Roxanne Callahan has always been her younger sister's caretaker. Now married, her happiness is threatened when beautiful and emotionally unstable Simone, suffering from crippling postpartum depression, commits an unforgivable crime for which Roxanne comes to believe she is partially responsible. In the glare of national media attention brought on her sister, Roxanne fights to hold her marriage together as she is drawn back into the pain of her troubled past and relives the fraught relationship she and Simone shared with their narcissistic mother. At the same time, only she can help Simone's nine year old daughter, Merell, make sense of the family's tragedy. Cathartic, lyrical, and unflinchingly honest, THE GOOD SISTER is a novel of four generations of women struggling to overcome a legacy of violence, lies and secrecy, ultimately finding strength and courage in their love for each other."

I thought it sounded pretty intriguing, so I went for it. Now let me just tell you, I will finish this book, because I don't like to just quit in the middle, but I don't recommend it for anyone with a heart or a love for children or family at this point. Hopefully "their love for each other" shows up soon! I don't really know how to explain myself, but some of the things that are said or done in this book, while not physically abusive, are emotionally devastating. It completely breaks my heart. I don't think this is supposed to be a book that brings you to tears, but I've cried multiple times. The little girl, Merrell, is Kailyn's age. I could never imagine not feeling my whole heart bursting with love for her. I don't know, the book is extremely well written; I guess the story, although I know it happens in this cruel world, is a reality that I don't care to know about. All those poor babies in the world who are made to feel that way by their own mommy's!

Well, I think I'll go address some Christmas cards. Cards with pictures of my beautiful, amazing, fantastic babies on them! ;) Have a great day!