Then and Now

Oh to actually see much changes in a year! None us of remember putting the kids in the same chairs as last year. Did they remember or did we do it? It is just fun to see how much they have grown. I guess next year we will have to pull the kiddie table off the wall so Bryson will have a spot!

The Fight

So my dad has a room built under his garage that we call the play room. It has toys for all ages. The kids would go down and play in the toy room and have a good time. The adults started falling into an out of sight out of mind peaceful lull until......the fight.

The funny thing is that Jordan recorded the event on her phone, but couldn't figure out how to email it out or the file was too big. So here is what I remember seeing on her phone. I really wish I could have gotten the file from her because it was priceless.

We really didn't have much crying or fighting going on with the kids, they played great together except for this one time. Bella came upstairs crying because Ellery wasn't sharing and went out of her turn. I have no idea what game they were playing, but the video showed them pushing a play table up to the pool table and climbing up on that table to get on top of the pool table then jump off the table to the floor. I guess Ellery went out of turn and wasn't remorseful enough for Bella. Bella then decided that she wasn't going to let Ellery climb up on the small table to get on top the pool table. Bella was kicking Ellery so she couldn't get up while Ellery was hitting at Bella's legs trying to get up. This whole time they are yelling, kicking, and hitting each other A) Jordan is recording and not intervening and B) Mason is just crawling around on the pool table behind them like a caged animal not giving them any attention or help and C) the adults are upstairs oblivious to it all. My take on the event is Mason couldn't understand why they were fighting just climb on up and crawl around with me and then launch yourself off to do it again. Who cares who's first just go. Ellery was so excited to play on top of the pool table she lapped Bella and Bella didn't like that. Ellery just kept on a going and Bella thought Ellery should stop and acknowledge her system approach rule breaking. I can imagine Ellery looked at Bella like she had 2 heads with a get over it and keep going look where Bella clearly wasn't over it and wanted to let Ellery know. Needless to say all tears were dried up in a flash, new rules were placed on no playing on the pool table along with no hitting and kicking.

Christmas with Papaw

When you head from a fairly large town to a small town in Kansas, you can't do much but sit back and enjoy the company and the relaxation. That is what is nice about going some place else. I don't have my house to worry about or anything in it to do, what a blessing and just what I needed.

Papaw and Grandma Debbie spoiled the kids as usual. From toys to making donuts. The joke of the week was to tell Papaw to smile and he would say he is. The verdict is still out if one can consider it a smile. He would have been great in taking pictures in the wild west days.

A girl always loves a small box and Papaw gave Jill and I matching necklaces. you an see it in the photo dangling around my neck. I also got the pretty scarf I tied around my head, I didn't get around to doing my hair before we opened presents.

Papaw gave rides around the block and the kids really enjoyed it. Mason is sitting in the back with dead pheasant and smearing blood all over. Ewww

Lots of lounging was going on, if you can consider all the kids on you lounging?

One of my highlights was updating Jordan's status on facebook. She used the macbook and left herself signed in and I posted some great ones, yet she felt the need to delete my posts? It was funny I said something in one post on how great her family was and to "text me" and I'll tell you all about it, and some of her friends texted her about it! Priceless!

Uncle Todd and family Visit

Oh to sum up the visit in Omaha. Jill really enjoyed snuggling and holding Bryson. I am lucky I breast feed or I don't think I would get to hold my baby much when she is around. Isabella is really into Bryson and very curious when he eats. She states she wants a baby sister, but I convinced her she wanted a baby brother like Bryson.

Jordan painted toes and nails including Mason's. She decorated them in Auburn colors, but the orange could pass as red and the blue is dark, but it could pass as KU colors if one wasn't looking too hard. The kids were really excited. The girls later headed out for real pedicures where Jordan got her nails painted in bright green with a flower bling. Jill and I laughed we were not offered flower art on our nails, they must put an age limit on it and we clearly didn't make the cut off.

Isabella really enjoyed chasing the cat. She could be playing and mid way through her play she would stop playing to go find or chase the cat. She at least referred to her as DC this year, unlike last year where she was known as CD.

I could ramble on and on, but I will contain myself. I wish we lived closer to this bunch. I think I need to start job searching for my brother so he can move closer to us!

Christmas with Nana

We had Christmas with Nana again in Omaha this year. We had Grandma Gray over, but I never broke out the camera. She witnessed the shredding of paper and the kids playing with toys. Nana gave the kids winged PJ's again this year and they are a huge hit and yet again I never broke out the camera.

Another huge hit was the baby doll Nana gave Ellery. It jumps up and down and giggles. Ellery and Bryson really enjoyed playing with the new doll.

Uncle Todd and Aunt Jill gave Mason Buzz wings. I don't think I need to elaborate anymore on how thrilled he was with this new toy.

Lastly we had some fun on the Wii. Nana brought up Wii Dance and oh boy was it fun. Isabella gets the gold star on dance moves and improvising. I was impressed with my kids dance skills as well. Rob refused to even try, bah hum bug!

A Trip To the Zoo

We hit the Omaha zoo today with the family. Our zoo really is amazing and a lot of fun. The highlight of this trip was seeing a Bernese Python eating a white bunny rabbit. We missed the initial feeding. We didn't get to see if bunny was alive when put in the cage or the capture. We did however get to witness the squeezing of the bunny and the jaw unhinge to eat the bunny. It was a mixed emotion moment. Initially I wasn't going to let the kids see or explain what was going on, but they were really into watching the snake eat. We went with the survival of the fitness explanation with emphasis on everyone has to eat and that snake eats bunnies. I don't know why I keep saying bunny it was a full grown rabbit. We watched until all we could see was two bunny feet sticking out the mouth of the snake. I think everyone really enjoyed the zoo experience. We also had a duck that was interested in trying to eat everyone through the glass.

Happy Birthday Elvis

While Nana was visiting over the holidays she made the girls matching PJ's with wings that mirrored Mason's favorite Buzz Lightyear PJ's. The kids love them and loved running around and pretending to fly. As they were all standing together someone mentioned they looked like little Elvis impersonators. Since today is the King's b-day I thought I would dedicate this picture to him. We are very impressed by Nana's creativity.

Papaw's

We had a great visit at Papaw's, I think he was ready for us to leave, but enjoyed us all even if we are exhausting. The kids really enjoyed going down to the game room and playing, they seem to have better toys than we do. Grandma Debbie kept us well nourished, maybe too well. She always makes yummies I intend to keep away from but always find myself sneaking a bite here and there. They spoiled the kids, and they loved every minute of it. Papaw loves to buy chocolate milk and we keep telling our kids that only Kansas has chocolate cows.

Sesame Street Live

Jill and I were adventurous and took Isabella and Mason to the Sesame Street Live show. As a joke we bought our men the shirts, but they thought it would be more fun staying home and watching football in them rather than actually going to the show in them. The kids enjoyed themselves, Mason got scared when they blew confetti unexpectedly and one of the darker numbers. He shows his sensitive side every so often, but for the most part he enjoyed himself. Jill and I restrained ourselves from buying $10 Elmo balloons and $15 winnkie Elmo spin lights. We were going to buy them the winnkie light if it was $10 or under, but we thought the prices were a bit too outrageous. The balloon is what really gets me, I can remember when they sold them for $5. My kids better get ready, I am already starting the "I remember whens......"

Visitors from Alabama

They plowed our street early this morning and just in time for my brother to get here with his family from Alabama. Nana was supposed to arrive this evening as well, but she hit some ice on the way up and ended up in a ditch. Luckily she wasn't hurt and pulled out quickly, but she decided to stay at a hotel for the evening and is coming up in the morning. A little too much action for my taste, but we are happy she is ok. My brother and his family were excited to see so much snow and really enjoyed playing in it. The things we take for granted and are soooo tired of they are excited for.

Happy Birthday Elvis

One of the girls Christmas presents from Nana was inspired by Mason's Buzz Lightyear PJ's. She got Ellery and Isabella matching PJ's and sewed on wings so they could fly with Mason. They are adorable and they love them. My brother thought the girls looked like Elvis impersonators, so in memory of the King, 'Let's Fly'.

Go JayHawks

Isabella got a Nebraska cheerleader outfit while Mason got a KU football helmet and jersey. I can't get enough of these two. We were surprised that Mason put the helmet on his head immediately and gave his "look at me". We were expecting to have to do some persuading with him.

Holding hands and hugs

Mason is having a great time with his cousins. He loves to hug them, follow them around, and hold their hands. I'll just leave out where he steals toys from them and has trouble sharing trains.

Spin Spin Spin

We had some fun with the kids while visiting with Nana. We were playing ring around the roses and got a chuckle out of watching the kids walk afterwards and someone got the idea to spin them in chairs. The video of Isabella is a lot funnier than Mason and she is much more outgoing as you can see. Mason was done after one round and we pushed him to do it while Isabella was requesting more.

Uncle Todd Visits with his clan

Uncle Todd and Aunt Jill arrived at Nana's today with Jordan and Isabella. Isabella and Mason are a almost exactly a year apart. Isabella brings back flashbacks for how Mason was a year ago, just a little more petite and talks a lot more than Mason ever thought about talking. We were greeted with kisses and I think the girls are all going to be buds. I see poor Mason getting dragged into dress up and playing house in the future.