Fire Station

Miss M's preschool class took a field trip to the fire station near our house today and had oh so much fun. While Maddie learned all about "stop, drop and roll", Robby loved wandering around looking everywhere for the "fire". He also really liked the alarm that went off in the dorm area and the big fire truck. Too bad they got a call before all the kids could tour the fire truck or see the firemen in their big bulky outfits. Robby was very sad that he wasn't able to climb into the fire truck, but hopefully we will be able to go back sometime for the end of the presentation. Either way, it was fun to take my two bigger kids to the fire station for a school field trip! Robby with all the "big pee-skool kids" (in Mr R's words)

Note

Yippee! Should be a fun night at work on New Years Eve....

note to self: NEVER sign up for 4 shifts in a row AGAIN

Happy New Years!

{hopefully I won't see anyone I know in the ER}

Miss M Hearts Ice Skating

We took the kids ice skating over the Holiday break for the first time with my parents. Miss M was practically in heaven. She loved every minute of it and we just about had to pry her little bod off the ice to leave afterwards. She was able to skate fairly steady with some assistance by the end! Robby on the other hand did NOT like ice skating one bit. I guess that is why under three is FREE for open skate. The poor kid could barely walk in the skates and walked like he was drunk with them on :) All he wanted to do was take off the skates and play by the video arcades.

My in-laws even showed up to watch their beloved grandchildren learn how to ice skate. When Robby [quickly] decided he was finished skating, my father-in-law followed him around as he explored the skating arena.

I have to admit I had just as much fun as Maddie, and this little outing reminded how much I do like to ice skate and ski. It is so fun to be able to experience things like this with my Maddie! Grandma and Maddie
Maddie, Mommy (me) and Eli

Robby {attempting} to walk in the ice skates with Daddy

Eli and Grandpa hanging out on the sidelines

{my dad had hip replacement surgery in 2008 and cannot ice skate so he happily played with Eli while we skated}

Eli started to get fussy part way through our Ice Skating experience, but once Nona bundled him up in the stroller and handed over the pacifier he was pretty content to just sit and look around!

Christmas at the Toronto's

We started out the week before Christmas with a visit to good old Santa at the mall. Unfortunately we don't have any pictures of the kids actually on Santa's lap because those darn pictures are so expensive. My kids were thrilled just to be able to give their lists to Santa and talk to him. Miss M cracked me up. She went on and on about what a good girl she was and how she always helps mom around the house and cleans her room. She is pretty good about helping out but I think she exaggerated just a tiny bit. Miss M's list with the most random things on it...Santa had to dig deep to figure out what to get her this year. Good thing I was able to brainwash her into adding a few things on her list, including: dress ups, coloring books/markers, and "fun toys please"
Robby on the other hand was much easier:
all he wanted was 1. trains 2. candy 3. Mater tow truck 4. Mack from Cars

If you weren't lucky enough to get a Christmas card this year from us....here is the finished product :). These suckers took much more time than I anticipated and by the time they were complete, I was more than ready to be done with them

This year I was so excited to have Christmas Eve off work. I was really worried that I would be put on that night shift because I didn't work any Holiday's last year...but I was lucky enough to have it off! It was wonderful to be able to assemble everything and play my role at night, followed by waking up in the morning and experiencing Santa's visit through my childrens eyes. Then it was a busy, busy day. First we looked at our loot and then ran to get ready. We made it over to the in-laws by 10am because Uncle Brett was calling from the mission. We ate breakfast, talked with the Uncle in Italy, and opened presents with them for a few hours and then headed over to the second grandparents house. We had more food, opened more presents and watched the kids run around at my parents before it was time to head home for a few hours of sleep. I was able to get maybe 1.5 hours sleep before we had to wake up again to get ready and go back to the Toronto's (in-laws) house for dinner. I brought all my work stuff with me and left from their house for another night shift at work :( I worked the next few nights so that was it for a Christmas for me. I am just so grateful I was able to have a little over a week off of work before Christmas. It was HEAVENLY to be able to shop, play, cook, clean, and spend time with family.

Miss M's Santa pile

Robby eating "candy candy candy" as he puts it

Eli had his first try at candy canes and seemed to LOVE it

Eli all ready for the day in his new Christmas outfit. Every year I like buying at least one new outfit for each child to wear on Christmas

Some of the madness at my parents house opening presents

This picture of Maddie kills me.....she seriously looks like she could be ten years old aaaghhh! I am NOT ready for my children to grow up

Eli's favorite things this year were Candy Canes, bows, Christmas ornaments, and wrapping paper

Eli's First Birthday

This year for Eli's birthday we had a small family party at our house. It was a little chaotic with Christmas so close...but we all had a good time. We (ie: me) are thinking that next year or the year after we will switch and have his big birthday celebration in June as a "1/2 year birthday" so that he doesn't have his birthday clumped into Christmas.

Present Time

Eli got this Mater ride-on toy from Mommy and Daddy....I have to say that it was hit for all the kids. Kaylin kept climbing on it and Eli would hold on to the back and walk along with her

Maddie with her beloved Aunties: Esther and Abby

Since Eli didn't know what to do after we sang to him, Kaylin and Robby helped him blow out his candle

Eli's first taste of birthday cake

The post-cake grin...gotta love it!