MOA

On Monday we went to the Mall of America and spent the whole day at Nickelodeon Universe....compliments of Jay's parents for Christmas. It was a blast! We were there for 12 hours. Riding rides, having lunch and dinner, getting ice cream, riding more rides. Jay and I decided to get a wristband too so we could all go on them. What a good idea....I haven't been on rides for years. I didn't go on all of them, my stomach could not have handled it, but Jay and Tyler and Timmy did. They go on anything. Tanner and Tony went on their first roller coaster. They really liked it. Tanner held on to me for dear life, but he wanted to go again as soon as it was over.
It was a really good day and we are so grateful to Grandma and Grandpa for the gift.












Tonight we're going to Chuck and Amy's for New Year's Eve. Here's to a great 2010!!!!

Wow!

What a whirlwind few days. From Christmas Eve to last night's party....we are BEAT! Feels good though...especially since no one has to go to work in the morning. WOOHOO!

Here goes the rundown.....

Christmas Eve. It was traditional. It was fun. It was cold and snowy. A perfect night for our celebration. We all went to mass at Epiphany this year because Jason was playing the drums with the band. Afterwards, we went to Dan and Amy's where there was entirely too much food and a ton of presents for the kids. It felt like we were opening for hours. They loved every minute of it though.












Christmas Day. We opened gifts for 2 hours. Loved every minute of it. The highlight was definately when we surprised Tyler with his own finished/furnished room downstairs. He was beyond excited and hasn't stopped showing it off since.
We spent the afternoon at Cindy's and Erin treated the boys to a movie later in the day.....The Chipmunks, the Squeakquel. They loved it.











Saturday, the 26th. Our 4th annual "Between the Holidays" party for our friends and family. We invite quite a few people and know that usually at least half can't make it cuz it's a day that a lot of people spend doing family Christmas or they are out of town. But...we have a core group that seems to come every year and we have a blast! We started at about 6:30.....many were gone by 10:30.......the die hards played a crazy, fun game of 4,5,6 until 3:45 in the morning!!!! Jay and I managed to walk away $3 richer for our combined efforts. The kids (ours and Helen's) didn't even go down to bed until 1:30am. The good thing about that is that they ALL slept in and we were able to catch up.....somewhat. Jay played drums for the 5:30pm mass so that worked out well with our sleep habits from the night before.

So...that's all....for now. Tomorrow is a fun-filled day at MOA and Nickelodeon Universe, compliments of Jason's parents for Christmas.

Tis the season....

....for having no time to get everything done. I started Christmas shopping so early and thought I would really be good to go by now...but as we come down to the wire, there is so much to do. I haven't wrapped a thing. I ran out of popcorn last night so I have to make more carmel corn tonight for Tanner's teachers. The house is a pit.....but that's no change from usual. I have 4 more gifts yet to buy. And I still have the work the next 2 nights....not sure when this is all going to get done. Somehow it always does though.
Last night was Tanner and Molly's Christmas program for preschool. They were so dang cute!
I love what my mom said years ago about going to the kids' programs. "when your child is up there, the others just disappear." So true, you're totally focused on him.

They got to visit Santa afterwards also. All but Tyler sat on his lap and told him what they wanted....even Timmy. I think he still wants to be that kid that believes.....or maybe it was for the candy canes he was handing out.

Good humor

Okay, so I've already posted today, but I just had to tell the 2 things that Tanner has said to me today that just cracked me up.
This morning we were getting ready to go to school and I was getting his hat and then I was finding him some mittens and finally I helped him get his shoes from the bin. He looks at me and totally seriously says, "mom, you're like my personal assistant" HAHA!! Where he even got that, I have no idea.
Then just a minute ago, I'm on the computer here and he walks up to me like he's got something to tell me. Instead he puts his hand up to his mouth like a microphone and sings, "Girl, you just don't realize what you do to meeee.....Girl, you just don't realize what you do to me....."
Oh my gosh, seriously!! That is hilarious!

The Season of Giving

One of the things I enjoy most this time of year is being able to buy things for others. If I had a choice between giving or receiving, I would choose giving in a heartbeat. There's nothing more rewarding than seeing the faces of the boys when they open something you've gotten for them. I even enjoy the kind of giving you do when you'll never see or hear the reaction from the receiver. That's why for several years now we have been a part of the Giving Tree at church. You pick a paper tag off the tree that has a description of someone that you can buy for. Someone who maybe doesn't have much themselves or a child who won't be getting much this year. I usually pick two cuz I can't make up my mind. I love to get the kids, but this year I also chose one for a 35-40 yr. old mom......like me. I figured I could get her things that I would like. The other one is for a little 5 yr. old boy who likes cars, Spongebob, and needed a sweatshirt.
I always wonder about the family that is getting it. What is their situation? How long have they been struggling? Who called the church and gave them their name?
I also pray for them..that this next new year brings renewed hope for their family.

Here are the things I got. I wrapped them up and brought them to church the other day.
For the boy....I got a loud, moving monster truck, a mitten and hat set, socks (hey, you gotta through some practical things in there that mom will love), a new hoodie, a Spongebob coloring book and lots of art supplies.


For mom....some socks (of course), some dishtowels and cloths, a new purse, a charm bracelet that you put actual pictures in, and a family picture frame.


I hope it helps make their Christmas a little brighter.

Christmas Party Pics

We had a good time.

Yay! Saturday is over!

On Saturday, we had one of the most crazy days. Hard to believe considering how our schedule can be often times. Want a rundown??? Here goes....

5:30am - Jay goes to work (he's been working some Saturdays lately)
8:30am - I leave for work
8:45am - Tyler gets picked up by friend's dad to go to the Insect Fair at the U of M that he's involved in.
9:00am - I arrive at work for first client who never shows up
9:15am - I leave work with one hour to go to Costco and get appetizer for party
10:15am - I barely make it back to work for client who DOES show up
11:45am - I finish my client and go home to get boys, change my clothes, grab the Christmas cards, sweet & sour sauce, and wrapping paper, tape, and scissors.
12:30pm - leave house to go to Walgreens to pick up the Santa gifts for the boys that I totally forgot to get earlier this week.
12:50pm - get to my mom's house and ask if she can please put my appetizer in the oven and then a crock pot to bring to the party
1:05pm - get back to work cuz I still have one more client to wash and style.....totally not thinking until I got there that I was wearing jeans and a sweatshirt....whoops. We sat in the back corner. LOL
1:10pm - My BOSS goes to U of M to pick up Tyler cuz she heard me say in the morning that I had NO IDEA how I was gonna get him
1:30pm - finish my client and go back out to car where the kids were watching a DVD. Oh my Lord....this is crazy!
1:40pm - get to moms where she helps me very quickly, wrap the 5 gifts before leaving again.
2:00pm - go BACK to my work where I pick up Tyler who is now there waiting for me after getting a ride from my boss.
2:10pm - Jason meets us there where he leaves his car and jumps in the van and we are on our way, FINALLY, to the party.
3:00pm - arrive at the party!! Woot Woot! By the way, the boys have now been in the car for 2 1/2 hours and are on their second movie. HAHA!!!
7:00pm - LEAVE the party to go to ANOTHER party at Sue's house.
11:00pm or so - Leave THAT party and go home and CRASH!

It's a miracle that I am not in the loony bin. I think I may find it a welcome rest actually. Anyone willing to anonymously have me committed?

Class time

Last night, Jason and I braved the first winter snowstorm of the year to go to our first of two classes at the adoption agency. It is after you take this class that you can contact your social worker and get the ball really rolling on the homestudy process. We were given a hard cover 3-ring binder with loads of paperwork and were told that this is just the beginning. People can be so finicky when you want to adopt a child.....sheesh. :) I have a list of things to do and people to call. Everyone from the doctor's office to schedule checkups for me and Jay to the police station to get fingerprinted (that should be interesting). It was pretty exciting cuz as we get going on this, it just makes it seem more real. So far, it's been this thing we talk about and save up for, but with nothing tangible to really hold onto.....it's seemed surreal. I'm sure as we continue on, it will only feel more and more real. We really like this agency so far. Everyone we meet just couldn't be nicer and more helpful. I know we made the right choice with them.

They said that the homestudy takes 2-4 mos. and totally depends on us and how quickly we do our paperwork and get our meetings/classes taken care of. We also will be having 4 reference letters included in it, so if you get a request for one on our behalf....get 'er done!....Oh, and Thanks! :)
Woohoo...I'm so excited!