GET BLOGGING 2010

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone. I of course got a bit behind with my blogging again. The holiday's kept us very busy around here. We had a wonderful Christmas. The kids got so many toys and clothes it took me the whole week to finally get them all put away. We are so blessed and SO SPOILED. We got to celebrate with my family on Christmas eve, Ben's on Christmas day, and then Ben's extended family on the 26th. It was three long days of Christmas and it was a lot of fun and great to be with all our family.

Unfortunately, we had a really tough spell after Christmas. On Tuesday, December 29th my Grandma Edna passed away. She was 94 years old and it was time for her to go and meet our God, but it is still hard for those of us left here. We will miss her a ton but I am glad to know she is in a better place now.

We decided to lay low this New Years and had a blast. Kenzie was the first in bed at about 8. The twins went to bed about 9 but decided to have their own New Year's party in their room! It started with Calvin climbing out of his crib repeatedly. Finally he helped Clayton to get out as well. I think it was 10:30 before they actually went to sleep. Ben, Cam, and I stayed up till 1 in the morning playing Monopoly. And Cameron even beat us!! It was a blast. WELCOME TO 2010!

Kenzie, Cameron, Calvin, & Clayton on Christmas Morning!

Santa came! WOW -- They must have been good!

Cameron and his new train set from Santa!

Clayton on his new bike from Santa!

Calvin on his new bike!


Kenzie thrilled about her presents!

OK, I found these pictures funny!

This is my dad and his 5 grandsons!

I am not sure who was winning. I think it was the boys!

And this would be my mom watching her 5 grandsons beat up on their grandpa, while she holds on to her only granddaughter. I think this is what would happen if they babysat them all at once!

This was our attempt at a picture with Santa and all four the kids!

(Calvin, Clayton, and Cam with Kenzie)

Family Christmas picture!

RECENT PICTURES - AS PROMISED

Kenzie sitting up in highchair!!!

Cameron helping Clayton decorate Tree #1




Calvin decorating Tree #1


Kenzie thinks decorating trees is funny!!

Cameron decorating Tree #2 (THE REAL ONE).

Clayton decorating Tree #2

Calvin excited about his St. Nick stocking!

Kenzie is thrilled with her stuff from St. Nick!

Cameron enjoying the snow!!!!

Calvin bundled up!

Clayton bundled up!

Christmas is coming - Ready or Not

Well Christmas is coming!!! As I was finishing my Christmas cards I realized that without my yearly Christmas letter I did not spend any time thinking about how much things have changed again since last year. So instead this year I was just glancing over my old posts on my blog. Sometimes I wonder if I am wasting time with this blog. Tonight I realized that it was really fun for me to look back and see what we were doing even just 6 months ago. I hope I can keep up with this because it will be a blast to look back on years from now and see how much things have changed. I also wish I had more time to record more of the things that happen in our house on a daily basis. I don't think a day goes by lately that I do not have to stop what I am doing and just LAUGH. I can not believe the things that come out of Clayton and Calvin's mouths. I decided that I will take terrible two's any day as long as they also come with the talking of two year olds. I remember when Cameron was that age and I thought he was soooooo funny too but now there are two of them.... And I am not kidding the laughs never end. Don't get me wrong - they are two and they can be a handful but every time I think I can't stand it, they say something that makes me wish they never had to grow up.


So now that I went off on that little tangent I will get to my goal tonight. My updates!!!


As for Ben and I were are the same as always. We are starting to adjust to me working. Ben has had to take on a lot more and is doing GREAT with this. He is a super daddy and husband and I am sure I don't tell him that nearly enough. On top of all his extra duties - the snow. How fun!!!


I am loving my new job so far. I love the people and the work is very fun too. I know it is new yet but Big Brothers Big Sisters just seems to be a good fit for me. I also realized that as hard as it is to leave the kids to work I am appreciating my time with them so much more. I have really stopped to pay closer attention to them in the last couple weeks. I am seeing things I was missing before when I was with them all the time. Besides I think they like the break from me as well.


As for the kids - everyone is super.

Cameron - Just started back up with wrestling and is looking forward to doing some tournaments again this year. He is doing great in the 3rd Grade at St. Peters. He loves just about every hobby you could ever have. He wants to do everything from building models to collecting cards. Cameron is very creative and likes projects although they often do not get completed. He is doing very well in his new room downstairs and is just growing up way to fast.


Clayton - Is our thinker. He can be a very calm child who can play with the same toys for hours on end. He can also be SO emotional. It reminds me of myself. He wears his feelings on his sleeve and when he is happy you know it and when he is not you really know it. He does not like to be bugged much and still likes to have groups of the same things. Clayton loves to talk and often repeats himself until you are listening to him. His newest phrase that he says to everything is "NO WAY". We are still working on potty training and Clayton was doing great but recently took a little step back and won't tell you until he goes, then it is tooo late.


Calvin - His nickname of "The Animal" still fits him well. All you have to do is check out his hair (natural Mohawk - that won't go away) - it says it all - He is the wild child. Definitely a little more challenging at times. Cal tests every limit. He laughs at being put in the corner and just loves attention; positive or negative. Fitting to his personality his new phrase is "WHY". In the last 2 days I think we have heard it a million times. Cal is always trying things out and exploring. He loves to do anything you do and loves to help with everything. He runs to get Kenzie a diaper or bottle, throw things away for you and help set the table. He is also my hugger. He loves to cuddle up and be close to you. Calvin is doing GREAT with potty training. He has recently starting telling us when he has to go and is even making it through nap times dry. Oh, they are growing up so fast.

Sometimes it is hard to believe they are even twins. They are like polar opposites of each other on most days. It is just way to fun to watch them growing up together!!!

Kenzie - SUPER BABY! Honestly she is so amazing. I am not sure how we got this lucky again. Kenzie is a very calm baby and at times you can forget she is even there. She goes with the flow all the time and just likes to watch what is going on around her. She just turned 4 months and is starting to laugh which I LOVE. Kenzie is very ticklish and loves to be held in the air. She is very close to rolling over and I am sure she will be on the move very quickly. All around she is a great baby and we just adore her.

Funny how this is our busiest year yet and I am further ahead on my Christmas stuff then I have been in years. Cards are done, just waiting to be mailed, Shopping is nearly done and even some wrapping done already, two trees up and decorated, all outside lights up and working, St. Nicolas Villages are up, Christmas cookies will be done this weekend, and finally blog is updated

Well that is it for now. I spent more time on this then I was going to and I still have to post some pictures. Then I have to get the rest of my Christmas decorations up before Christmas is here and gone!!!

JOB

Lots of new stuff going on around here lately. As the title says - I GOT A JOB! I got a job working as a Match Support Specialist at Big Brothers Big Sisters in West Bend. The job is part time (20 hours) a week working mostly nights and some weekend hours. I am super excited and nervous too. It is going to be a big adjustment around here. I will still be home most of the days but Ben will be doing some evenings on his own. I will also be getting some part-time day care for the kids for the days I have to leave before Ben gets home. I already started with some training last week. I think I am going to enjoy getting out of the house but I am sure I will miss the kids too.

Other then that Ben just got back from his 10 day hunting trip and unfortunately no deer this year. I realized just how much I miss him when he is gone. I am so glad he is back. While he was gone the twins took turns getting sick and that kept us home a lot, making the days even longer. Now we are hoping that everyone stays healthy through the rest of the holiday's.

I have started my Christmas shopping with my Black Friday adventure. I am not sure why I insist on doing that to myself. It is crazy and frustrating with all the people and really a huge waste of time in lines but I can not pass up a great deal. I love sales so I am sure I will continue to do it every year. Our outside Christmas decorations are up and we are looking forward to setting up more inside decorations this week.

I LOVE THE CHRISTMAS SEASON.

More to come soon!!!

THREE MONTHS ALREADY & THREE YEARS

Where has the last three months gone? I can not believe that my baby girl is three months old already. She has changed so much in the past three months and I swear I missed it. I am with the kids everyday but still feel like time is flying by us. Our little Kenzie is still as sweet as ever. She is a SUPER good baby. She smiles every time you look at her and she just loves to watch everything that is going on. She it already outgrowing some of her adorable little baby clothes and I feel like she hardly got the chance to wear them. Now I am getting that itch to go out and buy her more cute little girly outfits but she still has a closet full of new clothes!



The boys all continue to wonderful with their little sister. Cameron still loves to hold her and she is always smiling at him. Calvin likes to get right in her face and talk to her. He also likes rolling her over onto her belly. If we weren't always watching him I think he would also pick her up and carry her around like his own little dolly. Clayton does not pay as much attention to Kenzie as his brothers but he does love to give her kisses and to tell you when she is crying.



Kenzie has adjusted to the chaos in this house very well. She can sleep through almost anything when she is tired and can really yell when she wants to get your attention. She has started sleeping through the night, some nights. This is great but I never know which night it is going to be. It seems like the days she is awake a lot and I am sure she will sleep all night she does not. Then other days she zonks out at 9 and does not make a peep till 6. She is just so amazing and wonderful. It amazes me everyday how much you can love your children, even when some days they can make you crazy!!!

Besides Kenzie being three months old, today is our three year anniversary. Three years - three more kids and now I wonder why we feel so busy. Hard to believe it has only been three years. Feels like forever. I have to say I could not be happier. I love my husband, my kids, our our crazy life. I would not trade it for the whole world.

Wonderful Weather

I don't think we could have asked for better weather this weekend. Felt like spring and I loved it. The kids seemed to enjoy it as well. Saturday we spent some time working on the leaves in the yard again. Today we hung out by Grandma Grace and Grandpa Dick. Got to spend some time with our cousins, Xavier & Isiah. We had a blast. Ate lunch, had ice cream, and played with all the fun toys by GG & Papa's. I wish I had some more pictures of the mess that became of the twins with their lil' drummies ice cream cones. I am not sure how it started but both Calvin and Clayton ended up with a lot of their drumsticks in their hair!!! After the ice cream encounter we headed outside to enjoy the weather some more and that proved to be a blast too. The boys even decided that they were so hot running around outside that for a short time they took their shirts off. It was so funny.

When we got home it was still beautiful out so we starting putting up the outdoor christmas lights. I know it is early for this but who can't take advantage of putting up x-mas lights in a short sleeve shirt! I promise I will not start turning them on until after Thanksgiving!!!

Sharing a few pictures again. Hope everyone has a great week!!

Xavier, Calvin, Kenzie, Clayton & Isiah

Clayton & Calvin & Kenzie

Clayton & Calvin

Clayton enjoying his ice cream

Calvin REALLY enjoying his ice cream!

Up North

I should be sleeping but instead decided to update everyone on our GREAT weekend. Thursday morning we piled the kids and everything I could fit into the van and went up north to the cabin for the weekend. We went with Grandma Jane and Grandpa Gerald. It was really nice and relaxing. I definitely needed it! I think we all did. I took naps two out of the three days up there and spent the rest of the time just enjoying some quality time with all four of the kids. Cameron got to try out his new bow (new/used) and go out hunting with Ben. Unfortunately they did not see anything. It was just a great, relaxing weekend. We even had our own little Halloween party.

Kenzie sticking her tongue out!!!

Cameron carving Grandma Jane's Pumpkin!

Ben teaching Cam to use his bow!

Cameron as a scary skeleton!

Clayton as Buzz Lightyear!

Calvin as the HULK!

Kenzie as a sleeping froggie!

Kenzie, Calvin, Clayton, Cameron! What a sight!