Times are Changing!

Wow, what a crazy week! So much has happened in the last week. Chris getting a new job has been the focus of our week. Amazing how the Lord opened a door and within 4 days we had a verbal offer. We feel blessed that it has worked out like this and are very excited about this new opportunity. On Monday Chris gave his resignation for his current job and it was a bittersweet ending. We have been thankful that he has had a job for the past almost 6 years, but can't wait to see what this new job brings. After resigning, he realized that he would have all this week off, and since we aren't 100% on vacations for this summer, we decided at 3pm on monday to head to KC in case we don't make it down in the spring. I quickly washed some clothes, got the bags packed, and waited for Chris to get home at 6. We left about 7pm, and got in to KC around 3:30am. The boys were AWESOME!!! Jack probably didn't say more than 2 words, and Cole fussed for about 1 minute until I got his blankie adjusted just right for him. It was much more pleasant than our previous road trips. I think Cole being a little older has helped.

If I have learned anything about Cole this trip, it is his love for animals. Grandpa Gerald and Grandma Linda have a couple of cats. Caspian used to be Aunt Megan's cat until they got pregnant, then they gave her to away. But we get to see him whenever we come down to visit. Cole has been chasing him around all over. Below are a couple of pictures of him trying to get the kitty. Cole even at one point got under the bed and got stuck trying to catch the kitty. Then we headed over to Uncle Joe's house to see their cousins and found a little doggie that Cole couldn't leave alone. Sorry Cole, your mommy isn't much for animals and it will be a long time before you might ever have one of your own.

I don't think Jack could be any happier to be playing with Grandpa G.

Stats

Went in for Jack's 4 year check up and Cole's 18 month appt. Both boys are doing great. Here are their stats.

Jack at 4:
38 lbs.
41 3/4 in.

Cole at 18 months:
22lbs (finally up to the 6th percentile for weight)
32.5 in.

When the weather outside is frightful......

....and inside we're so delightful! :) Happy February 1st! We are right smack dab in the middle of the biggest storm in years! We are expected to get up to 24 in. of snow. I've had a lot of snow plowers in my family and they don't really rejoice in a big snow forecast, but I've got to admit, I still get excited for snow!!! Jack really wanted to go out and play in the snow this morning, so I bundled him up and let him got out for about 10 minutes. Of course he went right to the shovel and started trying to clear the back deck. But here is a picture of him before the snow storm hits.

Then as promised...we made snowflake cupcakes. Well, that was the plan, until I realized I had no cupcake papers, so a round cake it was. Cake batter, frosting, and sprinkles, what more could a kid want. We decorated a big snowflake on top in honor of the "big storm" that Jack couldn't wait for. Cole on the other hand just kept roaming around and then finally found a comfy spot on the floor of the kitchen while we baked. Hot plating was next on our agenda. Jack LOVED it!!! He loved how the crayons just melted right on his picture. He didn't want to stop. But we did a snowman, rainbow, heart, and snowflake. Our windows look so pretty now. I used to love doing this with my students. We pretty much did a picture for each little holiday or season to decorate our classroom windows. I was a little worried about Jack burning his hand or arm, but he did really well. I think only once or twice did he bump the hot plate, but didn't get hurt. We will definitely be doing more of this.

Once again, Cole just roamed around and snacked on Cheetos! Jack is exploding with numbers. We have been doing number flashcards (actually the cards from the game Sorry), and he is noticing numbers all around him. He is so excited when we drive down the road and he sees numbers we know, and at the grocery store. Its so fun to see his little mind going all the time.

Well, the snowstorm is in full swing. We are in for the next day or two. I am hoping to be able to Jack up and do a little snowplowing with my dad. Jack LOVES to ride in the plow trucks at church. He can't wait to get out and shovel the driveway with daddy tomorrow. :)

Oh My Cherrios!

It's been a lovely snowy day here today. The kids and I have been playing, they have been eating LOTS, I've been working on hats and blankets. I took the boys to the garage while I pinned some blankies. We were out there about an hour and in that time they completely trashed grandma and grandpas room. I got out a box of cheerios for Cole to snack on, and he thought it was much more fun to throw them all over than eat them. Jack then got the novel idea to just dump the whole (brand new) bag of them out. WOW! Can that entertain 2 kids for quite a while.Jack of course went right over and got grandpa's tractor and wagon and started loading it up with cheerios. Cole just continued to eat one, and throw 100. :) So much easier to make a mess, then to clean it up. Jack isn't very good about cleaning/putting away his stuff. It is a real battle! I've tried singing songs, making it fun....no such luck. :( But they did get cleaned up. Thank you vacuum cleaner! Here is a picture of the Cheerio fun, and a few others from today. Jack loves to make silly faces when the camera comes out.

ER

Well, what a way to end the weekend. Chris was the Steelers playoff game, my parents had Jack in MO with them for Karissa's birthday, and Cole and I hung out with Megan and Tess all weekend. Last night everyone came home, and Jack wasn't feeling too well, so he went to bed early. At midnight, Chris heard one of the boys coughing so he went up and thought it was Jack, but as we was coming down the stairs Cole screamed like never before, so we went racing into his room only to have him not breathing well and "barking" up a storm. It was awful to listen him. Chris ran to get my mom, and she tried to give him a breathing treatment while we got dressed to take him to the ER. Of course after being outside in the cold, by the time we got seen by a doctor he was doing much better. They gave him a steroid, and sent us home. Today is just really tired, but his breathing sounds better.

Coley

Thankfully the Lord gives us a new day every day! Just when things seem to be getting to the end of the rope, somehow He gives a renewed strength and purpose. For that I am grateful.

Happy 4th Birthday Jackson!

Happy Birthday Buddy! I can't believe you are 4 years old on the verge of 14. You grown so much this year. Literally, the pants I bought you this fall are already becoming high waters just halfway through the winter. You still love to play with tractors and help make recipes. You may look like your mama, but you are sure developing a personality of your daddy. You like to quote your favorite parts from movies. HA HA

This year you started preschool, and were very excited about it, until it actually came right down to getting dropped off. Now you don't really like to go, but you do. You are also getting better about going to Sunday school. You love to play tickle and chase! Inside or outside! You learned to drive the John Deere riding lawn mower this summer all by your self. Instead of playing and sledding in the snow, you would rather shovel. You did love to swing this summer, and started to learn how to pump your legs. Hopefully next summer you will be do it by yourself. :) You are recognizing numbers and some letters now. Your "l's" still sound like "w's". My favorite saying of yours is "just a witto (little) bit" :) You love to pray at the dinner table. Love to jump. Like to tell stories and dreams with daddy before bed. You are very polite and use please and thank-you all the time. Like round crackers not oval ones. Gag every time I try to brush your molars. Always try to take stuff away from your brother. Like to get in his crib with him when he wakes up and jump. Took 2 airplane trips this year (KC and Colorado).

You are such a joy and we are so blessed to have you call us your parents. Love you buddy.


For Jack's birthday, he wanted curious george. So I set out to make a George cake! It turned out pretty well. Grandma Joyce and Aunt Vicki were able to come up to celebrate his birthday weekend. We had a family party on Sunday, and all the kids had lots of fun playing. Then on his birthday on Monday we went out to IHOP for breakfast and to Bounce Town to play. Jack, Cole, and Tessa had a great time playing there. It was a whirlwind of a weekend, but lots of fun!!!