Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas everyone! We have had a very busy Christmas, hosting 2 family parties and having over lots of friends and neighbors over the school break and holidays. First we had over my side of the family on the 20th, then Kendel's family came over on Christmas day. So all in all- 2 turkeys, 2 hams, a literal TON of potatoes, and lots of desserts and goodies were made. We are relieved it is all over, but enjoyed it while it lasted.

Isabel has her 2nd tooth now! Broke through 3 days ago. She has had quite a cold, plus teething, so hasn't been too happy at moments, but is a little trooper.

Hope everyone has a safe new year! Love to all!

Birthday pics

They finally uploaded. Plus, when looking at Isabel standing next to the white table by the sliding door, look at them in reverse. The first picture is the last one where she is sitting back down after having stood up holding onto the chair and then reached over to hold onto the door before sitting down again.

Additional pics from previous post

For some reason it would not let me add the rest of the pics I had wanted to enclose (Thaniel's B-day pics, etc...) in the other post, and now still will not let me open the add image link to add them now. Will try tomorrow...! Goodnight!

Well on her way to runnin'...

I am 100%, unequivically, without a doubt, in love with my daughter... she just ceases to amaze me. She is just progressing from crawling to pulling up and standing in lightning speed. Next comes standing on her own without holding onto anything, then comes walking (which she loves to do with mommy's help, and with taking BIG steps) She started out with a lot of rolling and pulling herself around in the beginning. She got from one side of the room to the other that way, but once she got the whole crawling thing on her hand and knees down, she's been flying around ever since, and doesn't want to be contained in her jumper or pack n' play now that she knows she can get anywhere she wants... and fast! She's let go a couple of times and balanced for a good 15 seconds or so before landing on her tush. She must have buns of steel, because every time she lands hard when leaning back from standing to sitting, she never makes a peep, and it sure sounds like it would hurt and that her butt would be sore.

She's a good girl. Loves her food too. She'll eat everything and anything. Now she is eating cheerios and tiny pieces of bread and mommy's supper in addition to her baby food and breastfeeding. She's an eating machine. Don't eat in front of her if you don't plan on sharing! She wants anything you have.

I am in love with all my kids- just tonight I was watching all of them interact while we were all playing old maid, crazy eight's, and then Nickolodeon DVD trivia game tonight. Had a bit of family fun, and it was nice to see everyone smiling, laughing, enjoying themselves... and most of all, getting along! Thaniel and Abby have their moments- they are at a rough age difference right now. Abby drives Thaniel nuts, and Abby loves to terrorize him! But on nights like tonight, while we were all sitting around the kitchen table (Izzy on my lap trying to eat my cards of course! She wanted a piece of the action too!) it is wonderful to just look at them all and realize their mine, all mine, and I love them and just want them to be happy and get along and love one another, and grow up to be close and be supportive of one another. It may seem like a tall order some days, but I know deep down there's hope that things will get better between them as they get a little older (when Thaniel gets through this whole 'puberty thing' (lol), and Abby outgrows her sassy, little sister attitude). I'm proud of and amazed by all my children.

Thaniel is loving his hockey, and Abby will start competing in a few short weeks with her gymnastics team. We will keep everyone posted on local meets and games that anyone might want to come see them both play and compete in.

I am including pics of my sleeping beauty Isabel, and some of her in action, and some pics from a recent Christmas party for employee's kids at Kendel's work. Also Abby trying out her new sledding tube. Look at how different Thaniel looks with his hair cut since we celebrated his birthday on Oct. 12th by ourselves, then celebrated his and Opa Ken's birthdays together on November 18th. Oma and Opa came to see Thaniel play hockey at a home game here in West Bend, then Chris and Wendy and the kids came out a little later to join us all for dinner and cake here at the house after the game.

Getting ready for the holiday parties we will be hosting. Gravelle family Christmas on the 20th, and then the Falk/Sander Christmas on the 25th. Lots of baking, cooking, wrapping, and decorating to do yet. Trying to space out getting things done over the next 2 weeks so it won't be too crazy the few days leading up to the parties.

Hope everyone is well, and sending out wishes to everyone for happy holidays and hope everyone will be spending it with loved ones and realizing how special those people are to them and how much they mean to them.

Please wish my friend Angie and her husband Matt a happy and joyous first christmas with their new little christmas elf Madelyn Grace Dimino. She will be almost 2 months old. She is their first little bundle of joy, and they are experiencing many firsts as parents with her. Merry Christmas to you all!

Isabel's a rockin'

Isabel, with the help of mommy, has been practicing rocking back and forth on her hands and knees. She'll be cruising around this house in no time...aggghhhh! She will be hard to keep with, she's a mover and a shaker this one!!!!!

Hockey and Girlfriends

The boys have started their hockey season-by boys, I mean Thaniel AND Kendel. Kendel decided at the last minute to try out for the adult hockey league here at the rink that plays on Sunday nights. Most games will run until after 10pm. HA HA! I'd really like to see Kendel try to peel himself out of bed Monday mornings! he can barely move after he plays. He's going to come home, shower, and crash! I actually think he left late for work today, because if he was going to take the bus to Milwaukee, he would have left no later than 6:15am, and if he was going to Mequon, he wouldn't have had to leave until almost 7:30am, and I didn't hear him leave until almost 6:40am, so I think he was late. For the bus anyway- he still probably made it to work on time if he drove himself. But anyway...

Thaniel has a girlfriend! Not his first, but the first one I think he really likes. They were friends first, so I think he feels more comfortable with her. My 'little boy' is growing up so fast... TOO fast! He turns 13 in a few weeks. My god- I'll be the mother of a teenager!!!!!!!!!!!! How old does that make a person feel? And yet I have a 6 month old as well. Actually, I see that alot- the big age difference. Quite a few moms had babies with them at Thaniel's school registration, and one of his hockey teamates has a new little sister too that is a little over a month than Isabel. So we have two tiny cheerleaders for our team this year... I'll have to see if I can order a jersey from somewhere online and get his name put on it for her so she can show her brother some support!!!

I just got back from the doctor- Isabel is very sick with a bad cold. Has been for about a week now. She was so congested and coughing alot all last night, so I decided to play it safe and take her in. I was worried it was going to move into her chest and give her bronchitis, or worse. But the doctor thinks she's ok- it always gets worse before it gets better. She thinks she'll be over it by week's end. I hope so- she looks so miserable, and is definitely wanting to be held and snuggled a lot. It is hard for her to eat because she can barely breathe through her nose.

Well, that's it for now. Gotta go get some things done while she's napping.

Car seat, shmar sheat... ahhhhhhhhh!!!!!!

Car seats are the bane of my existence as of right now!!!!!! If I have to read one more review, research and compare seats and prices on one more website, read safety reviews one more minute.... ahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!! I've been researching for hours, days, weeks.... (no lie!) and I can't come to a decision to save my life! To each their own, I say- you are not going to find a product that has no negative reviews. Even the highest rated car seats have their cons- or at least they are cons to the reviewer. What may be a con to them, may not bother you one bit. It is deciding the difference that is the problem. Isabel is so long... she is already outgrowing her infant carrier car seat, so now I'm shopping for a convertible one, so that she can still be rear-facing for as long as possible (or until she outgrows that too!) There are so many types and styles of convertible car seats, but I am definitely looking for one that will allow her to use the 5-point harness for longer than until she weighs 40 pounds or is too tall to be able to safely wear the harness at the highest setting anymore, and will have to use the cars seatbelt for the booster aspect of the seat. An ideal one would allow until at least 50-65 pounds forward facing in the harness, instead of most of them wanting you to switch to using as booster with seatbelt by 40 pounds. The safer you want your child, the more costly it is! But I knew that going in. Isn't it sad that those on a limited budget have to sacrifice safety features for the lower price they can only afford...? Well I refuse to sacrifice, so will continue searching for the best and reasonable price without sacrificing the safety features I'm looking for. Anyone know any good websites?

Isabel's Favorite New Hangout

Isabel's likes her new set up in the play pen. She has been doing really good practicing sitting up by herself with pillows behind her without mommy helping support her. She is safer sitting up in here- if she falls sideways, she ends up leaning against the side. She is fascinated with the mesh sides- she likes to look at it and touch it all the time. She likes watching Newton through the side, and tries to get him.

Just thought I'd share some pics of her. She is wearing the Wisconsin outfit Oma and Opa bought for her before she was born. Daddy sure thinks she's cute in it, I'm sure. I think if and when we try for baby #2 (if we do, it will absolutely, 100% be our LAST...!) he'll think it's even cuter on his little baby...boy! Here's to Kendel's wishful (and hopeful) thinking:) We would both like to have a little boy. But if we'd have another little girl, we'd still be just as happy, but no more trying for a boy after one more! I'm not going to be one of those women who keep on going until they have that boy for their husbands! It may never happen! And 4 will be plenty for us. Not too big, not too small...for a family. 6 is a nice number I think... We are not even thinking about it until a year or so from now whether we are going to have another or not. We will see where we are when the time comes. We're happy the way we are for now!

So much to do, so little time...

Well, am really hating all these house projects that are lurking about, unfinished, screaming "FINISH ME!" Not only house projects, but yard projects. I would like to start watching children here at home, but can not do til the house is in order and the yard is fenced and swing set put up. Kendel and I agree that I should not even think about working outside the home until Isabel is finished breastfeeding and is sleeping through the night (if even after that while she is still a baby/toddler). We were considering two options for ways that I could contribute even a small amount of money each month to paying off our medical bills, etc... with absolutely no daycare for Isabel. (That isn't an option...period.) 1. Work outside the home on weekends- if before finished nursing, only could work 3rd shift while she's sleeping, or if she is finished nursing, possibly 1st shift, with Kendel and the kids taking care of her during the day til I get home between 2 and 3pm. Or work 3rd shift and nap during the day with them helping out when needed. 2. Home daycare- there is so much involved with being a certified daycare, that I am choosing to only watch 3 kids (you may watch up to 3 children not your own legally to not be considered a daycare and be forced to get certified. 4 and up you have to get certified.) That way I am not too overwhelmed with too many children, and Isabel would have playmates, and 3 would bring in a small but decent amount of money each month to help pay down our medical bills. As it stands, we can afford our monthly bills, groceries, and gas- not much else. So, we are really trying to brainstorm. Anyone have any other ideas of work at home options?

Feeling kind of down and out today. So much to do, so little time, and so little motivation... looking around at everything that needs to get done gets so overwhelming. You don't even know where to start! But I have to start somewhere, so after writing this, I'm going to concoct a list of to-do's, in no specific order, and maybe watching myself scratch each thing off the list once finished will give me a sense of accomplishment that something got done, no matter how small it was. Kendel says he needs a list, otherwise he doesn't know what the heck to do either...

Well, need to be going- Isabel wants mommy to pay attention and play with her. She is in her bouncy.

Love to all!

Here are the other pics of projects around the house...

Now all Kendel's room needs is a ceiling! When we bought the house, the owners removed a bedroom from what is now the open lower level living room to make it an open area instead of an additional bedroom we didn't need. When they removed the walls and had to fix the drop ceiling in the living room, but could not find the same ceiling tiles anywhere to match, we told them to just take them out of his room, because at the time we thought we might eventually expand his room into the storage closet right next door to his room to give him a closet or bigger room. We'll get it done someday...

As you can see, that sticky mess under the breakfast bar and on the edge is gross! The top is all dusty from Kendel ripping the frame for the lights out of the ceiling- insulation from the attic fell down out of the hole in the ceiling, and my allergies didn't handle that well!

Not liking the sudden cold

The kids and I are not liking the sudden weather change, especially in the mornings when heading off to school. The kids hate it that they are so cold when walking and biking to school, so they layer their clothes, but then they are hot later on when the weather warms up. I always found it hard to dress correctly for the weather in spring and fall. I always end up dressing either too warmly, or not warm enough- depending on the time of day. It seemed like the kids were still swimming just yesterday... Abby practically lived in her swimsuit all summer long. Now, it has gone from hot and humid, to cold and dreary in what seems like overnight drastic season change. There didn't seem to be much of a transition from summer to fall this year.

Well, Kendel and I have been tackling some home improvement projects as of late. I am mad at myself that I didn't take some before and after pics, because I'd like to share the difference (hopefully for the better) of what it looked like, as opposed to what it looks like now, but... I'll include the 'now' pictures at least. Recently while Kendel was on a work trip to Mexico, I surprised him by making over his room. Painted, cleaned, re-arranged, organized... it looks so different. And so much better! It looked like a disgusting, dirty college dorm room before. I wish I were exaggerating, but sadly I am not. I did not like going down to spend time with my husband in that room. But now, the walls are painted a very relaxing shade of blue that Kendel picked out (with my input too of course!), and things actually match! Black comforter, black blinds, black bookshelf accent the blue and white in the room. I don't know if anyone has ever seen Kendel's room so clean and matching- Kay, I doubt it was even this clean when he was younger! I didn't allow him to hide anything under the bed! (Except his under the bed storage boxes that he weeded through and organized) We are also remodeling the breakfast bar area in the dining room. Last night Kendel ripped out the shelf and lights that were above the bar area that were absolutely UGLY! We are going to replace that area with 3 hanging down lights, and completely replace the bar top with something new. The people that lived here before completely botched up their idea of sealing the top by putting too much of that goopy clear sealant on. Needless to say, it was put on way too thick- it is STILL oozing out sticky stuff along the edges, and had run down the wood base. It's gross. Next on our list once we finish that is to build our new swing set for Isabel and the kids, and put a fence up. Finally! Isabel LOVES to swing, so I am looking forward to being able to just go out the back door to do that with her everyday instead of walking to the park. Not that there is anything wrong with going to the park, but I will love when my own backyard is ready for the kids and dogs to just go out and safely run around and play on our own equipment with the yard safely fenced in.

Here is some pics of Isabel swinging at the park the other day. It was the first time I had to put a sweater on her. It was a little cool when we went at 10:45am, but warmed up as we were there.

Let the games begin

Not only did yesterday signify the beginning of the new school year, it also started off the new hockey and gymnastics season. Thaniel and Abby are both excited and anxious to start competing, Thaniel in his hockey games, and Abby at her gymnastics meets. We will keep the family informed of any hockey games or meets that might be closeby to Fon du Lac/Oshkosh or out towards Waukesha that would be convenient for family to come and watch Thaniel and Abby at their games/meets.

Last night was Thaniel's first night back on the ice since this past March. Over the summer months the ice is taken out and maintenance is done on the rink. The ice just got painted and put in a few short weeks ago. Kendel helped tape the bottom of the boards. His legs were sore from all that squatting. Since Thaniel and Abby are both on travel teams, meaning they travel all over the state for their games or meets, they rely on parent volunteers to cut costs, and make it manditory for the parents to put in a specified amount of hours. So, I will be doing most of the volunteering and traveling taking Abby to her meets, and Kendel will be with Thaniel. We will switch off occasionally, because I don't want to miss out on all Thaniel's hockey games. The games are fun to watch and get pretty exciting, and we have a great group of parents that really get into it. They can get pretty excited and loud with their cheerleading! But never mean natured or yelling like some parents from other teams we've seen.

Here's a pic of Thaniel's team playing hockey last year (look at how different and young he looks!)

The sisters cheering them on!

This will be Abby's first year on the competive gymnastics team through the YMCA. She has been doing really good working on her back walkovers and back handsprings. She is very flexible and strong. She has come a long way in a short amount of time. It's nice to see her working so hard to do the best she can do- she has really impressed the coach with how well she listens to direction and how hard she tries and how fast she picks up a new skill, that they are really encouraging and pushing her (not in a bad way) to be on Team 4 instead of Team 3, depending on where she's at when the season starts in winter. They are letting her practice with Team 4 right now, and will see what happens. They have high hopes for her! As a parent that makes me feel good for her.

Well, off to rock Isabel to sleep. Naptime!