Winter weather blast!

Once again, we have been hit with some winter weather! I thought I lived in the South, but the past several weeks I have felt as if I lived in the North Pole! ;)

Beginning Thursday afternoon, our area had freezing rain and sleet. Jim's office even release people early from work so they could get home before it got too bad. After maybe an inch of ice, the snow began to fall....and fall....and fall! It literally never stopped for about 24 hours!

This is what it looked like in front of our house Thursday evening as the sleet turned to snow...


And this is what it looks like now...over 24 hours (and 7 inches later!)

Those same bushes coated with snow!

Our backyard fire pit

Our backyard play area

My little garden angel looks to be pleading with God saying "No more snow!"

Jim shoveling our driveway

One crazy story I had to share....the news reported Friday night that one of the snow plows in Bella Vista actually slid off the road and turned over. Luckily no one was injured, but just goes to show, if the snow plow is having trouble getting around, then it is best to stay indoors!

Here is a link to that story and pictures of the overturned snow plow...(just cut and paste into your browser)

http://www.4029tv.com/video/22382367/index.html

So we have been relaxing indoors yesterday and today. I have finished a book, played several games of "Go Fish" with Christian and finally--catching up on my blog. ;)

Christian and I even made some chocolate covered strawberries this morning!

Christian asked, "Are you having a party?"
"No" I replied, "These are for us to eat!"
"Alllllllright!!!" he yelled! :)

Christian was quite good and making chocolate covered strawberries!

Andrew enjoying his "big boy peas" as Christian calls them. ;)

So from our house to yours---stay warm and safe this weekend!

Student of the Week!

Christian was named "Student of the Week" at his elementary school last week!
He was excited! His teacher asked him to fill out a questionnaire and provide some pictures of him for display in the hallway. Here are his "My Favorite Things" questionnaire answers...

My favorite song: Jingle Bells
My favorite TV show: Curious George
My favorite game to play: Train conductor
My favorite food: mac and cheese
My favorite sport: golf

Congratulations to our big boy Christian!

Weekend tidbits...

I took Christian to see "A Year with Frog and Toad" the play at the Walton Arts Center last Saturday. He really liked it. We had recently starting reading the books and we both enjoy the cute stories. We met Pops and GoGo and Uncle John with his friends for lunch at Hugo's, one of my favorite dining places in Fayetteville.

Last Saturday night, Jim and I had a date night and enjoyed dinner at Basils. We actually went to see Sherlock Holmes, a VERY good movie! We had a great evening out together, just the two of us.

Jim has actually gotten in a couple rounds of golf the past couple weekends. He was chosen by a golf ball manufacturer to "test" some golf balls and provide them with his feedback. He was excited about that!

Christian and I went to his friend, Ian's birthday party at JumpZone this past Saturday. That worked out perfectly since it was a rainy Saturday.

Jim has gotten to spend some extra time with Andrew while Christian and I have our "mother and son" outings. Poor little Andrew is cutting his 1 year molars (according to his pediatrician) so he has been pretty fussy lately. I hope his teeth stop giving him trouble soon!

Christian has another loose tooth! His other bottom front tooth is pretty loose and he will soon have a big gap on the bottom of his handsome smile! ;)

We got to enjoy the one beautiful day that the weather was almost 70 degrees last week. We had an after school playdate with my friend Misty and her kiddos. We met at the park. Our older boys rode their bikes on the trail while we pushed our younger ones in the stroller. I was so glad to get outside and enjoy the fresh air. So were the boys!

I have been good sticking to my workout routine the past couple weeks! I got my new swimsuit in the mail that I ordered for our trip to Puerto Vallarta this summer---so that's my motivation!
I can't wait for summer!

I will end this post with a couple pictures...

Andrew's first time to ride sitting up in a cart...not in his bucket car seat. It was taken a few weeks ago...

He LOVES to ride around in the cart! So much to see and look at when we go grocery shopping!

Christian and Andrew in their matching fleece outfits from Aunt Kimberly and Uncle Wrenn!

9 months old!

Andrew turned 9 months old last week! WOW!

He has been furniture walking for awhile now. He loves to stand up on everything...including his little piano! I call him Jerry Lee Lewis! haha!

Andrew can stand up without holding onto anything now, but has not yet taken that first step without holding on to something. He is saying "dada" a lot! He has Jim really have a wonderful bond. Andrew lights up when he sees his dad.
Andrew is still eating 3rd foods and now eating puffs, yogurt melts and we have been doing some table food (muffins, rice, veggies). He is doing well with a sippy cup already!

Andrew had his 9 month checkup today. Since school was out for MLK birthday, Christian came along as my helper! I even got in my Monday workout, 30 minutes of the exercise bike and Zumba class this morning before his dr. appt. Can you say Super Mom?! ;)

Andrew now weighs 20 lbs. and 4.4 oz. (Chunk!) He is 27.75 inches tall (a bit over 2 feet).
Dr. Hill said he was doing great! He is right at average in all the percentiles except height-a bit shorter than average. He gets that from his mom. :)
He goes back for his next check-up at 1 year old! I cannot believe we are just a few months away from him turning 1!

After recently being at home so much due to the recent bad weather, we discovered a new "game" that Christian and Andrew both like....we call it "Baby Express". I put Andrew in his diaper box and Christian pulls him around the kitchen and down the hallway like he is riding a train. They both really have fun with it!


Who needs toys when you have an empty box lying around?! ;)

New Years Resolutions...

I have never been big about making New Years Resolutions. But this year is different. My resolution is to start working out. Not that I really need to lose weight, but more so tone and tighten and just get into shape. I have literally not worked out in four years. Luckily, I have been blessed with good metabolism and genes but as I get older, I think exercising could help boost it a little. So as of this week, I started heading to the gym a few days a week. I am taking some Zumba and Pilates classes and LOVE them! I am also riding my exercise bike for at least 30 minutes a day. I am already feeling better and excited about it! I have more energy too. This week has been so busy with school being back in session and me starting to workout that I have not gotten to blog much...but I will! :) Looks like I have a good schedule worked out to exercise now and Andrew does really well in the nursery at the gym! Yeah!
Andrew has his 9 month checkup on Monday. I will post his latest information that evening.
Have a great weekend!

3 week Winter Break??!!

So this past week, we got lots of winter weather. Snow, snow and did I mention SNOW? ;)
Our area had record low temperatures...many mornings we woke up with single digit lows and highs in the teens. Wind chills were below zero. So the first week back to school after winter break turned into a 3rd week of winter break. And I thought global warming meant....well, the weather gets WARM?!
With the cold weather and bad roads, we spent most of the week at home. Cabin fever began to set in to the point I was jumping up and down when I had the chance to go to the grocery store. Lame, I know. So we found lots of things around the house to keep us busy--from putting together puzzles, organizing closets and lots and lots of playing!

Andrew really enjoyed having his big brother around all day to play with him!

Christian even taught Andrew how to "give kisses"...


They love each other so much!

When the roads got better by Friday (yet they still closed school), we headed out of the house!
But not before bundling up...

Is this not the cutest?! Andrew was warm and ready to go!
This fleece baby coat was given to Christian from Aunt Kimberly. I even found the picture of the first time I put Christian in it...

Christian, January 2005

On Saturday evening, Christian was invited to a birthday party for Mary at Jump Zone.
What a great way for Christian to burn off all that energy he has been holding in all week!

Christian going down the slide

Christian with Carson (Aaron and Allison's oldest boy)

Brandon and Ruby

And while all our kiddos played, I got to visit with my girlfriends!

This morning we went to church and it was great getting to see everyone after being stuck at home. Andrew had so much fun, he wore himself out and fell asleep on the way home...

Now to get ready for back to school tomorrow!

Tooth Fairy!!!

Christian lost his first baby tooth last night! He was SO excited! (I shed a tear thinking about how big my boy is getting--seems like just yesterday he got his first tooth!)

We put his tooth in the tooth fairy pillow and sat it by the window so the tooth fairy would come! This is the same pillow Jim and his siblings used when they were little.
Christian woke up this morning to see the tooth gone and a dollar in its place. He wanted to go to the store right away to spend it! (and since we have been snowed in for a few days, I was excited to go to the store too!)

We went to Target since they have a big section of toy bins and other items for $1. He had fun shopping for his toy. He bought a little tractor that moves across the floor. Andrew was excited to get out as we were I think. He sat very quietly in the cart the whole time we were at the store.

Speaking of being snowed in, there is another snow storm expected to hit us tonight. Also, the temperatures are going to drop tremendously...high tomorrow 12 degrees....low is -1. Wind chill 20 BELOW zero??!!! This is not Arkansas weather. I thought global warming meant... well, it should be getting warmer. ;)

We have been trying to stay busy at home. Christian put together his 3-D globe puzzle yesterday all by himself! He is SO smart! 250 pieces!


Christian showing off his completed puzzle!

I better get busy finding some other projects to keep us occupied!

Snow days!

After a two week winter break from school, Christian was to return to school yesterday. However, we got a big snow over the weekend and school was closed Monday AND today!

Jim took Christian sledding by the golf course down the street on Sunday afternoon...

Christian and Jim heading down the street to go sledding! Jim said Christian LOVED it! He even crashed and tumbled out of the sled once but got up, laughed and was ready for more!

After they got home and took warm showers, we sat on the couch drinking hot cocoa and watched a movie. It was still snowing outside! It snowed all day!

80s Skate Party!

Right after the New Year, I was invited to Kara's 30th birthday party...an 80s skate party!
When I turned 30 a couple years ago, I had a rockin' 80s Skate Party and it was so much fun! Since then, I have been invited to at least two....I think I started a trend. ;)

Since Jim is not fond of dressing up or skating, Dara was my date for Kara's party!

Since Dara and I have known each other since the grade school, I KNOW I have some pictures of us dressed like this...just 20 years ago!

me and the birthday girl Kara!


Sherman and I being silly!

The cute birthday cake!


Anytime I get to bust out my custom speed skates, I get excited! Can't wait to teach Christian to skate! I think that may be a fun activity to do this winter!

Since I did not keep a blog until 2008, I thought I would share some of my fav pictures from my 80s skate party a couple years ago. I really think I did more planning for that party than my own wedding! ;)

My 30th Birthday, December 2007

All the girls!







So now to start planning my 40th??? ;)

New Year's Eve - Ringin' in 2010!

Jim and I hosted our 9th Annual New Year's Eve Bash!

My 2010 cake and treats!

Lots of food!

And lots of our friends!!!

Pat and Stacy with Jeremi and Eva

me, Aaron, Dara and Kellie

Jim and his college buddies

Sherman and Kara

Our friends Pat and Stacy FINALLY made it to our NYE party! They just moved back to Kansas City from Alabama. We were so happy they could come stay with us!

Zach and Dara
Aaron and Allison

Matt and Kellie...I LOVE this sweet picture!

Jeremi and Eva

Brandon and Susan


Cheers!

Karaoke Revolution for the Wii was a big hit!




Our midnight group picture!

Happy New Year!