The Remote Control Car

So one of Brad's presents from his parents was a remote-control car -- a monster remote-control car that goes up to something like 25 mph. Despite warnings from his parents to wait until spring/summer to use it outside, he's off to play with it right now. After explaining to Emilie that they needed to find a dry street or parking lot to use it in, Emilie said, "We could go to California. It's dry in California." If only! ;)

SNOW!!!

After he had just hit me with a snowball -- he thought it was hil-ar-i-ous.

The kids, as usual, were thrilled about our first huge snowfall. For some reason, it's lost some of its magic for us grown-ups, but I did appreciate it through my children's eyes (while shoveling). :) This snow was the heavy, wet kind -- great for snowballs, which the kids and I pelted each other with. Sam really had a blast, but was pretty frustrated that the snow went practically up to his hips, making it hard for him to move!

MORE SNOW!

The background shows the neighbor's bushes. Everything looked super-neat with this snow sticking to it, but it did cause some problems because of the weight on the trees and power lines.

I got my scanner to work!

I tried scanning this one in with my computer before it died and could never get it to scan. Well, here it is! This is me and my Grandma Krebs. I was born on her 70th birthday and would often bemoan that fact when I was little, but wouldn't mind eating at The Manor again with her now!

Nathan's Actual Birthday

Sam going down the slide

The kids' birthdays were a bit of a challenge for me this year...I wanted to do something nice, but didn't really plan ahead, or even have a clear idea of what to do. Nathan's actual birthday was on a Tuesday and since the girls have dance classes on Tuesdays, we did a birthday dinner at McDonald's. It sure was snowy -- our first big snow of the season. We accumulated something like 12" (give or take -- I can't remember the exact amount at this point). It reminded me a lot of the year Nathan was born four years ago. Early morning, when we headed to the hospital, there wasn't a snowflake insight, but by the time he was born (9:48am), a blizzard had started and continued into the next day (just like the one this year). The big news story the night Nathan was born was the airplane that overran the runway at Chicago's Midway Airport, went through the fence and out into the road.

Girls Birthday Party at the YMCA

The girls had a combined birthday party at the Y back at the beginning of December. We'd never done a friend party before and they had a blast -- especially swimming!

Stephie Brandon, one of the girls' good friends from church. The party was on a Sunday, so she came home from church with us until the party started at 2pm.

Nathan's Birthday Breakfast with Dad

Bekah's 5 -- Wow.

Her gift from us -- a Barbie Newborn Baby Dr. with two little babies. Bekah loves all things baby.

She loves this cat, but as you can see, he's huge and she has a hard time lifting him!

Presents from Nana and Papa (the Barbie and bean bag chair).

I cannot hardly believe how time flies. Bekah is a sweet little girl who is always wanting to help me in the kitchen and loves to cuddle. I still maintain that, out of all my children, she's probably the one who would've appreciated being the baby the longest -- and was the baby the shortest amount of time!

Bekah's Birthday Breakfast with Dad

"Reading" Books

So Sam and Nathan aren't always rough and tumble boys. When school started this year, we instituted morning "blankie time" when the boys are given a stack of books to read while staying on a blanket. It's really helped us get Emilie and Bekah's reading done and then they're there so they can listen in as well. Sometimes, like here, I'll catch Nathan reading a book to Sam at other times -- so sweet.

Rides on the 4 Wheeler

If only all my pictures could turn out as well!

Blurry, but shows the sheer terror in Sam's face...Actually, he looks a lot like Nathan in this picture!

Brad took all the kids for a couple of 4-wheeler rides while we were up north. Despite the looks on some of their faces, they all had a good time.

Throwing Rocks in the Creek

Sadly, this old bridge will most likely be gone the next time we go up to the farm (Brad's grandparents' in Richland Center). The kids have really enjoyed throwing rocks into the little creek that runs under their road when we've been up there.

Halloween

The scariest costume I saw all night (we had to make use of the gift Brad's parents gave him last Christmas -- this seemed fitting).

Getting a ride from Grandma


The girls were princesses (of course).

Trick or treating went pretty well -- Sam even got the idea that we don't stop and eat candy after every house and would look up at me and say, "Nex haus?"

Chocolate Something

(Sorry, I'm keeping posts short so I can - hopefully - catch up before Christmas.) :)

Nathan's New Favorite Thing to do at Bathtime

Or at least it was when this picture was taken. :)

A Couple Old Ones

When I was transferring pictures from the memory card to the computer last night, some old 2008 pictures endded up on the computer as well...Totally weird since I know they weren't on the card and this hard drive is new (so shouldn't have my pics on it). Here's a couple of them -- makes me miss "baby" stage (although this is still what we call Sam)! :)

On Santa Claus...

Sam calls him "Stinky Claus." Really, quite funny. :)

I'm Back!

Back to the land of Blogville, that is...After about 2 months without a computer, ours has returned to us! Yay! As for actually updating this thing...ummmm, yeah. That might have to wait. :) I'll try to get some new pics and posts up over the next few weeks, but there's a lot of catching up to do.

Getting Used to the New Basement

Bekah just got dressed down there this morning...and then carried her clothes upstairs to throw down the chute. :) Hey -- at least they weren't left on the floor down there!

Basement Before

Basement After!!!

The girls doing their best attempt at Vanna White (who's that?).

The Pony Rides

Sam all by himself. He thought he was pretty big stuff!