"This is the day that the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it. " Psalm 118:24

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Meeting Santa

 Max met Santa tonight, for the very first time.  He really liked him.  Reached out and went right to him.
Not like my brother Mike when he was little and would say "No SANTA me" over and over to my Mom.  Max was happy.  The boys were concerned he would be scared. 




Jack and Drew then asked to take Max on his very first train ride.  It was hard to capture on the camera, but he loved that too.  Sigh *** growing up so FAST.  To think he wasn't even here last Christmas and now here he is sitting on a train, riding away with his big brothers.  sigh***

Monday, November 29, 2010

Thanksgiving

We are home from a whirlwind weekend to Ohio for Thanksgiving.  Scott's entire family was home, we haven't all been together for quite a while.  His brother Doug came in from Virginia and his sister Kathy was there as well.  The boys enjoyed playing lots of card games with their uncle and some football in the yard.  Grandma Shisler kept us all well fed with cookies, pie, ham loaf, homemade mashed potatoes and gravy, her famous salad, her delicious homemade applesauce.  Yummy I am getting hungry just thinking about it.







Sadly Max was not feeling 100% much of our trip there.  He started with a fever on Wednesday, slept a lot on the airplanes and Thursday it seemed to get worse, by the middle of the night it was 103.  He was miserable so Friday morning we found an urgent care and got him checked out.  Strep throat.  Poor baby, his first real illness.  After 24 hours on meds he was much better.  Back to his busy little self.

Saturday Scott took Drew and Tommy to the Ohio State/Michigan game while we stayed back at the farm. They had a wonderful time and when I find the little camera I have some very cool pics to share.  A friend of ours in Des Moines, lined up a personal tour of the Woody Hayes Center with one of the Buckeye football coaches.  They were in the locker room, weight room, practice field, training facilities and offices.  They talked a MILE a MINUTE about it all night and day yesterday.  Pretty wonderful opportunity for them ALL.  All 3 of them were beyond excited.  :)


Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Classic Buckeye Boys


Found this one on the little camera...not sure which boy looks the happiest close to the end of the Buckeye victory over the Hawkeyes!

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Birthday Party and Buckeye game photo catch up

At Chuck E Cheese for the Birthday Party on Friday night

 Max's First Trip to Chuck E Cheese

Jack and his friends and his brothers 

Jack and his Star Wars cake 

Eating Pizza mmmmm.... 

Chuck E singing, got a little long for Jack but he stood there :)

The whole family 


Jack gave out these chocolate suckers for his treats at school and as party favors.  Super yummy and super cute.  Homemade by a lady in Waukee.


Birthday boy in the morning, Saturday, November 20th opening presesnts at home.







Off to the Buckeye Brunch Bash before the big game, Buckeyes vs the Hawkeyes in Iowa City





 The boys with 2 time Heisman winner and famous Ohio State alum Archie Griffin
Birthday boy in the morning, Saturday, November 20th opening presesnts at home.

Go Buckeyes!!!!!

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Happy 8th Birthday to Jack!


Happy 8th Birthday to our sweet Jack.  Jack you are such a joy to us.  Your bright smile and sparkling eyes make me smile.  You have a contagious personality.  I love you quick wit and one liners.  Just the other day we were talking about math and your response to me was "Mom, I love crunching numbers."  Max fell the other day and you felt terrible since you were watching him and your response, "Mom, why do bad things happen to good people."  You have a line for everything.

You continue to LOVE Star Wars and legos and frosty's from Wendy's.  Not sure how you would rank those 3 but they ARE your very favorite things.

You pay attention more than we realize to details.  Watching football last week with Daddy you quipped off some detailed reason for their penalty and knew every rule about it.  And here I don't think you are ever watching the games when they are on, but you are.


At your conference your teacher, Mrs Zonn, was so complimentary about you as a person and friend.   As a strong student who is thirsting to learn. She so enjoys teaching you because you SO love learning.  She commented on your humor and how quick you are to catch on to funny things.

You still are not a great sleeper, you get it up many nights just to tell me something.  You don't need a lot of sleep, just like your Dad.    You now have gotten in the habit of just bringing Max into our room at night, instead of waking up Dad to get him.  You LOVE being a BIG brother, you LOVE sharing your room.


We love you sweet boy, we laugh at your funniness daily.  We are so thankful for you.  Today while you are at the Buckeye game in Iowa City with your Dad and brothers, I hope you are feeling super special.  I hear you got to take a pic and see Brutus at lunch, that's super fun.  Can't wait to hear ALL about it.  (will post pics then too since Dad has the camera)

XOXO
Mommy and Daddy

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Juggling, Cover boy, loss and teeth

This week I have been juggling a lot of balls, it has just been one of those weeks where I feel like I have 20 projects going all at one time, oh and a baby to take care of and 3 other boys that are busy with activities and school stuff.

We ended up going to Minnesota last Thursday, decided while Drew and Scott were in Ohio that we would sneak north.  (which reminds me i need to post about their fun weekend) We took off on Thursday since it was a short week with conferences.  I didn't take a single picture in MN, if you can believe that.  We had a great time, just hanging out with my Mom and Dad mainly. Tommy went up with a friend to a waterpark thursday so e didn't get him until Friday night.   Spent time with Charlie, Alice, Mike and Cara too.  The boys went to Monster Jam in the dome on Saturday in the Suite, thank you Poppy for that.  We had 8 inches of snow while I was there which has put me in the Christmas mood.  Mom and I went to a Christmas home all decorated, it definitely has inspired me.

Monday started the week of with sad news.  I got a phone call around 4:30 from my dear friend Makila that her Dad was being rushed to the ER unresponsive and doing CPR.  I prayed for him, then decided I was better off at the hospital than sitting home.  Rushed there to find Makila and the news that he had passed away.  So sudden, so sad.  He had just watched her 4 kids on Friday night.  This is the 5th friend or family member that has lost their parent this year for me. Getting older, this part I don't like.  Please pray for their family, the services are tomorrow morning for him.

Tuesday was a busy day, the older boys had well check ups first thing in the morning.  Both are healthy and doing well.  
Tommy is  5'4.5" and  94 lbs
Drew is 5'2" and 96 lbs
Both had great check ups.  Drew had a few shots, Tommy had the flu mist and we were good to go.

Tuesday night Tommy had his first 7th grade Lions basketball game.  He played well and had fun.  We were all there to watch him.  After the game it was time to get the stuff for Operation Christmas Child where we pack up shoe boxes for kids around the world.  This box is probably the only gift they receive as a child so we worked hard to make sure they were special.

Wednesday was a crazy day.  I felt like I had my head in every project possible and none getting done....making food for my friend and her family, burned the first batch of chili had to start over.  Max fell and bit his lip, blood everywhere, proofing our Christmas letter, sorting thru Christmas decorations and trying to put some up, the school yearbook meeting, Max was on the cover of the magazine and I was trying to find it, laundry was going, trying to post things on Craigslist to sell, and so on...I fell asleep in the rocking chair with Max around 8:30 that's how tired I was.


When I was checking Max's mouth yesterday after his injury I noticed he now has 4 bottom teeth, he has added 2 since I last checked.  Grand total of 8 now. umm just now had to run and check where the baby had gone, found him with a ball banging on the open toilet seat.  nice huh?  So washed the hands and hope he wasn't putting those in his mouth.  yum  luckily I had cleaned the toilet earlier today,

now where was I...you see that's the problem I lose my train of thought a lot these days.
oh I just learned yesterday that Prince William is engaged.  Not that I am a big royal watcher but I felt a little out of date not knowing that.  Not sure when it was announced but considering Dateline had a special on it, I am obviously not the first in the know.  And I learned it through reading a blog...yep not even the real news.

Jack's birthday party is tomorrow night.  He has decided to invite all boys this year, the first one without any girls.  Guess he is getting older huh?  He will be 8 years old on Saturday.  He will be spending the day at the Buckeye/Hawkeye game in Iowa City with his Dad and two big brothers.  yep he chose that over a day home with his Momma and Max.  Hmm getting older for sure.  His party is at Chuck E Cheese, his choice not mine. He invited 8 friends (since he will be 8) Not sure they can all come, but it will be fun.  He is excited.  Reminds me I need to run out and get him one more gift later today or tonight.  Another thing to add to the list of things to do.

Oh and did I tell you, I had asked Scott to get out our Christmas stuff on Monday.  Well then I left for the hospital and didn't think about ti again.  well while I was gone, he got out EVERY Christmas bin we have, which is a LOT even though I usually only use a few.  Guess I have decided I might as well sort through them ALL and clean out what we don't use.  So my front hall and dining room are a mess of bins.  Yep another thing to juggle with a baby who currently now has a poopy diaper.

Okay I am back from changing the diaper...see what I mean about my life right now.  :)

While I was changing his diaper I remembered I need to remember to pick up Jack's cake tonight, a lady in Waukee makes them out of her home.  It is a Star Wars theme, surprise surprise.  I wouldn't expect anything else from Jack for his bday unless you could do a Wendy's Frosty theme, he maybe would consider that.

I will include a couple shots from inside the magazine here too.  



Oh and a friend from Rochester, who has a stationary business I have used for years has a new line of stuff. I ordered these this week. Act surprised if you get one.  Pretty cute huh?

Oh and it's that time of year where Shutterfly and I become very close friends, so I have spent many a late night with my computer and Shutterfly lately.  And there are still many more ahead, not last night as I fell asleep so early.  So tired.  But tonight, I will be there again.

need to run have a baby banging on a window, not a great idea....and my dryers are both full of clothes to fold and the washers ready for the dryer...and so it goes.  I count my blessings as I fold the laundry though, it means I have a full house with lots of people to love.
xoxo

hope you are still with me...this got SUPER long

Thursday, November 11, 2010

10 months


Sigh, Max you are 10 months old today.  You are growing up SO fast.  We love watching you learn new things.  You love to play so many different things. We love you so much...

I love how you sit on your knees when you play.  How you love to go into the green room, aka sunroom by yourself and just play play play.  You love to throw balls, and you grunt like a tennis player when you throw.

You clap, you laugh, you can high five, you can sign "all done", you can show us you are SO BIG.

You say Mamama, Dadada, bababa, lalala and grr all through the day.

You have the best belly laugh, and we hear it most often when your brothers are around.

You don't like to lay still for diaper changes, you would rather flip over and crawl away.

You love it when your Daddy walks in the door.  You beam and reach out for him or crawl to him.

Your brothers continue to adore you and teach you tricks.  Their friends continue to try to get you to cheer for other teams, we hear a lot of "Go Duke, Go Hawkeyes, Go Chiefs etc"  Many times it makes you cry when they say that which means you are already a Buckeye, Browns and Vikings fan.  :)

You LOVE shopping carts like no one I have ever seen and beam from ear to ear when we put you in one to ride.  It's pretty funny.  And if you fall asleep in your car seat, most of the time you have one hand up, holding on.



Sleep continues to be overrated in your mind.  Unless you are snuggling with your Momma, then you love to sleep.  You love to nurse and snuggle in, and I love that you still can snuggle your little legs up into a ball with me.

 You are a sweet baby, with your cute curly hair, bright sparkling blue eyes...precious and adored.

We love you so very much sweet baby boy...

xoxo

Momma

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

The Stockings are complete

This came today, our set of stockings is now complete.  Last year we had one extra stocking hanging, without a name, and now the stocking says "Max".    Can't wait to hang them all up together this year.

Not taking this stocking for granted...or any of the 6 we will hang.

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Basketball Boys


Drew's basketball team has decided to honor their former coach (meaning he coached the team last year but has stepped down for this year), Coach Veurink with their shoelaces this season.  The purple is for his Pancreatic Cancer....the royal blue, for his beloved team Duke.

We took a few pictures today to share with Gailen.  He was not able to be there, he is home from the hospital after nearly 2 weeks in.  He is not feeling great due to the chemotherapy among other things.  Please continue to pray for him.  



This is his son, Grant.  I would ask that you would pray specifically for him and his sisters.  Today at the game, a little after half time he was roughed up a bit,and started crying.  When he came out of the game, he sat on the bench with Scott (who is helping coach the team) he sobbed and sobbed.  Scott put his arm around him and he looked over at Scott and said "I want my Dad, I don't want to play any more of the game."  While fighting tears in his own eyes, Scott told him that was fine and he finished the game sitting next to Scott.  Ugh heartbreaking for those who were watching....and made many of us cry.  Gailen has ALWAYS been Grant's basketball coach, ALWAYS, so the fact that he isn't coaching this year, AND of course the fact that he is sick with cancer and couldn't even be at the game and neither could his Mom, was so hard.


What a lesson this is for us, to live EACH day like it is our last.  To appreciate the normalcy of our days...

Pray.

Daylight Savings Time and Super Baby

Most people in the world LOVE this day, an extra hour of sleep.  hmmm not at our house.  It just means you wake up and get up by 6:00 instead of 7:00

Oh well...they are morning boys.  As much as I try to talk them ALL into sleeping in, and I am not asking for much, 7:30 would be terrific...they will NOT do it.  That is their Dad in them, certainly NOT their Mom who would LOVE to still be sleeping right now.

We will be on time for church, that is for sure.


Drew and Jack found this cape of Jack's in the basement this morning.  And created SUPER BABY!

Friday, November 5, 2010

Trader Joe's


Just got home from our new Trader Joe's that opened today. It reminded me a little bit of Christmas, the chaos of the parking lot getting there. And when we walked in, Max and I, it was packed from wall to wall. But we decided to try it anyways

My brother and Cara love Trader Joe's so figured it was worth a try. Overall I was very impressed. The pricing was amazing. The food looked delicious. Every sample we tried was amazing. I just had a protein powder banana chocolate muffin with my lunch, it was SO YUMMY. Know it doesn't sound like it would be, BUT trust me, it was!

If you live in Des Moines, check it out. Maybe wait until the excitement wears down or show up when they open at 8 am to avoid the 35-40 minute check out line. Although Max and I didn't mind the line, we chatted with the people around us and he snuggled into my shoulder. Even shared some freeze dried mangos with the little girl in front of us, fresh from Trader Joe's. Those were good too...

mmm have a smorgasbord of things for the boys to try and see if they like it. 5 bags of groceries...and it was cheap.

A definite MUST do! Oh and for a bonus, they play Hawaiian music there, so you feel like you are on vacation! We can dream of being in my favorite place in the world, Maui, can't we? :)

He's even cute when he cries


This morning I was attempting to take some pics of Max. I am trying to learn our camera better so I was experimenting with different settings. (thanks to Mariah for helping tutor me) Max fell on his hand...and this was the shot I got.

He is even cute when he cries. Don't worry I picked him up right away and snuggled him. :) We took more pictures later.

P.S. please don't worry about the sharp looking stick toy next to him, it is on a spring and is soft. It won't poke him in the eye Mom.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Mamamama

Max starting saying "Mamamama" today when we were out running a few errands. He still doesn't know that Mama would be me, and Dada would be Daddy. But he has added the sounds to his repertoire and that is good enough for me. I listened to him babbling it all morning and imagined that he was calling me "Mama", I made myself tear up a few times at the thought. I won't officially count him as saying "Momma/Mama" until he knows it's me, for the baby book (that hasn't been started yet)...BUT I still LOVE the sweet sounds of our baby boy talking. L-O-V-E it!

P.S. Scott had heard him first thing this morning saying Mamamama while I was in the shower, but I missed it then and he didn't do it after I got out.

Monday, November 1, 2010

Go Buckeyes! Beat the Gophers!


As I said earlier, the big boys went with Scott to Minnesota on Saturday to go to the Minnesota vs Ohio State game with Poppy. My Dad had surgery on his left thumb on Friday, hence the cast. This was the boys' first trip to the Gophers new stadium. They were impressed. For the record, I didn't really grow up following Gopher football much, so I am really not trading to the Buckeyes FROM the Gophers. I was NOT a college football fan, before I met Scott. I watched a LOT of hockey growing up (mainly my brother), some NFL and some MLB. The latter 2 NOT by choice. Hockey, I love hockey. Something would be wrong with a Minnesota girl if she didn't love hockey.

Sorry...off on a rabbit trail.

The boys had a great time at the game. At one point during the game I got a text from Scott that went something like this...

"I think Tommy has a tapeworm. (code for he wants concessions non stop) Drew is like having the radio on. (code for non stop chattering) The weather is great, the seats are too. Buckeyes are winning"



The Buckeyes won, the boys had a special night with their Dad and Grandpa. We were home for Trick or Treating...oh ahem sorry Beggar's Night. They came home on Sunday early afternoon.