We Got to Go Ice Skating

We went to the outdoor skating rink today. I asked the guy if they had skates that were little. He looked at Charlie and said, "For that guy, yeah we've got skates." I didn't realize that they would have them for a two year old. Then he said that if it was their first time skating, he suggested strapping double blades to their boots. Annie did not want to put them on her boots. The guy said that she could just run and slide on the ice. Charlie, however, loved ice skating.


Mommy, Uncle Joe, and Charlie

Mommy and Charlie

Annie and Grandmama - Annie just wanted to run on the ice.

Charlie on His Own

Mommy, Aunt Angela, and Charlie

Uncle Joe, Mommy, and Charlie

Time with Friends

Annie's cousins came over, except now she says, "Mom they're my friends!" So Annie's friends came over. Can you tell by Annie's face how excited she was to play with Emma?

They were really into hide and seek this time.



As you can see, Kaitlyn was ready to jump right into the fun too!


Then they jumped and danced on the bed.



Then Emma sang Annie a lullaby to help her fall asleep. It was cute watching her tuck Annie under the covers and sing "Twinkle Twinkle" to her cousin.

Testimony of Prayer

Last Night John and I went to Wake for a man that his family knew. John and I are friends with some of his sons. He was a great man from the stories shared and the testimony of his sons, one of whom is a priest. His sons shared that he would always ask people at Walmart, the gas station, etc. if they knew Jesus. If they said yes, then he would say, "Praise the Lord, Hallelujah!" If he/she was unsure he would ask if he could pray with him/her. The son shared his memory of 7 people waiting in line behind them at the Circle K and his dad still prayed with the clerk. The sons shared how this had embarassed them, but now that their father had died they realized how right he was. We are all striving for Heaven and we should want to bring as many souls with us, even the clerk at the gas station. This man was a disciple and answered this call through simple acts of prayer. I left last night wanting to pray more, not only with strangers who may not know the Lord, but with my family and friends too. I shouldn't just say that I am going to pray for them but STOP what I am doing for a moment and pray with them.
I also realized last night how much the Lord has blessed my family abundantly since my dad's death. All of my siblings are in places with great jobs and friendships who have supported them since the loss of my dad until now 3 1/2 years later. Thank you Lord for taking care of my mom, for blessing her with the gift of fellowship and more importantly GRANDCHILDREN! It is amazing how the Lord gives and takes away and yet if we continue to love and praise Him he blesses us abundantly.

The Marblous Party

Annie told me that she was going to a MARBLOUS party. It was going to be a chocolate party where they would have chocolate bears, chocolate turtles, chocolate giraffes, chocolate doggies, and chocolate instruments like drums, trumpets, and flutes. They even have chocolate Dora, Diego, Boots, and Alicia too. Later John heard Annie say to Charlie, "Charlie, do you want to have naked time?" She was putting a princess pull-up on Charlie and then trying to shove his pants on his legs. Apparently she had a specific outfit for Charlie to wear at the party too.

This is what she chose to wear to her party. I think that she looks so darlin.

Learning

John and I decided a long time ago that we just didn't feel as if we would send our children to preschool. In addition I got my Education degree and then taught preschool so I worked with the preschool and kindergarten standards.

Annie has responded well to our structured time of practicing her letters and her name. This is her progress with her letters. She is working on a little board my mom got her for Christmas.

Snow Day

I have to admit that we didn't just jump into the snow when it came this time. Maybe because we just got back from Ohio where there was a heap of snow. When I asked Annie she was content to play dress up with her dolls rather than go outside. When Charlie got up from his nap I thought, "This is ridiculous. Who knows if we will get snow like this again for a few years." I asked Charlie if he wanted to go outside to which he responded. "Outide! Outide!" So I bundled him. Then of course Annie saw her brother and quickly changed her mind and decided to join us. Our outdoor patio covering blocked the icy rain so the snow that blew under it was really fun to use to make snowballs to throw at each other. The rest of the time, John and I just enjoyed watching Annie and Charlie tossing ice chunks in the air so they would smash on the ground.

Pictures Below:

Charlie all Bundled up and Ready to Play

Annie all Excited Once she was in the Snow

January's Joyfulness

It's been a wonderful couple of days. Sunday I was going to a shower on the south side so we went to Mass on that side of town. We sat with grandma, papa, Aunt Katie, and Aunt Monica. Then we went to brunch for papa's delicious bagel, egg, and cheese sandwiches. While I went to the baby shower, John helped papa put the Christmas decorations upstairs and cut some firewood in case the power went out during the big ice storm. When I got back, John said that we could hire Monica and go to dinner since I was dressed up from the shower. Anyone else cooking right now, due to my nausea, sounds absolutely marvelous. The meal was delicious. Even just that hour away from the kids gave John and I some long needed one-on-one time to talk.
The next morning, Charlie woke up saying, "Where's Aunt Monica? Where's Aunt Monica?" Since Monica has started classes at ASU she comes and chills at our house right now in between instead of driving all the way home. He is just used to her being around lately and it has been grand. The kids have loved having her stop by everyday. Hopefully I can continue to offer delicious lunches and math help to encourage the tradition throughout the rest of the semester.
Yesterday, John had the day off so he put up Annie's door to her bedroom and started the door to her closet. Then we started to straighten the house that has flipped upside down since I've been pregnant. I really did forget about this whole first trimester tiredness and sickness. Oh well, it will done in a few weeks.
Angela came over and helped me make a new recipe, Island Style Chicken and Blackberry pudding for dessert. She learned so many unique recipes from the Sisters of so many different cultures. It really was nice to spend time with her before her busy semester starts up. We were relaxing after dinner and carrying on an adult conversation. I know that you are thinking, "How were you carrying on this conversation with the two kids?" Well they were letting us chat so nicely by playing quietly upstairs. They colored ANNIE"S NEW CLOSET DOOR, WOOD CABINETS, AND CARPET with crayons and markers. They were playing nicely together though. Well with Angela's help, we got it all cleaned up with carpet cleaner and magic erasers. May God bless Angela for all the love and support she gives to us and our children. Today John has off again so I'm sure it will be another wonderful day full of crazy adventures.

The Culprit Covered in the Evidence





Angela and the Kids

Christmas Day at Grandmama's House

My mom made us a delicious pork chop and mashed potato dinner.




Then we opened presents.

New Year's Eve

We had a nice evening for New Year's Eve. We went to a new restaurant, The Rooster's Beak. Then we headed back to our house for a fire in our outdoor fireplace since it was in the fifties. It was enjoyable to chat and bring in the New Year with good friends, new and old.

Dinner with Grandparents

On Thursday I made meatloaf. It must be the one recipe I have up my sleeve that works because everyone wanted to join us. We invited grandma, papa, and grandmama. After dinner, Papa put on an early New Year's Eve display for the kids and let them do some sparklers. Then we came back inside for dessert. Grandma read to the kids while papa played Super Mario Brothers with daddy. It was a splendid evening.