Christmas

Below are some pictures from Christmas Eve at my grandparents.

Mike and Michael
Michael and me

The rest of these pictures are from Christmas morning and christmas with my parents.

Mike, my Dad and Michael putting together the GI Joe command center. This took a LONG time!

"Now Michael this one is VERY special." -Tay

Michael obviously agrees!

OH BOY! TIC TACS!

An ORANGE chair for my desk!!

REAL tools!!

We hope everyone had a MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Merry Christmas!

We got out to play in the snow today. Although there wasn't much we were able to make a little snowman. The kids just love playing in the snow.

We hope everyone has a Merry Christmas!

Prayer request

Although most of you may not know her, my friend Teri's husband died yesterday. Andy was diagnosed with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis. Basically he had a virus and instead of his body just attacking the virus his brain misfired and started attacking his brain. He was put into a coma and put on a respirator to help get the swelling down on his brain. Things were starting to look better, so they thought, until Sunday morning. The swelling came back and went to his brain stem. He was brain dead Sunday at 4:ooam. The two older children, (ages 10 and 9) came and saw their Dad and everyone said their goodbyes. Monday the machines were turned off. He wanted to donate his organs but due to the rareness and so many unknowns with his condition the doctors were afraid to take them. Andy and Teri were the perfect couple. They were truly each other's other half. The family was very close and were always together. I know Teri is very strong. But having to bury your husband so young and then have to go on with your life is going to be extremely difficult. They have 4 children. Kyle(10), Katie(9-She is Tay's friend), Allison(6) and Alaina(5-Teri and I were pregnant together. She was born a month after Michael). Please keep her and her family in your prayers.

New Moon

Blurry picture but I like it.
This is Tay and I before we went to see New Moon with our friends, Sophie and Becca.
As you can see by our shirts we are on opposite "teams". Although after watching New Moon
I have to say my "team" may have to switch. :o) She REALLY enjoyed the movie and I realized that she is growing up way too fast!

Kids and New Moon

Michael and me

Tay and Michael

My friend Melissa and me waiting in line last night for the 12:01 showing of the New Moon movie. We got in line at 9:45. It was crazy there but we had a good time. This picture is dark but it's us in the theater wearing our matching "Team Edward" shirts. I am taking Taylor to see New Moon tonight so I'm sure I'll have pictures of her drooling to put up tomorrow. :o)

Misc. Pictures

This is Luna. She is laying on TOP of her dog cage.
This is a good picture to show the size difference between Meg and Luna.
Luna is the little ball by Meg's butt. :o)

Taylor opened her own saving's account. This is her filling out her first deposit slip.
She said she is saving for a car.

I love this picture. Luna is giving Meg a kiss. I am so happy that all the dogs

and kids (and Mike) get along. :)

Another picture of Michael in his Halloween costume. This is before school.

Luna

Meg and Luna
Luna and me

Michael and Luna

Most of you know by now, but we have a new dog. Her name is Luna. She is a Lhasa Apso. She is 3 months old and has been wonderful. Meg, our Saint Bernard, thinks Luna is her baby.

Happy Halloween!

Taylor as Victoria from Twilight and Michael as a fighter pilot.

Badgers

We went to Badgers Pumpkin Patch on Sunday with my friend Melissa and her family. I watch her daughters Katie, Grace, Becca and Allie on Wednesdays. I just love them. We all got some pretty good sized pumpkins, rode the hayride, ate some pumpkin doughnuts and drank some apple cider. I had warm apple cider and it rocked!

Melissa, Becca(on her lap), Glenn(her hubby) and Allie.

Katie and Tay
Michael on the barrel ride

All of us on the hayride!

MORE Kalahari...

Mike and the kids outside Kalahari.
Kids on the balcony outside our room. They loved sitting out here.

Michael being Michael...

More Kalahari

Hangin' out

Outside Kalahari

Kalahari 9/20-9/21

We took the kids to Kalahari Sunday through Monday. (They liked that they got a day off school!) Taylor and Mike went and rode all the big, fast, scary slides. Michael and I spent a lot of time in the wave pool, the lazy river, the hot tub, the basketball play area and the kid area. Michael went down one body slide which was enough for him. He was NOT amused when he reached the bottom. As a family we all went down Victoria Falls which is a big tube slide. We all rode in a tube together. The first time he cried when he got off. The second time he liked it but tripped getting off the tube and cracked his elbow. So I thought we were done with that for sure. But after doing some other things he asked if we could ride the big yellow slide again. He loved it the last time and was SO proud of himself for going on it so many times. Taylor had a blast, as always, and asked on the way to the van if we can go back next year. She is such a water dog. If she can get wet she does. She can't be my child! :)

Below are some pictures of the kids. Most are of Michael because Taylor didn't spend a whole lot of time with boring Mom. :0) I'm going to post some more in a little while...

Michael under the elephant trunk.

Chillin'

Cheese!

Splash down!

Air Show

Yesterday Mike and I took the kids to the air show. We went last year too. Michael got his fill of "army guys" and planes. He even got to "pilot" a couple and man the gun in a hummer. We walked in and he right away started trying to drag me toward the planes. He loved being able to go in all the planes. They are unreal in size. Some of the planes are big enough for you to drive vehicles inside them. The pilots were very nice to the kids and Michael even got autographs from the pilots of the A10. He liked that plane best because of it's teeth.

The A10 (the teeth plane) is above.

Waiting for the F15! Ear protection on!

This is pilot Michael in the United States of America helicopter. We were told that this one is used for the President when necessary.

Above is Michael manning the gun in the Hummer. Below is what the Hummer looked like.

I love this picture! He was so happy to get to sit in the pilot's seat! All the pilots loved his hat and camo shirt. He got compliments on them all day.