Happy Holidays!

Just wanted to write real quick to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! We are actually doing our Christmas Eve tonight because we are leaving on Christmas Eve to go to DC for Christmas. We will be putting out our Reindeer food:-) Thank you Sarah! It is starting to become a yearly tradition with Josh's family to all get together out there for Christmas. It's a lot of fun and we get to see his whole family together once a year. We are leaving on Christmas Eve and we come back New Year's Day. My kids have been very blessed this Christmas with all the gifts they are getting despite the economy right now. We started shopping really early this year.
My baby girl absolutely loves to talk about Santa this year....or HoHo as she calls him. She always says, "Ho Ho, baby" She wants Santa to bring her a baby for Christmas and believe me she is definitely getting enough of them! Santa actually came to the daycare yesterday and you should have seen the look on Emma's face. She froze when he came in the room and then she ran over to one of her teacher's and held onto their leg. She was PUT on Santa's lap because I wanted a picture of her and Santa. She did not cry but she would not look at him at all and she had this halarious look on her face! Needless to say I did get a picture though.
Ethan's present this year that he's going to love is his Gameboy SP. He's really getting into this right now and I didn't want to go straight to the DS...:-)
Anyway I know I'm horrible about writing on this and I'm thinking about closing it out all together. I just wanted to wish you all Happy Holiday's and I hope you have a great time with your families!

I know it's been FOREVER!!!

So I don't really know where to start and I'm sure I will forget to mention some things. Ethan is getting ready this coming week to take his Kindergarten Pictures! I am excited and I hope they turn out good. His kindergarten year is going really good for him so far. He has already learned 30+ words! Yea! I do love his teacher also and I was afraid of the school he was going to but it has turned out great!
To back up a couple weeks. It was the 20 year death anniversary of my cousin that died in a car accident and just last week it was the 2 year death anniversary of my mom's death. I have been kind of down in the dumps about both of those. It's extremely hard but I try to deal with it everyday. I'm pretty much okay or as good as you can be about Amy's death now that it's been 20 years but my mom's is still very very fresh and I miss her sooooo much everyday. It is those simple things like calling her on the phone or dropping my kids off for the night or just asking her for something that I might need that I can't ask anyone else for....Since my mom died I have been very distance with all of my family and I don't really speak with any of them to much at all anymore and that's really hard too. Recently though I have been talking to my sister and cousin on Facebook. That has taken over my online computer time recently...Facebook and Myspace.
Amy Emma's therapist is still coming to see her once a week and some weeks are good and some weeks not so much but I do have to say it is definitely an improvement from where she started. :-)
This weekend we were suppose to go down and see my best friend in Bloomington that I haven't seen since May and we've already reschuduled a couple times because her kids were sick and now Emma got sick on Friday at school and so I had to reschedule with her again! Emma is feeling better now I think or hope. She threw up a couple times at school on Friday afternoon and had a slight temp. I got her home and no more throwing up but she's had a temp since today. Not a whole lot went on this weekend. Went grocery shopping, out to luncn and today I feel like the laundry is never going to END! I'm real bad about getting really backed up on laundry.
This coming weekend I'm taking Emma to go see Playhouse Disney at the Metrocenter and then off to Sarah's for scrapnight! Then that following Monday I have off work. Josh and I are going to try and go and do something by ourselves. :-)
I bought my children's halloween costumes a week ago and Ethan picked out a storm trooper from Star Wars and Emma is going to be Snow White.
My dad is having surgery on his bladder this coming Tuesday to see if the Cancer has spread at all. Please cross your fingers and say a prayer that everything is okay. I can't imagine losing my dad anytime soon...
I feel like I'm all over with different subjects but whatever comes to mind I write about! :-) I put up all of my Halloween Decorations last weekend and Emma loves it. Everyday when we leave the house she has to say goodbye to the pumpkin leaf bags that we filled and put in our yard.
So far this fall we have made it out to the Apple Orchard that looks so wonderful again but not the Pumpkin Patch yet...that is coming though. I am also looking foward to going to all the upcoming craft shows. :-)
Well I can't really think of anything else to say right now but I hope you're all doing well. Until Next Time...

Not a whole lot going on...

I felt like I wanted to post even though not much is going on.
This past week was pretty boring. I was suppose to work on Wednesday night for Chasey but(Ann)she accidently forgot to write my name down so she thought I wasn't available that night. Thank God I did call and check though because I was just going to end up showing up there and sorry we don't need you we have someone else...which is fine but it would have been kind of awkard. It was good though because Josh went to a Brewer's game that day and would have had to pick up the kids from Chasey. So after work I took the kids to McDonalds and then we just came home and relaxed. Besides that we really didn't do anything the rest of the week.
Oh after dinner on Thursday night Josh and Ethan went to get their hair cut...:-) Handome Boys now!
Friday after work I went to pick up my wonderful babysitter! Stephanie Ruch! She's is wonderful with my kids and my kids just love her. I'm not sure how much longer I will be able to have her though because she is now in High School and I'm sure going to have lots and lots of stuff to do! She did watch the kids on Friday night though while Josh and I went to a meeting in Shaumberg and then out to eat. That was really nice.
Saturday I got up went shopping a little for new clothes for the kids and then we all went to JC Penney outlet and got the kids new winter coats and a new pair of tennis shoes for me. After that we ate at Dairy Queen for lunch and then came home and the kids took a nap. By the way has anyone tried the new Banana Cream Pie Blizzard at DQ? Ummm, YUMMY! That is so tasty!
After the kids woke up we went grocery shopping and then to dinner. After dinner we stopped and picked up some medicine for Ethan's skin and then home.
Today I have not left the house. I cleaned most of the morning and Josh made breakfast. I put Emma down to sleep and now we're just sitting here watching football. Tonight we're making Chili for dinner and getting ready to start our week tomorrow. This coming week not to much going on either...pretty boring huh?
This coming weekend Josh is going up to the Dells for a Bachelor party and won't be home until Sunday sometime which is fun for him but I hate being home alone...:-(
Sunday I'm going over to Neen's house to watch the Bear's game.
Until next time friends...I hope you all have a great week!

The long weekend is just about over...:-(

What a wonderful long weekend it was though. I hope all of you had a great weekend as well. Weekend recap...
Friday night I got home and waited for Josh to get home. He walked in the door and I told him I really didn't feel like cooking so we went out to eat at Fiesta Cancun. That place is really yummy! After that we just came home and relaxed.
Saturday we got up and went to the Jelly Belly factory. We got there took a tour of the plant which is pretty neat and then spent WAY to much money on Jelly Belly's! *lol* After we left there we went to woodfield and took the kids to eat at the Rainforest. They loved that! I guess I should say that they loved it until the thunderstorm hit inside the restaurant! Emma covered her head up completely with her blanket and Ethan had this scared look on his face and covered his ears. After it was done I told them that it wasn't real and then I think they were okay. After that we took the kids to Ridemakerz and Ethan got to make a monster car. He thought that was the best thing ever! It was really cool but it can get expensive. After that we left and came home.
Sunday we just went to Justice and Elisa's birthday party and the kids had a blast playing with all their friends that were there. She rented a cotton candy machine and they had a pinate and got to take home these big blowup bouncy ballons. It was pretty nice. After we left the party we ran to the video store rented some movies and then came home.
Today we didn't do to much. Cleaned the house, did laundry, pulled some weeks and then went to lunch. After lunch we came home the kids rested/napped and then we played some Wii Fit. That is really nice and some things that you do in that it does give you quite the workout. Tonight we're just going to make some dinner and probably watch one of the movies we rented.
This coming week looks pretty good. Josh is going to a Brewer's game on Wednesday and I will be working at Chasy on Wednesday night. Besides that not to much planned. So far no plans for this coming weekend but I'm sure that will change! Until next time...

We Made it through...:-)

Well Ethan's first week of Kindergarten is finished. Everything went really well.
On the first full day he came back to the daycare and had this look on his face like something was wrong. I called the school and talked to his teacher and she goes by the red, yellow, and green stop light for behavior. She told me that Ethan had had a yellow day that day because him and another child were playing around when they were suppose to be looking at a book...well I think Ethan was kind of upset about this and I had talked to him that night and the next three days to finish up the week were all green and he even got a pecial bug today and he got to pick out of the treasure box! I was very proud of him. I think he knows now that it's a little different and things have changed. So besides that everything has gone pretty well. His teacher also sent home a newsletter on Tuesday that said he had to know 10 sight words by Friday. WHAT!?!?!?!? I was really shocked and didn't really know that this was coming SO SOON! I think my friends at work were also a little shocked that it came so soon. Well we started working on Wednesday night and he knew them perfectly by Friday morning...I was very impressed with him. So today he came back from school and I asked him how his sight words test was and he said HE DIDN'T EVEN HAVE IT! Frustrating! I'm really confused when he was going to test them. I did try and call to find out but the line was busy to the school. So I'm not real sure when she's going to ask them if they know the words. 1 week down, several to go! :-)
This weekend is going to be wonderful. The weather is suppose to be beautiful and we all have Monday off! Yea! Tomorrow I think we are going to go to Kenosha and go to the Jelly Belly Factory and maybe let the kids play on the beach at Lake Michigan. Jacque told me it's beautiful up there. We also wanted to take the kids into the Rainforest Cafe because we have a gift certificate there. On Sunday is one of my co workers son's birthday parties and we were going to go to their house. Monday I would really like to go to the pool on the last day before they all close. I can't believe summer is just about over and here we come fall! I am excited about fall though because of all the craft shows and the pumpkin patch and apple orchard. Hey does anyone know if the Apple Orchard is opening up again this year? I heard that they're rebuilding it but I wasn't sure when it was going to open?
Anyway I hope all of you have a wonderful weekend and be safe. Until next time...

I did it!

Yes I know I haven't been blogging lately but I have to tell you I sent my boy off on his first day of kindergarten! Wow was that something! I did not cry but I did get a little teary eyed when she bent down shook Ethan's hand and said it's nice to meet you. I know all of you are shocked that I did not ball like an absolute baby! I tried to prepare myself and I think I did a pretty good job. Did I sleep last night? Absolutely NOT! I already love his teacher to death...she is amazing! She's real young and she said that she's been teaching for 3 years now. I did ask Ethan how his first day was when I picked him up and he said good and I'm already making new friends. Did I have an doubt? No...Ethan is very social and does not have a problem making friends. I was standing in the hall waiting to pick him up and I heard the teacher say to the children I am going to call whoever is sitting nice and quite on the rug to go get there things to get ready to go home. I was standing by the lockers so he would not see me but who was first to line up? Yes my big boy! I was so proud of him...not saying that everyday is going to be like this but it was nice. As we were walking back to the van he says to me, "mom no one had to go to the principals office today." I told him that's nice as I laugh to myself! He also said when we were taking a bathroom break I saw the principal in the hallway and I asked him if he said hi and he said he didn't but I do think it's pretty funny that he is keeping an eye out for him! *lol* The whole time after we dropped Ethan off at school Emma said about 50 million times...E? E? E? She was very worried but I kept telling her that we weren't going to leave him there we were going to go back and pick him up. You should have seen the look on her face when we went to get him! Boy was she happy! They love each other to death...:-) After I picked him up we went to the mall and I let them play in the play area and then I told them to McDonalds. He was very happy about that. Now we're at home and I'm in the process of cleaning my house while the children are resting/napping. Hope all is well with all you of and I hope to hear from you soon! Until next time...

Let the countdown begin!

22 days from today my baby boy will be starting his first day of kindergarten! Oh My Gosh! I'm trying to prepare myself but I don't think it's really going to help! I can't believe it's here already and I'm sure from here on out it's going to FLY by! I hope he does well...I think he will I just am dreading any phone calls from the school discussing his behavior. As some of you know Ethan can get angry at times and it's hard but I think he is doing much better than he use to. So I guess we will just see how it goes and go from there...I also think that once he gets into school they mature so much more. If I'm wrong please feel free to correct me but I think he's just getting older and knows how to do and control a lot more of his actions sometimes.
My baby girl is doing good...trying to say more words everyday and throwing fits! She is defnitely hitting her terrible twos and saying NO ALL THE TIME! That is her most favorite word! lol I remember that Ethan was worse when he was 3 but I'm not sure what she's going to be like at 3! Uh oh! Besides that Amy still sees Emma every week and she loves her to death! I'm very thankful for that!
Last weekend when we all went to Archiver's it was so much fun! I actually got something done for once! lol
Sarah I'm sorry to hear the results about Jacob I'm sure he's sad but it will eventually be okay. I know that's easy for me to say but I just want you to know that all of you guys are in my prayers. That is awesome by the way what Ryan sent him in the mail...I bet he was absolutely beside himself! :-)
This past week went pretty good...we had to get the van fixed before our vacation next week so that was kind of sucky but you gotta do what you gotta do I guess.
This weekend so far has been pretty good. Yesterday Ethan had his last swimming lesson which I can't believe that it's over already but he did learn quite a bit. He can't swim completely on his own yet but he's doing much much better. We also had another yard sale at our house yesterday and that went okay but nothing big let me tell you! I thought it was such a beautiful day we would have a lot of people and apparently they were all doing other things! :-) It did make me quite upset though because when I went around to take down all the signs one of my signs was down and folded in half and I opened it up and it said, "It's Rude and Unchristian to take down or cover other peoples signs." I was shocked because when I put my sign up there was nothing there...oh well I guess it just completely shocked me! After the sale my friend Ellyn came over with her daughter Rylee and the kids ran through the sprinker and played in the baby pool that we have. They had so much fun and when they were done playing outside we came in ordered Chinese for dinner and the kids played inside for a while. Emma and Rylee love each other and every time they see each other they have to give one another a great big hug! It's real cute! That was pretty much the end of the night and today I'm not sure what we're going to do. We might go to the pool or maybe into Woodfield...I'm not sure yet.
This coming week not a whole lot going on...Amy is coming to see Amy and we're getting ready to leave for vacation. We're going back to PA where Josh is from. We haven't been back there in about 4 and a half years so we think it's about time! We're staying with Josh's best friend from college for a couple days and going into Pittsburgh and then we're headed to his grandpas house for a couple days. His grandpa lives where the Steeler's Training Camp is so we will be going there for day and maybe getting autographs and/or pics. We are also going to Penn State for a day which is going to be awesome! I can't wait and I will be buying some stuff! :-)
One of our last days there we are going to this theme/waterpark back there which is suppose to be really nice. That will be fun for the kids. I'm not really looking foward to the ride but we'll get through it! When we return home I have to register Ethan for school and we're going to Magic Water's on Saturday before returning to work on Monday...this is the 18th! Josh and I are celebrating our 7 year wedding anniversary on Monday the 11th! 3 more years and we're going to take a really nice much needed vacation all by ourselves. Okay well I have to go for now but I hope all is well with all of you. Until next time...