February Birthdays

You know our February!

It's a crazy month of celebration for us!!

First, Nolan...  we had a joint birthday party with his friend, Ike...  as they share their birth date.  Last year, it was tough to schedule both parties, so his mom and I just worked together on this one!  Had an Angry Bird party, where the kids got to sling slingshots at the cardboard pyramid, play AB bowling, and AB dodge ball.  What made the biggest impression???  THE CARDBOARD BOXES!!  One of these times, we will learn just to plan around large cardboard boxes!  It always works out!

With his bed buds!

Second birthday...  Princess Jillian.  She talked non-stop about her birthday, since Nolan's!  It was a long 16 days!!!  We made it though....  While she did not have a birthday party with friends, (She lost it... and did not earn it back in time) she did wake to her presents and a school party!  

Our last birthday of the month is Ashley!  She turned a whooping 22!!!

Unfortunately, we were not able to celebrate with her, as she is in BOOT CAMP!

Lots of cards were sent, however....  especially when she specifically asked us not to mail cards....  she feared she would be embarrassed....  so of course, I had to mail ONE from each member of the family!  Oh Darn - Just realized.....  I forgot to mail her one from Jet!

Princesses on Ice

A very special birthday treat for 2 of our own princesses!

Princess on Ice

Somehow we ROCKED the ticket thing, as we had

front row!!  (Well...  floor level in front of us, but no one was sitting there!)

JJ could not get enough!!  We got to watch the Ribbit Princess, Cinderella,

and her new favorite:  Rapunzel!

Has it REALLY been 5 months??

After the start of school, 2011 went in a blur! I always find a way to get back to our blog - usually in a month, but 5 months! That's insane!

So - in a quick blurb, I will update you...
School going great for both kids.
Nolan has found his groove! We still have emotional lows and shyness in new situations, but we also see so much improvement!
Jillian loves her 1/2 days... she's a creature of habit, though. So - she does not like going to school when her classmates are not there. (when I am helping at school)

New school year brought Boy Scouts. WoW! Talk about helping improve Nolan! Yes - more than often he acts shy...and will not make eye contact or speak... but, then he throws us a curve ball & walks the flag to the front of the Pack meeting. Big steps for the little man! And, he loves earning badges!
More adventures with Art Club and Boys Adventure Club!

New school year actually stopped Jillian's tumbling class... and she misses it!! Other then 2's and 3's time at the library, she has had no clubs or fun times!! Good thing she has lots of friends for play dates!

September brought Jillian’s 1^st field trip and 1^st ride in a school bus! Yah!

October brought travel! Us big kids went to the Big House for a Michigan blow out! Nolan and John for a 1^st ever Boy Scout camping overnight trip. Traveled to Detroit for fall break. Family wedding, then enjoyment of the Detroit Zoo. Real happiness for the kids was the Holiday Inn pool; Who am I fooling? Halloween - Nolan was a skeleton; Jillian was Olivia. The kids stayed out for almost all 2 hours of trick or treating. 1^st ever! Of course, mom doesn’t let them eat candy…. So it will take us a near miracle to finish before Easter!

November – hunting widow, as usual! This time, we have nothing to show for it. However, John only had 2 days to hunt, then a drive back home. 8.5 hour drive just to hunt? I will not pretend that I get it, but I enjoy it, when John returns happy & refreshed! This year… not the case!Thanksgiving was with the Canfield clan in Alpena! Best yet… we spent all but 1 evening out at camp. So, the kids got winter outdoor time!

And, then December…. Choir program (N), Jesus Birthday class program (J), Colts tickets (as usual… but, with the losing streak, John and I cheerfully argued that the other should go), field trips, Boy Scout outing to Lucas Oil Field, Christmas parties, a date night thrown in there – sushi (YAH!)…. Take a breath! Christmas with Buzie and Dzia Dzia, who came into town the week prior to Christmas. Christmas. And, then travel to St Louis for another Christmas and New Years eve. Whew! What a whirlwind!

Now you are caught up! I think!

I will post oodles of pics…. And also try not to stay away too long!

1st Day - Pre-K!!

We read DW's Guide to Preschool, for a couple nights before our big day.
So... when Mom got her bag hung in her cubby & asked what she wanted to play with... she was kinda sorta really ready.
Her eyes still filled with tears, but I reminded that Mommy's always come back, just like DW's.

She walked off to play.

Mom walked off with tears in her eyes! Aw!!!!! My buddy off into the big bad world of pre-school!

1st Day of 1st grade

YAH!!! He's back!!!!
1st day of drop-off went flawlessly! YAH!!!
Good luck Mrs. Matteson!!! There's alot of excitement to see the friends again!!!

Nolan asked to pack his own lunch this AM, but didn't wake when I started. 15 minutes later, he appeared & shared that I had not packed the food he'd "hidden from JJ"!!! Round 2 meant that I remade his lunch & packed it the way he'd envisioned! LOL!