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!

Vacation - Branson MO

Well - our vacation plans to NC and DC, with the Hipsky's came crashing down around us... but, we were able to squeek out a week at Branson instead.

BRANSON?? Really?? Isn't that just for old folks?? LOL!
No!

We were worn out after all our fun activities, which kept us hopping daily: Titanic exhibit, Butterfly Palace, Hollywood Wax Museum, Wine Tasting 101 class, Silver Dollar City, a ride on the Duck, putt-putt and fishing on Lake Tannycomo!
We needed to come home, just to rest from our vacation!!

The temps were a bit of a nightmare, with 100 degrees daily and heat index's well above 110... but, it was the escape we pulled together for 4th of July week!

Grants Farm

The kids and I traveled to the Lou for 2 Tastefully Simple parties & spent 3 days as tourists!

One of our adventures was to Grants Farm, with Aunt Carol, Cousins CJ, Sheri and Bob. (Little do the kids know that Sheri and Bob are the real cousins!! LOL!) The kids also met cousin-by-marriage Crystal - whom Nolan warmed to... well, not easily... BUT... in the Nolan way!

I don't remember Grants Farm being so tiny! All I remembered was the beer!
Jillian hated being in the goats pen.... Mom got to feed them, while she held all portions of her body high! Nolan loved the carousel ride & of course, was mad that he couldn't do it again!
Nolan loved feeding the talking parrot. Both loved the kettle corn and snow cones!

And of course, Mom, Aunt Carol, Sheri, Bob and Crystal - loved the free beer!

New Family Member

Because I thought that 2 kids, 3 and 6, was not crazy enough for me.... I agreed to a puppy.
YES - I am insane!
Jet Domino is our new family member.
He is pure-bred Miniature Australian Shepherd. Supposedly, he will only get to 20 -40 lbs, but he is already 13+ lbs at 12 weeks.
Born April 2nd... does that make him 12 weeks still????

He is a very dominant dog, trying to herd the kids - instinct.
He's proving a difficult potty trainer, BUT we had a great day yesterday - so maybe we mastered it! I am not counting my chickens!

Jillian cracks me up, as she yells "No. I in charge!" When the dog attempts to get her! Nolan... well, he's the motivator for the puppy... and he shy's away, when Jet starts nipping and jumping. Not in charge!!!