Busy Busy Busy

We've had a busy week around here. Monday night I got together with the ladies to make frozen meals. Tuesday I had a doctors appointment. Wednesday Mason had his Christmas concert. Thursday Valynn had her Christmas concert, Friday Mark and I did some shopping and I worked. Saturday I got together with the neighbor ladies to do a Christmas baking exchange and we had a Christmas party and today Valynn is sick so we get to stay home otherwise we were going to Bloomington for the day.

Mason did a very good job at his concert. He sang and did all of the actions. It was just Valynn and I watching Mason. Mark had to take a final test so I left Kyra and Kyleigh with the Ingle's. Kyra helped Danielle make cookies and Robbie took care of Kyleigh. I think the Ingle's had fun. Mason is done with school until January.

Valynn's did an excellent job at her concert as well. We left Kyra and Kyleigh with Kayla our babysitter. Valynn is feeling better today but she was sick every two hours throughout the night. This is the third time our plans have fell through going to Bloomington due to a sick kid. Maybe the fourth time will be the charm.

We are leaving on Thursday for our annual Christmas trek. The kids are excited to be going. We're not sure how we're going to get everything packed into the suburban. We have to take the bassinet up north for Mark's brother and wife along with some baby clothes on top of all the normal "stuff" we take and the Christmas presents. We might have to tie some things to the top.

We with everyone a Merry Christmas and we will be back in the new year.

What no mom wants to see!

When I walked into Valynn and Kyra's room last week, this is what I saw. It got worse when Mason told me he was on the bed and pulled Kyra up because she couldn't get up by herself even when on the stool.

It's been crazy here, I'm doing my best to stay one day ahead. Friday Mark was home from work so he helped with the kids while I had my doctor's appointment. I was dealing with headaches and a backache for three weeks, it seem the virus I had, imbedded itself in my back. I'm finally getting to the point where I don't need my ibuprofen to function. Saturday we rang the Salvation Army bell at a store in Wyoming. The Lutheran church was asked to provide bell ringers so we volunteered. Saturday evening we went to a dinner theatre with Mark's work group. We had a great time and it was nice to get away, it was even better knowing that Kyleigh was good for Kayla. Sunday after Sunday school and church we helped decorate the church before coming home to watch the Vikings. Sunday evening was the holiday homecoming in Princeville and Valynn sang with the Girl Scouts. Yesterday was Mason's classroom Christmas party. It's full steam ahead the rest of the week and right up until we leave.

I posted a couple of pictures from ice skating. Valynn and Mason have really improved a lot over this session. Our garage is completed, now we are waiting for the electrician to visit. It's so nice having a garage for the suburban and pickup. The neighbors were complaining because they can't tell if we're home now or not since we don't have any vehicles parked outside.

I have to close with a story about my 2 year old. Last Friday we took pictures of the kids in their Christmas outfits. When we were done Kyra got mad because she didn't want to take her dress off she wanted to "look pretty". So I told her she could wear her dress on Sunday to church. Sunday rolls around and I get another outfit out for her. She comes running in saying "I want to look pretty". I show her the clothes I had picked out and she told me "NO". She remembered that she could wear her Christmas dress to church and that's just what she did. That girl has a memory on her.

It's Begining to look a lot like Christmas!

We received our first snowfall of the year, about 5 wet and fluffy inches. The kids got outside and started playing as soon as we got home from church. They built a snow man and did some sledding. Kyra absolutely loved playing in the snow and went out a few times. Mark got a few decorations hung up and we put our old tree up in the sun room for the kids to decorate as "their" tree.

It looks like Kyleigh has someone to sleep with. As will all of the kids Snaps took her place in the crib to protect the baby. Snaps doesn't sleep in the bassinet, just the big crib, and always at the feet of the baby. We set up the big crib this weekend since Kyleigh started to turn sideways in the bassinet.

Happy Thanksgiving and Three Months

I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving. I know we did, we had so much to be thankful for. The meal was wonderful (of course I'm going to say that, I cooked it) and we had great friends to enjoy it with. The Donsbach's joined us and we had an enjoyable visit. Thursday night we went to the Endres' for appetizers, dessert, and chocolate martini's. The kids always enjoy playing with each other and the adults had a nice visit.

Kyleigh turned three months on Thanksgiving. She is growing so fast. She has learned to turn herself in a circle, it's so fun to watch her push herself around. She has also started putting her legs down so she can lift her butt off the ground. She is our wiggle worm, constantly moving and rolling to her side. It won't be long before she's rolling over to her tummy. Kyleigh always has a smile and definately enjoys being entertained by the older siblings.

Valynn set up the Christmas village yesterday. She was entertaining to watch. She had a story for every person and house that she set up. It all had to make logical sense to her or she wouldn't place it there. For example, any figurine that was a kid had to be next to the school for recess unless that child was homeschooled, then they didn't have to be around the other kids. And since there was only one figurine with ice skates, that person didn't have many friends which is why he was ice skating alone. She spent hours arranging and rearranging it, she's still rearranging it.

Mason set up the nativity scene for me. He placed all the figurines looking at baby Jesus so all that you can see are their backs. I loved how he had a different perception of how it should be arranged.

Kyra wished everyone a Happy Birthday Thanksgiving. We even had to sing Happy Birthday to Kyleigh since Kyra insisted it was someone's birthday. She is a constant ball of energy.

We've enjoyed being home for the Holiday. We are getting a few projects done around the house, I had a honey do list for Mark. The only thing that hasn't been done yet is decorating the outside of the house which he insists it must be cold outside before he'll do it. Tomorrow looks promising for the decoration since we're supposed to get about an inch of snow tonight. We have some decorations up but last night we decided to order a new Christmas tree so it'll be a couple of days before that arrives and we can decorate it. I had to buy candy today for the candy ribbons so the kids can start the countdown on Monday.

Today Mark took Valynn and Mason ice skating. The had a great time. Kyra, Kyleigh, and I braved the crowds at Target to pick up a few things. We're gearing up for a busy couple of weeks with doctor's appointments, Christmas concerts, meal prep/ cookie baking, and Christmas parties just to name a few. The neighbors and I have been busy scheduling babysitting swaps to make all the errands easier for those involved. I hope everyone has a good week.

The Grandkids have been elfed

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Elfed

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Videos of Kyleigh

I have added some videos of Kyleigh. I was trying to get her laughing but of course she didn't really laugh once I got the camera. She is getting so big and it's hard to believe she's almost three months. Don't you love the hair in the second video, the poor girl has quite a few bad hair days.

Our weekend was pretty relaxed. I had my last day of tutoring on Saturday. Mark got his papers written for his class and he finished putting new trim around the living room window.

Kyra was a chatterbox yesterday in church. I don't think she went thirty seconds without talking. The funniest part was during the sermon when Kyleigh passed gas loud enough for the people around us to hear and Kyra loudly exclaims for the rest of the congregation "Kyleigh passed gas". It took a lot of self control for us and the rest of the congregation not to laugh. Kyra also made sure everyone heard that she got candy during the children's sermon. Thankfully it was a Lutheran Sunday so the congregation just laughed at her antics. During Sunday School Kyleigh attended the adult forum with the pastor's wife, she was very good until she got hungry. I got the feeling not much got discussed instead Kyleigh was the center of conversation. Don't worry I wasn't kid free, I took the Sunday School teacher's 1 year old and entertained him since he was giving his mom fits. Mark covered the other three in Sunday School, actually it was just Kyra he had to watch and she did very well listening, sitting still, and doing what was asked.

We're getting ready for Thanksgiving here in Illinois this year. I first have to get my over fixed, the heating element went out in my top oven yesterday. This morning I had a light go out in the fridge. Our garage should be complete by Wednesday! Tomorrow they are finishing the siding and on Wednesday installing the garage doors. Have a good week!