Photo Update

JUSTIN IS #12

JUSTIN'S GOAL!!!!

JUSTIN IS GOALIE AND HIS BEST BUDDY CARTER

KYLE USING HIS NEW ELMO POTTY CHAIR.

WHEN ELMO'S HAND IS PUSHED HE SINGS

AND SAYS ONE OF HIS PHRASES.

everyday life

Hello to Everyone who reads my blog!

I have no layouts to post today, but I wanted to get a post in. My parents are on there cruise and it seems like they have been gone a month :) They certainly picked a great time to go, I envy the warm weather they are experiencing, because it certainly has been snowy and chilly here!!!! Burr!!!!!!!! So bear with me, but this update is mostly for my folks, because so much seems to be going on while they are gone and I will forget about it all before I talk to them so here goes.

I had to go to the dentist and have my temporary crown put on while my permanent is being made. My dentist was kind to me, but I hate going to the dentist :)

I started back (from our end of the year break) with my bible study group on Wednesday mornings. We are doing the Beth Moore study, A Woman's Heart. So far it is fabulous, it helps that I love Beth Moore.

The kids had a 4 day weekend over MLK day for end of the semester markings (teacher day) and MKL birthday. Justin and Kyle have had really bad colds and Megan had a mild version. Kyle still has a nose issue, I may have to take him in for his standard Sinus Infection that he gets every time he gets a cold. I am hoping to get through the weekend before I have to make up my mind.

Kyle has become VERY difficult this week. He is into EVERYTHING!! and once he gets his hands on it, he destroys it :) Not kidding!! Scissors, Sharpie markers....you get the idea. I did get the Sharpie marker off my white kitchen cabinets, but it is still on the magazine and all the plastic bowls he got ahold of.....I was just around the corner in my laundry room, he is quick!! I am not thrilled about the stuff he cut up, but can live without it. I fought with keeping his pants and diapers on for a couple of days and then decided to start potty training. He was unable to go in the real potty and I threw our old little potty chair away after Megan, as I swore I wasn't going to use one again. But I ended up buying an Elmo potty chair at K Mart and so far it has been a good investment. Kyle started using it right away, even for #2 and as long as we are home and his bottom half is bare, he hasn't had many accidents. Meanwhile he is using the chairs and barstools and what ever else he can to climb to what ever he wants they I purposely put out of his reach. I have yet to figure out the consequence that will make Kyle understand I mean business and I have tried them all. The poor kid has been in trouble all week. He needs one on one attention, which is difficult with 3 kids :)
Justin scored a goal at his floor hockey game last weekend and boy was he proud!!!
Megan decided she wants to take a break from gymnastics and I said okay. Luckily we just ended the first winter session and I hadn't paid for the next one yet.
Monday morning we woke up to a house at 58 degrees and had to call the repairman. Some valve that lets the gas in was partially blocked or something to that effect and needed to be replaced.......so several hours and $250 later we had heat :)
Gary sent me some beautiful roses today for no reason. He is such a great guy!!
I have stamp camp tonight. I am looking forward to my girls night out with my buddies. We are going to be making some fun Valentine's cards.
I went to Lowe's and Target today. I got a few more child proofing devices to try to lock Kyle out of some more cabinets and some more cough syrup for his hacking cough. I also got the kids their Valentine's cards for school. Littlest Pet Shop for Megan and some ones with Fun Dip in them for Justin. Kyle has been eating the Necco candy hearts up.
I also got a baby gift, I am going to a baby shower for a girl I used to work with at Botsford on Saturday after Justin's floor hockey.
We went in with another family (Carter's) on a partial set of season tickets to the Tigers. Justin is beyond excited!
I booked another camping trip to one of our favorite camping spots for the end of July. The state park opens up reservations six month is advance. It just seems odd to book camping when it is 10 degrees with a wind chill is below zero :)
Oh and I have been deep cleaning my house. We are having some couples over Friday night to meet. Our church is starting a new church-wide study called Trans4mation. For the next couple of months we will be hosting a small group in our home on Friday evenings (every other) to do the study. We belong to a VERY large church (11,000 attend each weekend), so there will be hundreds of other groups meeting as well. Megan is very excited because 2 of the couples that are attending have kids that go to her pre-school and she likes those friends :) The kids all hang out in our basement with the babysitters, while the adults meet upstairs. Controlled chaos. We recently split off with the group we used to meet with and almost everyone coming we know but not well, so my house needs a good cleaning so they don't think we are slobs. Also, it was one of those days when as I started looking to see what needed cleaning, it was EVERYTHING!! The hand prints, dirt smears and food particles seem to be stuck to all the walls, chairs, floors, door handles, ect.
Next Wednesday we are taking the kids to Sesame Street Live. Kyle is sooo excited. Justin and Megan will enjoy the show, but are not totally into Elmo like Kyle. He must have Elmo confused with Santa, because he is hoping to get to sit on his lap :)
I am having some ladies over next Thursday for a couple of home parties. Other than cleaning my house again it should be fun. Do you suppose I keep it clean a whole week?? My neither, I will be cleaning it again :)
Exciting it is not, but that is what has been going on at my house. I had to get it written down before I forgot it all and then I would just say, nothing much going on :) !! Have a good weekend! Danielle

Gingerbread House

While Grandma Betty was visiting during the holidays we put together this gingerbread house. The kids had a great time helping to put on all the decorations. The kit even came with some extra cookies to decorate and eat. After Christmas the kids dismantled the house and ate a good portion of that as well!!

Cookie Decorating Party

This is a 2 page spread of a Cookie Decorating Party we had in December. The kids and adults had a blast!! Decorating and Eating!!

Sledding at Sylvan Glen

Gary and I took Justin and Megan sledding at a large hill near our home. They had a blast zooming down the hill....over and over and over. Poor Kyle was at home taking a nap....he was recovering from a nasty stomach virus.

Snow Fun

The kids had a great time playing in the snow in our backyard. The snow did not roll into a ball well, but Gary helped the kids make a snowman of sorts!

Visit with Santa

on Monday we took our 3rd annual trip to Gary's work to have lunch with Daddy and visit this Santa Claus. I like his looks and he is always great with the kids.

Boyne Mountain

The Friday after Thanksgiving we headed Up North to Boyne Mountain to meet the Handley side of the family for a weekend of fun. We stayed in a great 3 bedroom condo and had lots of fun hanging out, eatting out, playing games and going to the waterpark! My kids had so much fun playing with their cousin, Matthew. They can't wait until Christmas so they can see him again!!

Remember to see any set of pictures in a larger size, just click on the image. When you are done click on the back button of your web browser. Enjoy!!

Leaf Fun!!

I can't say that we actually got any leaves off the ground on this day, but the kids sure had fun making piles and jumping in them and tossing the leaves all about.

Tennessee Trip

We had a great time in Tennessee. We spent a week checking out all the tourist attractions and fall foliage. Gary's parents met us there and we all stayed in a lovely cabin.

Justin had fun at his school Halloween Party. All the kids dressed up and went on a parade around the school. Then we had games, crafts and food in his classroom.

Halloween Layouts

Here are some of our best photos from Halloween. The kids had a great time and Kyle keeps asking to go Trick or Treating again :)

Frankenmuth

Every year our friends at the Bavarian Inn in Frankenmuth send Gary and I coupons for free meals for our birthdays. So, each year we make a trip for a yummy family style, all you can eat, chicken feast some time during the month of October. Before we come home we stop at Bronners to pick out our new Christmas ornaments. Each year the kids pick out an ornament that is special to them. I love this tradition. It makes decorating the Christmas tree a memory filled time, as we let each child put on their own ornaments and we always talk about who got it for them and when. Crazy as it sounds I like putting the ornaments away for the same reason, I get to look at each one and just remember. This picture was taken of the kids during a break from walking around the various shops in town. When Kyle sees this picture, he always says, "Look Mommy, Justin is saving me"...in reality Justin was trying to help keep Kyle in his seat so I could try to take the photo! :) But I love Kyle's take on the situation.

Leaf Hunting

One fine day we went to a local nature area and did some leaf hunting. The kids had a great time!

Megan October 2007

Soccer Team picture

This is the team picture I made for Justin and his team mates. I blocked out all theirs names because this is the internet..... But you get the idea. I am going to mail a 5X7 copy to all the families with a thank you for the gift card they got Gary for coaching this year. Both Justin and Gary had fun this year and Justin showed great improvement...so all in all it was a very successful soccer season!

Megan's Field Trip

Megan's Preschool class had a field trip to a Cider Mill as well. They had a great time picking out their own pumpkins, had a wagon ride, visited the petting zoo, climbed haystacks and played on the various structures. Afterwards, Mommy and Megan continued their "date" with a special lunch out and some shopping. Fun, Fun, Fun!!!!!

Orchard Field Trip

More pictures of Justin and his good buddy Carter taken while they were on the kindergarten field trip. The boys had a great time!!!

Bounce Party

I blurred the faces on these pages for posting on the internet. I didn't want to offend or ask all the parents of the children at the party, so for privacy I blurred the faces, my copy does not look like this :) The kids had 4 hours of jumping, running and playing, topped off with cake and pizza. They were all sweating and exhausted when it was time to leave.

Justin's Birthday

Next layout to do is the Birthday Party pictures!