So Much to be Thankful for!

I know I am a few weeks behind in posts - hence the Halloween pictures!
This was our first year of having two Halloween parties at different places.  The morning started out at Brody's school for his party.  He was so excited to have us to his room and it was a lot of fun to see how he interacted with all of this friends.

This is his class.  The little girl in the front row, second from the right, is Dawn - Brody's "girlfriend".

It's so neat to see how much work he has done this year.  Above is his locker and the cat that he decorated.  He had to tell his teacher three things about the picture and then trace the words.  Below is the "monster" that he made.

They had a parade through the school to show their costumes off to the older kids.

Then we sat down to decorate some pumpkins and cookies.

 

On Halloween night Bobo and Grandma came to visit.  The kids had a lot of fun "riding" them around the house.

I think Bobo and Grandma had a lot of time running around too!

On Halloween night Addisen came up with her crazy face - she hasn't forgotten it.  We were reading a book tonight that asked for your silly face and she still remembered it!

Here is our Batman and Lion before we went out Trick or Treating.  It was a rainy and cold night here, so we just stuck close to home.  The kids were not short on candy - our neighbors ended up having to go out of town so they gave each of them a whole bag of candy!

Addisen keeps us laughing!  She loves to dress up in things - her winter hat and gloves, goggles, cowboy hats - she is always entertaining us!

We have so much to be thankful for this year.  I never dreamed that I wold be sitting here on this Thanksgiving Eve with another little baby growing inside me.  It was something I really wanted, but truly thought that Jim had decided we were done.  We had our 28 week ultrasound about a week ago to check and make sure everything had formed correctly with the baby's heart.  At 20 weeks, the baby just wouldn't stop moving, so they were unable to see the blood flow to/from.  We were so happy to know that everything was perfect.  Jim was even able to be there with me to see how much bigger the baby is at 28 weeks (he wasn't able to go to Addisen's 28 weeks ultrasound).  Unfortunately they did not take any measurements of the baby, so we have no idea how it compares with how big Addisen was at this time.  The baby's heartrate was 140 during the ultrasound - making me wonder if it is a boy.  The ultrasound tech has asked if we knew what we were having this time - just by her asking, made me think it was a boy too - I thought that she must have seen some parts or something to make her ask!  My doctor said that everything looked good so far, and that things were right on track.  Around Christmas she will start to monitor me to make sure it doesn't look like this baby will come early - I really hope things continue to go perfectly - I can't imagine having to go on bedrest - and I'm not sure Jim could imagine taking care of EVERYTHING for weeks before the baby came!

Last week we also had Brody's first Parent-Teacher Conference.  I was so proud to hear his teacher say that he has a good heart.  She said he doesn't like to color or draw too much, and during those times has a hard time keeping on track.  He is so bright though - she said that he loves to find patterns and work in the other areas of the classroom.  I have been surprised by how honest he is with us each day.  They have a red/yellow/green system at school to show how well you listen during the day.  Brody always comes off the bus and either tells Jim or I if he ended up on the yellow that day - he really does well most days - until this week of course.  We had told him last week that if he stayed in the green for the week he could go see the movie "Wreck it Ralph" with Jim on Friday.  We made it until Thursday - and then he told us he was on yellow.  So we said if you can stay green on Monday and Tuesday this week then they could go today - he was on yellow on Monday - maybe we shouldn't offer rewards :)

We hope that everyone has a great Thanksgiving.  We wish that we were able to spend it with all of our family this year!  Somehow we have to figure out how to get Pennsylvania and Michigan closer together!

Daddy Hits FIVE!

On Sunday, October 21st Jim ran in his 5th Marathon!  We were so proud to watch daddy run this year - I even came up with some creative signs to hold!

My parents were here to navigate the course and help me with the kids (thank goodness!  I would have never managed with Addisen, she really didn't understand what we were doing!).

Jim did awesome - he improved his time by 7 minutes and finished in 3 hours and 24 minutes (if you know Jim, of course this wasn't the "perfect" run) we were amazed with our daddy!  He has improved his time by almost an hour from the first time he ran this marathon 2 years ago!

This picture is the best - Brody was so excited to see Jim at mile 21.  He was hoping for a hug, but was so excited to at least get his high five!  The expression on his face is just complete awe of his daddy - I think I will love this picture for a long time.

Here comes daddy at the finish line!

Jim had a much better finish this year - no punching the cramp in his leg...thank goodness!  I don't think I could have taken it!

Finish line in sight!

After the race we quickly found Jim and Brody just took off running.  I have a feeling Brody will be following in his daddy's foot steps - he is just so proud!

 

Brody wore a "sweat band" on his wrist that morning.  When he saw Jim he showed it to him and offered to dry the sweat off Jim's forehead!  I just love how serious Brody is while Addisen and Jim are laughing.

The best we could do for a family picture - the kids just don't want to sit still or look at the camera.

I had a few of Brody's birthday party pictures left to post.  He had his "friends" birthday at a local place called Java Gyms - he had a blast playing with his friends!

 Then on that Sunday we had the family party - complete with my SpongeBob cake creation this year!   

Nanny and Poppy sent some treats for Halloween this weekend.  The first "ring pops" that Brody or Addisen have ever had.  You can see they really enjoyed them!

We carved pumpkins yesterday.  Addisen was very dainty in putting in her light pegs - she only filled about half the holes I made for her.  It was Brody's first year for following a patter on his pumpkin.  We think he did a great job!  The light doesn't shine through very well in the dark - but the face turned out great!  I carved a Mickey Mouse this year and Jim did Winnie the Pooh - all in all they were a success!

Baby Raguckas Update:  I went for my 24 week appointment 2 weeks ago.  Everything is going well and I had told the doctor that I thought it was another girl based on the previous heart rate.  But this time - it was 140 when she first checked it but then jumped to 160 as we were talking about it possibly being a boy instead - so I guess it just wants to keep us guessing!  In another 2 weeks I will go back for another ultrasound so they can make sure the blood flow to and from the heart is good (the baby wasn't facing the right way during our 20 week ultrasound).  I am excited to see what the baby looks like then - I can remember getting to see Addisen at 20 weeks and seeing how much she had grown.  I think this one is going to be a little more active than Addisen was - it definitely has it's "awake" times during the day!

He's FIVE!

 I can't believe that my sweet little boy turned FIVE today!  This was the birthday that I actually got to relive the week that he was born.  It was so strange to be at work yesterday remembering that I was sitting there filling syringes with flu vaccine when my labor started!  How can it be five years already?

I'm glad that I have this little one growing inside me right now, it has definitely saved some tears knowing that I still have two more younger than Brody :)

 

Last night I wanted to fill Brody's room with balloons - unfortunately all we had were small balloons - it still fulfilled the purpose, he was excited to see them this morning.

While I really can't believe that 5 years have passed - I have so many great memories with this little guy.  He has forever changed our lives - in a GREAT way!  As he started DK this year, we realized just how independent he is.  He gets on the bus in the morning and heads off to school with no worries at all - he is so much braver than I was at that age!  I got an email from his teacher this week that said she really enjoys having him in her class.  She said that he has a great attitude and is always willing to try something new.  I was thrilled to hear this, but at the same time so surprised that he is so comfortable there - I am use to my shy little guy.  It's amazing how much I love him - with every day he becomes more and more special to our family.  He is so loving - to both Addisen and this little baby I am carrying around.  Everyday he wants kisses and hugs with Addisen and never forgets to hug and kiss the baby each day.  Out of the blue he will just say "Mommy, I love you so much!".  We are truly lucky to have him in our lives everyday!

Our annual picture - the angle has had to change since we now have neighbors and there are not many spots that don't have a house or pole barn :)

This morning I got up early to make Brody his special birthday pancakes - complete with sprinkles and icing!

Addisen was very excited for Brody to open his presents.  She did a good job of not riping into them, but she definitely thinks that they are her toys to play with!

He was actually interested in opening cards this year! 

 

Jim bought him a special present to wear to Rockford High School's Homecoming game tonight - a new sweatshirt!

 

 

 
Brody was able to open presents from us and Nanny and Poppy tonight.

 

He picked the "Cheese Taco Place" to go to dinner tonight.  We are pretty regular customers there, but Brody typically is too shy to talk to any of the waiters.  Tonight he told the waiter that it was his birthday - he was so excited to see the big fried ice cream come his way! 

 

 This is just the beginning of the birthday celebration.  Tomorrow is his "friends" party at a local place called Java Gyms and then on Sunday we will have the family party.  This will be one spoiled little boy by the end of the weekend!

Fall Portraits

We headed in to Rockford tonight to attempt to take some fall portraits of the kids. 

 

 

 

 

 

This random cat came walking down the trail.  Addisen is scared to death of dogs when they come anywhere near her, but this cat came up the path and she ran over to pet it!  Jim and I were amazed!

The cat really liked the kids - so it ended up being in the last of the pictures.  I thought it was pretty funny, Jim thought it was kind of creepy!

The best we got - Brody was actually participating in the photos tonight, but Addisen wanted little do with the posing! 

The picture that sums up the night - the kids and a random cat :)