March 07, 2015

Happy Birthday Gwen!!!

Today is Gwen's 7th Birthday!!!
We have another snow day, so for the first time in 2 years Gwen got to celebrate and plan all day at home!
The day started with a craft.. as many of our days have this week.  Auntie Erin and Uncle Don Don gave both of the kiddos a pillowcase to decorate for Christmas--It was the perfect activity for the morning!
The finished Products!!!!

 While they worked on their pillowcases and plays, I set to work decorating the cake.  I haven't been liking any of the store bought frosting lately, so I decided to make my own butter cream (thank goodness for the day off to do it!).  After a long hour of work the masterpiece was completed!
A Frozen birthday cake for Gwen and Poppy
The birthday kids-today Gwen turned 7 and Poppy turned 56
Gwen was so excited to dress the part of Elsa for her Frozen birthday party.  A kid party will be planned for later this month with the Frozen theme as well...

 Tomorrow we celebrate Ashley Beth's Birthday, Sunday is our March birthday party, and Monday is Wyatt's big day when he turns 4!

March 05, 2015

Snow Day!!!!

On Brad's birthday we experienced a wonderful rain/ice/sleet/snow storm.  We have now gained a night sheet of ice covered by 5-6 inches of snow!  That means only one things around here--SNOW DAY!!!!  Even Brad got the day off!
We did a little cleaning..it is amazing what these 2 will do to earn sledding time!!!
Wyatt worked on shoveling the drive...and adding more snow to the parts that were already clear.  Brad worked on clearing all the driveways with the tractor.
Gwen also worked on her snow removal skills

 After a hard day of cleaning, shoveling, and helping out around the house to get ready for Sunday's big birthday party, it was time for some sledding!  Gwen and Wyatt were off to a slow start as they made new paths through the snow...
Brad even went down and few times to help make the path

 All that hard work paid off... Wyatt shows off how fast he can go!
Our day ended with making a good batch of Snow Cream (vanilla ice cream made from snow) to have with our cake at the party :-)

March 04, 2015

Happy Birthday Brad!!!!

It's March which means only one thing.... bring on Birthday Mania!!!  First up is BRAD!!!!
The cake...Chocolate, Ninja Turtles, and 32 candles---what more could the Birthday Boy need?!?!?
It was quite fire ball, but Brad managed to blow the candles out in one breath
Brad's party started Tuesday evening even though the real day wasn't until Wednesday--lucky guy!  Wyatt helped decide the Ninja Turtle theme both for his love and his Daddy's love the green ninjas!

Wednesday night the party continued with more good food and more chocolate cake--
We couldn't forget the presents--everyone wanted to lend a helping hand!
Who doesn't like birthday party games?  Brad's game of choice for the night was Guess Who!  It took a bit to teach Wyatt, but I think we all had a great time playing
 Happy 32rd Birthday Brad!!!!!

March 03, 2015

Some BIG changes around here!


 We have had a lot of BIG changes happening here lately...
My belly for one is growing like crazy!  I hope that means that our little Peanut is growing too!  This picture is actually a little delayed in being posted--we are almost 26 weeks now.  Another picture coming soon :-)
With all the snow and melting we have recently had, we finally had a chance to use our new shovels!
Eleanor didn't know what to think of Wyatt with a shovel




Apparently at this age they fight over shoveling...we'll see if that continues to be something to fight about in the years to come!

Wyatt's Tigie family is growing in numbers and size!  We have: Back row- Giant Tigie and Wyatt, Front Row- Big Tigie, Steve, Baby Tigie, and Giraffie
 Wyatt (back row in the center) may look like Brad, but he definitely acts like his Mommy when it comes to preschool performances!  We still don't know what happened Sunday morning, but he just wasn't in the mood to join in.  He knew all the words and the moves and had been practicing at home.  Wyatt K. (tall boy to Wyatt's left that is also in his class) didn't feel like it either--maybe it was a Wyatt thing.

Gwen got an early birthday gift...BUNK BEDS!!!!  Although Gwen and her sister will not be sharing a room for a couple of years, we found a bed that was too good to pass up.  Gwen could not be more excited!!!
We have a possible ice/sleet/snow storm heading out way tonight...will we have a snow day to get ready for Brad's birthday tomorrow?  We shall see!

February 19, 2015

Do you want to build a snowman?

Well, maybe not a snowman (since it wasn't good packing snow), but do you want to play in the snow?  We finally got another snow and with it we have had no school for 4 days!  We were off on Monday for President's Day and then school has been canceled every day since.  We are on a 2 hour delay for tomorrow....let's see if they don't change their mind and keep us home!

How have we passed the time at home?
Snow Day #1....
In the middle of the snow storm...Gwen had to test out the sledding hill with Leah
Joey even joined in on the fun!



Snow Day #2...
We made Kool Aid play dough!  Can you guess what colors?

Wyatt working the blue play dough into lots of shapes
Gwen working the pink play dough into a pizza
Then we made real pizzas for lunch!
Delicious!
Then we had some fun playing in the snow:-)


 
Gwen worked on building castles
 

After Daddy came home it was time for more sledding!


 
 


After dinner it was time to finish building some more shelves for the play room-Wyatt really likes his hammer
Snow Day #3...
After cleaning house....time for a tea party!
Snow Day #4...
 Today has been full of doctor's appointments for me and fun with Gram for Gwen and Wyatt. After a morning appointment, I met up with them for lunch and drove everyone to Jasper to go to another appointment for me and to pick up Poppy's new truck.  My appointments went very well.  All looks good with the baby's heart and she is growing!  She is a pound and 5 ounces now! We will meet again with my regular OBG and the fetal specialist in 4 weeks to keep monitoring growth.  If she keeps on growing, we will be cleared from the specialist to remain only under the care of my OBG (cross your fingers and pray).  We have learned that one of the biggest risks with having a 2 vessel cord is that the baby will be small.  After a discussion with my OBG today, we really won't need to be too worried.  As long as she stays on the path she is on and keeps growing steadily, we are on target for another 6 pounder :-)  I guess small for some is normal for us!

Being camera shy as usual, but she gave us a wave
On the way home, we celebrated...with ice cream!  What more could you want on a cold negative degree day?  We also learned today that our Auntie Ashley is having a boy!!!!!!!!!!  Hurray for another boy cousin!  Go Team Awesome! That brings the total for the babies coming to: boys-3  girls-4 and 1 surprise!

February 07, 2015

Go Patriots!

Gwen and Grace enjoying some BFF time! 

Gwen and Grace participated in a cheer camp to learn the basics of being a cheerleader.  The best part....they got to perform between basketball games that night!  Go Patriots!
Go Big Blue!

January 31, 2015

Back to Blogging

After 2 years away, it is time to come back!  Building a house, moving, life, and work have kept me away for too long...with a new year comes new resolutions....mine this year is to blog, at least once a month!  This used to be my way to remember all the things I didn't want to forget, something that I am only getting better at doing.  So, here's to 2015 and getting back to our blog!

A lot has happened in the last couple years...as much as I want to post all the pictures and memories...I think it best to recap with summaries and pick up right here:

Our family in 2014

We have moved!  We finished building our new house in the spring of 2013 and officially moved in that May.  We have been working hard to make this house a home and are always working on something.  2014 was the year to plant grass...2015 hopefully will be the year to have a path to the front door :-)
The finished product!
Gwen is now 6, almost 7, years old and is doing very well in 1st grade.  She is loving taking ballet lessons, attending cheer leading camps, playing soccer in the fall, and recently joining 4-H and starting piano lessons.  Her favorite things to do, when time allows, are singing, dancing, playing with dolls or barbies, fashion designing, or watching Wild Kratts or Odd Squad.  She is always busy and always on the go.

Miss Gwen now
Wyatt is now 3, almost 4, years old and is growing to love preschool.  He loves spending his days with Gram while mom and dad are at work.  Wyatt loves playing with his trucks, tractors, and animals.  He also loves to eat turkey and crackers and watching Paw Patrol.  He is impatiently waiting his turn to join a spot or have an activity, but he also can't decide what he wants to do since he loves everything.  I think his favorite past time is just being fast!

Mr. Wyatt now
Our exciting news this year is the addition of 1 more!  We are excited to welcome another little girl in June!  Gwen and Wyatt are both very excited to have a baby sister, although Wyatt is still hoping it is a boy.  At 22 weeks, this little one has already given us a lot of excitement.  At our 20 week ultrasound, they found the she has a 2 vessel cord (an umbilical cord that has 1 vein and 1 artery, but is missing a 2nd artery), they questioned the shape of the stomach, couldn't find the kidneys, and had a very difficult time getting measurements due to our little dancing queen.  Due to all the concerns, my doctor sent me to a fetal specialist for another ultrasound.  I just had this appointment this past week and the results were much better.  They confirmed that we are having a girl, that there is a 2 vessel cord, and that we are measuring small in the 17th percentile.  Everything on the ultrasound looked fine, but with the 2 vessel cord there are some added risks...one being the chance of a syndrome or the heart or kidneys being underdeveloped since they and the cord develop that the same time.  After this ultrasound, the doctors feel that the chances of the baby having a syndrome are very small.  They felt everything with the heart and the kidneys looked okay from the ultrasound, but want to be proactive and are having me return in 2 weeks for an echo cardiogram to look more closely at the heart.  They are also watching very closely at this little ones growth.  As long as we don't stop growing, we should be fine and on target just to be a small baby.  We are praying that things continue to be positive and that she just keeps growing!

The excited big sister and big brother announced our exciting news!
It has taken me awhile to pose, but here is our 20 week belly pic

IT'S A GIRL!!!!

Our little peanut at 20 weeks (her 22 week pics were not as good)