Who is this kid?

Remember this cute little man I just blogged about? Well he has been begging for a new hair cut (a mohawk) and Daddy was happy to give him one. I was a little bit nervous as I do like his hair a little longer on top. He has been nothing but smiles since he received his new doo. He thinks he is pretty cool. Checking himself out in the mirror, rubbing his hands over his head (He never has had his hair this short, always has been a little length to it) Here he is our cool little dude....So Aunt Tracy, I know how bad you have been wanting Stephen to get this cut, maybe seeing Ethan with it will push him in that direction and steer him away from growing his mullet:)
Of course Sis had to get a shot in with her big bro. Aren't they just adorable. Lately they have had some moments where they actually act like they love one another it has been great!

First Library Card

For the longest time we had a countdown going. How long until Elena could get her Library card? Well now that she was officially 5 years old and could write her name - it was time! But with Christmas and then yucky weather hitting us shortly after her big day, our first trip was postponed a bit, but now we are back on schedule visiting our local library on a regular basis! Miss Elena is soo happy to show off her first official Library card! YAY for Birdie! Checking out her first books and a Rudolph movie.

What was the first book Elena checked out of the Library? Why D.W's Library Card, of course!

Student of the Month

My how quickly things change. Our 1st Grader Ethan had a rough start this year. He was having trouble staying on task with things the first month of school. His teacher was often sending notes home and we had a conference a month into the school year. I think that conference helped her to open up to the potential our little man had because it seemed some of her negativity turned into positive praise and our little guy has been soaring through now! He really set a goal for himself to make Student of the Month and was soo excited when he got it. I no longer have letters sent home and he is doing wonderfully in all his classes. A+ student!! His teacher says she is recommending him for the accelerated classes that start in 2nd grade. So great job Ethan! Keep up the great work. We know you have been working so hard for this!

His reward for his hard work - His picture is posted up in the main lobby at school and will be there for the rest of the year, His name was in the newsletter and it was announced during morning announcements at school. He also received a new bike helmet, a free pizza at a local pizza place, a free kids meal at Bob Evans, a pin to wear to school, a laminated certificate and a letter from the principal was mailed to him congratulating him. Oh yea, plus mommy gets a bumper sticker for my car!!

WAY TO GO ETHAN!!

Happy New Year!! 2008 :)

OK, I realize we are half way through the month already, but in my defense it still is the first month of the new year and wishing happy wishes on people really isn't that bad, is it?

So it is a good thing not a lot goes on during this month or I would completely miss out on blogging about Christmas and New Years at all this year! Or I guess that would be last year, huh? So this New Years as usual we stayed in with our family.

Bill and I celebrated our 8th Wedding Anniversary. He surprised me by the kids delivering me a card first thing in the morning and this beautiful bouquet:) I'm a sucker for some flowers.

We had a nice time together, we had a plethora of fried unhealthy foods and snacks, the boys had some intense video gaming going on - Ethan got a new Sponge bob game for Christmas he was trying to master.Elena waiting ever so patiently for daddy to put together her tea cart.The girls and I got dressed up in our fancy dresses had a dance party and then chilled out with a tea party. We played games and snuggled up - that's how we brought in our new year. Well Bill and I nyways, no one else made it up until Midnight, unlike last year. Oh well......

Happy 2008!!

Check out my Christmas Day Slide Show!

Christmas 2007

This year we had a nice Christmas. Pretty calm and the kids really enjoyed themselves. We had 3 straight days of opening gifts. Just a bit crazy, but at least we weren't party hopping and having things all jammed together. The night before Christmas Eve we got together with my side of the family. We met for dinner at my Grandparents house. It was a nice time, the kids were soo wound up with the excitement of opening gifts. Natalie was so sweet. She kept saying "wrap presents?" meaning unwrap. She got a little used to all the opening and asked for a couple days after to open more gifts. So here we all are at Grandma's house.The kids waiting anxiously to start opening gifts..Jason too.Elena's fave gift of the night was her Hannah Montana Guitar. She was a rockin! She kept it on all night.Christmas Eve morning, my nephew Jude and his sister Gabi came over to open gifts with us.Isn't she sweet??Christmas Eve was the usual excitement with the exception that we slowed the pace down a bit and you actually saw what everyone was opening instead of it being a whirlwind of paper everywhere. They had so much fun together. They love to spend time with their cousins. This year was a first. A family tradition is they make plum pudding and most of us don't care much for it and it's a joke to try to trick someone into eating it. This year Natalie tried without any tricks. Elena and Stephen did too! We'll see if they will be fans next year too.Natalie's fave part of the night was decorating Buddy the dog with her jewlery. She loves dogs!So there it is, total picture overload. I have a few more from Christmas Day, I will post those seperatly as this is quite a few. A nice Christmas to look back on.

Happy Birthday Bill!

Happy Birthday to my

Dear Husband BILL!

This dance is for you babe!

(To view, just click the play arrow twice)