Snow

Today we had our first "playable" snowfall for the winter. Alyssa begged to go out and play in it this morning. So I let her go out back while Aiden and I stayed warm inside and watched. We had to miss church this morning because Alyssa had the stomach flu yesterday and we were waiting out our contagious period. So it was nice to get her out of the house to run around. I think she would stay out there forever, but I made her come in after about 25 minutes. I didn't put her snow pants on and she had on her rain boots because we haven't bought snow boots yet this year (although I am thinking with the right socks the rain boots may do the trick) and I was afraid she was getting cold. She literally ran circles around the yard and examined her footprints. She also went around and "dusted" the snow off of her house and swing set.

She did make sure Aiden was having fun by throwing snowballs at him!

And of course she brought some snow in for Aiden to see, I mean eat...

but he wanted nothing to do with that...

...so she grabbed a bowl and spoon and helped herself. For anyone wondering, our dog has his own separate potty area and is not even allowed in the back yard where the kids play. So the snow was "clean"!

So there is the first snow fun, I personally love the snow. From the inside that is :) Daddy is more the outside cold weather playmate!! The sled is waiting for just a little more...

Here's Proof

I told you he is just like an old man with a walker!! Here is Aiden yesterday stealing Grandpa's...nope still not walking on his own except for a few steps here and there.

Notice in the background of the picture, Grandpa is playing Wii!!

We went to Troy and Sarah's for Thanksgiving this year and had a great time. The food was awesome (of course) and it was great to see everyone. This morning Mom picked me up at 5 am to hit the Black Friday sales, it was her first time venturing out soo early. I am so glad we went, I got some great deals and crossed some more people off my list (and of course got some things for me for Todd to wrap & give me:)

Then our family went to get our Christmas tree, which has surprisingly stayed untouched by Aiden...so far. We will decorate it tomorrow which I am sure will tempt him more!

We have been having a lot of tea parties lately at our house, Alyssa is a great host. She had done away with the "tablecloth" when Aiden is attending, I am sure that is self explanatory.

Well, I am off to get some rest after a loooong day.

~~Tracy~~

2 Days in Review

Monday Morning:
6:06 am Day starts...Alyssa is awake, but a nice break as her waking has been before 5:30 am the 6 consecutive days before this.
7:30 On the phone with the Doctor's office to try and get Aiden and I in today. Appointments made for 9:45.
9:15 Leave with the 2 kiddos for appointments.
9:16 Cell phone rings, WONDERFUL hubby says he is on his way home and if I pull over he will take Alyssa with him.
9:16 and 4 seconds (or immediately): Pull into subdivision and hand over Alyssa.
10:15 Leave Doctor's office...Aiden's rash is an allergic reaction to the ibuprofen I used Friday and Saturday for terribly teething baby :( And me, well since I have been fighting a "cold" for 6 weeks they gave me something to hopefully kick it.
10:55 Leave Target with my prescription.
11:10 Home and lunchtime, lay Aiden down for nap.
2:45 Wake Aiden and the family of 4 is off to our monthly chiropractic visit.
4:45 Home and eating supper (gave in to the world and went through a drive thru for this meal).
8:00 Last child in bed and house is quiet.
8:40 I leave for the Community Center to set up for MOPS.
10:00 Return home.
11:15 or so....Sleep...

Tuesday Morning:
5:22 am Day starts...Alyssa is awake (Hmmm, back on schedule).
8:25 Leave house for MOPS.
11:25 Leave MOPS and pick up Alyssa at preschool.
11:33 Back at MOPS for clean up.
12:15 Home for lunch, Aiden down for nap.
2:10 Wake a (really sound, peaceful) sleeping Aiden to get his 2nd flu shot.
2:15 Leave house.
2:45 Aiden called back for flu shot and informed he could also get his HIB booster today too. Lucky him, now 2 shots two days before Thanksgiving.
3:30 Home for the night, and WONDERFUL hubby is cooking supper.
4:00 Eat supper and WONDERFUL hubby then does dishes and cleans up entire kitchen!!
5:00 Clean kitchen and playing with the kiddos...things are starting to look up :)
8:00 Last child in bed and house is quiet.

I will have to say that the day was also lightened when we were cleaning up after MOPS and Alyssa ran across the room and threw her arms around me and said "I love you soo much Mommy!" followed by a huge kiss and hug. Then she just went back to the table I had sat her at to wait for me.

Alyssa had her Thanksgiving feast today at Preschool and this is what they made and wore. You can't tell in the picture, but the 2 things hanging off the side are little pony tails. I had never seen this before on these handmade bands but it is super cute!

Aiden just trying to figure out what she is doing.

I will end this post with saying how very grateful I am for these past two days...There is honestly nothing more I would rather do. I am surrounded by an amazing family and am very blessed to be with them everyday.

Have a Wonderful Thanksgiving!!!

~~Tracy~~

Preschool...

Alyssa's Preschool class is practicing their songs for their Christmas program and this is what I heard as she went to see Aiden after his nap:

I want to miss you a Merry Christmas
I want to miss you a Merry Christmas
I want to miss you a Merry Christmas from the Bible of my heart

Fa-threes Navi-DAD
Fa-threes Navi-DAD
Fa-threes Navi-DAD

This was all heard after she first told Aiden:
"OK, it is time to listen, I am Mrs. Herrmann. You sit like Alyssa."

Last week she didn't have her "listening ears" on a school Tuesday and Todd and I had many talks with her on how she needs to listen and obey her teacher. Also, that just because someone else is doing something, she should not do what they do. I then get report on Thursday that she maybe didn't feel good as she would not sing in class that day and she just sat quietly. When I questioned her to see if she felt okay she said "Mom, I was trying to listen!"

Oh, the power of teaching a three year old!!

Aiden's First Haircut

OK, I finally caved and let Aiden get his first haircut. It was terribly out of control an looked a bit like he had wings coming out behind his ears. There is just something about that first cut that I never want to do (Todd has been begging me for weeks, OK months, to get it cut). Maybe I just love the fly aways of baby fine hair...makes them seem more like babies than toddlers :(

So after church today I let Maw Maw cut his hair. It went as expected, him turning his head every which way but the right way. Above is a pic I got during the action...after he tore the cape off and wouldn't leave it on. He is just too busy to sit and get a hair cut, but we managed to get it done without any tears!

I am not sure if he doesn't like it, but he left his hat on for a long time after we got home tonight...

...until Alyssa decided it was time to come off and she went over and gave it a yank.

So I guess I don't have any after shots, but I think he does look different.

Hopefully he will start walking soon, he will take 2-3 steps on his own. But only if it is his idea. If he decides he wants to get to something else not too far away he will take a few steps. If Todd or I am trying to convince him to walk to us forget it, he will just sit right down.
Hopefully soon...

~~Tracy~~

Alyssa Says (Part Four)

“I’m going to the royal ball with my Daddy. He’s the prince.”

“Mmmmm…I love crunchy toes.”

A: “You done on the computer Mommy?”
Me: “Yes.”
A: “Then get off.”

We were eating a chicken brushetta bake for supper (had stove top stuffing layered with cheese):
Me: “Alyssa that is stuffing with cheese, just try a bite.”
A: “It’s disgusting with cheese?”

She will not eat any meat, whether she likes it or not, she doesn’t want to eat it. So one night we had pork chops and I told her she had to take her one bite to try it, this is what we got:
“I will put it in my mouth, chew it up, spit it out and tell you I do not like it!”
Well, guess she knows the drill. Unfortunately for her plan that night she did like it and after putting it into her mouth we got:
“MMMM, this is yummy, may I have some more?”

“Cheese, Smile (takes a picture of Aiden with her camera)…OH, that was a nice one.”

“More Pee Pee? OH MY!!” (surprising herself on the potty:)

“Mommy, you are yes Mam. Daddy, you are yes Sir!”

And the latest new "saying" by Alyssa:
In her most cheerful, excited voice possible. "Thank you Aiden, Thank you so much for sharing with me!!" This one happens right after she takes something out of Aidens hands that she wants to play with...UGH!!

Have a Good Weekend!!
~~Tracy~~

Halloween Time Review

Since I have failed to post any Halloween fun, you now get it all in one big review...

At the pumpkin "patch".

Aiden searching for the perfect one.

Trunk or Treat at Alyssa's preschool. She was way excited about the "camels" (actually llamas) across the parking lot.

Helping to clean out the pumpkins.

Aiden enjoyed it too, poor little man got buckled into the booster seat pretty quickly :)

Our little cow. Alyssa wore this costume 3 years ago, I had figured this will be the only thing I can pass down from big sister so wanted to take advantage of it. When I got it out of the tote a week ago to make sure it would fit him I saw it had pink horns. Todd wanted to buy him a new costume, but I wanted to take advantage of the one and only hand me down we would ever have in this house. So I (yes me, Tracy) got crafty and made his horns black...no one could tell :)

Our kiddos...not looking at the camera.

Alyssa as Barbie Mariposa.

And here we go...

Poor Aiden was soo tired. He was trying to fall asleep at dinner and here we were dragging him around the neighborhood past his bedtime. He did just sit back and enjoy the ride. Alyssa exclaimed "This is the best trick or treatin' ever!!!", after we went to just one house. Probably because this is the first year she really knew what she could do with that candy :) Then this morning after she asked everyone, "Did you have fun going trick or treatin' with me last night?" she picked out her one piece of candy for after lunch and after supper. Now I just have to figure out how to disappear most of it...And not into my stomach.