Winter Break Play Date

 

Alivia & Ellie

Today Alivia is having a play date with one of her classmates from Standing Bear, Ellie. It is so fun to see the girls play (I just wish Alivia could go back to school and play with her more). Having had friends move away when was little, I know how difficult it can be. So, I want to make sure that if Alivia and her friends want to stay in touch, that we make that happen if we can. We are not that far away!

They started off playing with play dough, then making and decorating sugar cookies (and eating lots of dough), watching a little cartoons, playing in the tunnel system, and running and giggling all over the house. I forgot how funny childhood is for little girls! This afternoon they got their fingernails painted red for Christmas and their hair curled. Now they are spelling words on the chalkboards.

I believe both girls will be exhausted by the end of the day. All in a day of play!

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December Date Night

Last night, Chris & I took our first, long awaited, date since moving into our new home. So, what did we do? Well, the usual - eating and then running errands, ugh! We did get to eat in a noisy restaurant, but without anyone whining. That was nice. Then off to do some unsuccessful Christmas shopping. The Walmart looked like it had been robbed, the shelves empty, and the store looked ransacked! Oh, and the bathrooms - let's just say it was far less than acceptable. I am not sure if I can force myself to shop there again. We tried to finish up Christmas shopping, but the shelves were empty. Seriously, is there a war we should know about? Oh yeah, it is supposed to snow. Lovely.

All and all, Chris and I just like getting out alone once in a while. Oh, gotta love date night.

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Snow Play

What else is there to do during winter break but play in the snow!! This is what the kids (and Daddy, but he is all kid, too) have been up to.

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Christmas Cookie, Cocoa & Lights night

On Friday night (after Alivia's last day of school), we went out on our annual Austin Christmas cookie, cocoa and Christmas light viewing. After school, we picked up Alivia's older friend, Kezia, to come to our home to play, help us make some spritz cookies, eat pizza, and then view lights with us. Alivia, unfortunately, was exhausted, and slept through most of the lights.
We are so far away from anybody with a lot of Christmas lights up. We started at the Regency. Um, does nobody there know it is Christmas? Next we went out west, making our way to one of the crazy houses we like to watch with their own radio station (up the street from Jill actually!). The kids enjoyed their cocoa and Christmas cookies....Mmmm! We then had to say good-bye to Kezia. Now that we are so far away, not sure how many more times we will be seeing her.
Since the night was such a bummer, we may have to go out one more time for more cookies, oh, and lights.

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Alivia's Last Day

 

Today was Alivia's last day of school at Standing Bear Elementary. Oh, it was so sad! She has made good friends already with many in her class, so the adjustment may be difficult on her to start at Bell Elementary in Papillion come January 4.

In celebration of the upcoming holidays, Standing Bear eases their way into winter break by having Pajama Day. Alivia wore her Christmas Eve pajamas and was excited to do so. I snapped pictures of Alivia and her friends as I pushed back my big Mommy tears. All of Alivia's classmates drew her a picture and Miss Moran put it into a book for her. It is so cute! Mrs. Archer made Alivia a name plague that is just adorable that Alivia can hang in her room. I had friends move away when I was a little girl and know how much friends are missed. We are confident that Alivia will do great at Bell, too.

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Book Review: 90 Minutes in Heaven

Hopefully I did not already post a review of this book. This was the other book that my Mom let me borrow. It was also a real inspirational story about a Pastor who was in a severe auto accident, his near death experience, and his 90 minutes in Heaven. He went through numerous months to years of crueling recovery.

90 Minutes In Heaven by Don Piper is an inspirational book that I would recommend.

Now, what will I read while I wait for Asher to fall to sleep at nap and night? (so he does not hurt himself crawling out of the crib).

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Book Review: The Last Lecture

When we first initially moved into the apartment on October 26, we did not have any TV or Internet. I was bored during nap time and in the evenings. So, my Mom provided me with a couple of books.

The one I just finished, The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch, is from the staff of books she provided me. Can I just say, what an awesome book! I would highly recommend it. It was a book on setting goals and living to achieve them. It was, however, quite sad as it was the author's last lecture. He died within a year of his lecture to cancer, leaving behind his wife and 3 small children. With that said, I would highly recommend reading the book and watching his last lecture. It is a valuable investment of time. Would love to hear your comments!

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First Before & After

Before

Before we knew WHERE we would be living, Chris and I went shopping for a TV. We wanted a TV to install above our mantel, wherever that mantel shall be. Well, today it FINALLY got installed. It looks wonderful, however a little small for THIS mantel. Chris wanted to return the TV, but found he had to return the surround sound that came with the TV for free. So, Chris decided to keep it, for now. I think I see a bigger TV is in our near future, though, and this one in our bedroom! For now, we will enjoy this new look and sound.

  And, there you have it...our first BEFORE and AFTER of our new home.

Mantel TV with wired surround sound!

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Home Sick

Many days as we get settled in our new home, we feel a bit home sick. Chris and I have said many times, we feel like we are on a vacation of sorts, staying at someone elses home, but just want to go back HOME. I miss the comforts of our old home. We fixed it up to meet most of our needs. That was so nice. Yes, it needed updating. But, we are having to fix up this house to meet our needs, too. Additionally, I many times drive by our old home as I go from dropping Alivia off at the school up the street from our old home to taking Addison to preschool. I find myself going the wrong way to avoid driving by our old house. Asher has even cried when we have driven by, "Go home!" Oh honey, I so wish I could. I only have a few more days of taking Alivia to Standing Bear as she will be transferring to Papillion schools after the New Year.

And then it comes time to pick up Alivia in the afternoons (or even sometimes at drop off) and I see our old neighbors. Then it all comes rushing back to me...why we really moved. Oh, I will take the discomforts of not being at our home I think over all of that unnecessary immaturity living next door anyday.

In our new home, we currently have few neighbors around. Actually, there is nobody living right by us. Neighbors are those we can see a street or 2 away from us. Looking our Asher's window at night, I can see the old owner of this home's Christmas tree (yes, he lives that close). Chris and I do not have any window treatments yet. I am working on estimates for our beloved shutters. I just can not find it to spend our hard earned money on them just yet. I don't know what the rush is right now anyway. Afterall, who is looking in here? And, do I care? Nope.

Chris and I also miss St Vincent de Paul Catholic Church. We have tried going to the Parish near our home, but it is not home. It is so much different. Mass had not even started and Chris asked me if we could leave and go to SVDP. So, we are going to start going to our old Parish again, Saturday nights when I work, Sunday mornings when I don't. We are dealing with a lot of change right now. And, Chris and I just do not feel the need to change our Parish family right now.

So, for anyone thinking of moving...think long and hard before doing so, and then think some more. Reasons for moving can outweigh the cons, obviously. But, the grass is not always greener in another lawn. Actually, our grass looked nearly dead when we moved in here. :) A home is just a roof over your head. A family makes a home. I have to thank my amazing Mom for giving me that perspective.

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Addison's first birthday party invite

Ready for Cake!

Sunday was Addison's first birthday party. Her preschool friend Max turned four and celebrated by inviting his classmates to BOUNCE U. Addison was super excited, and I was told, Max could not stop talking about Addison since school started in the fall.

We arrived at 2:30, got some quick instructions, and then started jumping. Addison jumped and ran all over as I watched. The birthday party kiddos were the only ones jumping, but it was still busy. After an hour of jumping and play, Addison was exhausted. She did play a bit with her friend Max. They seemed to get along well. Now, if she was a teenager, I would have been worried. But, since Addison is only 3, I found it to be cute. Little Max is a sweet little boy just as Addison is a sweet little girl. Next came cake and presents, then Addison was more than ready for the treat bag and to go home.

Addison had fun! Bounce U is a fun place to have a party. However, in the winter, be prepared to bring home more than a few memories. I brought home a cold and have not had a voice since early Monday morning (I worked both Saturday and Sunday night and then did not sleep much on Sunday or at all on Monday, so that did not help). But, if you ask Addison, it was so worth it!

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Alivia's Christmas Program

 

Friday Alivia sang in 2 Holiday programs at Standing Bear Elementary (we love that school!), one at 9:30 and one at 1:30. Daddy, Addison, Asher & I attended the 1:30 show. Alivia stood in the front row and sang "The Chipmunk Song" and "Holly Jolly Christmas." Chris, Addison, Asher & I were able to catch seats in the front row so we can take great pictures, video, and see our little girl sing her heart out. She did an amazing job! Oh, and how adorable all the little kids were!

Alivia has one more program on Monday afternoon at 1:30 when her Grandparents will be cheering her on. We have to say, it is so fun to watch your kiddos grow up!

 

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Visit to see Santa 2009

 

The Austin Kiddos 2009

 

On yet another snow day, we decided to make the drive to Village Pointe to see Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Baby Gap for storytime. We were the only ones there! Alivia quickly jumped (and I mean jumped) onto Santa's lap. Santa had a nice Ho Ho Ho! He was a good Santa. Mrs. Claus was good with the kids, too, and read a fun short story for them. After the story, I sat between Santa and Mrs. Claus with shy Addison and timid Asher. Asher did eventually sit on Mrs. Claus lap though.

Alivia told Santa she wanted a Fur Real cat. Addison wants the same thing, but was too shy to tell Santa that. Asher, of course, did not say a word until we left when he said, "Bye Bye Santa!" Ahhhh! Santa was happy to report that Aliva was on the good girl list, and that made Alivia quite happy. Santa also reported that his favorite cookie is chocolate chip and to please leave some with a glass of milk for him and some carrots for his reindeer on Christmas Eve. The whole experience was quite fun. I wanted to shop afterwards, but of course Addison wanted to go home!

I think we will try to make Shadow Lake or Village Pointe our place to see Santa when we can. So much easier than the Mall and so much more individual attention. Oh, and we got to see Mrs. Claus, too! HO HO HO!

 

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Let it snow!

Beginning on Monday, we have had some snowy weather! Alivia and Addison had Tuesday and Wednesday off of school and both will have tomorrow off as well! So, what have we been up to?

Well, yesterday we did a little baking. We made the spicy pretzels, then chocolate crinkles and chocolate star cookies. Today, after spending some time shoveling and snow blowing, we rolled out Christmas sugar cookies that we hope to get decorated tomorrow afternoon. Alivia, who was the only one that wanted to go outside and play, played in the snow and went sledding a bit in the front yard while Addison and Asher napped. It has been a busy, yet fun filled, couple of days.

Oh, and the snow! We NEVER got this much snow at our old address. Okay, maybe we did, but we had a lot of homes blocking the wind and therefore snow drifts! We are out here practically alone. So, that lead to a lot of huge drifts and hours of snow blowing and shoveling. We were not sure where our driveway or side walks were nor did we know where the street was. It all looked like endless snow. It may be time to upgrade snow blowers for our huge driveway and large feet of sidewalks we now have.

After our toes warmed back up from being outside, it is sure pretty to look at. But, not so pretty that I will stop talking about moving to a milder climate anytime soon. Yes, I did suggest moving AGAIN! :)

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