Big Kids

We officially have big kids........tonight they went outside by themselves to play in the snow and slide down the hill. Mommy just had to help with boots and watch from the kitchen window!

Bring on Christmas

Now that the kids birthday party is all over we can think more about Christmas. After we got back from Toys-r-us we put up our Christmas tree. Patrick helped with the lights while Elizabeth was napping.At the birthday party we had a craft table and there were ornaments that the kids could color. After the lights were on the tree Patrick didn't like that he had to wait for Elizabeth to wake up to put the ornaments on the tree......so he went in the basement and quick made himself some.
Daddy was in charge of handing out the ornaments and Mommy was in charge of reinforcing their placement on the tree....so they wouldn't fall off an break. Patrick was much more into hanging up the ornaments than Elizabeth.
Patrick loved hearing the stories we had about all our ornaments......the whole reason I love the way we collect ornaments in our family!
Our pretty little tree. Every year I swear that we are going back to a real tree, but just can't find the energy after the kids birthday party. Maybe next year.......or maybe a larger pre-lit tree :)

Merry Christmas Patrick!

Merry Christmas Elizabeth!

Yeah, you see that devilish look in her eye. It is going to be a challenge keeping her mits off the ornaments!

Continuing the Birthday Celebration

Since Pat's birthday is on Wednesday and he wants to go to Chucky Cheese's for dinner we decided to go to get his Birthday Club gift at Toys-r-us today. It would be pretty impossible to do both on Wednesday after school and work. It was a quick trip today.....Pat had already scouted out the situation when we took Elizabeth for her birthday shopping. He wanted a new dragon......he is desperately hoping Santa brings the castle he wants to play with the dragon in!

Learning the Family History

Patrick was super proud to find his great grandfather Louer's "army guy hat" in the basement tonight!

Happy Birthday To You!!!!!

The kids had a wonderful time at their birthday party. All their friends and family came to help celebrate. They are truly loved :)Elizabeth loves her best pal Leah.

The kids wanted to get cupcake cakes......which was easy for me so I didn't argue. Patrick was showing off his jungle cake to his friend Mya. Elizabeth chose a Hello Kitty theme.....pink of course!
Who doesn't love being sung too! Happy Birthday To You!!!!
Patrick and Elizabeth did a great job opening all their presents. They were patient, said thank you to their guests (even when they weren't in the room). Pat and Sis were spoiled.......they are too darn cute and everyone loves them. Elizabeth especially loved her "Pop-n-style" Cabbage Patch doll and Patrick LOVED his new Batman car.

Ready for Celebration #3

We were all up early this morning and motivated. Elizabeth and I did a great job making muffin cupcakes for her class. Monday she will be snack host and share her birthday treats with her class.......banana chocolate chip muffins with cream cheese frosting and of course, pink sprinkles. We made mini-muffins for Patrick to share with his class too. She is becoming quite an accomplished baker.......able to multi-task!

Happy Birthday Miss Elizabeth!

Elizabeth got to go Toys-r-us to pick out a special toy with her birthday/Thanksgiving/birthday club money. She was SOOOO excited and loved her crown, cart, and balloon.
Saturday birthdays are great. There was all day to do fun things!!
After we picked out a special toy at Toys-r-us, we headed to Friendly's for a birthday lunch. Elizabeth insisted on bringing in her new doll and doctor kit for the doll. Thank goodness for Daddy.
Of course Patrick had to get a toy too. Luckily he had some money in his wallet and a $1 for being caught being good and $1 from Pop Pop and Grandma for Thanksgiving. He picked an animal.....surprised? A lion no less.
After a yummy lunch of Mac-n-cheese, Elizabeth opted for the purple monster sundae.......and ate every last bit.

Really???? Does the shirt make it true??

When we got home from Toys-r-us and Friendly's, Uncle Danny was waiting for us with Elizabeth's birthday surprise........a playhouse for the toy room!!!

The birthday princess :)

Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Elizabeth, happy birthday to you!!!!
Elizabeth huffed and puffed and blew out all the cupcakes in pretty much one shot. We can only have that many candles with close family. We all looked aside during the huffing......the after spray was kinda gross.

More pink cupcakes!

Our special birthday girl and her pink cupcakes.

Elizabeth just loved the special card her brother made her :)
Giving big brother a hug for his great card and great present. In true boy fashion, he wasn't too receptive.

Elizabeth loves her new shopping cart. Patrick sure does have a good idea about his sisters likes and dislikes!
Patrick made sure he helped with each present, and, told Elizabeth what they were before they were opened. That's what big brothers are for!
Patrick was really into Elizabeth's new doll.
Elizabeth loves her new cheerleader doll. Despite the five annoying cheers she does, it is really cute.
Liz's last present was a "computer"......this Leapfrog thing that helps teach kids how to write their letters. Both kids loved it......maybe Pat will need one for his birthday.

Getting Ready to Celebrate

Patrick made his own card for his sisters birthday. He also picked out her present himself. He chose a play shopping cart.......which he told her everyday for about a month that he bought her! Anyway, in his card he traced his hand, wrote his name and Elizabeth's name, and drew every member of our family.
I love when he draws........he concentrates so intently. He was such a proud big brother when he was finished.

New Jammies

Aunt Jaime stopped by today with a treat for Pat and Liz.......new jammies! They both insisted on putting them on well before bed, so we wore them to Lights on the Lake. It was a fun night.

Gobble Gobble

We had a great Thanksgiving this year, spent with family and friends that we love lots.First thing in the morning Brian and Patrick headed out for Turkey hockey with Uncles and cousins. They were gone for three hours and had a ton of fun playing all morning.
Elizabeth and I spent the morning making appetizers to bring to Aunt Ann's and making birthday cupcakes so that we could start Elizabeth's birthday celebrations. I tried to get her to put her shirt on before we started making cupcakes but she wasn't having it. The stubbornness of three has set in a bit early around here. Elizabeth was really excited to help cook everything.
Elizabeth is furiously beating the eggs for her pink cupcakes with pink frosting. Her request.
The kiddies at the kiddie table before the kiddies ate.

Turkey #1.

Cousin Turkey.

Elizabeth was so sweet while we were singing her Happy Birthday. She sat quietly on Casey's knee, just smilin' away.

Yummy pink on pink cupcakes.

By the end of the night the kids were in jammies and dominating the T.V.'s. Aunt Ann was brave enough to let the girls watch Ice Age in her room. Elizabeth got into something......left Aunt Ann a note. Patrick was downstairs with the guys watching Home Alone......and loving it. We were asleep in the car on the way home because we all had such a great day.