Jack is 4!!!

Jack and Cole

Getting ready to eat breakfast with the bday plate

Passing out treats at school

Kobe!

Drinking Shirley Temple's!

Ellie catching a shrimp

Getting ready for cake!

Jack celebrated his 4th birthday on Tues of this week. I still can't believe he is 4 yrs old---4 just sounds so "old" and grown up---like he's not a little kid anymore---ugh!! Anyway we had a great day celebrating! He woke up to his room all decorated with balloons, streamers, bday sign, etc. He was so excited and kept saying "It's a birthday in my room"--so cute! At school he passed out birthday treat bags to each of his friends and then after school he and I took lunch to our friend Cole who is battling leukemia. Jack LOVES and ADORES Cole so that visit made Jack's birthday even more special--they had a blast playing together! For dinner we have a tradition with the kids that we go to Kobe Steakhouse for their birthday dinner. We started with Ellie when she was 3 but this was the first year that we have taken Jack on his birthday. It was so fun---only bummer was that they weren't able to make the big fire at the table at their new building but we still enjoyed the experience! Grandma and Grandpa always come along with us for dinner and then we headed back to our house for more cake and presents! We had a great day celebrating a very special little guy in our lives!! Love you so much Jack!

Brownie Field Trip to Rotella's

One thing I have found being a Girl Scout leader is there are a ton of things to do in our city!! We took advantage of a free field trip and headed to Rotella's Bread factory yesterday! The girls loved it. It was really a neat thing to see. We got to go up to the factory where the dough is actually made and then got to see the process from start to finish as to how it is made, packaged and sent away. And the best part was that it was totally free AND each girl got a whole loaf of bread and a bag of breadsticks to take home! We were not able to take pics during the actual tour but I snapped a quick pic of the girls as we were getting ready to head up---it was cute because we all had to wear hairnets--the girls thought that was pretty cool!!

Jack's 4th Birthday Party!

We had Jack's birthday party on Saturday! It was his first "real" party (other than family) so it was a lot of fun! We had it at the Saddlebrook Community Center which is such a fabulous place and I have no idea what I did with my time before it opened since Jack and I are there at least 2 times a week for various classes, etc. It's where I met his little group of friends that we play with regularly! Anyway, we decided to have his party there and it turned out great. We had open gym time with scooters, balls, blocks, hula hoops, etc and also had two bounce houses (one for the littler kids and one for the bigger kids!) The kids played and played and we never had to have any organized games. We also had a pinata for the kids after we had cupcakes. It was so cute when the pinata finally broke open (thanks to Dave!) Jack just cried and cried. He was so mad that it had broken! All of the candy all over the floor wasn't helping in the least bit! He finally got over it and the sweet girl who was helping with party taped it up for him so it was all back together! We had a blast and I think all of the kids who came had a great time! After the party we came home and opened presents! A fun day was had by all! I can't believe my sweet Jack is 4 yrs old :(

MLK Day

Ellie and Jack snuggling at the CU game---rare occasion!

Ellie and Emma getting ready for their American Girl tea party

Decorating MLK bday cake

Jack's contribution--licking the frosting off the spoon!

 

Holding the finished product!

Ellie and Emma

Lighting the candles

Under all those sprinkles they had actually written "Happy Birthday MLK" and "Thank You MLK"--can't see it buried under the sprinkles!!!

It's been a cold week here so far. I guess it's January and this is what it's supposed to feel like but it's been so nice that it actually feels colder than normal! I can't complain though! On Monday of this week the kids were off school for MLK day. It's nice to have them home in the winter when we can just stay home all day and not feel like we have to be out and about doing something! Our friend/neighbor Emma spent the day with us because her mom had to work which worked out well for Ellie because she had a friend to play with all day. At one point they had a tea party set up for the American Girl dolls---it was so cute but unfortunately I didn't snap a pic in time. We also made and decorated a birthday cake in honor of MLK. We did it last year and decided to make it a tradition! The kids had fun decorating the cake and then singing Happy Birthday! And now we are busy getting ready for another special birthday coming up next week----our little Jack will be 4 yrs old! Don't even get me started on "how did he get so old", "where does the time go"....I have no idea!!! I will post next week about his party, etc--we are looking forward to it!

Winter Blahs!

Well I've officially got the winter blahs!! Even though it has been super nice out and much warmer than usual I'm still in the blah post-holiday mood! It's not a bad mood--just blah! We don't have much going on and then in another sense we have a lot going on! Last Sunday Ellie started basketball. This is her 2nd season playing bb and she was super excited. She is on the same team with girls from her school and has the same wonderful coach! They played their 1st game without having a practice and overall did great. It was so fun to watch the progression of the team last year and I'm sure it will be the same this year. Ellie is getting better at dribbling and really wants to make baskets. I keep telling her that sometimes it's more important to be the point guard rather than the shooter (if that makes sense in basketball-eeze!) We love going to the CU women's games so maybe this will be her sport!
On Monday our Brownie troop met and for the 2nd year in a row we made fleece-tie blankets to donate to a local charity. The girls love it and they are so easy to make--even I can do it! I love instilling the love of donating and being charitable with the troop. They seem to kind of be getting the idea!

Snuggling in Jack's bed

They were sitting in the corner watching a movie on their new dvd player

#43

1st bb game

1st bb game

Dribbling

Making fleece blankets with the Brownie troop

Whole troop with one of the blankets we made

Warm January day at the zoo with Jasmine, Lucy and Henry!

And like I said it has been unseasonably warm most of this winter so Jack and I took advantage of the nice weather this week and went to the zoo with some friends. Who doesn't love the zoo on a January day--no crowds, nice weather--perfect time to go. I could spend all day at the zoo and we are at a point that Jack doesn't need the stroller so we just wander around. Of course today the temp is 15 degrees so never fear winter is here :( We are looking forward to celebrating Jack's 4th birthday in just a couple of weeks--I can't believe it's been 4 yrs...makes me sooooooo sad. Hopefully that will make the dull, boring month of January go just a little bit faster!!

New Years

Miranda and Ellie at the CU game

At Old Mattress Factory

Miranda and Ellie at dinner

Miranda, Ellie and Jack at dinner

Watching NYE fireworks

Fireworks

Standing in Joe's truck watching the fireworks

New Years toast--Jack refused to participate in wearing a hat or toasting with sparkling grape juice--he wanted nothing to do with it!

Stomping on bubble wrap--although it didn't work very well because when I went to buy bubble wrap they only had the little bubble wrap and we needed the big bubble wrap--oh well!

Fun with bubble wrap

More fun with bubble wrap!

Where oh where has the time gone these past few weeks. I know it goes fast but for some reason this year it just flew by in a flash. I sent the kids off to school today and I am feeling so sad. Usually I am ready to get them back to school and back to a routine. And while I am happy to have our routine back I am really missing having them home all the time. I might have to start a countdown to summer! We had a fun New Years weekend! We have never had a set tradition for New Years Eve so this year we decided to ask our friends (Dawn and Joe and their 2 kids) to spend New Years Eve together. We went to the Creighton women's basketball game that afternoon then went to eat at Old Mattress Factory and then stayed downtown to watch the fireworks display. It was such a gorgeous day that we thought that seemed like a great plan. The weather changed dramatically between the time we went into the restaurant around 5pm and left around 6:30---it got cold, rainy and windy---gotta love Nebraska!!! So we ended up parking at the top of a parking garage downtown and watching the fireworks from there. It turned out great and we were blessed to spend New Years Eve with great friends! When we got home Dave and I and the kids did our own little "celebration" complete with sparkling grape juice, bubble wrap and horns!  Jack went to bed and Ellie and I watched Rockin' New Years for a bit and then were asleep by about 10:30ish! It was a fun, low-key night---my favorite kind of night! On New Years Day we had the neighbors over for soup/chili night. Everyone brought a soup/chili and the adults talked and the kids played (until really, really late!!) We are lucky to have a great group of people who live in our circle that we get to call our friends! The Huskers played in the Capitol One bowl game on Monday the 2nd and although we lost and it was a terrible game we had fun watching it with the same friends that we spend NYE with. We were exhausted by Mon night and got the kids to bed super early so they would be ready to head back to school today :( As I reflect on 2011 and think about whats ahead for 2012 I remember how truly blessed I am and how excited I am to see what God has in store for me in 2012......He never ceases to amaze me!