Bowling

This year for New Year's Eve we decided to do something a little different. We took the kids and went out for pizza and then bowling with Ray's mom, step-dad and sister. This is the first time either one of them has been to a bowling alley. It's the first time since we've been married that Ray and I have gone bowling. It might be something we do a little more often now that bowling alleys are smoke-free.
Trevor was all about watching the ball go down the lane and than the pins falling over. He just thought it was great. He probably dreamed about balls that night. Gretchen was a little skeptical at first. Ray helped her the first time and she cried once all the pins fell down. She got a strike the very first time. Thanks daddy! :) After watching a few of us bowl, she got the idea. Soon she was rolling the ball down the lane all by herself. There were a few gutters in there but she was having fun. By the end of the night she was asking me if we could go next weekend. I'd say the night was a success.

Finally the pictures

Showing Aunt Carrie some of her new clothes. The girl loves clothes!

Checking out the new stuff we got.

Enjoying his new car he got.

Helping Grandpa with Grandma's new garbage disposal. It was more fun than my presents.

Dr. Gretchen checking out Matt. He was rather a handful of a patient.

New clothes with trucks on them. :)

Very excited about the new toothbrush Santa left her in her stocking.

As you can tell, it was a little too early for Trevor's liking.

Time to dig into some presents.

Mom's cake topper was more exciting than my new toys.

Grandma got me all these new toys. She bought so much since the kids hadn't really had a Christmas last year since we were dealing with Ray's grandfather's declining health.

On 3 let's take a picture. She had filled the memory with 470 pictures in 2 days!!

This Little People castle kept her entertained for hours.

SpongeBob pillow!! His face was priceless when he opened the box. He knew right away who it was.

Gretchen was very excited about her Minnie Mouse she got.

Helping Jordan decide what present to pass out next. It was tough work.

Christmas time

Whew! Last week was fairly busy with lots of Christmases and late nights for the kids. Tuesday started the celebration with Christmas with my Grandpa Miller and my dad's siblings and family. Gretchen and Trevor see this side of the family about once a year. Therefore, it took a little time for them to relax and feel comfortable with them. By the way, Karen, Gretchen is still talking about playing with the nativity scene and that "lady." :)

Wednesday evening was spent with my parents and siblings. The kids really enjoyed this Christmas but Trevor is still looking for those silly "baas."

Uncle Matt, you're taking too long to get my present out of the box.

Thursday morning was spent just us as a family opening presents. Ray had made the kids a table with drawers to put their toys into. Trevor seemed to think he fit in better.

The rest of the day was spent with Ray's mom, step-dad and siblings. This was a rather difficult Christmas. It's been less than a year since both grandma and grandpa passed away and by far the 1st holiday after is the toughest.

Friday evening we got together with Ray's dad and step-mom. Gretchen really enjoyed playing with Ray's half-brother Andrew and Ray's dad.

Saturday evening was spent together with Ray's uncle and his family. The kids know Uncle Greg as the man with the pool. Trevor even pointed to it and asked about it on the way into the house. He's going to be very excited this summer.

Sunday afternoon we ventured out to see my Grandma and Grandpa Birky and my mom's siblings.

Monday and today were spent recuperating. Late nights make for tired little kids. We really enjoy our schedules around here.

Editor's note: the computer is being slow and I'm not patient enough right now. More pictures will come. I promise, Carrie. :)

Christmas Pictures

Enjoy our Christmas pictures!

Pictures of Mr. T

It's cooking time! He can't be left alone in the kitchen anymore. He figured out how to turn the stove on. :(


That's one good lookin' turkey!

I turned around to put the dishes in the sink and found him attacking my spatula. As you can see, it passed the test.

That's him enjoying a cracker with peanut butter. He ate the pb off the cracker and handed it back to me for a refill. He knows what's good.

All dressed up for church.

update

It looks like it's time for an update. The kids are still fighting the nasty runny noses and cough. I'll be happy when I'm done chasing little kids around the house with Kleenex. I'm just glad there's no vomiting or diarrhea involved. Amazing enough honey seems to be working wonders for Trevor's cough. I think he really enjoys his "medicine" too.

Gretchen woke up this morning and probably thought she had died and gone to heaven. It was snowing. By breakfast time she was already making plans as to what she was going to do with the snow this afternoon. Little did she know it was the wet type of snow and wouldn't cooperate very well for her to make snow balls and snowmen. At lunch time, she was begging for me to go downstairs and get her sled out for Trevor. She doesn't want him to walk in it; he'll be riding instead. :)

Trevor has really turned into quite the monkey lately. Saturday and Sunday mornings he enjoys helping Ray make breakfast. It's the guys turn. He grabs Gretchen's red chair from her desk and drags it out into the kitchen so he can stick his little head over the counter and see what is going on. He then proceeds to claim that everything is "hot." Yes, even the snow this morning was "hot." I caught him this noon with the red chair by the dish rack unloading and playing with the dishes I had washed this morning. Everything was "hot" and then ended back in the sink for round 2 of washing. We don't need more sickness in this house.

Trevor has caught on quite quickly to "blowing" his nose. We've been struggling with Gretchen to blow her nose to get the yuckies out. He came over to me last week one day and tried to "blow" as best he could. Ray found this to be amusing this past weekend. Trevor has also learned with this colder weather comes mommy's cold hands. He is quite the mover when it comes to changing the diaper. He'd rather run around in a wet and/or stinky diaper than to have the wrath of mommy's cold hands. It's daddy duty when he gets home from work.

I'd add some pictures but the camera is upstairs and I'm downstairs in the "dungeon" and it's rather cold down here. Just imagine 2 little kids running around bundled up with 2 red noses and you've got them. Time to go back upstairs, thaw out and get something accomplished why the peanuts take a nap. til next time.

Trick or treat

I guess it's time I get around to putting up Halloween pictures. Both the kiddos are fighting running noses and coughs this week. :( The joy of chasing after runny noses hasn't left much time for anything else.

First stop on Friday night was to my mom and dad's. Mr. Mickey Mouse was worried more about the sheep than he was about trick or treating. Such a silly little boy.

Then there was little Miss Jo Jo the clown who didn't want to cooperate for a picture. She had practiced all day saying "trick or treat" but when it came down to it she didn't want to say it at all. She did remember to say a "thank you" here and there. :)

Next stop was to Ray's mom's house. She lives in a subdivision and they roughly get around 300-400 kids on Halloween night. Unfortunately she, grandpa and Aunt Lynnette were not around. They had left with the marching band that afternoon for the state competition. Uncle Roger was filling in handing out candy.

We walked around the block and then called it a night. Ray and I were both amazed at how much candy the kids got. We chuckle about how long it will last them. They know they get a piece after nap time each day.

On Sunday, the kids dressed up one last night for Ray's mom and sister. Trevor didn't last long in his Mickey Mouse suit. I'm hoping next year he understands what is going on much better.