Fun Birthday WebSite!

I received an email the other day with a link to a fun little website. You type your birthday into it and it tells you all kinds of fun little facts about how old you are. It also has links at the bottom that tells you about movies, tv and music. I'm sure the older you are the more fun it is, but it was fun anyway! Check it out!

http://www.frontiernet.net/~cdm/age1.html

That doesn't really happen, does it?

The other day Alena and I did some shopping at Dollar General (I've had a personal ban on Wal-Mart for about a year now and there is nothing else by my house, but that's a blog for another day). Anyway, as we leave I put Alena in the car and go to the back to load up all my purchases. Just as I opened the hatch, I slipped and almost had a serious fall. Luckily I caught myself at the last minute and avoided a painful and embarrassing event. After I composed myself, I glanced down to see what was the cause of this potential mishap---it was a banana peel! I thought that kind of thing only happened in cartoons and slap stick comedies. Actually it wasn't just the peel, I think it was the better part of the banana that had been run over a few times. After I discovered what it was, I found the whole situation a lot more funny and I was even more thankful I hadn't actually fallen, the last thing I would've needed at that point was smushed banana all over me!

Cheap Gas Website

We saw this web site on the news last week and now I check it religiously. It shows where the cheapest gas prices are and you can earn free gas and other prizes by helping keep the prices in your neighborhood up-to-date!

http://www.stlouisgasprices.com/

Happy Birthday, Brian!

Today, (Feb. 8) is Brian's 29th birthday! Unfortunately, it is also Wacky Wednesday and he chose to work open to close today anyway. We went out to Hot Shots last night, where he had his pool league, and I think we are going out to dinner tomorrow night, and then having quite a few people over on Saturday night, so I think he will have plenty of celebration time. Only one more year until the
BIG 3-0! Happy Birthday, Brian!!!

Alena's First Official Steps

On Monday, Alena took her first official steps. She has been walking around furniture and things since September, but never really let go. For about the past month she has been letting go and standing there for a little while before losing her balance, but wasn't actually going anywhere. On Monday she walked from the fireplace to her tall toy on the floor. It was only about three steps, but she made it there. She continued to walk two or three steps here and there throughout the evening, so I don't think it will be long before she is unstoppable. Way to go, Alena!!

Alex's Hero

Alex brought home an assignment from school on Friday entitled, "My Hero." Underneath the hand drawn picture was the following:

"My dad is my hero because my dad is really kind to me. My dad fixes a lot of things that are broken. My dad is a nice person. My dad is the best hero ever. My dad is one year older then my mom. "

Brian was really touched, as was I. It was too cute and nice to know, especially since it could have been Spongebob or something ridiculous.

We are all getting OLD!

Our friend Joe (of Joe & Joanne), turned thirty on Monday, Happy Birthday, Joe! We all went out on Saturday and celebrated, probably too much, but everyone had a good time. Anyway, Joe is the first one in our group of friends to turn 30, and it has really been making me feel old this past week. Whenever Joe turns an age, we all eventually follow (some sooner than others), Jeff will turn 30 next month, Doug in March, Brian next year, and so on. It's a very scary thing. Before long I will be hanging out with a bunch of thirtysomethings! I don't know why this has been bothering me so much, they say you are only as old as you feel and I feel 23 and Brian should only be 25. We all are still just a bunch of kids (who all have our own kids), I just can't believe how fast time goes by!

Guitars Galore!

I thought everyone might want to see a picture of the boys with their guitars they got for X-mas!

More Pics from the Play Date

Lots o' Babies!

Alena had a play date Saturday afternoon. Alivia (6 months), Jack (6 Months), Lexy (3 months), and Brayden (5 weeks), all came over to play and they were all so cute together. Davin (8 months), Jacob (11 months) and Anthony (1 year), were unable to attend this time, but we plan on doing one every couple months, so hopefully we will have even more babies next time. Everyone seemed to have a good time, I can't wait until they all are walking around, it will be nuts! We lined them all up in their car seats to get a group photo, which was the only way to keep them all still!

I am the worst mother ever!

Okay not really, but it was not a good day. Tuesday, I was planning on going into work at about 10, since I didn't go to work on Monday. I overslept till 11 (it was raining of course), got up, got me and Alena dressed as quickly as possible, grabbed the diaper bag, and ran out the door. We got to work at 12, my boss left for lunch and all was good until about 1:30, when I noticed a foul odor coming from you know who. I got out wipes, the changing pad and... no diapers!!!! In my frenzy to get out the door, I had forgotten to double check the diaper supply. I couldn't leave until my boss got back from lunch, in the meantime she is growing increasingly irritated. Rick finally comes back about 2:30, walks in an says "EWW, what did you eat for lunch?" I explained the predicament and left promptly. Rick was spraying lysol as I walked out the door. Needless to say, it was a pretty stinking ride home!

The 1st, 1st of many!

As most of you know, we kinda had a baby boom last year. We know about 10 people who had babies throughout the year, including us of course. My cousin Becca was the first, when she had Anthony last January. We all went to Anthony's first B-day party on Sunday. The whole time I was there I couldn't help thinking about how many first birthday parties I would attend this year. We had a lot of fun and as you can see, so did Anthony. I guess Alena's first is just around the corner, I can't believe how fast it goes by.

Now you want to unwrap!

All through X-mas we tried to get Alena to unwrap her own presents. Most of the time she would try for a little while, but we usually ended up unwrapping them for her. The other day I caught her in the kitchen tearing into a bag of dog food! Now where were these skills a few weeks ago?

Night of 1000 spills!

Okay, so it was actually only two, but whatever. I bowl on Thursday nights, this past Thurs. Brian didn't feel like staying home with the children by himself, so we all went to the bowling alley. The boys were playing in the nursary and Alena was just hanging out with us, being her usual adorable self. When it was my turn to bowl, I went to hand her off to Kathy across the table and wouldn't you know she kicked Kathy's 32 oz. soda all over Kathy and Linda. Everything was soaked, Kathy had to rent bowling shoes since her's were covered in soda- it was a mess! Got that cleaned up, bowled badly, went home, and just as I walked in the door, I went to set my own 32 oz. soda on the table, it slipped out of my hands, and exploded all over the kitchen floor. What a night!

X-Mas Presents!!!!

One thing I forgot to mention about New Year's Eve was that all of our group, did our X-mas together. Jeff & Kim got us Margaritas, Joe & Joanne got us a necklace and a PS2 game, and everyone got the children something as well . Jeff & Kim got them planes, which is bad enough, but Joe & Joanne (which from now on I will commonly refer to as J & J) got the boys GUITARS, yes real acoustic guitars, one for each of them! Alena also got a cute little Fisher Price guitar, which isn't nearly as noisy. J&J are lucky they do not have children, because if they did I would be getting theirs a drum set this year. Anyway, they really aren't as loud and obnoxious as I was expecting, and they are very educational, but I may have to send them to their house to practice. Up until the guitars, the worst was probably Amy who got them both skateboards this year, I told her I would forward the emergency room deductables to her! In all seriousness though, we have great friends who love us a lot, and any gift is appreciated and cherished, but I will remember when you all have your own children. Thanks again, guys!!!!

New Year's Weekend

New Year's weekend was fun, yet exhausting! Jeff, Kim, Joe, Joanne, Abbe and Mike all came over New Year's Eve night. Brian typically makes a big mess popping the champagne's cork, but this year he did great-- he pop it cleanly, poured everyone's glasses, went to set the bottle on the table, and it slipped out of his hands, fell to the ground and started spewing everywhere. Better luck next year, dear! I think everyone had a pretty good time, and most important everyone stayed safe.

The next day (after being up almost all night) we went to Brian's aunt Sandy's for X-mas with their family. The kids all had fun, until we started posing them for pictures and all of them started whining, but oh well we all had to do it when we were younger, right?

Thankfully, the boys went back to school yesterday, YIPPEEE!!!! I think they were about as excited as I was. Unfortunately, I have to start back to school tonight. It's my Humanities Cluster, which consists of World Literature, Philosophy, and Concepts in Visual Art, YUCK!!! But, everyone has to take it at some point, so I might as well get it out of the way. Wish me Luck!

Have a Safe New Year's Eve!

We hope everyone has a safe and happy New Year's Eve! Don't drink and drive, I don't need anymore people I know on probation with me. We are staying home and having a few friends over, so I'm sure there will be some story for tomorrow, until then-- Happy New Year, everyone!!!

Weird Dream

So yesterday, Brian & I had physicals for a new life insurance policy. The nurse came to our house to take our blood, pee, weight, and everything else imaginable. The boys were mainly playing downstairs during all this, but would pop up periodically to check things out. Alex came upstairs right as she was getting ready to stick my arm to draw blood, he thought it was cool and stood there the whole time. He asked me if it hurt, I said no, and he bounced back downstairs as I applied pressure and a band aid. The nurse left, I went bowling, and didn't think anything else about it until later that night when I had a strange dream.
The boys have been on winter break all week, so in my dream they went back to school and the teacher asked if anything cool happened on their vacation, and of course Alex interjected that a lady came to our house and put needles in mom's arm, while I watched. Needless to say, the teacher thought I was a heroin addict and I had DEA agents at my door that very evening. Thank goodness it was just a dream!! However, I will definitely make sure they both know exactly what the nature of her visit was, just in case!

Christmas 2005

We hope everyone had a great X-mas, we all did, but I must admit I'm glad it's all almost over. Our X-mas weekend started on Saturday when we went to my mom and Bill's house. We all got lots of great gifts, the boys got scooters and a soccer goal, and Alena received lots of cute toys. She also really enjoyed playing with her cousins, Job (Andrea's youngest) and Anthony (Rebecca's son). The picture shows all of them and Bill's brother Jerry, who is a professional drummer, giving them all a music lesson. They all had a lot of fun with each other and I don't think any of them cried all evening! The other pics show Brian and Anthony and Alena opening gifts.

On Christmas Day we started at Kenny's sister Charlene's house , where we had a wonderful X-mas meal and spent some time with Kenny's family, who we don't get to see very often. Everyone was happy to see the kids and Alex & Brady enjoyed playing with all their cousins on that side of the family, which is too many to count! That evening we went to Brenda's to open gifts, we all got great gifts and enjoyed spending time with everyone, including the newest addition to the family, Brian's sister's new dog Manny, who was dressed in his X-mas attire as well. We didn't get home that night until almost 1 am, so everyone slept late the next day, which was great! Only two more X-mas get togethers to go, yippee!

First Blog, kinda scary!

OKay, here is our first blog attempt. I've been thinking about doing one for awhile now, thanks to Mindy for showing me hers and spearheading this new endeavor. Anyway, hopefully this will be a great way to keep everyone updated on what's going on in our lives, especially our loved ones who are out-of-town that we don't get to see as often as we would like. I can't guarantee our postings will always be interesting, but hopefully this process will force me to notice and remember all the cute and crazy things that go on in this house better. I will try and keep it mainly about our family, but I may occassionally throw in a few political things I feel strongly about, and hopefully I don't offend anyone. Hope everyone enjoys the site and let us know what you think!