Gatti-town

Last night we met the Hicks family at Gatti-town. Will was a little crabby to begin the evening. He actually told us that he didn't want to go and he didn't want to play. After his short nap in the car, we was a little more agreeable. It was so great to see Jackson and Heidi. They are getting so big and they're always great company! Lauren and Will both loved the Carousel - it was the highlight of the evening. Here are some more cute pictures from the evening.

Heidi and Lauren playing together. Jackson and Will driving the semi-truck. Even the big boys got to play... Lauren flying the helicopter.

Video

This is a short video of Will coming to see if Santa had been to his house. It's not a great video, but I love his initial excitment when he saw the large gift for Lauren. He was so excited for her.

Christmas Day!!

What a wonderful Christmas! We were very upset when we heard that Uncle Jared and Aunt Len would not be able to make it out to Kentucky. We really hope that Aunt Len's back gets better soon so she can come play with us!

I (Will) woke up this morning and I ran into my mommy and daddy's room to tell them that it was morning time and it was time to get up (just like I do every morning...), except this morning I didn't turn on my Christmas tree lights - I was in a hurry. Last night I heard reindeer on my roof and I knew that Santa had been at my house. Mommy got up, woke up Lauren, and took us to the basement so that we could wake up Nonnie. I was so glad that she slept over last night. Mommy went back upstairs to get the camera ready and Daddy came downstairs, too. Nonnie brought us upstairs and .... WOW ... Santa came. He brought me a Leapster and he brought Lauren a Learning Home (which I think is really cool!). We played with our new toys for a while and then we ate breakfast. Nonnie had to go home to finish cooking and we said goodbye.

Lauren playing with her Learning Home. This is really cool!

Lauren got a gloworm from Santa, too. She liked the music.

This is me playing my leapster with Nonnie. It's pretty cool. I like to play the games and they even have books to read on it, too. Making sure I got all of my glitter glue. I like to make glitter worms with glitter glue. It's a lot of fun.

Around 2:00 everyone else came over to our house. Papa John and Diddy weren't able to make it because we're all very sick and they didn't want to get sick. Ms. Tina couldn't come either, because she has bronchitis. We had a big lunch (though I didn't eat because I was tired and I rested on the couch....) and then we opened presents. It was such a great Christmas and I had such a great time with everyone. Enjoy my pictures! Lauren started the unwrapping of gifts. She just dove into the gifts and started tearing out paper. I was glad that she did that because I was ready to open my presents.

This is me with my gifts. Wow! Everyone was so nice!Lauren's getting really good at opening presents.Aunt Morri really liked my Tonka trucks from Ms. Tina. I really like them, too.Lauren even got a new bike. She REALLY liked it!Here's me on my new bike. It's a long story.... but thanks everyone!

Christmas Eve

Nonnie came over last night to spend Christmas Eve with us! We had such a great time. Will and I made sugar cookies yesterday and we decorated them last night with Nonnie. It was so much fun. Will decorated his all by himself and I warn you not to eat his cookies.... they will send you into a diabetic coma! He went a little overboard on the frosting! After decorating cookies, Will picked out a special one for Santa and we placed it on the mantle. We also added some carrots for the reindeer. We figured they'd be hungry, too. Nonnie helped with baths and we read The Gingerbread Boy and The Night Before Christmas before the kids went to bed. Will was asleep within a couple of minutes. He was exhausted. Nonnie spent the night with us and Will was so excited that she was here. Will rolling out the dough for the sugar cookies. Will and Nonnie decorating the cookies together. Getting ready for bed.... Santa's coming! Aren't they cute in their matching PJ's?
Storytime with Nonnie!

Jingle Bells Video

Here's a video from Will's pre-school party. Enjoy!

Little Elks Christmas

Today Will had his Christmas celebration at pre-school. Joe was able to take a couple of hours off of work to come watch Will sing his songs and celebrate Christmas with his friends and teachers. Here are some cute pictures. Singing Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer with his antlers on his head. Singing Santa Clause is coming to Town - Will had a great pout face. Waiting to see Santa with Ms. Jennifer Telling Santa that he wants a golf course.

Opening his present with his friends Mason, Amelia, and Kassidy.

Merry Christmas

Lauren has had round one (or maybe round two....) of her first Christmas. Mom and Dad came up this weekend to celebrate Christmas with the kids and to bring up Will's bunk bed, Will's new quilt, and Lauren's new quilt. We'll start with the bunk bed.... Will has inherited the Niedermuller bunk bed. The bed was my dad's when he was a boy and then it was my brother's bed when he was a boy. Will really seemed to understand the importance of the bed and he's so excited that he's sleeping in his new bunk bed. It looks so nice in his room. My mom has been working on his quilt for his new bed and they brought that up here as well. It makes his room look complete and I just love the new quilt. I think it's special to have a quilt made by your grandma, too. Mom also just finished Lauren's quilt. I don't have a picture of that (i really need to take one, but it seems like I can only get stuff done when Lauren is asleep and then I can't go into her room....). I'll try to post a picture of her complete room later.

We celebrated Christmas with mom and dad this weekend. We celebrated Jesus's birthday with a cake on Friday night. On Saturday we went to Will's last swimming lesson as a Pike (he got promoted to Eel... and his teacher said that he was a delight to teach!). When we got home we celebrated Christmas! Will was so excited about opening up all of the presents that have been sitting around the house for the last couple of weeks. Lauren loved to tear the wrapping paper off of her presents and she actually looked excited when she opened up the presents. It was almost like she got the concept. Both of the kids had a wonderful time receiving and giving their gifts.

We had a wonderful rest of the weekend with mom and dad and we said goodbye to them this morning so they could drive back to Florida. They leave for Oregon on Wednesday to spend Christmas with my Grandma Niedermuller and our family friends, the Millers.

Today we went over to Nathan and Luke's house to celebrate Christmas and so the kids could exchange their gifts. They had a great time playing together and they all seemed to enjoy giving their gifts as much as receiving. We will definitely miss the Stewart family, but we know that we'll see them often after they move.

Tooth!

Lauren finally cut her third tooth. It's been a very long road. At her nine month appointment (November 6th) the doctor told me that she was cutting her top four teeth. A MONTH later she finally cut one. Hopefully the other three will follow soon.

Lauren had her first milkshake the other night. We make milkshakes a lot around here and she always wants a sip of ours. So, I finally gave in and made her one. To say that she loved it would be an understatement.

This is a picture of Lauren and Mollie playing tug of war with Mollie's toy. Lauren was playing with this toy and Mollie came over and took it. Lauren crawled right after her and tried to get it back. She really sticks up for herself!

We put up our Christmas tree and Mollie thinks it's real.... She loves to hid underneath the tree with goodies that she's found.

Will and Mollie have become great friends. Mollie has slowed down a bit and life is better now that she's done teething.

Will had his first candy cane today. He told me that the candy cane is a J for Jesus and it is a shepherds staff. He remembers that from the book....

Happy Birthday!

Santa, Santa, Ho, Ho, Ho

Here's the kids picture from Santa. Will walked right up to Santa and sat on his lap. He had a lot to tell Santa this year. He was prepared with his list of things that he wanted Santa to bring him - a golf course (Santa was a little confused with this one), a rocket, and a Leapster. He asked for a Learning Home for Lauren. He told Mollie that he would ask Santa for a new hedgehog toy(I think he got that from Clifford...)for her, but I think he forgot in all the excitement. Lauren wasn't so sure of Santa to begin with.... then she enjoyed pulling on his beard.

After we met with Santa, Janie, the kids, and I went down and got an angel tree and we picked out some things for a 3 year old boy and a 4 year old boy. They boys had a great time shopping and we were heard all over the mall. Nathan and Will are such great friends and they always have so much fun together!

Denver

Here are some candid pictures from our trip to Denver.

Lauren's first Thanksgiving. Don't worry, that was my plate. She ate bite sized pieces of my dinner and she loved it!
Will's Thanksgiving dinner!

Lauren playing with Bradley.
The three kids eating a snack.
Baking cookies - and eating some raw dough.
Playing in the snow!They boys had a great time in the snow!
The Indians! All three kids made Indian headdresses with grandma! I think the picture of the three of them is on my parent's camera.

On Saturday we all went to the local fitness center. They have a large indoor pool and water slides. I was so proud of Will - he went down the yellow and the green slides with Joe. I think those pictures are on my parent's camera, too. I took him down the yellow slide at the end of our stay. Last year he wouldn't go down the frog slide at Southland pool, and this year he was going down HUGE slides!

Mommy and Will The six of us Joe going through the rapids with Will in the inner tube Paul and Bradley. Bradley also went down the green and the yellow slides!! Going down the yellow slide with mommy!