Happy Thanksgiving!

Wednesday morning we loaded up for our trek to Manteno. It is an eight hour trip and honestly, I wasn't looking forward to riding in the car for that long. The boys and I tend to get a little crabby at the 6 hour mark. We stopped once in historic Louisiana, MO for a potty break and gas, then again in Pittsfield, IL for lunch at the Pizza Hut. We made it the next 4 hours without another stop! The boys were wonderful, not even one meltdown, including me.That evening we tucked them in at Grandma Guthrie's and Jeremy and I decided to do some of our Christmas shopping. We went to ToysRUs and were able to load up the cart without the boys in tow. I kept having "phantom limb" pain every time that I stepped too far away from the shopping cart. I can't remember the last time I went shopping without Ben and Owen sitting in it! Now I just have to find time to wrap the presents...

Thanksgiving is a day to remember what is really important and call to mind the blessings that have been bestowed upon us. I have so many things to be thankful for. I have a wonderful husband, two amazing little boys, a great family and the best friends. As always I'm grateful for everything that we have.

I asked Ben what he was thankful for today. He told me that he was thankful for me, The Backyardigans, Sammy (Grandma Guthrie's dog), and Spencer (his cousin...Ben's not Sammy's). I'm just glad that I made his list.
Thanksgiving was celebrated today with the Guthrie's. Lunch was perfectly delicious. Donna truly went all out this year! I have only stopped eating long enough to take an afternoon nap with Ben. Owen tried everything that was put in front of him. He really enjoys eating and is not picky at all about it. Ben, on the other hand, ate a hot roll. I hate to force feed him especially when there is so much going on. I figure, he'll eat when he's ready. Turns out he was ready when Grandma gave him a piece of chocolate cake.

Our Nieces,Christie & Ashley, with the wishbone

Jeremy's sister, Sherie, and her husband, Ed

After the second round of turkey, dressing and desserts, Owen received his first hair cut. Jeremy's niece, Ashley, is our go to girl when it comes to last minute hair cuts. She is a stylist and has provided at least one of us with a new do every time we are up here. Today was Owen's turn. I was not ready for him to look like a little man...but I suppose that even though he won't always look like a baby, he'll always be MY baby.
As soon as Ben calms down from his latest sugar rush (I'm pretty sure that I heard Grandma offer him a piece of fudge just now), we'll get him into bed. Spencer is staying over tonight so that he can spend some extra time with us. Ben really loves playing with him. Spence is such a sweetheart. He is ten years old and gives me a glimpse of what I'm in for over the next few years!I'm not the type of person who starts shopping tomorrow before dawn, but if you are, get those elbows out and have fun hunting down those bargains. I think I'm going to sit in a chair and let all the food I consumed today digest.



Birthday-Christmas Pictures

I was looking over Jeremy's work schedule on Friday to determine a good time to have the boys birthday/holiday pictures taken. I called to set up the dreaded appointment for December 18th and was told that they were only taking appointments for the next 2 weeks, but if I came in this weekend, there is some special promo going on. So like an idiot, I agreed to Saturday afternoon, even though I knew Jeremy was on call.

That night I selected the outfits from their closets. I decided to go casual because my boys don't really have "dress" clothes and I didn't have time to scour the mall for cute matching but not too matchy outfits. On Saturday about an hour before we were supposed to leave, Jeremy got called out but said that he'd meet us there. Even though we opted out of the family portrait this year, I really need an extra set of hands, eyes, and feet to help watch the boys while I pick out prints. I called Kelly for some moral support. She gave me great advice-take the stroller for Owen! I don't know if I would have thought about that in my moment of panic. After reassuring me that I'd be fine...she proceeded to tell me that she was glad it was not her. Apparently she would rather go through a root canal without pain meds than face the mayhem at the studio.

As we pulled up to Portrait Innovations, Jeremy was walking in the door!!! I was so excited that I wouldn't have to do this on my own. After hanging out in the waiting area with the rest of Lee's Summit, we were called in. The photographer didn't seem to know what to do with my squirmy little Owen. He doesn't sit still and is really too young to be told how to pose. Ben loves to get his picture taken and is quite the ham so of course he kept trying to get in Owen's shots too. Jeremy and I couldn't help but laugh at the two of them.

Once the session was over, it was time to pick out the poses and prints. This is when I tend to get overwhelmed. I can't decide on which shots to keep, what sizes and how many we need. Right before our pictures were loaded for viewing, Jeremy was called out again. UGH!!! I sat with a guy for what seemed like an eternity (between keeping an eye on Ben at the lego table and feeding Owen goldfish crackers) to narrow down my selection. There were a lot of cute pictures and some that just made me laugh. I made my selections and decided to have Jeremy go back to pick them up later. I couldn't wait around another thirty minutes in that place while they printed...I'm sure that I was getting a stress related rash.

As I was putting Ben's shoes back on to leave I told him that it's too bad that their birthdays aren't in July so that we could have the holiday pictures taken then too. He didn't agree. Apparently they need to be taken at Christmas. I wish he was as much of a stickler for my rules.

While thumbing through the pictures last night, I was not entirely surprised that I didn't pick out the best of the available poses.I now have a whole package of this shot including 2 10X13s and a free calendar (which apparently was the promo that got me in so soon). I must have been distracted because Owen doesn't look all thrilled to be in this picture especially when compared to the next one. I wonder if I should brave the crowds and go back for reprints?I must say, that the kids did wonderful before, during and after the pictures were taken. As usual they are at their best when I expect nothing but the worst. Ben was happy to play with the other kids and even shared his Goldfish crackers. Owen did great in the stroller. I held up my end by taking them to Culver's for a milk shake. Jeremy was even back in time to meet us there.

On a completely different note, Owen's Beatles shirt has a little history to it. It was Ben's when he was that age and I sent him to daycare in it all the time. I must have missed a memo that one of those times was "picture day" until I received the proofs. At first I was mortified-I would have dressed him in a stuffy sweater or something had I only known! Turns out that now it's one of our all time favorites.

Ben Rocking the Beatles Shirt 2006

 Back in Circulation on Owen 2008



Support our Troops

With the holidays approaching, I thought that I'd send this along to all of you. Something cool that Xerox is doing-- If you go to this web site, www.LetsSayThanks.com you can pick out a thank you card and Xerox will print it and it will be sent to a soldier that is currently serving in Iraq. You can't pick out who gets it, but it will go to a member of the armed services. How AMAZING it would be if we could get everyone we know to send one!!! This is a great site. Please send a card. It is FREE and it only takes a second. Wouldn't it be wonderful if the soldiers received a bunch of these? Whether you are for or against the war, our guys and gals over there need to know we are behind them...



Playing in the Outhouse

This picture isn't the greatest, but the smiles on their faces are priceless. While I was on a mission to get rid of the drywall dust, I found Owen inside the Diaper Genie cabinet of the changing table. Ben soon discovered that by removing the Genie, he could fit inside too. Jeremy took the picture, as I was too busy dusting baseboards to realize how disgusting it was for them to even be in there.



Basement Status

This is our Christmas present to each other. The drywall is up and has been sanded. Priming of the walls has begun; The cabinets will be delivered today and installed tomorrow! Not too much longer...



Holiday Background...Already?

I'm not really sure how, but I have officially caught the Christmas Spirit. I usually dread putting up the tree and the lights. There have even been years where I've wanted to boycott decorating altogether. Christmas music used to make me cringe. Now I'm humming along at Costco even though Thanksgiving is still weeks away. The shopping has officially began and a few new decorations have been bought. Ben selected two new ornaments, one for him and one for Owen. (OK...with some persuasion on my part. I just didn't want a couple of big yellow m&ms on the tree, can you really blame me?) The tree would already be up by now if I could talk Jeremy into it. He says that it's hard to get to now because it's buried under many, many other totes.

I'm really looking forward to starting our own holiday traditions now that the boys are able to participate in all the festivities. I can't wait to put them in their Christmas pajamas and leave cookies out for Santa. I guess now that Ben and Owen are around, the inner Scrooge has been silenced. (Or it could be that Matt was going to give me a cup of coffee in a Christmas mug when we were visiting them last weekend.)

Either way, to anyone who just might be questioning the timing of the Christmas theme...BAH HUMBUG!



Lazy Day at Home

After our busy weekend,I worked Monday night AND my normally scheduled Tuesday evening. (I know...I'm really putting myself out there.) By Wednesday, I didn't feel up to going out and about so we just played at home all day. It was rainy and cold, so we were stuck inside. After emptying every toy bin, basket and cabinet we made a train in Owen's room out of chairs and "went" to the zoo. When Jeremy got home from work, he walked into the room to find an alligator (me) chomping the feet of anyone who got near his cage! Jeremy quickly discovered that Ben is a pretty ferocious "tickle" tiger and Owen makes for a cute little monkey.

Yesterday we got into the car early so that we could spend the day with our friends, Cam and Mac, down in Springfield, MO. The weather cooperated by bringing the temp up so that they could run around Cathy's yard dressed up as superheroes all afternoon. Owen even got into the act, by reprising his role as Woody. They all had a great time playing together. Cathy's kids are so cute and sweet and as always she is the hostess with the mostess. I left with two tired kids who were asleep before we were even out of Springfield.



Quick Trip to Springfield

As soon as Jeremy crawled out of bed on Saturday, we got things together for an overnight stay with the Burgins. They got the keys to their house on Monday and I couldn't wait another day to see them. Since Kelly is having a baby (and mine are growing up) I had Jeremy load up a the car with some of the things that we won't be needing. It's crazy how short of a time we use these things, but can't seem to live without them. I have to admit, I did get a little sentimental.

Mason and Mitchie had Ben and Owen downstairs immediately upon arrival. By the time we were ready for dinner, every toy that Kelly unpacked and put away this week was scattered all over the floor.

I had also made plans to set up Kelly with my friends Tasha and Jess while we were there. I think that they hit it off! Tasha and Jon live nearby and have two of the sweetest boys. I called Tasha on the way and asked if we could all come over that evening. Ben loves playing with Brady, Brock and their Grandma, whom Ben refers to as "that girl Joyce". He was looking forward to getting to see them as well. We had such a fun night! The guys got to drink beer and play darts, while we all visited and played with the kids. Owen was quite the show off. Even though it got several hours past his bedtime, he was still entertaining everyone.

Needless to say, we were all exhausted the next day! We hated to leave, but I'm sure we'll be burning up the highway again soon!



Happy Birthday Baby!!



Party!

We celebrated Owen's first birthday on Saturday at Grandma and Grandpa Uebinger's. Aunts, Uncles, cousins, Great Aunts, 2nd cousins, and friends of Owen's were able to make it on short notice to the party. His Great Grandma was also there to wish him a happy birthday. Owen dove right into his cake and ice cream then covered Uncle John in green frosting. It was fun seeing everyone and I know that he enjoyed all the hugs and kisses from everyone there!



Happy Halloween Indeed

Getting Treats from
Aunt Doris and Uncle Darold

Buzz, Woody, Emily and I set out on Halloween to go trick or treating while visiting my parents. We had lofty plans of stopping by to scare a lot of friends and family, but only made it to Doris and Darold's. I think they were pretty surprised and excited to see us on their doorstep. Once we were loaded up with candy we were entertained by all of Darold's "lies". Doris kept Owen busy by chasing him up and down the stairs. On our way back home, Owen fell asleep in the car (that Doris sure can wear out a little guy!). I asked Ben if he wanted to make a few more stops. He told us that he wanted to go to Grandma Terri's house. We rang Grandma and Grandpa's doorbell, went in and called it a good night.



Fun on the Farm



Toy Story III

Buzz and Woody preparing themselves for fist fulls of chocolate.