I had a Thirty-One party at the house today. It's nice because I am sitting in a clean house, we got take out for dinner, and I've got company planned this week, so I'm a little ahead for that! Johnny took the boys to the zoo while I had the party, they were EXHAUSTED! Caden fell asleep on my lap before 8, and Corban went to bed not long after. In fact, Caden fell out of the bed a little while ago and I don't think he even really woke up - just whimpered a bit and went back to sleep! Johnny and I have watched a bit of TV, I got Sunday School and Church Nursery lessons together, and we're watching "The Karate Kid", the original.

I did take pictures the other day, but I'll spare you the details. Caden is potty training and I sent Johnny a picture as proof of his achievements! It's not going quite as easy as it did with Corban, but it's winter and that just makes it harder. He's improving though, and if I can keep him from getting confused with having to wear a diaper some, we'll be in good shape!

Corban is being such a big boy lately. We've been swimming a few times at the Y and he's not even using a "bubble" anymore. I can't believe that he's going to be 4 in just a few weeks! Well, I had better get to bed before too long, we've got a big day ahead of us... it's Super Bowl Sunday! Goooooo Steelers!

Groundhogs and sleep

I never knew how much I hated the snow until I had kids! I've never been a fan of the cold, but once we had kids it just makes things so much harder! The time it takes to get them out the door, and since we don't have a garage, the times I have to get after them just to get to the car is incredible! I long for summer days when we can throw on shorts, t-shirts, sandals, and head out the door! It's coming though, if Old Phil has anything to say about it!

On a better note, we're all sleeping better these days! The boys are going to bed with hardly a fuss at all. Best thing is, they've been sleeping all night too! They go down at about 9 and sleep until almost 7:30 every morning. I am so thankful for the sleep I've been getting lately.

I don't have any pictures, but hopefully I can take a few and get them posted soon! Oh, and it's SuperBowl Sunday coming up! I'm sure you're all cheering for the Steelers!

Christmas (Things I left out of the first post)

I just couldn't pass these pictures up. This one is after we had done Christmas presents here at our house with Mom and Dad on Wednesday. Both boys got pillow pets from Nana and Poppy and little magnadoodles from Nanny. They loved both! I don't know why Caden wanted to wear the ski cap to open presents, but it was cute!

This was their big gift from Santa. Corban came out, picked up the ball, and made a basket. Of course I don't have pictures of that!

Christmas and 2011

I had this long post about all of the things that we did over Christmas vacation, but I lost it. Honestly, it was boring anyway. We got to spend a few days in Williamsport with family before and after Christmas. We got together with both sides, and had lots of good alone family time too. This is Grammy and PawPaw with all the kids. I think that they were watching, "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer." Grammy had it and Corban LOVED it! The boys really enjoyed Christmas this year. Corban is really getting into it and Caden is just excited if Corban is! This is Corban with the foam sword and shield he got from Santa. Both boys got them and they are a favorite.

This is Caden with Santa, who made an appearance on Christmas Eve. He did fine with him, but you can tell he's a little confused.

Corban did GREAT with Santa. If I can figure out how to edit and upload the video, I will do that because it was just hilarious.

This picture just cracks me up because Corban took it all by himself. He was sitting on my lap taking pictures with my camera and a few of them came out pretty good, so I let him walk around with the camera for a bit and I found this one of Kenan later.

We stayed home for New Year's Eve and really enjoyed it. We watched "The Lion King" and went to bed before midnight. I woke up when the fireworks started going off though! I'm with Kim in that I don't care much for resolutions, but there are a few things I want to work on this year. 1) I want to be more deliberate about doing the things I do with excellence, even the things I don't like to do. 2) I want to be a more patient Mommy. It kills me when I lose it with them and while I know that I can't expect to not lose my patience with them at all, I can at least work on not coming completely unglued. 3) I know I had a third one, just can't think of it!

Can you believe that it's almost Christmas!?! Even though we've been really busy and we've kind of just been going though the motions, I'm really excited about this year. Corban is kind of getting into the whole Santa Clause thing. We don't make too big of a deal of Santa, but we're giving him Santa presents and all of that. Corban's told us a few things he wants from Santa - a pillow pet to be exact. Nana and Poppy are taking care of that though! Most importantly, he knows WHY we're celebrating Christmas! He was the only kid in either of the preschool classes last week who was able to say what we celebrate at Christmas. We were so proud of him! Caden of course is just following suit with whatever Corban is doing.

I forgot to say the last time I posted that the boys got to feed a bear at the zoo! Johnny took them to the zoo while I had an open house here for Thirty One. While they were looking at the bears the keeper was out and about talking to them. One of the bears had just died a few weeks ago and it was Corban's favorite animals at the zoo. Corban said how he missed Rocky the Bear and the zoo keeper told them to come in and he let them feed a bear. It was eating right out of their hands!

Corban has also given up his nap entirely. I HATE it. This is the day I've been dreading. It wouldn't be so bad if he would stay upstairs and have quiet time, but he just refuses to stay in our room (he has to stay in ours because Caden is asleep in theirs). I just have to have an hour or so of time during the day when they're not underfoot. OK, got to get dinner finished up. Everybody have a wonderful Christmas!

We got our Christmas tree last night. I have skipped out on the whole tree finding expedition the last few years because Caden was just too little to go. Last night it was kind of a last minute thing so by the time we got the kids ready and out the door it was getting kind of late. Corban hadn't had a nap, so he fell asleep on the way there and when I opened the door and he woke up to freezing temps, he was not a happy camper. I thought he would straighted up and get into finding the tree, but I was wrong. He cried and complained and argued the whole time. It was pretty miserable. And the trees were pretty scrawny. And it was getting late. We ended up getting one that isn't too bad, and even cut down a little one for the boy's room. Today the boys and I will decorate them.

Tomorrow I've got MOPS, which I'm excited about. I haven't been able to go since the first meeting because it always seems like I've got Tanner on those days and even though I would be tempted to take him, I can't fit a third carseat in the car. Oh I can't wait until we get a van! And I can't believe I am saying those words. I've got to eat some crow where that is concerned. We always said we WOULD NOT own a van, we would get an SUV. Yeah. That was when we both had full time jobs. We just can't afford an SUV that will comfortably hold three carseats AND all of our stuff. So, the truck is paid off in January and the car won't make it through inspection in August without some work, so we'll be in a van sometime before that. Our car is SO OLD and there are so many little things that drive me crazy about it. Not that they're major problems, but it only has a cassette deck (yeah, that's how old it is), and that doesn't work very well. The front passenger door has NEVER worked with the remote unlock and now the back one isn't unlocking either. The windshield wipers have started acting up and won't go back down. Then there's how loud is when you're outside of it - and the exhaust could quickly make you high. OK, enough complaining about the car that's been good to me for the last 8 years.

I'm still not finished with my Christmas shopping yet. I thought I was pretty much finished, but found out that some of the kids have already gotten the presents I had for them, so I've got to start over there. And then there are just the people I've kind of forgotten I need to do.

Yesterday Corban told me for the first time that he hated me. Ouch. Caden, on the other hand, is more lovey than ever. I'm suprised he's letting me type this. Usually when I have the computer on my lap he comes and pushes it off and says, "Mommy wap!" OK, got to get a few things done before the morning totally gets away from me!

Gonna miss it!

Now I have a story about Caden. Last night I was running some errands and Johnny was here with the boys cooking dinner. The boys were in the play room and all of a sudden Caden came running into the kitchen (I LOVE the little boy run and will be so sad when he outgrows it). Anyway, Caden grabbed the wooden spoon off of the counter. I have taken to using the wooden spoon on Corban when he needs it. Mostly he just needs the threat of it, but we keep it around just in case :) So Johnny asked what Caden was going to do with that spoon, and Caden answered, "Pank brudda." I can't spell phonetically, but you understand that this is Caden pronouncing brother as if the "o" was a "u", the "th" was a "d" and the "er" was an "a." Then he ran back into the play room. No worries, Johnny caught him before he was able to inflict any discipline on his brother.

Caden also insists on touch me ALL OF THE TIME. If he's sitting beside me on the couch, he has at least one arm wrapped around my arm. When I'm on the computer he always tries to push it off my lap and say, "see Mommy." Oh, I'm gonna miss this one day!