Christmas!

We had such a busy Christmas weekend and week.

Saturday started the busyness with a friends wedding rehearsal and dinner. It was enjoyable and we had some good food. After the rehearsal, Marty and I visited a friends house for a bit then finished our Christmas shopping for the kids. Sunday Marty met up with the groom and other groomsmen at 11:00. I, on the other hand, picked up the kids from my moms, took them to Courtney's, in Albion, and had to make it back downtown Kalamazoo by 3:30 for the wedding. I made it on time, with a little extra time to stop and get a coffee. It was a beautiful wedding and Christmas theme.

I started Christmas Eve very early because I had to work. There was a mad dash to get those last minute gifts delivered. After work I got the last minute home made presents finished and Mackenzie and I got Santas cookies made. Christmas Eve night we always go to dads, have dinner and presents. There was some good company. Carols brother Doug, Leslie and Doug's son Jimmy were all there. We were spoiled and the kids even more so.

Christmas morning we got up (not earlier than usual). Marty's mom came over to open presents with the kids. There were so many presents under our tree. I don't think we've ever had so many. And of course most of them were for the kids. Christmas lunch was with my moms family. It was very uneventful and quite enjoyable. Christmas dinner we went to Doug and Leslie's. that was a great dinner and very relaxing.

Wednesday was another work day. We went to dads after dinner to drop the kids off. They watched them so I could work Thursday morning. Aunt Jo also made it to town so we did presents with her. We got a Belgian waffle maker and an assortment of syrups. Once we go grocery shopping I will be picking up ingredients to make waffles.

Friday we had a family dinner at dads since Aunt Jo was here. And of course Christmas with the rest of the family. That night I also began getting really sick.

Saturday was a day of work and sleep the entire time I was home. Hopefully this goes away very soon because our Christmas still isn't over.

Tomorrow is New Year's Eve and as we did last year, we're spending it at home. We're getting really bad for you, good food for our dinner and celebrating with the kids. At midnight we're celebrating just Marty and me.

New Year's Day we are having dinner and Christmas at Marty's moms house. As long as the weather is decent. Last year we had a big winter storm and it took us an hour to get home when it usually takes 25 minutes.

I hope you had a merry Christmas and have a great new year!!!

Cameron's hip update

Monday Cameron had his 6 month X-ray on his hips. Going in I knew we would either get really good news that he would be good and be done with his brace, or he would still need it and be put in it full time instead of just at night.

Well, he had his X-rays and we got good news!!! He's out of his brace! We got back in 6 months for a recheck. They want to keep a close watch on him now to make sure he continues to develop normally since it was caught late. If everything is still good, he goes in yearly.

That was some great news to get at Christmas time. Last year we were told we could take his helmet off for pictures so I was really hoping we wouldn't be told that we could take his brace off for pictures. I'm one happy mom over here!

Christmas Festivities

There are so many things coming up for us in the next few days. A wedding and all of the normal Christmas things we do.

Monday we took the kids to see Santa. He was at the mall but Mackenzie called it the North Pole, so I went with it. They have a new Santa this year. However, I think he may be better than the other one. Cameron and I got there early so we went by Santa to get him acclimated. There was no one waiting so Santa talked to him, and played around with him. Cameron even got to ring the sleigh bells! He is such a good Santa!

We've been making Christmas cookies and gifts for going on 3 weeks and we're finally almost finished. There will be a run down of the gifts we made after Christmas, I don't want to ruin the surprise from someone reading the blog :)

I plan on making an over night crock pot meal for breakfast Christmas morning. I've never made on but it looks really good and sounds pretty easy to put together.

We have a few gifts under the tree sent from out of state. Aunt Melody and Uncle Curtis sent each kid a gift bag full of presents. Mackenzie's bag talks if you get too close. "No peeking! You'll ruin the surprise!" It's a big hit with these 2 kids here!

Mackenzie's last dance class is tomorrow until January. And I have to finish my Christmas shopping for the kids this weekend. Saturday I have to work, take the kids to my moms and meet Marty at a rehearsal dinner for this wedding he's in. Sunday we're picking up the kids from my moms, taking them to Courtney's and going to the wedding. Monday I have to work again. Pick the kids up from dads once Courtney gets there, finish making gifts with the kids then go back to dads for the Christmas Eve party. Tuesday is Christmas!!!! We're having Christmas at home, going to try to make it to church, be at my moms at 1, then go to Doug's for dinner. Ill be ready for a long day of doing nothing after Christmas. However, I work everyday of the week after Christmas.

Busy, busy, busy.

Christmas Lights!

We don't put lights outside our house because Marty doesn't like to get on ladders. So, tonight Marty and I decided after dinner to take the kids out and look at Christmas lights. We've never done this before and I wasn't sure how it would go. The kids love Christmas lights but I wasn't sure how long their attention span would be.

We put the kids in pj's and loaded them in the car with nice warm blankets. all comfy, no shoes or coats :) We drove around Otsego and found some pretty cool houses. One, my coworker, had their lights synced to music. It was had to hear but it was still cool. After Otsego we got cookies and hot chocolate from McDonalds. Once we had our dessert we went through Plainwell. They had a few decent houses. Overall, there wasn't anything really spectacular, but we had some good quality time as a family and that's the best part of any activity!

5 Years Later!

Sunday Marty and I celebrated our 5 year anniversary!!! Sometimes it feels like just yesterday we had our crazy, speedy wedding and other times it feels like a lot more than 5 years :) It really wasn't a day much different than any other day.

Courtney had an arbonne party at noon so I went to that. It's all natural face cleansers and cosmetics, plus a few supplements. However, I'm obviously a faithful user of Mary Kay and I'm not good with supplements on a regular basis, so I didn't end up getting anything. But I had a good time and was able to soften my feet in the foot soak they had.

Afterwards we too the kids to Marty's moms for the night. We were planning on having dinner at Clementines in south haven but by the time we dropped the kids off, we were too tired and hungry to drive all the way out there. We ended up trying out a new (to us) tap house. Neither of us drink much beer but we love places like that since they usually have really good food. And let's face it, Marty and I love food :) So we had our dinner at Central City Tap House in downtown kalamazoo. It was pretty good and I'd be willing to go back.

After dinner I made Marty suffer through walking in the Christmas lights with me. There's not a lot in Kalamazoo so that only killed about 10 minutes. We even made a trip to Walmart. Marty told me he wanted to get me some earrings and couldn't find them when he looked that morning. He found them. Detroit lions earrings and a watch :) I of course will be sporting them every Sunday. My husband knows me so well :)

No special occasion could be complete without work as well. After Walmart we had to get Marty's dad semi truck and loaded trailer. That probably would have made me mad but I've spent my "honeymoon", a birthday or two, and I can't tell you how many holidays in a semi in other states, so that's just normal for us.

For dessert we went to McDonalds. Marty got an eggnog shake and I had hit chocolate.

We were home by 9:30 and I was in bed by 10. This is what we did after 5 years, I can only imagine what 20 years will be :)

Mackenzie is 3!!!

Friday was Mackenzie's third birthday! It's so hard to believe that it's been 3 years now.

I had to work so when I got home Mackenzie got her presents from us. We got her a new Barbie and 5 outfits, shoes and purses for her Barbie. She played with her Barbie all day!

We had her party on Saturday and Chuck E Cheese. We didn't do the big party with them but they allow you to take cake and presents in. It wasn't too many people or overwhelming at all. There were the 4 of us, dad, Carol and Taylor, Marty's mom, brother, sister in law and niece, Morgan. We had pizza for everyone and we took in a cake. Mackenzie got her gifts and had a ball playing with Taylor and Morgan. GG put together a dress up box for her with a bunch of Halloween costumes, shoes, jewelry, crowns and wands. When we got home she tried on every costume in that box. That was a big hit. She also got a mailbox with letters and stamps. It's supposed to help her learn sorting size. She's been playing with that on and off since she got it, too.

She's growing up so fast.

Thanksgiving

We had a great thanksgiving this year!

We started our day off with going to Marty's moms house at noon. There was some great food, football and family! And Mackenzie got to celebrate her birthday!!! She got a water baby, cootie game and a soccer goal and ball. She loves playing with them all!

After Marty's family we went to Doug and Leslie's house. We had even more food and family. And we celebrated Taylor's birthday and Mackenzie got her gifts from Aubt Ney-Ney and Aunt Danielle. Aunt Ney-Ney got her stompies. Slippers with faces, every time she stomps the eyes flip up (open). Danielle got her a furreal friend. When you pet it, it moves its head and wags its tail like a real animal.

All in all it was a great day!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

Random Stuff

It's been a long time since I've posted. We've really just been going about our normal routine lately.

Mackenzie's been doing great in school. She's done at the end of the month. She has one swimming session with school on Monday and two more regular classes the last week of November. After that, she's done. She has dance class every Friday and can't cant wait for her recital in May. A long way off, I know, but I'm excited for it.

Next week we are going to have quite a busy week. More busy than normal, for sure. Mackenzie's swimming and Cameron's therapy session on monday, Taylor's birthday and thanksgiving on Thursday, Mackenzie's 3rd birthday and dance class on Friday, her party on Saturday, Marty and my 5th anniversary on Sunday. I also work everyday next week except Thursday.

This week was decently busy too. The kids stayed at Marty's moms Sunday night because Marty and I both had to work. They were there all day Monday as well because Marty didn't get done working before I had my Mary Kay meeting. Tuesday my mom came here to watch the kids for a couple hours because we both had to work again. I was able to make it home in time to get Mackenzie to school. Wednesday, yesterday, we didn't do much. I worked of course. And aunt Jo got into town. I took the kids over to see her and we had dinner. Taylor and Mackenzie got their birthday presents from aunt Jo. Mackenzie got a very cute outfit and a baby doll (in dance clothes)! She decided she had to wear her new outfit today and she hasn't put her doll down since we took it out of the box :) Today was our lazy day. Our only lazy day and it was very enjoyable. Dance class and grocery shopping tomorrow. Work on Saturday. And dinner at dads either tomorrow or Saturday.

Cameron has his 18th month check up on the 26th. A Monday, at 9, so Marty has to take him because I won't be out of work in time to get him there. It'll be the first appointment I'm not at.

Happy Halloween!!!

This Halloween was great! The kids had a ton of fun and loved wearing their costumes, even when we weren't doing anything for Halloween. Mackenzie's grandma bought her a costume last year for this year so she was a pretty pink pumpkin. Since Cameron doesn't really have a clue about dressing up, we let Mackenzie choose his costume. She decided he was going to be Spider-Man. They were both so adorable. Mackenzie helped me carve pumpkins and we went trick or treating 4 times. We also passed out our own candy while we were home.

Friday the 26th we went to Marty's stepdads work to let the kids go trick or treating. Saturday we went to the Halloween carnival at church where they had games and more trick or treating. Sunday before dinner at my dads we went to the zoo boo at binder park zoo for more trick or treating and seeing the animals. And, of course, today we went trick or treating at the local businesses and went to a few houses.

All in all, it was a very enjoyable holiday. Now it's time for my favorites, thanksgiving and Christmas!!!