The Big 3-0!!

For my birthday, Chris and I went up to Manistee to the Little River Casino. It was the first time that both of us had been there and we had a great time. It was nice to have some time away from the kiddos, a nice dinner, and I actually won a little bit of money. Nothing to get too excited about but enough for me to go to the scrapbooking store with this afternoon and to not feel guilty about it. Of course when I am without my kids, I always forget to take pictures, so this is the one picture I have from the vacation. Me by the Shake your Booty machine, just because I thought it was funny.

After picking the kids up from my moms, we went home and opened presents and then went out to dinner with the kids.

It was a great birthday!!!!!

Family Birthday Dinner

My parents took me out to dinner last night for my birthday. I turn the big 3-0 on Tuesday! We had a really nice dinner at Blythfield and the kids were really good.

Chris and I are going up north for a little get away tomorrow through my birthday and my mom is taking the kids, so I am off to pack!!

Christmas Day

We were spoiled on Christmas morning because our kids didn't wake up until 8:30. We had a nice relaxed morning at home opening and playing with our toys before we headed over to my grandparents in the afternoon.

Kaden and his cousin Elise

Perry is "So Big"

The Cousins

Grandpap singing Danny Boy on karaoke, a Tyke family tradition.

Christmas Eve

We went over to my mom's on Christmas Eve. We had a great time! My parents spoiled us and the kids again this year with lots of good food and presents. We spent most of the day there, so the kids were actually able to get out their new presents and play with most of them.

Perry helping Grandpap open his present.

Kaden's new playmobil ship. Grandma totally surprised Kaden and me when she bought this for him (he has been asking for his for awhile).

The biggest surprise was the day before Christmas eve when a horse name "Smores" (which they have changed her name to Paige) arrived for the kids. My Grandpap (their Pop Pop) bought the kids a horse that talks, pretends to walk, and looks at you when you talk. It is really cool and the kids love it. They have been busy feeding her carrots and brushing her. Even Perry loves her. Every time she talks, he gets so excited.

After we got back from my moms, we threw reindeer dust over our yard so that the reindeer could find our house. Then they were off to bed. I wish Santa could come every night because it was the first night in a long time that we didn't hear from them again until morning!

Our Gingerbread Creation

We have been stuck in the house for what seems like 2 weeks now because of all of the snow we have been getting. Really it has only been since Friday but that is a REALLY long time with three young kids. Luckily I had some things for us to do before the storm hit. Plus our UPS man has played Santa Claus the last couple of days and I have just passed out gifts as we received them just so I could stay sane. Today we made a gingerbread house. The kids did really well. A lot of candy was eatten and I am not sure if I will get a nap out of Emmy this afternoon but they had fun and they worked together nicely.

The complete gingerbread house! I think that it is pretty good for their first one. Kaden is sporting his new haircut in the picture! Doesn't he look cute?? He looks so much older!

Perry is 8 months, well almost!

Since Perry turns 8 months on Christmas day I took his pictures today so I wouldn't forget with all of the celebrating. He, of course, was all smiles for the camera again. This kid loves it when I get out my camera. I guess I train my kids well because all three of my kids enjoy their time in front of a camera.

Perry is "SO BIG". He started doing "so big" about a month ago and loves to tell everyone that he is "so big".
Perry is sleeping much better! He sleeps though the night and sometimes even til 9 in the morning. His naps could still use some work but that is okay. He loves his cheerios and fruit puffs and I think that he is starting to put on some weight. He doesn't like any baby toys, he only likes what his brother and sister are playing with, so we have a lot of work to do before he starts crawling and getting into everything.

I Tried!

So, I thought that the weather people where just being dramatic when they where talking about the snow storm that was coming but for once they were right! I should have believed them and not spent my entire day yesterday making these cupcakes and putting together the goody bags for Kaden's class Christmas party today. Oh well, at least I got to try out another one of the cupcake recipes from the book Kristen got me for my birthday (well actually she got it for me for her birthday, she doesn't like that my birthday is right after Christmas so she gets me a gift on her birthday in August). Anyways, the book is called Hello, Cupcake and it is super cute!!

Hopefully everyone at Chris' work enjoyed all of the cupcakes and goody bags!

Christmas at the Club

Every year my grandparents take us to Cascade Country Club to visit Santa. Some years the kids love Santa, other years the kids aren't so fond of him. This was one of those years. Perry was the only one that probably would have liked him but he was sleeping, so he didn't even get a chance to sit on his lap. Emmy was crying in the corner of the room and we finally got her over when we promised that she did not have to sit on his lap. Guess we won't get that family picture with Santa this year!
The kids were really good this year sitting at their end of the table (or maybe it was just because I wasn't sitting right in the middle of them like I usually am)

Perry enjoying his snacks

Chris and Emmy with her new polar bear that she received from Santa even though she didn't sit on his lap.

Yes, a family picture!! And one that is actually Christmas card worthy!!

Our Attempt at Christmas Pics

Before Thanksgiving, we went to the Meijer Gardens to attempt to take some pictures for our Christmas cards. I thought it was a great idea, since they would provide the pretty trees for us and we would provide the cute kids. It did not go as I had planned it. The kids were not cooperating and Perry was drooling a TON that day. We managed to get a couple of cute shots and I shouldn't complain because my kids are pretty good for me in front of the camera most of the time!

Not too bad!

Emerson was so excited to have her picture taken!

This is where I was really bribing them.

Finally, a cute one (even with a little drool)

Elf Yourself

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Ho, Ho, Ho

Yesterday we made a trip to the mall to see Santa while Kaden while was at school. Perry was dressed up like Santa for his visit. Here are a few pics of him before we left.

A perfect picture of Perry with Santa thanks to our photographer Kristen. Perry was all smiles while on his lap. Emmy did not have the same feelings for Santa (she was hiding in the corner in this picture).