Happy new year!!

Aunt Holly was in town with the boys, her new husband and super-sweet "bonus" daughter. Ben was sooooo happy to be reunited with his bestie A.J.

 The guys hanging out!

Grampy partying with Miss Nora!

Christmas Day!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve-

We had an amazing Christmas Eve. In the morning we celebrated with my side of the family at our house. Ben was thrilled with his new Hex bug track from auntie and uncle. Nora loves her new busy box from them as well. She hadn't really opened presents before and her face was priceless when she saw it for the first time - HUGE SMILES all around.

That night we celebrated with Joe's family and we had a special visit from Santa himself. Joe's cousin Mike knows him personally and decided to bring him over for Ben to see. Ben was beyond excited that the big guy had time to drop by to see him. It was amazing and an awesome way to spend Christmas Eve. At the end of the night Bubba and Nora had a nightcap with their bottles.

Currant Cookies

 Ben & Aunt Bree (don't ask!)

 Nora's first year baking cookies!

 Ben's favorite Star Wars cookie cutter...

Nora chillin' with Grampy after a long day of cookie baking!

Breakfast With Santa

 We had breakfast with Santa with Bebe, Auntie and Mags. Ben had a blast working on all the crafts and  chowing down on THE BEST panckaes (Ben caught one on his plate this year!). So good!

When we got home Ben was feeling festive... so we put up our tree and I made Ben wear the tree skirt...

School Photo-

We actually paid money for this photo. My dear sweet boy takes after his mamma with school photos -- remember a certain KCAI id? *** Insert KAK laugh track here.*** We did participate in retake day and got a MUCH better pic, but I had to scan this one so the memory could live on forever.

10 Months-

She's getting so big! Pulling herself up to stand, eating solid food, signing "more," waving bye and we really think she says DADA and CAT. I'm sure Ben will be next -- then Lisa, Jason and Kaldi's -- and THEN MAMA. Hmph, not that I'm bitter - she's just saving the best for last :)

Baby Bird

Ben loves to help out with his baby sister. His favorite thing to do is feed her and he really does a pretty good job (just a bit messy, though!). I love this pic because he looks so proud and she's in the background with her mouth WIDE open like a little baby bird ready for her worm. So funny!

Let's Get Caught Up!

Ben was Tron for Halloween. Easiest costume ever - black long johns, medical tape, black gloves and plastic plates for his life-force disks. Cost in the store = $50. Our cost = $15. Thank-you-very-much!

 Ben's parade at school. Super cute. They danced to MJ's Thriller - very entertaining!

 Carved pumpkins. 

 Enjoyed fall days.

 Celebrated our cousin Sean who is actively in the military for Veteran's Day.

 Miss Miss turned 9 months and got her first tutu from Bubba. 

She's 29-3/4" and 20 lbs. 14 oz. She's been sleeping through the night (8-7). Hip, hip hurray!!!

 Celebrated Abbie's 3rd b-day with bounce houses. Fun!

 Ben designed and built his very own stool (not for standing on) but for drawing or placing objects.

He LOVES Grandad's workshop!

 Had a crazy-huge tree removed from our front yard.

Bedtime piano concerts.

My "New" Shades-

I've been meaning to post this for a while... this summer my cheapie sunglasses broke (the frame cracked and the lens popped out). As soon as Ben saw them he said, "Mom, I'll fix those right up for you!" He used his favorite product -- scotch tape -- and they are almost as good as new :)

Farmers Market

 Unlike her big brother at 8 months, Nora loves to swing!

 Playing in the corn with our buddy Abbie.

The farmer's market near our house always has some cool stuff for Halloween. It's really great to walk there for some morning fun with our friends!

A near perfect day...

... for some of us, that is. We were planning to go to Innsbrook and the pumpkin patch with Bebe and Grandad today but Joe woke up really sick. Soooo, the rest of us decided to head to Innsbrook and let him rest in peace and quiet (after Ben started to cry devastated that we weren't going since daddy was sick). Joe was the only thing missing, but we had a lovely day. We took a nature drive/walk and checked out the log cabin being refurbished. Ben created a checklist of the things he wanted to "spy" while we were out and he found everything on his list... a bird, red leaf, bird house, deer, etc. It was completely his idea and he was pretty pleased with himself. Then, while Nora and Bebe took their afternoon naps (just kidding, mom!) Grandad, Ben and I headed to the beach to play around in the sand and test out the radio-controlled sailboat Grandad built. It was just one of THOSE great days (and Joe is already feeling better tonight after some Gatorade and chicken noodle soup!).

Dillon's B-Day

Dillon's been planning his football birthday party since the day after his baseball party last year. Dillon, Connor and Ben have been great buds since they were all less than two. It's pretty cool they are growing up to be smart, funny, big dudes! What a great afternoon!

Joe's Gonna Kill Me-

But I don't care... see what I have to put up with?! It's a crazy life I live. Ben gets a little jealous when Nora has her monthly photos, so I gave him his own photo session, then Joe got in on the action and it got a little crazy! Yes, it's usually nuts around here...

8 months & crawling

Watch out shoes, here comes Nora!!

Peek-A-Boo!

Nora liked hanging out in her toy bin!

Nachos!

Here's a picture of Ben at our favorite Mexican restaurant (down the street from our house - dangerously close). He usually gets a quesadilla or their homemade mac & cheese (really good!) but he always BEGS us to get nachos... We always say "no" because he's already eaten about 5,000 chips. Today he paced himself and ate about five chips because he was "saving up" for the chicken nachos. He LOVED them and was pretty pleased with his order.

New England Wedding Weekend

 Cousins in matching outfits-

 At the Cliff Walk in Newport, RI.

 Tim, Amanda and Mags admiring the view-

 Some of my fave cousins!

 What was Jim teaching Nora? I can only imagine...

 Such a lovely place!

Mags was a dancing machine!

The favorite cousin crew - (minus the bride getting ready!)

We had such a nice time for Alex's wedding - lots of family togetherness. Nora got to fly with me (much to Ben's disappointment since he's never been on a plane) but Ben and Joe did manly things at home together. I come home to a clean house and the bed was made (usually something I do). Ben was SO happy to see me when I got back, and Joe was kinda glad as well ;) We missed our boys, but had a great adventure!