Putting out the cookies and milk for Santa.

Breakfast with Santa

Alyssa opened a present and got some new "fuzzy" clothes. I had her try them on and then she was quite excited when I told her she could leave them on and sleep in them (just for tonight).

I let John open a Christmas gift from his grandma today. He wore holes in almost all of his pants so thought it would be okay to start wearing some new clothes. John was suprised to see the shirt glows in the dark. We decided after "rushing" the kids to open the rest of their gifts over the past few years, that maybe we should open some before the big day.

Got the tree and all of the decorations on it. I think it is the biggest tree so far - over 9 feet. I am making calendars for the grandparents for Christmas and needed another picture for the month of December. Guess Alyssa didn't feel like helping out with a smile for a nice picture.

Had to get a picture of the kids after school on Tuesday. John is wearing his vest he made for the pow-wow they had at school. John is sporting his famous "smile". Alyssa is showing off her turkey she made at school.

Girl Scout Cookies

So Alyssa is a Daisy Scout this year and has started selling cookies. The other day we stopped at a house and I was standing farther back and didn't hear what the lady who answered the door said. So Alyssa was kind of standing there looking dumbfounded as the lady was closing the door. I asked what she said and Alyssa replied, "that they didn't have any money". Then she kind of thought a few seconds and said "but how can they be living in a house if they don't have any money?" It was funny how Alyssa said it and the look on her face. Some things like that can be hard to understand or explain.

Tinkerbell and a bat for Halloween this year.

It's been awhile

Let's see we've obviously been busy since the start of school....
a quick trip to Chicago to visit relatives one weekend, soccer games for both Alyssa and John every weekend, Daisy Scout meetings and activites (a trip to the nature center and a daisy scout cookie workshop - Alyssa can start selling cookies tomorrow), along with weekly soccer practice and guitar lessons, family picnic with the mom's group, Alyssa's birthday party and a visit from grandma & grandpa, playgroups, Sunday school classes, school photos and family photos, work awards dinner, Pumpkin Patch field trip with John (in the rain), and I started working on a regular basis the end of August and completed the Kansas City 1/2 marathon (13.1 miles) on October 17th finishing 15 seconds under my goal time of 2 hours.....I'm exhausted just remembering it all! Some pics will be added soon.....

Pictures of the Kansas City Half Marathon

So I finished the Kansas City Half Marathon in just under my goal time. If you want to see some pics just click on the title above.

Outside of school.Waiting in line before school.
Sitting at a table in his kindergarten class.

Alyssa's First Day of First Grade

Here's Alyssa at her desk on the first day of school.

Alyssa pulled out her own front tooth! It had been just wiggling for days and she was having to take so much time to eat so as not to bother it. Think she finally got tired of it and took care of it herself since she wouldn't let anyone near her! :)

Last Day of Swim Lessons

Alyssa was brave this time and decided to go down the big slide. She loved it so went down several more times. John went on the slide another time when we were at the pool, but he got to the top and changed his mind so didn't end up going down.
John with his certificate - he was more interested in picking out a candy.

He's 5!

Alyssa lost her 4th tooth yesterday (they have all been on the bottom front). Her dad and I tried many times to get her to let us pull it - and she was especially leary of me getting too close - since another time I just grabbed and pulled one out. It was so loose so I had her show me the tooth and she was showing me how she could even move it from the bottom part of the tooth. So as she was doing that, I pushed her elbow up further and it came right out!! She was annoyed that I tricked her but then happy it was out and that she would get a visit from the tooth fairy and she's still laughing about it!

Took the kids bowling with the Mom's group yesterday.

Last night the kids had a great time at the neighborhood pool. It was a welcome to all of the incoming kindergarteners. John said it was the most funnest day of his entire life! Wow! The kids both finished 2 entire (crust and all) pieces of cheese pizza. We stayed for 3 hours - and were one of the last to leave - but Alyssa was mad at me that we didn't stay longer since there was another girl she was having fun playing with and didn't want to leave yet! Crazy kids!

After lessons at 10:30 on Thursday, we stayed at the pool until 2pm! The kids were having fun playing and Alyssa seemed to be enjoying being the big sister/Mom/teacher and helping John in the water.

On Wednesday evening after Alyssa's guitar lessons, we went to the Theatre in the Park to see High School Musical. We left around 10:45 even though the show wasn't over yet.

Alyssa (above at the end) and John on their 2nd day of swim lessons.

June 2006
May 2007
June 2008
June 2009
Funny to see how fast they grow and change over the years. And some things still stay the same - Alyssa wearing the same shirt in the last two pictures. She is still picky about her clothes - she finds a few favorite shirts/shorts and that's all she wants to wear. Guess it saves $$$. Later she'll probably say she can't believe we let her wear the same outfit every day! :)

Jeff just loves trying new things on his grill. Alyssa and I are the lucky ones who get to enjoy his labors! Ribs were awesome!!! (John still isn't one to try new things - his diet still is pretty much cereal and crackers! And I'm guessing he's going through a growth spurt because he says he's hungry every hour or so!)

It's a boy! The newest cousin was born on the due date.

A trip to the Blueberry Patch with the mom's group. Alyssa and I enjoyed picking about 6 lbs of blueberries. John didn't like it so much. When we were tired of hearing the whining from him, we went to the playground and his spirits brightened a bit.

On our way home from the doctor (where John got his 4 shots for kindergarten), we stopped at McDonald's. I decided since he was so brave and didn't even cry that he deserved a treat. Planned on just getting him a ice cream cone, but he convinced me to get him a chicken nuggets happy meal. Alyssa stayed home with Dad since he was off from work.(So don't say anything to Alyssa - she would cry!!! She doesn't like being "left out" - if John gets something she thinks she should as well.) John was so cute though - he wanted to bring Alyssa back something - I told him the ice cream would probably melt. So he gave her this squirrel thing he got from his happy meal - she thought it was from the doctor's visit. (I certainly didn't want to hear a crying fit from her.)

We went to the nature center in the morning for a storytime about reptiles. The kids got to see a milk snake up close. Then we went to the neighborhood pool of one of the mom's in the Mom's group. Although we put sunscreen on, both kids ended up with red cheeks and noses.

The family all enjoyed the afternoon at a Royals game. The girls stayed afterwards to run the bases and see a MercyMe concert.

A trip out to see the T-Rex cafe - kids got to dig in the sand. We shared a treat at Coldstone's for lunch since Mom didn't want to pay for lunch at the T-Rex cafe. John showing off what he won at the T-Rex cafe by kicking a soccer ball into a basket after his second try. Alyssa missed both her kicks and was suprised that she didn't get anything even being a kid! "I thought all kids would get one."
Running in the sprinkler after getting home.

Took the kids to the park on Monday morning for playgroup around 9:30. It was hot but with all the trees, we had plenty of shade. We didn't leave until almost 1pm!




John was invited to a birthday party of one of his preschool classmates. John made several baskets and Alyssa enjoyed the rock climbing wall.