Gretas first Christmas program

Greta has been practicing in Sunday school for weeks. She knew her song despite me never having heard it before. We had practice on Saturday and she did great! So k was starting to get optimistic that she was actually going to go up on stage and sing. 

We get to church. I leave her in the room with the kids - literally snuck out. Starting to think it's a bad sign. The kids make their entrance. She stops at me but only to give me a hug - phew. I thought it was over. And up to the front they go. Bad news - they do t song until almost the end. Good news they all hung on and did great!!

So proud. She marched up there and sang almost all the word. The first of many Christmas programs to come! 

https://youtu.be/-EHfGInB5TA

Horsey Rides

Greta giving Lola a horse ride. To my surprise - she could actually pick her up. They laughed and laughed! 

One week til Christmas

I'm not going to lie - I'm super excited about Christmas. Greta is so excited and keeps saying she'll be excited with whatever Santa brings. That makes me super happy.

But none the less I can't wait to see her face (and Lola's too) Christmas morning when they come running out and see all the gifts under the tree. 

Also good news I don't have much left to do. Shopping - 95% done. Wrapping - 90% done. Bring on Christmas!!

Best picture we got from bronners like a month ago. 

Santa visit

A tip from a friend that Santa was going to be at this restaurant for lunch... perfect. Little stress and craziness - maybe a better chance Greta would talk to him. She already talk me she didn't want to sit on his lap and I told her that was fine. But she said she'd standby him and let me take her picture. 

So I dress them in cute Santa outfits... we go in and Greta wants nothing really to do with him. Okay fine. She goes by him and does tell him what she wants but only when Ryan or I were holding her. 

Lola wasn't too sure. But did give him a high five. 

So we go back to eat and another kid crawls up into his sleigh. And I tell Greta and she watches.  Only a few minutes later Greta decides she wants to sit in his sleigh with Santa. We walk over she crawls up and has the biggest smile I've ever seen on her face. 

I'll call this a great memory!!! 

Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer

When Karle and Kahle were little Mary had them sing Christmas songs. I remember loving getting them. It was so fun. 

So continuing the tradition... here's song #1.

https://youtu.be/cdP9auQfLJQ

Lola 16 months

16 months and counting and Lola never ceases to amaze me. She's silly, sweet, has a little temper and is always smiling. 

Top 10

1. Another tooth broke through - she's up to 12

2. Learned some new words - Papa, Greta, dog, juice and a few more I'm sure

3. Has a little temper and knows how to through a temper tantrum

4. Is a great sleep and usually sleeps from 7:30 to 6:30

5. Is a great eater and will eat anything - favorites are fruit, anything I'm eating, and popcorn

6. Loves to give kisses and blow kisses

7. Loves playing outside and swinging

8.  Is a great car rider and usually sleeps at least half of it and then just hangs out and laughs with Greta the rest

9. Spent a week at grandmas when I had to go to Chicago 

10. Will tell you that Santa says ho ho ho. Super cute! 

Chicago

Last week I headed to Chicago for the annual RSNA meeting. It always starts thanksgiving weekend which makes any plans almost impossible. And this year I had to leave Friday to be here by Saturday morning for a training. So a quick trip up to unionville, some yummy turkey, online shopping and away I went - leaving the girls behind :-( but in good hands.  

Worked all morning Saturday and then took a break to watched that unfair and disappointing game. Then back to work and some Chicago deep dish pizza. 

The rest of the week was a bit of a blur but luckily went fast because we were so busy. We did have a chance to do some team building activities that involved taking my Belgian colleagues to their first hockey game and watching their first American football game. We also did some karaoke and walked a 5K.

Thursday after the show we loaded up and headed for home - this time with 3 others in the car - which was great. 3 stops later, I finally arrived home. And of course had to sneak in and cuddle and give the girls kisses. Best feeling ever being home in your own bed and waking up to the sounds of children. So missed them! 

Good work trip. Girls is good hands. Doesn't beat that. 

Confession

Please don't tell or judge. I did something that I swore I never would. I ask Ryan if he wanted to get a fake tree. Gasp! I know! It truly goes again everything I believe in. But as I started to think about how easy it would be and how tired I was from traveling and how much I really wanted my tree it - I did it. And ryan didn't say no and has been actually thinking about it himself but thought there was no way I'd go for that. 

Yikes! I did.  But on the other side i did buy 2 small trees that we will plan. I think that will be our new tradition and then when they are big enough we'll cut one down. 

Until then... we are the proud over of a beautiful almost real tree.

Adventures of Greta and Lola

Despite my sadness leaving them - I knew they would both gave a great time with grandma and papa and aunt Julie snd uncle Jason. So much love there! 

I don't even know everything they did but in all the pictures they were smiling and always on FaceTime they were happy (well except when they took the phone from Lola). 

It's so reassuring that I have an amazing mom to help me when I travel. Thanks Mom!

Shopping with Julie

The girls and I drove home on Tuesday to go to Paw Patrol on Wednesday. So we decided to make the most out of it and go to Bronners first.  Great idea, but the girls weren't too impressed with it.  Greta sat and read books with Uncle David the entire time and Lola was fine riding in the stroller for the first 30 minutes and then wanted out.  And when she got loose - she headed straight to the first ornament she saw, picked it up, and say ball and then proceeded to get ready to throw.  AHHH!  Back in the stroller.

I'm not going to be my smiley self.

Oo - Aunt Julie's phone - I'll be happy now.

Yup - I'm cute!  Everyone's checking out how cute I am.

Aunt Julie's buddy

But after Bronner's, I sent the girls with mom and Julie and I went shopping!  And man did we shop. And have fun.  It reminded me of the good o'l days when I lived in Saginaw and we used to shop a lot.  We both got some Christmas shoping done and gifts for ourselves - of course.  And even got Julie to buy a pair of red jeggings for Christmas.  I bought the same pair so we'll see if she wears them.

We then stopped in Bay City for Chinese take out and back to mom's around 6:45 pm and a full Yukon.  No picture of the evidence but it was so fun!

First snow

This weekend, despite my dislike we got our first little bit of snow.  And Greta was sooooo excited.  We had to try on our snow suit to make sure it fit and when there was just a light light dusting of snow - out we went.  It was FREEZING and windy our so it lasted like 5 minutes.  But she loved it!.  And Lola was just mesmerized by it.  It's going to be a fun winter with these two.

Pee Pee on the Potty

I brought the little potty up a long time ago and it's always in the bathroom.  I always ask Lola if she wants to sit on it and go potty. She almost always says Yes and does.

Well this week - it's happened!  Before bath, I take her diaper off and usually she pees on the floor.  So now, I start taking it off and ask, "Do you need to go potty?"  And she says yes.  Then sits on her potty and goes!  3 times this week!  Yeah!!!

One smart cookie this one it.

Paw Patrol Live

I decided to surprise Greta and take her to see Paw Patrol Live at the Dow Event Center.  Of course Lola got to come too and Grandma to help.  Both girls absolutely loved it but each in their own way.  Lola squealed in excitement and Greta say mesmerized, taking in everything.

Mom and I both enjoyed it too and by the end Mom almost had all the Paw Patrol names right.

Watch Lola's excitement as they introduce the Paw Patrol.

Wicked

One of my all time favorite musicals is Wicked!  It was coming to the Wharton Center in East Lansing so Mary and I decided to go and take Karle.  It definitely didn't disappoint.  I loved it just as much.  And it was so great to watch Karle watch it.  Her face light it up during all the songs.  Mary's did too.  And even though Karle fell asleep with a few minutes left - it's a great memory I'll always have.

Mary and I also decided we need to go to New York to see the original Broadway production of it.  It's officially on the Bucket List.


This one's for you Mar - For Good

PS - don't mind my giant poncho - it was freezing and it was a spontaneous purchase at Cracker Barrel. And I will most likely never wear again.

Things Greta says

This one was too funny to not put on the blog.

Sunday night I went to see Wicked with Karle and Mary.  This meant that I wouldn't be home to put Lola to bed and this really worried Greta so before I left she made sure to tell Ryan what he would and couldn't do.

Greta: Daddy.  You can't feed Lola with your boobs.  They are too small
Me:  You're right Greta, only mommy' can feed their babies with their boobs.
Greta: Right.  See daddy.  You can't feel Lola with your boobs.

It was so honest, and precious.  I held back my laughter.

Craft Show 2016

The annual Fall Saline Craft show is one of the largest craft shows in Michigan. Last year Mary and I went and took Karle, Greta and Lola.  After that craft show, I made the rule, no kids allowed at the craft show.  And instead invited Mary, Julie and Mom to all come down and go with me. And left the girls with daddy.

And to make it even better, I won VIP passes on Facebook that got us in at 7:00 am - before the doors opened!  So awesome!  Best thing ever.  Next year if I don't win, I'm going to ask about buying them.  We shopped and shopped and bought and bought.  And were out of there before 10:00.

If you want to read the rules from I wrote from last time - click here.  Mary and I were sure to follow them all.  

And what was even more fun was having a sleep over with everyone at the house.  We had pizza, margaritas and watched Bad Moms.  And laughed and laughed.  So fun!  I'm officially making it an annual event.  

Lola 15 months

My sweet sassy baby girl is 15 months already.  Lola has lots of personality and quite the little ham.

1. Got 2 her bottom molars - she now has 11 teeth
2. Loves seeing animals and squeals whoever she sees them
3. Gets into everything and anything
4. Is always on the move and is quick
5. Is a mommy's girl through and through
6. Waves and says hi to everyone
7. Is starting to say more and lots of babbles
8. Loves music and dancing -  she'll dance to anything
9. Loves her big sister but also picks on her the most
10. Has a slight temper and is a little bit of a bully when she doesn't get her way

She brings so much joy and laughter to our lives. I just love watching her grow and discover new things.

Check up stats... 11/4
Height: 33.2 inches (off chart)
Weight: 25 lbs (91st)
Head: 19.25 (off chart)

Tired baby

Unlike Greta as a baby or even toddler when she was tired, she fought it and fought it. 

Not Lola. When she's tired, you know it. And nothing but going ni-night is going to help. 

She'll even just lay down. 

Sweet baby girl! 

Halloween fun

I've never been a big Halloween fan but it's been fun these last 2 years doing family themed costumes and trunks. 

This year we went with one of Greta's favorite shows - Paw Patrol. We had - Everest (Greta), Skye (Lola), Ryder (Ryan) and Mayor Goodway (me). 

Greta was a little nervous about trick or treating even though she was super excited. I don't think falling asleep on the way helped.

Greta also loved the bounce house - once she got the courage and realized she could do it all by herself. Then pretty sure she went through it like 25 times.

By the time we got home, we had 1 sleeping baby and a tired but not willing to admit it toddler. But she soon went down too.

Happy Halloween!

Fall favorite

One of my fall favorites is making leave houses. Well we had just enough leaves to make our first one... Mostly because they (DTE) cut down 2 huge trees in our yard. 

Either way. We had a great time. Even made a garage for Greta's tractor. 

Yes- that is the take we used... Both of us - lol. 

Greta's first field trip

Farming with Papa

Any chance we get, we had to Unionville to farm with dad. Greta thinks it's the best ever and that papa shouldn't farm without her. 

So last weekend we headed up on Friday for a quick trip. Fun was had by all! 

It's like the skies opened up and heaven shone down. Made me think of Grandpa checking in. 

If you look close you can see how excited Greta looks. 

Fall fireworks

Salome had fireworks in celebration of their 150th anniversary. They started at 830 or I thought I'd be the perfect time for Greta to see her first fireworks. And it was relatively warm out too. 

I waited until after a good long nap to tell her and she was super excited and jumped up and down. Then the wait began. I told her it had to be dark before we could leave. So after an early bath, pjs, pizza and a fed and sleeping Lola... We loaded up. 

We parked at the library. Set up our chairs. And luckily only had 10 minutes til they started. And after they did really wished I brought her ear things. They were loud and she already doesn't really care for loud things. So I held my hands over her ears the whole time. But she really liked them. 30 minutes was plenty. We thought we saw the grand finale but then they started back up again. Oh well we left. Lola never work up once. Sweet girl. When she's out. She's out. 

Great experience and loved watching it through Greta's eyes. 

Nothing fun to report

Life has been pretty status quo. Girls are getting bigger. Lola is still the wild one with no fear and an absolute  mommy's girl. Greta is getting smarter by the day. We've been working lots on letters and their sounds. 

We've also enjoyed some warmer temps that have made for lots of playing outside and dinner on the porch. 

Lola 14 months old

I don't know if I really have a favorite age for kids. I have lots of them and all for different reasons. But right now Lola is a hook. She's definitely got her personality. 

1. Loves to shake heads and will extend her hand

2. Is curious and likes to get into things - drawers, cupboards 

3. Is a total mamas girl - all is fine as long as I'm near. And I swear she has some radar to find me in the house.

4. Is s great eater and loves almost everything 

5. Still likes to bite. Mostly Greta but a few kids at day care have also fallen victim

6. Will tell you when she's tired and ready for nigh night. Then she'll lean in for a good night hug

7. Great sleeper with the exception when she's getting teeth 

8. Has 9 teeth - I think - need to count

9. Loves to color - id say it's her favorite thing to do.

10. Still has the best smile and brightest blue eyes. 

Look out world! This ones got spunk. 

Fall fun

A spontaneous trip to Wiards Sunday afternoon - fun for all but especially Greta. 

She's a dare devil. This huge slide she went down like 3 times and would have gone more but they closed. 

Check it out https://youtu.be/3ZGSTuK79mc

Greta also got to ride a pony - her favorite. 

Lola loved seeing the animals, playing in the corn and walking around like a big girl. 

Football Saturday

Mom had 2 extra tickets for the Michigan vs Wisconsin game. So I did something I've only done one other time. I got a babysitter! 

And it was worth it. Michigan got the win despite it being an ugly game. I got to spend some adult time with mom and Ryan. We stayed dry... With the exception of mom accidentally dumping a bottle of water down the front of my shirt. 

And as always.... There was a little guilt. But the girls had a great time and Lola was already in bed and Greta was reading books with the babysitter. 

Maybe we'll have to do that more.