Go Wolves!

Last weekend, we took Leah to her (and our) first Chicago Wolves game for her cousin Lexis's birthday. I was afraid she might get cold and be miserable, but she had a fabulous time watching the guys skate around, and even more fun people watching and flirting with nearby fans. It was a cheap, fun, easy Sunday afternoon, and we highly recommend it!

Glamma pointing out the score

Flirting!

The birthday girl and her pals. How is Lex 12 years old? She was just six months old when I met her. Such a grown up! Thanks for inviting us, Lexie!

Always a souvenir 

The end of the game! We had a great time!

A work in progress

Ever since we moved into our house three and a half years ago, Paul and I have hated the big, brown, sharp, outdated and flat out UGLY fireplace in our kitchen/family room, and have always talked to taking it down or re-facing it. Turns out taking it down was a non option, unless we plan on selling our souls to pay for it. Well, thank goodness for my dad! He came to the rescue, and has been spending just about all of his free time, along with his buddy Nick, at our house remodeling the fireplace. He is unreal. I am so thankful for his talent, time, and generosity!

It is about half way done so far, and we can't WAIT to get the fireplace done, walls painted, new stuff bought, and to get our family back into the family room!!!

Oh, and these are totally out of order, I suck at this.

Before

Drywall starting to go up and tile all set!

This is what the room looked like when we went to bed. Ah! So gross, but it will be so worth it when it is DONE!

Getting there!!!

Paul with his happy grin- done painting! He has been a painting machine today, poor guy.

Getting ready for drywall on the kitchen side

Woops, this is out of place, but this was step 2!  :)

Thanks to my Dad for EVERYTHING! We don't know what we would do without you!!!!!

DUCK!

 In honor of my sweet girl's uttering of "duck", her very first word, here she is in her duck robe that night. We just had to put her in it!

Bigger and Sillier and Busier!

These are all the words to best describe Leah these days! She is so busy, and goes a mile a minute all day long. We DO NOT have an easy  going child in terms of movement, but she sure is a blast, and still such a good baby. No wonder she is so small- she is in constant motion. I might try the "Leah diet" of not stopping the flailing of my arms and legs all day, but that is neither here nor there.

She is now doing a combo of  sniping, really crawling, and walking with support lately. I guess it is just whatever strikes her at the moment, but no matter what, this kid is on the move!

She adores her little walker!

Felt like crawling at the moment. :)

Big girl walking with Papa!

...and the snipe!

Leah is also getting more and more curious and loves to explore everything around her all the time. She has fun pulling herself up and holding on to everything, and is really starting to figure out how to get herself out of situations on her own. Watching her learn has been so much fun already!

Speaking of learning, we have a little talker on our hands! She reached for me and said "MaMaMa" on December 29, and within a week, she said "duck" when I held up a rubber ducky! Now, she is saying "Dada" when she reaches for Paul!! and when you ask her what a snake says, she hisses, and she says "yeow" for a kitty. Eeeee! So fun.

Who knew something so small could make you happier than anything, ever?  I guess that is what parenthood is all about.... and it is only the beginning!!

New Years was double the fun

This New Years Eve was extra fabulous. We (Paul myself, my best buddies,their husbands, and all of our girls) took the kids to the Kohl Children's Museum for their NYE Kid's party, and it was a ton of fun! We got to hang out at the museum, and they had special exhibits and a kids rock band playing. Then, at the late old hour of 3PM, they had a ball drop, complete with a countdown and confetti- EVERYWHERE. We had a great time watching the girls, and this will absolutely be a new tradition for the "friend cousins". 

Everyone, covered in confetti!

Makayla at the water table

Isebella trying to catch some stuff

Leah loving the mirror at the baby play area

My girl!

Our first NYE as a family of three!

The fabulous Spitz family

The girls!!!!

 Later that night, we sent the kids to their respective grandparents (thanks guys) and had a grown up party at our house. We had a small group of 12 this year, but it was nice and intimate, and we had a blast playing games, having drinks, and celebrating the new year. Cheers, 2012!!!

We are welcoming 2 new babies to our group in the coming months. SO EXCITED to meet Tyler and Serena!!!!

2011 was the best year yet, at least for us. Here's hoping it just keeps getting better and better.

Happy 2012, everyone! I hope it is full of joy and blessings for you all.

Sister cousin sleepover

 Leah is so blessed to have her sister cousins, Kayli and Emmy. They joined us for a sleepover (old school style- we used to take them for sleepovers a lot more) over winter break, and the three girls had so much fun playing!!! They are all so special, and I am thrilled for them that they get to grow up by one another's side. It is so fab to watch them play and love on LiLi.

P.S.  One night and day with three kids= enough to convince me that two might be enough. Haha!

The play began right away!

Thanks for the new toys, Sister Cousins!

Mkaing Homemade pizza!

Uncle Paul loves his girls!

"U Paul" Helping Emmy.

Three of my favorite people... ever! Matching PJ's from Santa are awesome!

Three matching blankies, too! Thanks, Aunt Beth!

Movie time.

Leah LOVES Kayli and Em!!!!!!!

GINGERbread house!

Six years ago, as Paul and I celebrated our first Christmas as man and wife, we made a promise to start traditions once we had a family of our own. We love Christmas, and what a perfect time of year to build in fun for our no longer dreamed of family! When this year came around, then, we had to live up to the promise and bust out the family gingerbread house I had always hoped to make. Although Leah is clearly not old enough to help yet, we really did have a fun time shopping and deciding what to get! She liked looking at everything, and made a very cute (albeit useless) sous chef, as her daddy entertained her!

Someone likes the pastry bag!!!! 

Checking out the finished product in her gingerbread outfit. 

Ginger girl, ginger house.

Here was our finished product. Not too shabby, considering I was over doing this after weeks of it in my Foods classes! We each get a heart with our names, and there is a little "46" in the yard for our house number.

 Cheer to being a cheeseball!  I love having warm memories of our family traditions growing up, and we want to give our children many, many chances to feel the same way. I think it is fun that Leah will be able to say we made a gingerbread house every year of her childhood. :)

What are YOUR favorite family traditions?

1982 and 2011

My lovely Aunt Judie sent me a photo of myself sitting on Santa's lap in 1982, when I was 1 1/2. I thought it might be fun to Leahs!

Whether Leah and I look alike or not, don't you think Santa got better with age?  :)