Polar Express 2010

This year, we ventured down to French Lick, IN to ride on the Polar Express! We had read Laney the book once we bought the tickets, just to get her familiar with the storyline. She and Charlo were SO excited to see and ride the train! We bundled the kids up in their jammies and slippers, coats, & hats! It was a perfect day to ride the Polar Express...a little snow and freezing cold!

Getting ready to board the train!

They're so stinkin' cute!

Mommy & Laney

SOOO EXCITED!!

Best Buds!

Tiffany & Charlo, Mommy & Laney (the Daddy's stayed home with the Bets & Max)

The Conductor punching Laney's ticket

Enjoying some Hot Chocolate

She loved her cookie, if you can't tell!

Tiff with the kiddos

Laney's new thing...she claps when she gets excited! Wonder where she gets that!?!?

Getting her bell from Santa

Checkin' out their bells

We had a wonderful trip. It's something we will definitely want to do again! We'll be sure to include the younger kids and the Daddy's next time!

Max 8 Months!

Mr. Max is now 8 months old!

So, at 8 months, what is Max up to?? Well, he REALLY wants to crawl, but just can't get the courage to actually do it. He'll lay on his tummy and just scoot along the floor. He has learned to clap and wave, which is super cute watching him do it. His little laugh is so contagious, I seriously couldn't get tired of hearing it! He's talking up a storm, too! "Da-da" was his first word! (Of course it was!) :) Max is sleeping awesome for us. He sleeps about 11-12 hours at night, takes a 1 1/2 hr nap in the morning, and then a 2-2 1/2 hour nap in the afternoon. Luckily, Mommy got Laney and Max on the same nap schedule in the afternoon. I'm sure both Nana and Grammy (since they watch the kiddos) are thrilled about that, also! It just makes the afternoon peaceful for everyone!

Miss Laney is enjoying being a big sister. She loves that Max can sit up and play with her. Sometimes she isn't so sure she likes that he can play with her toys, but she's learning the importance of sharing!

We are all so excited to celebrate Christmas this year! We just sit back and this how much our lives have changed since last year at Christmas. We all have so much to be thankful for!

Black Friday Shopping....

OK, I'm not one that likes to fight the crowd on "Black Friday" but we needed a new washer and dryer. SOOOO....my mom and I decided to go along with the other crazies out there at 5:00 am and see what we could find! Two hours later, we both purchased this.... (dryer also, but this is just the washer!)

We are hoping to have it in our house tomorrow. I can't wait to do my first load of laundry in our new mashines! Honestly, the crowd was not bad at all and it was totally worth it. Benji and I had been talking about getting one for awhile now, so this just got our butts in gear to do it! I have heard nothing but great things about LG washers/dryers! Oh the little things in life that excite me...like doing laundry! :)
Now, today is more my type of shopping day....CYBER Monday! I've already been online seeing what I could buy! Good thing I'm off today!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I am thankful for......

our family!

(and many, many other things!)

We hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Los Cabos, Mexico....Matt & Malinda's Wedding

OK, so I finally have the pictures posted from Mexico. These aren't even close to the amount that I took. I just picked out a few of our favorites to post. Overall, the trip was wonderful. We had a few bumps here and there, but what vacation doesn't! First of all, a big thank you to Lauren, my cousin, for going with us and being our "little nanny" for the trip! Lauren, you don't realize how much you helped us! With your help, we got all of our luggage and both kids to the resort! We were able to relax with friends and family when it was naptime, and could enjoy the wedding reception after the kiddos crashed! Thank you so much, you are awesome!

A few funny and memorable things that happened on the trip:

-Max's first airplane ride (he and Laney both did so well with everything!)
-Looking off of our balcony and seeing the beautiful beach with the white sands, blue ocean, and big mountains (sigh!)
-Laney noticing Max's "private" is different than hers (OK, seriously Laney, you're JUST now realizing this??) Gotta tell the story on this one....As I'm changing Max's water-logged diaper:
Laney: Mommy, what IS that?
Mommy: Laney, Max has a dirty diaper. It's poopy, we need to change it.
Laney: No, not that Mommy! What is that RIGHT THERE?
Mommy: Well, that's Max's "pee pee"
Laney: Hmmm....I have a triangle, Max has a circle
Mommy: smiles and nods (what can I say to that?)
-Laney falling asleep on the menu at the rehearsal dinner
-Me (the Matron of Honor), forgetting the ring! (yep, that's me!)
-Spending time with my awesome family and wonderful friends
-Max getting frisked at the airport (haha! Yep, his name was randomly selected to be searched when leaving Mexico and they said, "We need to check Max. Get him out of the stroller." I said, "MY BABY?" That was that...needless to say, I didn't have anything dangerous hiding in my son!

AND........

-The BEAUTIFUL Bride & HANDSOME Groom!!!!!!

Enjoy all of the beautiful pictures of the trip....including the see the stunning, new Mrs. Malinda Plumer and handsome Mr Matt Plumer! We love you guys!!

Laney riding on the airplace

Max & Daddy on the plane

Sitting poolside

Max just chillin' in the stroller

Laney loved the waterslide!

So tired at the rehearsal dinner

Laney making a sandcastle

Lauren & Max

Daddy & Max

The Best Man, Flower Girl, & Matron of Honor

Laney and Mommy

Such a pretty girl

Lookin' good guys!

Our family!

Let's get the wedding started!

She loved the flowers

Is she not gorgeous or what?

The ceremony

So pretty

So happy!

So in love!

Max-7 Months

Max is such a little ham these days. Just look at the little guy and he flashes his baby blues and that gummy grin! I took him to the Dr for a weight check, but they didn't write it down for me, and of course, I can't remember what the weight was! I do know that he had gained over a lb this month!

I stopped breastfeeding at 6 1/2 months and Max has really adjusted well to it. The last couple of weeks of nursing him, I wasn't feeling like he was satisfied and getting good feedings. After seeing his weight at his 6 month appointment, I thought maybe it was time to switch to formula. The same thing happened to Laney about this point. I guess it's just my body telling me that he is ready for something different.

We had a great time in Mexico last week and have been getting back into our normal routine. I hope to get several pictures from the wedding posted today or tomorrow, so stay tuned!

Trick-or-Treat!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!! We had some pretty cute trick or treaters this year...Minnie Mouse (AKA Laney) and a lion (AKA Max). We had so much fun going around our neighborhood with Charlie, Betsy, & Griffin. Laney & Charlie rode in style, crusin the neighborhood in their red wagon. Max & Betsy were livin' the high life, sittin back relaxin in their Cadillac of a stroller. Then there was poor Griffin, who had to walk the whole way! He was a trooper, though! After getting some goodies in their bags, we headed to the Bruce's house for some dinner and drinks. The kids got to play and the babies got to EAT!! Overall, we had a wonderful Halloween!

She loved being Minnie!

How precious is this????

Scrumptious....

Snoozin away

Elmo, Minnie, & the Pirate

Minnie with Pa