Unseasonably warm!

It has been a crazy warm January - up until now!! We have been playing at the park, going for walks, Oliver has been riding his bike, playing sidewalk chalk......It was even in the mid 50s F one day last week which was truly amazing. It is just so completely different from last year. We are being hit with some icy air right now which is a shock to the system but normal of course :)

Emily had a rough time last week. I was pretty sure it was down to teething although I wondered about an ear infection later in the week. Who knows? The good news is she is doing much much better now and has actually been happier than usual over the past couple of days. She is even coming up with new words quite frequently and loves to copy (see the bath time video I took tonight!). Maybe it was all a developmental week for her!! I have also got her signed up to start school two mornings a week just like Oliver. She will start the day before her birthday (coincidence - it just happens to be when the current swimming session ends!). What on earth will I do for two mornings a week with no kids? I'm sure I'll find something to do but I'll feel like I'm missing a limb!

Oliver and I went on a mummy/son date last weekend to see Alvin and the Chipmunks at the movies. Probably the most annoying movie ever but Oliver did well for only his second time. He did ask to leave halfway through and said it was too long but we persevered and he enjoyed it I think. It's fun to finally be able to do these things with him. Maybe Monster Trucks will be next?!

Special smiles for daddy on his birthday!

And from Oliver :)

Emily dragged her changing mat out into the playroom, went back to get a nappy and then got her baby. Cute eh?!

Really not feeling very good mum :(

Oliver taking turns at looking after the baby. In this picture he was busy getting the baby out of his tummy :)

Posing with the chipmunks!

A perfect January day!

The baby swings are getting a little snug though Emily.....

A new and interesting way to ride a train!

Oliver took this picture of Emily in her new swimsuit - check out the length of those legs!!!

And posing for mummy :)

Enjoying a snack in the sunshine

Saying cheese :)

Oliver doing a "floor angel"!!

Emily checking out the animal display at Cabelas

She climbed straight up onto this camp bed and made herself at home!

Some of the kids posing in a tent!

Oliver doesn't look too impressed at sharing the bed with Emily ;)

Yoghurt for dessert tonight - yummy :)

Christmas and New Year

Sorry it has been a very long time since my last update. December was just total craziness when it came to work - long hours and many shifts led to a very tired mama. Anyway, it's all done now and I have hardly any hours at work so it's all change and I finally have time to update!

Christmas was lovely - quiet really but we spent some nice time with family. On the Friday before Christmas we went to Sandy's daughter's house (Katie) so Ray and Sandy could spend time with the grandchildren and hand out their gifts. Much fun!!! After I was finished with work on Christmas Eve the kids got to open their new PJs from Santa and we set out the snacks and drink for Santa and the crew. Oliver was so very excited!!

Christmas Day began at 7am which wasn't bad (the normal time the kids get up!). There were so many presents under the tree - we were all very lucky. Oliver and Emily were both pretty keen to start opening them. I thought it would take all day to get that task done but Oliver had all of his things open by about 9:30!!! Then we Skyped with family in the UK and headed over to Ray and Sandy's for lunch. A few more presents left to open in the afternoon and that was pretty much that!!! Jon and I were lucky this year as well - Jon bought a kegerator for himself so that was my gift to him and he got me an iPhone 4 which I love :)

Jon has been on holiday between Christmas and New Year and heads back to work tomorrow. It has been nice to have a chilled out week together. On New Year's Eve we had some friends over until about 9pm and then I was done for at about 11pm - I did see in the new year just with New York and the East coast!!

Other than we took the kids to the Hollidazzle parade in downtown Minneapolis and we also saw the Macy's Christmas display which was OK but the same as the past 2 years at least!! I think Oliver enjoyed lunch "in the sky" more (they had a restaurant on the top floor!).

Weather wise we have been spoiled and there was no snow on the ground over the holidays. We finally had a little snowfall a couple of nights ago but, compared to last year, it has been extremely warm!!!

Life will be back to normal tomorrow: Oliver in school, Jon at work, kids going to swim lessons...... and I suppose restarting the workout routine. Happy New Year!!!

New Lightning McQueen PJs!!

A rare picture of me and the kids :)

Christmas Day!

Pretty Christmas dress!

This bag is as big as me :)

A new way to mow the lawn

The kegerator!

Emily the Builder

Santa Frog - a gift from Oliver's school

Taking a picture of herself on mummy's new phone

Ninja Oliver!!

Ray and Sandy with the grandkids: Alex and Anna on the left, Oliver, Emily, Isabelle, Mikayla, Blake, Madison and James

I think this is Emily's favourite gift - a Little Mommy doll which plays peekaboo!

All the bows had to go on daddy!

She knows how to switch on Oliver's hexbugs

Wiped out after a busy day

Oliver's new castle - he says this is his best gift but he plays with other things more!! Who knows, he loves everything!

Oliver really loves this huge heart cushion in Target

Emily's new rocking horse

And giving kisses to her big doggy

Sitting at the bar watching movies :)

I am teaching the kids well ;)

Welly socks from England!!

Oliver's drawing of us all - love!

3D glasses!

Celia and Oliver on New Year's Eve with Elefun nets on their heads!

Emily has been upgraded from the highchair to the head of the table - she loves it!! And Oliver gets to sit on one of the chairs without arms. Big kids all round!

In case you're confused - there is a duck and a lollipop ornament on the mini christmas tree!

Getting chilly!

Winter has definitely set in. There is some snow on the ground and the temps are in the 20s - brrr!!! I think Oliver wants to play outside in the snow every day - I'm not so enthusiastic and I still need to buy myself some snow pants :) And he still insists on riding his bike when (if!) we take Scoop for a walk. He won't be able to for much longer that's for sure.

I've been very busy with work these past few weeks. Black Friday was utter craziness - never seen anything like it but so I glad I did work. What an experience! Things should calm down as soon as Christmas is over of course. I did have the pleasure of a day off this past weekend. It was nice just to hang out with the family and do normal weekend stuff - grocery shopping (!) and going out for coffee :)

We had a quiet family day on Thanksgiving and then went to Ray and Sandy's on the Friday. The kids had fun playing Just Dance on the Wii - I think this is a must every time we go over there now! Even Emily was joining in :)

Oliver is definitely excited about Christmas this year. All the lights, the decorations and the Christmas CDs we have really pump him up!! Emily just wants to take everything off the tree and I even caught her chomping on a candy cane through the wrapper (I knew it was too quiet!). It should be a great time when the big day comes around.

OK - photos!!!

Watching TV together

Taking Scoop for a walk - Emily had to shake all the trees!

Awwww :) Getting ready for bed.

The snowman we found in the basement! We forgot we bought it in the sale last year.

Thanksgiving dinner at the grandparent's place

I don't rate that dinner much Grandpa!!

But I'll take the hug :))

Decorating!!

In da hood!!

File boxes I found. Thought they would be useful for storage but the kids would rather sit/stand on them or carry them around *sigh*

Ready to head outside!

Play date at Wesley's house!

Emily wearing Mr Potato Head glasses as a necklace

Date at Caribou!!

What is this coffee stuff?

Mmmmmm!!!! (there is no coffee in there - promise!)

Hey, it's TV time again!!

Oliver with his snowman napkin holder he made at Home Depot - the other side is blue!