Bye Bye January 2010

FINALLY!!!

It is the last day of the month.

Bu-Bye January. Happy to see you go!

This month was not a great month for us. You see it started on New Years Day - at 9:30 pm - and it is finally coming to an end. Wyatt got the stomach flu first at 9:30 pm on New Years Day. Then Teagan started in with the stomach flu the following day at 8:30 pm. Then I started the next day at 10:30 pm. We were all miserable and sick for about 7-10 days in a row depending on where we were in the cycle. The weather was cold and foggy with some drizzle, it was miserable inside and outside.

But we started feeling a little better...and then the rain came...and it rained for 12 days straight. And then Daddy brought home a cold.

Wyatt and Teagan started in with colds about 12 days ago. Yes, 12 days of two sick 2 1/2 year olds and we were stuck inside because it was raining - no - down pouring for 12 days. UGH!! Then Wyatt got diagnosed with a double ear infection - a really bad one - this last Friday. Poor little man, he is so sick, and he hates being sick. As a result, either Mommy or Daddy needs to sleep with him or he is up all night.

In a nutshell, this month has been brutal for us. I am not sad to see it go...I am really hoping for a better month in February!


One day, during a break in the storms, I literally had to drag the kids outside for some fresh air. They are still in their pajamas because the would not get dressed for like a week straight because they were sick, it was raining out, we weren't going anywhere anyway, and hey, I get it. No one wants to get dressed when you are sick right?! But at least I got their totally cute rain slickers and rain boots on 'em. :-)

Videos

This is one night at home - having dinner. Dinner is a pretty noisy event at our house...not an affair for those who like to calmly eat, not an affair for those who don't like noise, you know, anyone who enjoys peace while they eat, you wouldn't like it at our house during dinner!

Travis taking Teagan on the sled in front of the cabin.

This was the kids playing in the snow. On this particular morning, it was only 25 degrees outside! Oh man - it was cold. But the kids loved it. I had to DRAG Wyatt in because he wanted to stay outside.

Teagan sledding on her own.

Wyatt riding the saucer down on his own.

Cute Stuff

Both the kids are talking up a storm these days. They both use complete sentences and are very clear at dictating what they want. They are also very cute because they talk to each other now and have "little people" conversations.

There have been a couple of really cute things out of Teagan in the last day that I thought I would get down to remember. They both got little colds this week and so have been a little sick. Yesterday Teagan woke up and started talking to me and her voice was hoarse from her cold so she didn't sound like herself. When she heard herself - and it wasn't her normal voice - she tilted her head to the side and crinkled her brow and said: "Mommy, its not Teagan."

I then explained that she was sick, what happens when you are sick, etc. etc. So then she explained what had happened to her that night: that she coughed - and then "I blessed you". Meaning she sneezed. I thought that was the cutest thing!

Wyatt is turning into quite the little gentleman. Every day when we get home from going somewhere, he is first out of the car because he sits behind me. So I get him out, then he races over to the garage door and holds it open. Then he announces to Teagan and I "I am holding the door open for you guys. Come on in." Of course I love this - if I could raise a boy with manners I would be thrilled!!

One Hour

If you would have asked me a couple of years ago what I could do in an hour...? My answer probably would have been: get a manicure/pedicure.

These days if you ask me...my answer would be a lot different!!

Today, as the kids nap peacefully, I have:
~ Cleaned 3 Bathrooms
~ Cleaned 5 Toilets
~ Done 2 Loads of Laundry
~ Ate Lunch

Oh...how different life is as a SAHM.

:-)

Christmas Day

Christmas this year was a lot of fun for many reasons...mostly however...seeing the holiday from a 2 1/2 year olds perspective can simply be summed up as: simple joy.

To the kids Christmas means:
~ Santa (we are learning about Santa - whoever that is?!)
~ Christmas Tree Lights ('cuz all lights inside and out get called "Christmas Tree Lights")
~ Presents (mostly it is just about opening them because everything is: "Open It")
~ Parties (we attended and hosted many events that Mommy simply dubs: "Parties" to make it easier on everyone)

So at this point they don't completely understand the true holiday, and one day they will. But I can tell you this; they get the jist of it. And that is: simple joy.

As the year comes to an end, we have so much to be thankful for. In spite of everything that is going on around us, we have each other, family and friends. Travis got a promotion at his job and is doing exceptionally well. Despite the occasional cold, we are all very healthy. We had the pleasure of attending 5 weddings this year where we got to see special friends share in the union of marriage (have fun guys! :-) ) We had the sadness of saying good bye to people that were entirely too young to leave this earth coupled with the joy of welcoming several new babies to our circle. We made new friends in our new neighborhood and tried to stay connected to our old friends in our old neighborhood too.

All in all, it was much too busy, but a whole lot of fun with lots of special memories that were made. Again, as each day goes by and the kids grow, we get the sincere pleasure of seeing life through a 2 1/2 year olds eye. And that is only something we will get to do once, so we savor it.

Cheers to a happy and healthy 2010!


Wyatt and Teagan sharing a moment together.

On Christmas Eve they got to open a couple of presents from their G.G. so here they are in front of the tree with a couple of open presents. Then Daddy wanted to take them to the mailbox to get "Christmas Mail" so we got them all suited up in their new rain boots, jackets and hats to walk 100 yards to the mailbox! But dang - aren't they too cute?!

Eventually we had to get the kids to bed so we could get ready. We told them they had to put on their Christmas Jammies, go to the tree, and tell Santa: "We Are Ready!" So here they are shouting at the top of their lungs to Santa that they are ready!

After a couple of shots, Teagan was like: "Really?!" But as usual, Wyatt is up for whatever.

This was the living room at about midnight! Finally, Santa had come to our house so Mommy and Daddy could go to bed. Wyatt got a Fire Station, and Teagan got a kitchen.

Christmas morning...a very tired Mommy...

Wyatt got the coolest tool set with these safety goggles they can't get enough of.

Teagan got a very sweet Butterfly dress up outfit that we have only been able to get on her once. Good thing I got a picture of it! She is not very girly at this point.

And this is the family room after everything was opened. Boy! What a mess.

Teagan declared the walkway needed to get sweeped - so off she went. Wow - she is so much like her Mommy it is a little scary.

And while Teagan is sweeping, Wyatt is playing soccer. Huh.

Here we are on Christmas Day...trying to get a good shot!