Winter Fun Snowmobiling!

Before it hit Sub-zero freezing around here... we managed to get out in the yard and play. Friday, December 19th, we had about 12 inches of snow dumped on us. Caleb's school was even cancelled! YEAH SNOW DAY! So we bundled up and headed out for some Winter Fun! Below is Kylie hanging out on the new sled from Grammy. GO BEARS!

Playing on the snow pile in our DRIVEWAY from it being plowed! Tim made a little track in the front yard for Caleb to ride his snowmobile around and around... and around! He did amazing! and Loved it! As he drove by, you could hear him making engine reving sounds... So cute! Kylie and I even took a few spins around on Tim's sled. Saturday, after I got off work, we went and played over at Aunt Tiffany and Uncle Ryan's. Tim made another track in their back yard, and Caleb drove around forever again with Cousin Paytin. They both did super!

Auntie TBird (Tiffany) took Kylie around for a few laps too! Kylie is so adventurous, and LOVED to be riding! After riding the kids all made snow angels, before we called it quits to go warm up inside!

All the stocking were hung by the chimney with care...

So we actually got everything put up the weekend of Thanksgiving, I'm just a little behind on posting it. Caleb and Kylie were great helpers for setting up all the trees. We put up FOUR total. One in the main family room, with the fireplace and stockings. That's our family tree. No picture of it for some reason. It has blue and white lights and blue, white and silver ornaments mostly. It also has the other special ornaments like our frst house, our first year together, the kids # christmas', and other random ones. :O)

Below is Caleb and Kylie helping me put together Tim's Tree - Tree number TWO. This one is in the pool table room. It's got all of Tim's fire department and tool ornaments. So that's Daddy's tree.

Caleb's tree is still all M&Ms and each year we try to add a few new ones. This year we found ELIVS M&Ms at Walgreens. Only bought 2 or the four, but they were so cute! Caleb's garland is even M&Ms. You can see Caleb's own stocking hanging in the corner of his window. It matches his tree skirt and Christmas Blanket from Auntie DEE DEE. This is Kylie's first year for a tree. It's a little smaller than Caleb [by two feet] but so far, she hasn't noticed or cared. She has little princess ornaments and hello kitty. We've added a Tinkerbell tree topper since I took the picture.

She's got her own Tree skirt, blanket and stocking too! Thank you Auntie DEE DEE!

Winder Wonderland Express

So if you have never been before, I would highly recommend the Wonderland Express exhibit at the Botanical Gardens. My mom and I took the kids on Black Friday [instead of going out to spend money :O), since I'm pretty much done shopping as it is!]. We had a blast. This is our second year going, and Kylie enjoyed it this year so much more too. It was really neat to see her face and she saw the trains going by. Here is her and one of the light houses. Here is some of Chicago's skyline. Navy Pier. See the Ferris Wheel!

Here a shot of the American Girl store and Crate and Barrel. And Mine and Kylie's personal favorite train, the Ladybug!

Here is another one of the kids looking at Navy Pier.And here is Solider Field.

This is the Holiday Express train that is actually outside the exhibit. Kylie chased it aruond and around. Almost more exciting for her than inside the actual exhibit. And the kids just being GOOFY!

It's snack day again!!

Okay, so the fact that coming up with WHAT to make was quite the discussion with Caleb. I asked what he wanted to make "foodwise" and he said little tables, because that is what they sit and eat at everyday. I was really pushing the THANKSGIVING theme, and that's what he REALLY WANTED.

However, after careful strategic discussion with him... :) we finally decided on turkey cookies. So we made them last night, since tomorrow is snack day! Below is a picture of the final product. The eyes ended up being green, desipte the fact that Caleb really wanted them to be BLUE since that is the color of HIS eyes. He settled for Green since that is the color of my eyes [and we only have GREEN frosting!!]

Too cute not to share...

Here is a little clip of Kylie's bedtime prayer:

Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep.

The Angels watch me through the night, until I wake in Morning Light. AMEN!

Christmas pictures already!

So I broke down and went back to Sears anyways, despite the attitude I got from the one girl that I dealt with last time. And, boy am I glad I did! The pictures turned out GREAT as usual! Still waiting for the REAL prints to come in, but here is a quick sneak peak!!

Halloween 2008

We went for an early trick or treat at Grammy and Grampy's after Calebs' make up gymnastics class. :O) Adorable Costumes!! Trick or treating was a sucess in our neighorhood as well, just over two hours of riding around in the power wheel jeep.

Our Halloween party at the house was also a GREAT turnout! and a fabulous time! Lots of great costumes and SO MUCH FUN!

Kylie singing one of her MANY songs! So Talented :O)

Here is Kylie singing one of her JAMS!

Carving Pumpkins 2008

Tim and Caleb worked on Caleb's Pumpkin, and Kylie and I were in charge of the other! Then, Tim asks ... do you think your head could fit inside! What a NOVEL IDEA!! :O)

Caleb even worked on some carving of his own, with a scrap of pumpkin!

The finished Products!!

Caleb and Lelo - Created by Caleb & Kylie

So after our lunch with Auntie Kelly, we took a little trip up the Westfield Mall in Vernon Hills. We've had a gift card to use at Build - A - Bear for quite some time, and I figured it was about time to use it. So we did. Grammy came with us. Caleb and Kylie each picked out the bear they wanted to stuff, then got to take turns using the big machine and foot pedal to fill them. Caleb went first [since he was born first... he's been using that line a lot lately]. After stuffing the bear, you get o pick out a heart and place it inside too! [Sounds are optional too, but cost more] Caleb rubber his bear's heart on his own heart and muscles to make sure he was nice and strong. Then, the worker sewed him up!

Kylie's Turn. She did pretty much the same thing, although she had a little more difficulty with the foot pedal. Grammy helped some! She danced around like a ballerina with her bear's heart! TOO CUTE!!! Stuffed and ready to go, we moved on! The kids got to give their bears a bath before we picked them out something to wear and named them. That was too cute! The little foot pedal again to simulate the water flowing, the little brushes for them to brush the bears! All in a real bathtub for them! So then we picked out a shirt for each bear, which was quite a dilema it self. Caleb wanted a full outfit, but we were sticking to just a shirt this time. Kylie picked a cute pink one, and Caleb FINALLY decided on a blue striped button down, like him and daddy wear. Now, Tim for the names!!! First Name Caleb picked was "Tee". As we proceeded with making the birth certificate and gave him one last chance to change his mind, he did! He wanted to name the bear - Caleb :O)

Kylie on the other hand was set from the start.... She wanted her bear's name "Lelo" I am PRETTY sure that was her attempt at Yellow... but Lelo sounds so cute coming from her :) so Lelo it is!!

Happy Birthday Auntie Kelly!

We took a trip down to Evanston to have a nice Day-early birthday lunch with Auntie Kelly! We went to this fun little place call the Davis Street Fishmarket! Very yummy! Caleb did a great job of taking a picture of the rest of us! [below] We had a great time! Kylie even got a chance to shoot a picture, with a little assistance [below]

Caleb was just amazed with the construction site across the street. Particularly the Crane and the elevator. Kylie gave a Kelly a big kiss goodbye, and we head back to drop her off at work Happy Birthday Auntie Kelly!!