Getting Festive!

Well, we got our tree on Sunday. Every year we cut down our own tree and as much as I LOVE this tradition, I don't always participate. But this year I did help pick out the tree. We had a fun afternoon, first going out to lunch and then finding the tree and going on a hay ride. It was terribly cold, but sunny, so not too bad. Then Bob took the kids down to the water, we live on a lake, for some pictures. He did take a good one for our Christmas card this year. We took 120 pictures on Sunday and ended up with only three that had all three kids looking decent:)

We have gotten around 8 inches of snow in the last couple of days so Caelan is now on snow day #2. It was fun yesterday, though today has been a little more of a challenge and I have heard a lot more arguing... I am sure there will be school tomorrow.

I would like to know who thought it was a good idea to give Garrett a SAW?!?

The rest of these pictures were taken on the bay, behind our house. It is a bit of a hike out to the water, but it is there:)

Pictures from the last couple of weeks

This picture is from my "girls" weekend. On the left are Jill's two little ones, Lilly and Robert. Then there's Garrett, followed by Karin's boys, Carson and Gavin. Then, Caelan and Lia.

An early morning picture (sorry everyone:). Me, Kate, Jill and Karin

Lia on Thanksgiving.

Garrett jumping on Bob.

Grandpa Jansen taking Garrett for a ride.

The cousins on Thanksgiving

Garrett's "almost" sleepover with Amelia

What a Weekend

Well, we had a wonderful Thanksgiving with Bob's family. Garrett was a bit on the grumpy side, but Caelan enjoyed her cousins and Lia charmed everybody. I think that she has her Grandpa wrapped around her finger:)

On Friday, I went shopping. I have never done this. I was in line at Toys r Us at 4:30am and completed 99% of my Christmas shopping by 2pm.

Bob and I celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary on the 25th of November. It was the Saturday after Thanksgiving in 2000 that we got married. As a gift, I got tickets for us to go see Willie Nelson, one of Bob's favorite musicians. I knew that I would be stressed about leaving the kids, as it isn't ever done, so I worked it our perfectly. The babysitter would watch Lia and Caelan at home and Garrett would go have a sleepover at Amelia's house (his friend who is featured in many pictures on this blog). It was an hour drive to the concert, but we managed to eat dinner, do a little gambling, and then Billy Bob Thornton opened. We were about 45 minutes into Willie Nelson when a call came in on my cell phone (I am not sure how, as we had no reception). It was Becky saying that Garrett had been vomiting for the last hour. SO half way through "Crazy" we headed home. Poor Amelia, her first sleepover ended with Garrett puking in her bed... Oh, well. Hopefully I will get Bob to see Willie Nelson at some point!

Happy Birthday, Caelan!!!

Well, our girl turns SEVEN today!! Amazing! We had a party for her at the local children's museum on Saturday.

Exciting News

Lia is using the potty!!! She hasn't had a single accident today and we even ventured out to Chuck E. Cheese! YAHOO!!!!!!

Third Check-Up

Well our teeny-tiny girl is not so tiny anymore. She is up to 24.5 pounds (which is the 25% on the American growth chart) and 32.5 inches. She is five pounds heavier than she was in May and 3 inches taller! I knew she had grown, but I am pretty surprised at how much!

She has had a fairly constant cough and she now has an inhaler to see if that will help. It only seems to bother her if she is running around or being particularly active.

This week has been hard, as she came down with Garrett's cold and has been unusually crabby. I have gotten several looks from people, as I have had to carry her kicking and screaming in several public places. I know it is because she isn't feeling well- and she is two- but I am not used to her having such temper flare-ups. She seemed happier today.

We spent last weekend with my girlfriends. I will post some pictures soon. It was great- we went to elementary school and high school together. We brought the kids too.

Six Months as a Family of Five!

Tommorrow will be six months that we have had Lia! Hasn't she changed?!?

Taken in August, 2006 (I think).

August/September 2007 at the SWI (One of the referral photos)

April, 2008 at the SWI

With us in China, early May, 2008

Late May at home


June

July

August

September

October

Latest picture (taken on Halloween)

Caelan's Vote

Even after the numerous discussions about this election, we are pretty sure that at today's mock election at school, Caelan did not side with us...

Halloween

We had a very fun night. The weather was perfect- in the 60's- and the kids were troopers. Garrett has never been very enthusiastic about dressing up and trick-or-treating. When he was two, he made it to one house (because we pretty much made him) and only a block or two last year. This year he sat and ate candy in the wagon the last block, but did great for most of the night. I was anxious to see what Lia's reaction would be, but she was so excited. She loved wearing her costume and was thrilled every time she got another piece of candy.

Helping the Kreuer Family

The Kreuer Family Church has established the MJ Kreuer Memorial Fund to help the Kreuer Family. I can't even imagine what the family is going through- this is every family's worst nightmare. From what I understand, the Kreuer's are responsible for the life flight to another hospital, surgery and three days in the hospital, all out of their insurance network, as well as funeral expenses. If anybody else can make a donation, I know they would appreciate it.

Here is MJ's obituary.

If you do send a check, the church said to please indicate on the
check that it is for the MJ Kreuer Memorial Fund.

The address and phone number for the church is:
Central Baptist Church
1714 SE 36th Avenue
Ocala, Florida 34471
phone: 352 694-2212

A Terrible Tragedy

I am in shock writing this, but my friend, Carrie's sweet daughter, MJ, who I wrote about two posts ago passed away. While I have never met Carrie in person, she comments on every blog post of mine, and I consider her a good friend. Another of Carrie's friends posted about her here.

The Hair is Gone

Well, I cut off 8+ inches of hair and my package is in the mail to Pink Heart Funds, an organization that makes wigs from donated hair. I am sure I will post a picture soon:)

Here are some October ones in the meantime.

I Have Been Tagged

I have been tagged by my friend, Carrie. I am a regular reader on her password protected family blog, but here is her "adopting again" blog that is not password protected:) Carrie and I were both waiting for referrals with CCAI, she adopted 6 year old MJ a few months before we brought Lia home.

OK, seven random or weird facts that you might not know...

1. I get started on a lot of projects, just rarely finish anything: scrapbooking (I promise to give it another try Amy and Becky), quilting, baby shoes, soap making, candle making...

2. My house is usually a disaster. I love staying home with the kids, love to cook, love to play... but I have not yet mastered keeping a tidy house.

3. Bob has slapped me twice. Both stories are VERY funny:) The first time was when we were living in Alaska. It was Thanksgiving and we were coming home from a friend's. I was carrying a very heavy stoneware Pampered Chef pan with half a cake in it. It was icy, and just as I said to Bob, "Be careful, the driveway is slippery, " I flew backwards, cake pan flying up in the air and down on my head. I just laid there, stunned, when Bob came flying around the car, yelling. "Meghan, Meghan are you OK?" As I said, I was a bit stunned, and didn't respond right away, so he slapped me across the face to make sure I was conscious... I am laughing just thinking about it. The second time was when I was very, very pregnant with Garrett. I was laying in bed, sweating like a pig, wondering what possessed us to have a July baby. Bob was sleeping, when he sat up in bed (sound asleep) started yelling, "What is that?" while looking at my enormous belly, and then slapped my belly. He has no memory of it. As surprised as I was at the time, I even laughed about it then:)

4. I have been thinking of applying to law school, or minimally taking the LSAT to see if it is even a possibility. I would love to work with families, particularly on adoption related cases. I am pretty sure I don't want to return to teaching.

5. I would love to adopt another child, but at this point finances, home space (lack of space), and a reluctant husband are stopping me:)

6. I would love for us to live outside of the US at some point. I am not sure where, but somewhere warm. Living in Michigan and Alaska has me dreaming of warm climates.

7. The music that I most like to listen to (in no particular order): Dave Matthews Band, U2, Michael Jackson, Prince, and Stevie Wonder. I love watching The Office, Grey's Anatomy, House, Brothers and Sisters, Desperate Housewives and Private Practice.


And now I am going to tag the following friends (sorry!)
1. Amy C.
2. Karen S.
3. Nicole G.
4. Kim O. (Because she isn't busy enough....)
5. Amy
6. Leslie
7. Tracy

"Ba-Ba" Revisited

As you can see, we haven't gotten anywhere with the bottle in the last few weeks. She walked her "ba-ba" around the backyard for quite a while yesterday. Note the baby laying face-down in the grass:)

And the Winning Continues!

This time, my dad is the lucky one. He entered a raffle, buying only one ticket for $20, and was just informed on Friday night that he is the proud new owner of a 2009 Harley Davidson. My dad recently bought a motorcycle and rides around down at his cottage, but now he will have two of them! I know he has visions of him and my mother riding around together, but anyone who knows my mom knows that that won't happen. Here's a picture of the model that he won. Exciting!

I won!

This is pretty funny. On the way to school on Friday the radio station that we were listening to was having a "contest" to win a gift certificate to a local restaurant. The question was, "What was Jack Wagner's hit song that went to #2 on the charts?" If you knew me back in the mid-80's, you probably remember my infatuation with Jack Wagner and General Hospital... Well, I called in, answered "All I Need" and won the contest. The kids were pretty excited that they heard me on the radio. Although, Caelan and Garrett stretched my prize a bit, by the time they got to school I won a certificate to a restaurant and "A lot of money."

Family Day Tomorrow

For our friends, The O'Meara's. Bob and Kim worked together for a few years while we lived on the west side of the state. They are picking up their sweet daughter on Monday! I can't wait:)

Follow their trip here.