Adios 2010

In less than two hours it will be 2011. Amazing! I remember in high school when I thought 2010 was so far away and now here we are saying goodbye to it. This year was a good year for our family and we were blessed in many ways. When I look back fondly and remember this year, here are a few things I will remember the most,

*celebrating Josh's first birthday
*the kids and I spending spring break in California with my grandparents
*celebrating Eric's 30th birthday in Vegas
*Emma and I going to North Carolina with my parents to see Dani and Kevin
*Emma starting preschool
*finding a new sitter for the kids
*visiting California again in the summer, this time with Eric
*seeing our goddaughter baptized
*sharing in the good news that our closest friend got engaged
*having our new church building finished
*having the whole family together for Christmas

Goodbye 2010 and hello 2011, here is to another good year!

Merry Christmas

Well another Christmas has come and gone. Sometimes it is crazy how you plan, prepare, and shop for this day and then it's over in a flash. This Christmas was a whirlwind of family, presents, and thanking the Lord for the gift of His Son.

We began Christmas Eve at my parent's house and were blessed to have all the immediate family in one place. Eric arrived first with the kids while I picked up a special early present for them (which was originally going to be from Santa but he was just not sure how to deliver her). After playing with their new dog for a bit, the cousins arrived and then true chaos began. We ate dinner in the extremely small dining area and it was very cozy trying to fit 11 chairs and 1 highchair in that area. After dinner the gift giving began and there were presents everywhere!

Once presents were opened, we headed home to put out a cookie and milk for Santa and a carrot Emma peeled by herself for the reindeer to share (because sharing is better according to Emma). Eric and I were actually in bed by 10:30 which was a Christmas miracle of its own, mostly because I was feeling so icky from a cold and ear infection I had been fighting but also because I thought ahead this year and had everything already wrapped.

Christmas morning was exciting as Emma is at the age of true understanding now. I always thought she got it before, and she did understand somethings but this year she got it 100%. She was adorable as she came into the playroom where Josh and I (also the tree) were. She started jumping up and down and shouting. As she got more excited, Josh also got more excited. Before long they were both jumping up and down chanting Merry Christmas, the excitement woke Eric up and soon the four of us were exchanging gifts. By 8:30 we were headed to The Hildwine's house to exchange gifts and eat a yummy breakfast (everything Eric's mom makes is yummy). We didn't stay too long, Iyla and Josh were getting tired and Eric's parents were flying to Florida in a few hours to spend a few days with his grandparents so it worked out to have a quick morning together.

After some much needed early naps we headed back over to my parent's house for dinner. It was much quieter at the house this time around since we were minus a few members of the family. After dinner, Josh went to bed while Emma played with her cousin Abby and my parents, Eric, and I played a card game.

It was a beautiful Christmas and I am grateful to have spent it with the people I love the most. It is overwhelming at times going from place to place and every year I think to myself how can I make this easier but really family is part of what the holiday is about. As we have been teaching Emma, God gave us the gift of baby Jesus and that is why we celebrate Christmas by giving gifts, and I truly know the best gift I have been given is the gift of family.

Emma and Josh's Christmas gift from us

Christmas Eve with the Wiemann's

Josh with my dad's glasses on

Emma's bow board made by Grammie

Christmas morning with the Hildwine's

Caramels

It is a tradition in Eric's family to make caramels every year at Christmas time from a handed down family recipe. Eric and his sister did it when they were little with his mom and Eric began doing it when we got married. For the past two years Emma has helped out and this year Josh joined in the fun. There really isn't much for the kids to do yet since the majority of the work happens on a hot stove but we dressed them up in aprons anyway and let them put the ingredients in the pot. Both had fun and "cleaned" the dishes afterward. This year all three batches turned out great (not too hard, not too soft) and I think Eric has finally figured out the perfect caramel. I love this tradition that our family is carrying on and I also love sharing it with our neighbors who wait for Christmas caramels every year!

Christmas card

Each year Eric takes the picture we put in our Christmas card and each year he does a really good job. It's not an easy task being that he is taking the picture and in it at the same time but I always love his work. Eric has a talent for photography and knows how to use the light of the day to his advantage. I know that if he could, he would do photography full time but the day to day of life doesn't allow him much time to pursue the business. Maybe in time as the kids get older or when we win the lottery and he doesn't have to have a job anymore. Until then though, I love that we will always have fantastic pictures of our family and of the kids growing up.
By the way, that is cookie in Josh's mouth! The only way the little booger would smile at the camera was if I bribed him. See my hand holding his? That is me covering the cookie up!

Family pictures

Last week our friend Carlos took some pictures of us. I love Eric's pictures and he is a wiz at managing to get a great shot of our family while being in the photo too but it was nice to have someone else take the pictures for once. Here are a few of my favorite!

Santa

This morning we took the kids to see Santa Claus, they were both so excited when Eric told them where we were going! Josh ran around for a good fifteen minutes saying Santa over and over again and Emma kept rehearsing what she was going to tell him she wanted for Christmas.

After getting dressed and driving to Bass Pro Shops (they allow you to bring your own camera) we got in line to have the kids sit with the big guy. We got really lucky, there were only a few kids ahead of us and I think we only waited 5 minutes. As I walked both kids to Santa, I could feel panic setting in, Emma pulled back a bit as we approached and Josh started to softly whine. By the time both were on his lap, Josh was all smiles and a meltdown was somehow avoided. Emma smiled for the pictures too but refused to talk to Santa and only acknowledged him once off his lap and when he gave her a candy cane.

Eric was able to get some really good pictures, the kids had fun in Santa's workshop playing with all the toys set out, and best of all it was free!

Danielle

It was recently brought to my attention that I left out my little sister on my last post regarding the things that I am thankful for. I apologize to Danielle for leaving her out and therefore this post is entirely devoted to her.

My younger sister and I are almost three years apart and growing up I was lucky enough to have her as a best friend. I remember many times in our childhood that I acted like I wanted nothing to do with her but inside I always knew how lucky I was to have her.

Danielle is the kind of person you would want to be friends with. She has a good heart and is uses it to love those close to her. She is extremely faithful and good at holding others accountable. She is a good listener and is a good person to joke around with. She is always available when you really need her and will even talk to you past her 10:00 pm North Carolina no call curfew if you need. She is good at her job and works hard to stay current on all things pharmacy related. The list goes on but basically, she is one of a kind.

I am very thankful I get to call such an amazing woman my little sister and hope that she knows how much I do appreciate her.

Thankful

I am so thankful for many things but here are a few things I am thankful for the most this year.

* a husband who puts up with my moodiness and spending of his money
* my job
* my incredibly smart daughter
* my mom who is my best friend
* new friendships and old ones renewed
* Tuesday night Bible Study
* my adorable cuddly son
* Fringe
* my dad who is the hardest working person I know
* freedom
* grandparents for the kids that love spending time with them
* play dates
* In-laws who have welcomed me into their family like I am one of their own
* nieces and a nephew who play so wonderfully with their cousins
* My God who loves me even with all my faults

Fever

I can't believe that I haven't blogged about Emma's mysterious fevers yet, the stupid things!

It started back in February when she had a random high (almost 104 degrees) fever with no other symptoms for about 36 hours. After that, the fever made its reappearance in March while we were in California but this time it was accompanied by pneumonia so, I thought nothing of the fever because she was truly sick. Then, the dumb thing came back in April, May, and June. I took her to the doctor every time worried that something was wrong, but the doctor kept telling me she was fine. By June, I was fed up with the doctor's attitude toward the fact that my daughter each month for the past 5 months had had a 104 degree fever for 36 hours straight and that they were so raging, I had to piggyback Tylenol and Ibuprofen every 3 hours or she was burning up. In the feverish 36 hours, she doesn't eat and her sleep is affected (which is the most awful part because Emma requires a great deal of sleep to be a pleasant being).

After the June fever, I sought out a new pediatrician for the kids and ended up finding one who got us in soon after to discuss the situation with me. I felt so welcome at this new office, the doctor listened to every concern I had and made my concerns feel valid instead of ridiculous. He ordered a complete work up on Emma and happily everything came back negative. That was in July and then the fevers seemed to go away.

That is, until last month. :o( The stupid (how many times can I call fever a name?) fever came back last month and just again this weekend. The poor girl, I feel so awful for her, she is truly miserable when she gets them and nothing I try to do helps. I guess it's back to the doctor for us and hopefully this time around we can find out what is going on, for Emma's sake and mine.

Ketchup

After 20 months of life, Josh has discovered the goodness of ketchup. At first he wasn't too sure, but after a few tries he decided he was a fan. By the end of his meal, fan status was upgraded to obsessive as he licked his plate absolutely clean of all ketchup and then proceeded to beg for more.

Crazy kid!

Apple Picking

On Sunday we left Asheville for Sky Top Orchard for apple picking. I am not sure who was more excited to pick apples, Emma or I. I envisioned huge trees full of apples but I quickly learned that most of the ideas my little sister had planted in my head about this trip were not true.

After driving another hour to get to the orchard we reached our destination and grabbed our baskets to begin picking apples. Unfortunately it was hotter than (well you know) and we were all in sweaters and pants (thanks to Dani who told us it would be cold). That was the first bummer, the second was that the apple trees had been pretty picked over. We walked the entire way down the orchard in the heat to finally find apples and by this point we had all turned on Dani and her fantastic apple picking idea. Luckily Emma didn't care about any of this and was happy to climb up in the trees with Dani and get apples to fill her basket. She had a great time and in the end it's all that matters, even though Dani is officially banned from planning our trips.

Dictionary of Josh

Josh's language has really exploded over the last few weeks and it is so fun to hear all of the new things that he is saying. It has been very different than when Emma began speaking because she picked up words and phrases almost perfectly from about 13 months old. I still have people that cannot believe her age because of her fantastic vocabulary, while Josh on the other hand takes a little deciphering. Here are some helpful hints if you need them.

Mee Mouse=Mickey Mouse
Boo Boo=Iyla (his littlest cousin)
Bawnee=Barney
Ween oh=window
Moan-ee=Manny (Handy Manny to be exact)
Seuss=shoes
Side=outside
Bee=bear
Ba=bath
Gammie=Grammie
Woof=dog
Stina=Christina (a neighbor)
How=house
Eee=eat
Jama=pajamas

I am sure there are plenty of others not coming to mind right now but you get the idea. I love listening to the little guy talk, he is such a sweetie!

Asheville

The day after flying in to North Carolina we woke up and packed the sweet minivan we rented and drove up to Asheville. Dani was very excited to show us the leaves changing colors and I was equally excited to see them. Unfortunately, mother nature did not get the memo that I was coming to see the very thing I had been waiting years to see and only some trees were changing. Oh well, just another reason to go back next year.

After about a 2 hour drive we made it to the top of the Blue Ridge Parkway and had a picnic lunch. The weather was perfect in the shade but in the direct sunlight was a bit warm so we didn't stay for too long. As we drove around the parkway we made a few stops to hike (I use that word loosely) some trails. Emma was very into the idea of hiking and loved climbing the broken down trees and rocks. My dad also loved the idea of hiking but instead of following the trails he thought it would be quicker to make his own path and cut through wherever he could.

We spent sometime in the town of Asheville later on in the day. Asheville is a great deal like Sedona, it's an artist community and very free spirited. We looked around the shops, played in the town square, and ate dinner. Later that night after Emma was in bed, Dani, Kevin, Dad, and I hit the breweries, and believe me this little town has plenty of them. We found one that served Lambic so Dani and I were happy and another that served a Pumpkin Ale which made Dad happy. Around 1 we headed back to the hotel to get some much needed sleep for our apple picking adventure the next day.

By the way, I froze my booty off that night because my darling daughter stole all the covers while we slept. :o)

After lunch

The trees

Hiking


Emma's caterpillar (1 of 50)
In the town square
Eating dinner (they had the best homemade blackberry jam and biscuits)

North Carolina

Emma and I had a great time in North Carolina and can't wait to go back again next year.

We began our trip with a 6:00 am flight (not quite sure what I was thinking when I booked this) but luckily Emma was so excited that she wasn't cranky at all. She did amazingly well on the flight to Detroit and about the time she was getting stir crazy, we landed and had an hour lay over. The terminal in Detroit was so small that an hour lay over was just enough time to get lunch and be on our next flight to Charlotte. The flight to Charlotte started off a bit rough, it happened to be right at nap time and Emma was exhausted but couldn't fall asleep so she was a bit weepy. My mom and I decided to switch seats for this flight and having Grammie next to her seemed to do the trick. The flight was short and before we knew it, we had gotten the rental car and were pulling up to Dani's apartment.

After lots of hugs and opening her birthday present from Aunt Dani and Uncle Kevin (a new princess sleeping bag), Emma went down for her over due nap. While she napped, Dani and Kevin took me out to show me around Charlotte. The houses there are adorable and the trees are fantastic, it would be a nice place to live. We stayed out for some time and I was amazed that my parents hadn't called to tell me Emma was awake. The poor girl was so tired that I had to wake her up out of a 3+ hour nap so we could go to the farmer's market to pick out pumpkins and go to dinner.

The local farmer's market was huge and filled with pumpkins. Emma was so excited by all of the different types of pumpkins and I have to say that I was too. She helped Dani pick out three pumpkins for her house and my mom went nuts buying all kinds of fruits and vegetables which were all delicious.

For dinner, Dani and Kevin chose a Cajun restaurant called Razoo's. Dani was excited to go there because of their fish bowl drinks and of course we got one to split. The thing was delicious and it's easy to see how one person could knock one down alone, which I think my dad may have done because he hoarded the drink! Our food took forever to get to us but when it did, there were no complaints because it was yummy. We even ended up trying their alligator, which I can say really does taste like chicken.

After dinner we went back to the apartment for Emma to head to bed and the rest of us to get ready for our trip the next morning to Asheville. When I finally crawled into bed I was so tired, it didn't even matter that Emma was sprawled out all over my side.

Emma on the plane

At the farmer's market

At Razoo's

Look at that drink (3 people right?)
Guess not!