Neighborhood Xmas Partyq

Every year our neighborhood home owner's association sponsors a Xmas Party for the members. This year, I was in charge of it. We had a DJ, Santa & Mrs. Claus, crafts and food. It was quite a feat, but I had some great help. However, I am glad that it is over. The girls were able to meet Santa, but I wasn't able to snap a perfect picture, but this is as good as I got. (Jake was sleeping when this was taken). A lot better than last year - Anna cried and Celie didn't even get close to him.

Delinquent

I can't believe that I have been so delinquent with my postings.

Life has been a little crazy with the holidays upon us. Jake is now mobile - like running and climbing mobile and we spend all of our time chasing him and the girls around the house.

Work is going well for me. I really like the group of guys that I work with and it has been nice to ease into the position. I am hopeful that things will pick up after the holidays. There are some signs that they will.

The girls are busy with Pre-school and we will be enjoying their Holiday Program on Thursday. I am hoping to get it on video and will be able to post something after wards.

Sorry for the delay in everything - However, hopefully, we were one of your first x-mas cards this year. :)

Fun in the Leaves

The weather has been unseasonably GORGEOUS for this time of year. I will TAKE IT!! So, we have been taking the kids outside so they can enjoy the weather and we can get a little yard work done - yeah right. But this morning, I took the opportunity to take some pictures of the kids hanging around (literally - Celie) and playing in the leaves. It is amazing how big they are getting.

On the Move

Here is Jake walking in a pile of leaves in our front yard. He is walking all over the house. Well, I should say, that he walks about 15 steps, then falls down, then gets up and does it all over again - and again and again. He is definitely on the move now.

Not so Dash

Poor thing. She was such a trooper keeping up with the big kids. She didn't even finish her M&Ms.

An Incredibles Halloween

When I asked Celie what she wanted to be for Halloween, she told me about 5 different things. Finally, after watching the Incredibles one night (a Disney Movie), Celie decided that for Halloween, we all should be the Incredibles for Halloween. She would be Violet, Anna would be Dash, Jake would be baby Jack Jack, Bob would be, well, Bob - or Mr. Incredible and I would be Elastigirl. So, before I put a ton of effort into the costumes, I waited to make sure that she repeated this request and that Anna did not come up with any request of her own. I finished the costumes this morning - just in time for Halloween.

We were very lucky to have the Deliberato's over for dinner. They have 2 children - twins and they just turned 5. They were dressed as Darth Vader and Sleeping Beauty. They went trick or treating with us around the neighborhood. We had a great time and was glad that we could share the experience with others.

We received several comments on our costumes. I believe they were a hit. If you haven't seen the Incredibles, we highly recommend it. There are a lot of parallels. Being Superheros and all. :)

Halloween @ School

The girls had a Halloween Parade at school. Me, being the nervous parent - more nervous for Bob having to deal with both girls and Jake at the parade - thought it probably wouldn't be a great idea for the girls to have complicated costumes - because if they LOVED them too much, then they wouldn't want to take them off - and the parade was only for 15 minutes. So, Celie decided that it was OK for her to be KaiLan - who is a character from Nick Jr. She is a chinese and has a lot of friends and she speaks English and Chinese - Celie will often call things by their chinese name. So, here is a picture of the girls - with Jake in the KaiLan outfits - Anna decided that it would be fun to be her too. Didn't Bob do a great job on their pigtails & bows? I am very proud of him. And Jake for surviving being between the two.

Jake - the Man

Even with a bad cold, snotty running nose, the little fella is still a pretty happy camper. This picture was taken of him about a week or so ago. His cold is better now and he is still a pretty happy camper - most of the time.

My New Job

I started my new job yesterday. It was pretty uneventful. The guys that I will be supporting seem like a great bunch. We all went out to lunch yesterday so it was nice to get to talk to all of them.

The commute wasn't as bad (knock on wood) as I thought it would be. I had heard HORROR stories of the commute and I think that anyone that has commuted in/around a big city would laugh in comparison.

I finally got my computer this afternoon, so I was able to get a few things taken care of before leaving and will be able to really start working tomorrow - hopefully. Or at least take all of the training that I need to take. I think there are about 6 different training modules and tests I have to take for my division at the bank.

I am looking forward to getting to know my way around the bank and helping out. The really cool thing about working at KeyTower (you can google it) is the Starbucks in the lobby, a bank branch on the 1st floor, a Marriott connected to the tower and a cafeteria on the 10th floor. It is pretty cool. I almost feel important.

More to come as soon as I know more - Oh yes, if anyone would like more information about KeyBank products, just let me know - I can refer you to the appropriate personnel and hopefully, they will give the awesome customer service they are supposed to be known for.

Fall View

There are two places along the road near where we live that I judge how fall is going by the colors and density of the leaves. Every year I try to take a picture in relatively the same spot - just to compare. Here is this year's pic.

Halloween Decorations

To keep Celie occupied this past weekend, so she wouldn't wake up Jake during his nap and she would leave Bob alone so he could watch the football game, we decided to decorate for Halloween. We ended up doing quite well, though most of our stuff is in the dining room, we did put some things throughout the house.

The second pic down - Celie wanted to write a sign that said KEEP OUT so that is what she did and then we hung it in the window and than hung the bats up. It was perfect.

Hopefully, we will make it to a pumpkin patch this weekend and get some pumpkins to decorate the outside.

Both girls were definitely into it. I am really looking forward to decorating for X-mas now.

Look Mom No Hands

Jake has been flirting with danger lately. No matter how close you get the tray to his high chair to him, he seems to manage to wiggle about and STAND UP in his highchair. Yes, there are straps on the high chair, but they do not work right - too many contortions or something from before. Anyway. We needed another feeding plan. So, we decided to find the booster seat. He LOVES it. We can strap him in and he is able to sit at the table with us and he feels like his is part of the family - which he is of course. He loves to feed himself and we are giving him more and more grown up foods too. He is definitely a good eater. Hmmmm. Wonder who he takes after in that department?

Fall Photo shoot

I absolutely love getting pictures of the kids in the fall and then getting a good one and using it in our x-mas card/letter. I had planned on trying to take it this year with coordinating outfits, everyone looking at me and smiling. HA! Dream world, I know, but I do believe that I got some great pics of the kids - what do you think?

Busy Weekend

This past weekend was pretty busy for us. We did a lot and we had a great time. Many posts are to come with pics. It has been such a relief to worry about just the house and the kids and Bob and not have to worry about trying to find a job.

I am looking forward to starting my new job tomorrow. I am very excited - I am a little nervous about the commute - only because I am not sure how it will go tomorrow, but we shall see - more about that later.

Snuggle Bunny

I do not remember the girls being such snuggle bunnies - not like Jakers. The girls would fall asleep on our shoulders or chest, but tonight Jake just wanted to be held. Every time I put him on my lap, he would turn toward me and crawl up onto my chest. He wasn't sleeping, just looking up me, 1/2 asleep - almost drunk like - and smiling. How could I resist such good cuddling time with him. I just enjoyed my little snuggle bunny.

Last Day at GDFH

Friday was my last day at the Funeral Home. It was a bittersweet day. There was a funeral in the morning and it was sad to be leaving such great people. Everyone was very sweet and they had a farewell luncheon for me. They also got me this gorgeous bouquet and gifts for the kids. It was very sweet. It was hard leaving, but the need to have benefits and a little more money to live on was overwhelming. I am thankful for the wonderful people I met and worked with and look forward to seeing them soon again soon.

Camp Out

Celie and Anna wanted to camp out in the living room. So, on Friday night, they got in their sleeping bags and I had a pillow and blanket (& the couch) and we camped out - complete with a movie and popcorn too.

When Bob came downstairs with Jake, Anna woke up and went upstairs to lay down in bed (smart girl). So, Bob thought that he would try to get Celie back to sleep by camping out with her. It didn't work - but it made for a great photo op.

Funny Faces

Whenever I am trying to take a picture of Celie, she always does a BIG CHEESE smile and then asks to see the picture - Since I have a digital camera, the photo shows up for a brief second on the back panel. Tonight, when I was snapping some pictures, she wouldn't stand still and kept making funny faces. Here is a good one of her and a somber one of Anna.

Jake

Aren't you all glad that I finally got a job so that I have more time to post pics and items of the kids rather than look for jobs? Yeah, me too.

Here are some pics of Jake trying to eat his fishing pole. I will try to get some better ones of him.

Celie school work

I love seeing all of the projects that the girls do. We are devising a gallery system to display them. I am also going to take pictures of them so that I can have the memory without HAVING to save the real thing. I definitely want to keep the EXTRA EXTRA special ones. I have to say, I think the pig might win it. It might be a keeper.

Another cute idea - a scarecrow. Celie was very proud that she made it all by herself.
The cute pig in mud.