Gary and the Wedding Crashers

Ethan loved licking the frosting off all of his cookies!
The kids helped decorate the Christmas tree Friday afternoon.
The next Tiger Woods?
We crashed a wedding to look at this beautiful Christmas

lights display at a local park.

We enjoyed decorating cookies with Grandma and Great Grandma

Rosie on Thanksgiving morning.

Kenzie's pet snake, Gary

It's still November, so I'm not too late posting my Thanksgiving trip pictures! This week has been a crazy one filled with nothing much. Getting unpacked from one trip to turn around and get packed for another one hasn't been a barrel of fun, but we are packing for DISNEY WORLD! Yay!! So I won't complain anymore. tee hee We had a lovely time in Tallahassee with Matt's family. The kids had a blast playing outside. They were outside from sun up to sun down. Mackenzie found a temporary pet snake that she affectionately named Gary, and Ethan ran around in circles trying to catch butterflies. Friday night we went to a local city park where they have a beautiful Christmas lights display every year. There was a wedding reception in progress, but we went in anyway. We really weren't conspicuous with two loud children screaming at the lights and a 90 year, wheelchair-bound grandma followed by 4 adults. No, I don't think anyone noticed us. Just so you know, we did let Gary go back home. *No animals were harmed in the filming of this project.*

The turkeys are waiting for takeoff.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! We thought we were leaving tonight, but Matt is not home from work yet... so we will leave before the buttcrack of dawn. At least there's a 24 hour Starbucks around the corner here.
On a different note, Olivia is home!!! She went home today, and Mommy and Daddy are very nervous first time parents. She is doing well, and we are all very thankful that she is home. Hopefully we will get a chance to see her on our way home on Saturday. Have a great holiday and eat lots of turkey!

So cute!!!

I am smitten! I met my new baby niece today, and she is precious. She is in the NICU, but she is doing so well. She loves to take her milk from the bottle, and she's up to taking 20 cc's. She was under the bili lights today having a little tanning session, but other than that, she doesn't have any issues! Praise the Lord!!! She literally looks like one of Mackenzie's baby dolls. She is so perfectly formed and looks just like her daddy. She has lots of black hair, and she makes lots of funny faces. Just like Mackenzie was, she does not like to be messed with. She gets very upset and turns red. She was awake for awhile when we were there. Mackenzie was so excited to see her. My sister and Mike were really anxious to see Mackenzie's face when she saw Livi for the first time. They were not disappointed because Mackenzie's face lit up. Unfortunately, I was not allowed to go into the NICU but I got lots of window time. My grandma came with us on the road trip and she did get to hold her. Ay dios mio, que linda! We made it back ok and I can't wait to see her again. Please pray that she will be able to come home this week. My sister is really upset tonight because she has to leave O behind tomorrow. As I was printing a picture of her tonight, I thought of Psalm 139:13-14. Olivia was wonderfully made! p.s.-Matt is definitely in trouble!!

Whataday

In Tallahassee there is a little burger joint called Whataburger-well yesterday I had whataday. And so did my sister! Never did she think on Sunday that this week would hold her daughter's birthday. Olivia was born at 2:38 a.m. in Melbourne Regional Hospital. The neonatologist told her that she would stay in the hospital for a week to ten days. I haven't heard anymore about her-weight, length, condition. I am anxious to know but I know that everyone is still sleeping up there. For me, yesterday was just one of those days where nothing seems to go right. But today is another day, and I pray it is a better one. If not, I will probably end up gaining 10 pounds from all the "nervous eating". Mackenzie and I are planning on driving up to see mommy and baby tomorrow, so I will post some pictures of Olivia this weekend.

Thankful

M & E crack me up. We got some hand-me-downs for Mackenzie, and she had fun going through them and trying stuff on. (Like someone told me recently, God's economy is awesome.) When she got her hands on the black chunky heeled Hello Kitty boots she was in little girl heaven! Ethan, of course, wanted to wear the fuzzy pink Barbie boots. Much to Matt's chagrin, I gave in and let him. As I stood in the kitchen making dinner and heard the continuous clunk clunk clunking of the boots and saw how excited she was, I felt so thankful for these vibrant children! I also got a little teary eyed seeing her run around in the sweet little hanky dress that I've seen her best friend wear on numerous occasions, but that's another subject for another post. We are so thankful for our family and friends! We love you.

New looks

You like the new look? I was inspired to change my blog because it seems I am surrounded by impending new looks. Not really. But one that is really big right now. It is now 10 minutes into the FSU vs. Wake Forest game, and my dear husband decided to make a bet with a coworker over the outcome of the game. As many of you college football fans and Nole lovers/haters know, we stink! So, what did dearest Matt bet? Let's just say, you may need to wear your sunglasses when you're near him outside because the glare will be intense..... I am so hoping that I don't have to post of picture of this on this beautiful updated blog, but on the other hand, I could have lots of fun with it too!

Getting Ready for Olivia Norton John

Auntie's bump

Emily, Auntie, Kenzie and me

My family and I got together to throw Kristen and her li'l Olive a shower. It was a small group of us, but we had a nice time. Olivia Rachel is due New Year's Eve. We are so excited to see her! I am especially anxious to hold her. Maybe that will cure my baby fever...

.

Fall Fun

Our freshly carved jack 0' lantern

Was Zsa Zsa and Pops' house built on an ancient Indian burial ground?

Kenzie helping me make caramel apples. Yummy!

Mackenzie and her classmates are ready for Halloween.
As the kids get older I keep having more and more fun! I feel like an 85 year old woman saying this, but I do feel like a kid again when I see K & E so excited. This is just a hodge podge of pictures from our weekend and today's Halloween party at school. Enjoy! How does the witch keep her hair in place? scare spray

Early Tricks-or-Treats

Today we got an early start on our trick or treating. We simply don't get quite enough candy every Halloween-haha! A shopping center in Cooper City has a trick or treating event where each store passes out candy and they have a raffle for prizes. There's also a costume contest. We didn't see the little stripper boy this year, but we did see some singing divas, lots of pirates me matey, and even more pretty princesses. There were even a few dressed up doggies. We met up with a couple of our neighbors and had a great time. Why couldn't the pirate get in to see the movie? Because it was rated argggg. Happy Halloween! Now where are the kids' candy bags? It's time for mommy and daddy to raid them....

We have made it a birthday tradition each year to take Mackenzie to the pumpkin patch to pick a birthday pumpkin. This year Zsa Zsa and Pops came with us. It was great fun picking out a birthday pumpkin!

5 years ago today...

Isn't that how every mother starts their stories about their children's birthdays? Gosh, five years ago if I'd thought about Mackenzie being five years old, I'm sure it seemed like light years away! I took out her first picture today to look at-wow! Thinking back on that day there are so many emotions tied into her birth. I had to write it all down months later. I thought it would be therapeutic, and mostly it was. I am so grateful that God has grown this little preemie into an intelligent, beautiful, big five year old! She's come a long way from that li'l furry red baby. :)

Fun with Wevi

Wevi? Wevi who? That's Levi in Ethonics. We spent the day with Levi and had a great time! Everyone played nicely (i.e. Ethan didn't hit anyone), and, of course, my kids were in kiddy heaven being at the Hunter's house. When we first ran outside to play, Ethan and Mackenzie were running back and forth from the trampoline to the swings to the trikes to the sandbox, not really sure what they wanted to play with first. We enjoyed playing Cariboo, and Levi kicked Ethan's butt in a game of chess. Mackenzie discovered Abby's dress up clothes. Wow! We had a fashion show with those. By the end of the afternoon, about 10 minutes before Mary came home, Levi curled up on the couch with his b squared (binky and blanket) and fell asleep. Ethan did the same on the way home. We were all tuckered out from a great day with Wevi!

What's a pajama party?

Mackenzie found out what a "pajama party" was when Abby came to spend the night on Friday. It was her first official slumber party, and she had a blast! Here's a list of the happenings:
*dress up with lots of bling
*painting flower pot pumpkins
*pizza, pizza
*playing at the park
*trading pajamas for the night
*watching a movie in a tent
*eating lots and lots and lots (candy, popcorn, ice cream -oh my!)
* bedtime and lots of giggles after lights out
*waking up before dawn (5:55 to be exact)
*playing Chutes and Ladders under the bed (?)
*pumpkin patch fun and searching for the biggest pumpkin
*more fun on the playground and being chased around by the big dragon (aka Matt)
Abby was a joy to have over, and Mackenzie was sad to see her go. Her first pajama party was definitely a memorable event!

Busy busy bumblebees

What a busy week we had last week! The whole fam damily got together on Saturday to celebrate "Abuela's" 80th birthday. We dined together at the Olive Garden, and then we went back to Zsa Zsa and Pops' house to have ice cream cake. Yum!! Auntie and Uncle Mike were able to come down for the celebration so we got to spend time with them. We had so much fun with them that we went up to Palm Bay to visit with them the next weekend! They only live about an hour away from Orlando, so we all went to Universal and Islands of Adventure on Saturday. Olivia went on her first caro-suess-al ride (although in utero), and while that was the only ride Auntie could ride she watched Ethan while we rode some other fun rides. (Kenzie will tell you that her favorite was the boat ride, and Ethan's favorite was ET.) It was a long, fun day. Overall, it was a great weekend! Thankfully, this week is slower, but next week is another story...... I think I'm going to throw away my calendar. :)

Mackenzie's first read

Mackenzie is reading her first book independently! The Fat Cat was given to her by her teacher.

It's a Beautiful Day

Wow! Wasn't it a gorgeous day!!!! We went to the pool today (which many of our northern pals can't do anymore until next May)and I tired out the kids. I get a little jealous when I hear about the beautiful, cool weather that is starting up north. But I wouldn't have traded today's weather for any of that! But it would be nice for it to be a little cooler here at night....

Underoos

Remember the Underoos? We never had any of them in our house (with two little girls) but I do remember seeing them being sold in Publix. Ethan had on lots of different pairs of "underoos" today. The training has begun. I think I got up all of the puddles from today. I hope. Let me go check.......

Go Noles

I have just one thing to say about last night's game....

It's all about the U baby!!!!!

Go Noles!!!

Who Has Mono? Let's Play!

Our first contestant is mom. The sign says it all...NEGATIVE! For those of you reading this mom would like to say that she would jump for joy if she didn't feel like crap. But she doesn't have mono folks! Let's give her a hand (remember your protective hand gear when shaking hands, giving "high fives", etc. ).

Our second contestant is Ethan. What a high powered boy you have! He is....POSITIVE. And it only slowed down Hurricane Ethan for a week! Whoa! There he goes....

Our third contestant is Mackenzie. She is....????? Mackenzie's preemie "super drug" must still be working (mom and dad hope!).

Our fourth and final contestant is Dad. He...HAD IT! That's right folks. Hmmm...how did Elder Matt get the "kissing disease" at the tender age of 13?

There you have it!! That concludes our game for today. This family will walk away with an all-inclusive trip to THEIR HOUSE indefinitely!

Hunker down, stay safe, and don't forget to spay and neuter your pets! Have a good one!

Mono, no mono

****Let's Play...WHO HAS MONO???****

(cue the cheesy game show music)

Welcome to Who Has Mono! Our family comes to us today from Florida. Please welcome the Cates! *Please remember to keep your protective facial gear on while near them.

Let's get started!!