Christmas!

We had a wonderful Christmas and enjoyed many celebrations. Watching Robert open his gifts was a true highlight and you can see from the video at the bottom that he really got into it and even was a helper with getting all the gifts unwrapped!

Reading to Mom & Izzy Christmas Stories

Santa's Helper
She loves her Uncle Nick

So MANY Presents!!!

My mom and brother really got into the celebration...

Izzy is unsure of this present thing

Where's Robert?

I'll take that present next!

Who needs gifts when I have my hands to play with?

Christmas Morning!

Eric plays with his new electric snow shovel!

Christmas Day!

What cute, adorable, and happy children

Christmas with the Knautz's

Playing the Crap Gift Game

Robert got hockey sticks while Parker

gets Bath salts...lucky Parker!

Pat (The Grinch) and Robert watch to see

what amazing gift will be opened next!

Ooh pens and word puzzles!
Izzy relaxing with Uncle Paul

Robert looking at his new books with Aunt Val and Parker

Robert helping open gifts!

Cookies~Snow~Bad Tree~Rolling Over

The week started off pretty uneventful and with a day off on Tuesday for me! Knowing that my weekend, or so I originally thought, would be busy I decided it would be a great time to get started on making Christmas cookies. So with the help of the kids, Eric went in to the office for some quiet time, we made 6 different types of cookies! With planning on leaving the frosting of the sugar cookies and the gingerbread men/women for the weekend. It was a great time but not as much fun as I usually have when I bake with my co-worker and good friend Abby.

Abby's Replacement!

First type done!

Monster Cookies for my student workers

Helper Izzy got a little too tired...
DONE!! Success as long as I can keep Eric & Robert out of them!

I knew I'd have Sunday off but Friday afternoon it was determined that my Saturday plans (practice and a diving invite) were canceled due to the big storm we were anticipating to move in that night. Well the weather people weren't wrong and it was a good thing we canceled because the cities averaged 20 inches of snow with lots of wind and cold temps. I used my extra time at home to finish up the cookies, get caught up on laundry, clean the house, and take a nap! It was perfect but after 2 days locked inside (Eric did all the shoveling!) I'm ready to get out of the house tomorrow even if it does mean going to work.

Our deck Saturday night

Gingerbread Men & Women

Sugar Cookies
Backyard this morning...

before Eric shoveled us out!

On the bad side to the holiday season the Christmas Tree we bought this year was a dud. We got it from the same place as last year and didn't have any problems so we're thinking we just got a bad tree. It started dying almost instantly and wouldn't take a lot, if any, water. This week, in hopes of reviving it, Eric tried to cut it again hoping it would start taking in water but it was too little too late. There was a little disagreement over what to do with the dead tree but in the end Eric finally listened to me and it is sitting on our deck until the garbage men pick up trees in January. Eric wanted to keep it in the house and still light it at night but I was sick of dead needles falling off and getting all over our house. We also debated whether or not to replace it but we decided since we wouldn't be celebrating Christmas at our house it wasn't worth the money or the hassle to purchase a new one...but we might be switching modes and buying a fake one the day after Christmas when they are on clearance. I knew that Eric really wanted a tree so while he was out on one of his many shoveling trips today I surprised him with a new tree. Doesn't light up but there is NO mess!

Trying to save the tree

New Tree!

The big news of the week is that Izzy finally figured out how to roll over. She's been so close for weeks but her shoulder kept stopping her. She loves being able to move more but HATES that the end result puts her on her stomach. She has always disliked tummy time and usually gets pretty upset when she ends up on her belly after rolling. We figure it won't take too long for her to master rolling from her front to back!

Winter Bugs and 4 Months Old!

This week 3 out of 4 of us came down with the cold bug that so many people are getting right now. It started with Robert on Sunday at Izzy's baptism and then spread to Eric and I. Robert had it the worst but seems to pretty much (minus a runny nose) be over it. Luckily Izzy seems to have escaped it and we're hoping it stays that way! However out of all of us she is the one that had to go to the doctor this week...but for a well check-up instead of a sick visit! It is hard to believe she is already 4 months old but it was nice to be reassured that she is healthy and growing up just fine. She weighed in at 13.3 pounds and was 24.5 inches long. Pretty much the reverse of her brother where her weight put her at 48% and height was 79% and Robert was a little more on the chubbier/shorter side of things! But don't worry head size, like her brother, she is still at 95%!

Not much else got accomplished this week thanks to the sicknesses and a busy work weekend for me but the house is decorated for Christmas, Christmas presents are all bought (except for Eric's), wrapped, and stored in the basement out of a little boys eyesight, and now I'm starting to tackle baking cookies and getting our Christmas cards ready for the mail. I hope all of you are healthy and getting into the happy holiday spirit!

Izzy playing with Nick today! Such a big girl now!

Picture from Nick's birthday back in November...

I misplaced my camera for a few weeks but luckily Robert

found it for me in the diaper bag. Good thing he's so nosy!

Busy~Busy~Busy

I used to look forward to weekends and holiday breaks but most times they are busier than the week and leave me wanting a nap and more time off! This past holiday weekend was no exception to the craziness but it was a lot of fun to see so many friends and family.

On Thursday we celebrated Turkey Day in Apple Valley at Eric's Uncle Tom's home with his family, another Aunt and Uncle from Iowa, and the rest of the Hemplers. It was a lot of fun to see everyone and for Robert to play with his cousin Tobias who is a year older than him.

After the celebration I started my yearly tradition of Christmas shopping at the BIG sales. Thursday night I hit up Old Navy and Michaels and then got up at 4am (yes I'm one of the crazy people) to go to Toys R Us, Target, and Bath & Body Works. I do like sleep but I also love getting things on sale! I figured out that this year I saved over $150 on Christmas presents which is well worth a few hours of sleep.

Following my successful shopping spree I arrived home to do some last minute cleaning and prepared for a Baby Shower! My good friend Sherry is having a baby girl in January and it was such a blessing to be able to co-host a shower with our friend Abby for her. Abby and I don't get to see Sherry that often because she lives in Indiana so it was great to spend more time with her and talk her through all the joys (and some of the hurdles) of parenting!

After the shower my mom and I headed out to a few more stores to get some more presents and by the end of the night I was equally pleased to know that my shopping was done and to go to bed! The next morning we packed up the kids and the 5 of us headed to Red Wing to prepare for Izzy's baptism. While in Red Wing my mom, Nick, Robert, and myself did some more shopping trying to find Christmas presents for Eric from my mom and Nick. After lots of shopping and lots of driving around we finally found the perfect gifts and were greeted at home by my Aunt Val, Uncle Paul, and cousins Pat and Parker. It was there first time meeting Izzy and they all enjoyed cuddling with her. That night Val, Eric, Nick, and I took Pat for his first casino experience and all left as winners...which if you've ever played at Treasure Island you know is a very, rare treat.

The next morning we were all up early to try to get 10 people ready for church and on time. Let's just say the family of four with 2 little kids succeeded better than the others... Church went well and Izzy managed to not cry during baptism so I say it was a SUCCESS! Following the service we all headed back to my mom's house with more family and friends for a brunch and to celebrate the big day for Isabel. Unfortunately after 3 long days out of her normal routine Izzy surprised us all by taking a really long nap and missing the entire party. She apologizes for that but here are some pictures of her big day.

Godmother Abby holding her during baptism

Family Picture
Grandparents with Izzy

Izzy's Godparents Abby and Sherry

Pastor Brian

High Fives with Uncle Nick!

Sunday night we still wanted to get a little more accomplished and at 7 started decorating the tree and the rest of the house. Luckily it didn't take too long and everyone but Eric was sleeping by 9pm. Robert had a little cold and fever Sunday night but seems to be doing better today and Izzy is finally getting caught back up on sleep after her long weekend. This week isn't too bad but I have a long weekend at work with meets, both my team and a rental meet, so it looks like rest will have to wait a little longer. Tomorrow Izzy turns 4 months old and gets to celebrate with visiting Dr. Dirks and shots. Hoping they go as well as her 2 month ones and we get our favorite nurse.

We hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and remembered all of the great things to be thankful for in our lives.

SNOW!

Winter is here and I am less than thrilled by it. I am definitely a fall/spring girl and would love it if the temp stayed in the 70s year round but Minnesota's weather views things differently. Robert on the other hand is in love with the snow. He didn't play in it much last winter but couldn't wait for us to bundle him up and let him loose Saturday morning! Below are some pics of him (with the help of Dad) getting the sidewalk shoveled!

So proud of the work he did!

While the boys ventured outside us girls played inside. This week Izzy started grabbing onto her toys and now loves her play gym with all of the bright colors and toys. Definitely an improvement from hanging out in her bassinet during the day.

Another of Izzy's favorite things is her fingers!

She is constantly sucking on them and wants nothing

to do with her pacifier. Grandma Hempler said upon

first meeting her at the hospital that she'd be a

thumb sucker and it looks like she was correct! We're looking forward to a fun week. Tomorrow Grandma Hempler is coming to visit (and possibly another day this week as well since she's on vacation from work) and hang out with the kids so Eric can go into the office to get some uninterrupted work done! On Tuesday we'll go out to celebrate my baby brother's birthday (turns 27...eek! that makes it harder for me to claim I'm still 29) and see my mom who just returned from 2 weeks in Italy on Saturday. I'm also going in for a lasik eye consultation that afternoon. For those that don't know I'm very blind and have never liked wearing glasses. I have never minded my contacts but when I get up in the middle of the night with the kids it'd be great to not have to search for my glasses or to see the time without severe squinting! Let's hope I'm a candidate and that my Flex Spending money can be put to a great use in 2011.

Have a great week everyone!

Last of the Fall Days!

Earlier this week we started the big task of picking up our leaves. I love the big trees on our lot in the summer for the shade but the clean up in the fall is usually not a lot of fun. This year however it wasn't so bad because Robert made it very entertaining! He loved it when Eric would turn the blower on him and he'd get his own wind tunnel of leaves but I think his favorite part was running & jumping in the big piles. The pictures taken were from earlier this week but the 3 of us did get back out today (Izzy stayed inside for a long nap!) to pick up another batch in the front yard and get a good start on the back yard. We've got the leaves pretty much under control and are now just waiting for the trees to finish their dumpings and we'll hopefully be able to finish the big task next weekend...assuming the snow holds off!

In addition to getting work done outside we've all been busy inside as well. I had a long week with work that included a rental meet on the weekend and a trip to Moorhead for a swim meet. Luckily I have great student workers (thanks Molly and Kelley) who took on my normal role and were able to sit for the majority of the weekend at the meet to troubleshoot any problems and thus allowing me to be home this afternoon. Eric had a long week thanks to Robert. He is definitely reached the terrible twos and is testing his daddy's patience during the day. On top of that we were also down to 1 car for the first half of the week thanks to my car having a gas leak. It was towed in last Saturday from St. Kate's after not wanting to start, the check engine light flashing, and smoke pouring out from the rear on the drive back to work from a meet a few miles away. Not good and not a bill we wanted to pay!

The good news for the week is that Robert, who still limits his talking, shocked me last night when we were reading books and was able to point out every object I asked him to identify. Granted he's seen the books often but I had never asked him to do that before. I wasn't surprised for him to point out the puppy, shoes, ball items since he sees and/or uses that stuff daily but some of the trickier items that he correctly picked out shocked me. And then I must admit I got a little annoyed with my little man for STILL refusing to talk! Izzy also continues to grow and continues to be a great baby. She loves talking to us, yes only babbles but since she is only 3 months this is acceptable unlike her brother's babbles, smiling, and giggling. Izzy especially loves it when her brother gives her attention and you can already tell that he's her favorite...or at least until he tries to sit on her while she's on our lap or in her swing!

Okay time for bed so we can be ready for whatever life will throw at us this week!