And then there were three - FINALLY!

Blake has been so patient with the girls lately. He tries to get them to play with him, but they just aren't that into dinosaurs, cars and Zoo Tycoon. I am actually feeling a little sorry for him. We have had several playdates for him on the weekends so that he has someone to play with.

One night, Brett and I were finishing dinner and the kids were all playing together in the basement. It was great. We could hear their little voices laughing and talking together. After about 30 minutes, we decided to sneak down to see what they were doing. The basement door was closed. We counted to three and then busted through the door. This is what we found.





This was their castle. I just love it when they play like this. They were so exicted about their costumes and building.
I quickly asked if anyone sat up on the pink chair at the top of the castle. They all looked at each other, smiled and replied '"NO"!!! I told them that that would be very unsafe and you could crack your head open if you fell from there. Crazy kids!!!!!!
Horse and Optimus Prime

Cheerleading Dora. Caitlin was so proud that she put the costume on by herself.

Oops, she missed a leg hole!!!!!

I hated having them stop playing, but it was time to get bathed and ready for bed. They had a blast!!!!!!

Best Friends

Caitlin and Madison are best buddies these days. They are always together from the time they get up until they go to bed. They actually play so nicely together. It makes me so happy to see two sisters who genuinely love spending time together. One of their favorite activities is dressing up. Their outfits evolve over the course of the day!!!! They started out as dancing princesses and then turned into cats. Now can I not smile when I see them like this on a daily basis. They are quite imaginative :)




Notice the Michigan State Cheerleading costume!!!!

Not quite sure what this one was... It reminded me of Michael Jackson. Madison wanted to know who that was. Where do I start explaining him?????

Back to WORK!!!!!

I am back to the serious training again. My half marathon is 12 weeks away. Saturday is my official start day, but of course I have started stepping up the miles already. The half is right here in K-zoo!

I am much more excited about this run. I was scared to death about training and running last time and it turned out great. I just keep remembering how great I felt when I came down the hill and saw my family waiting and cheering me on. It was amazing. Hopefully this run will be as successful as the last.

My fellow running partner is going to do it again and I have also recruited several others. I know a few handful of other "MOMS" in the area and we are meeting up at the gym and running on the treadmills together until the weather gets a little better. I have also convinced my brother to run it.

I have loved my BREAK time from running, but also found out that other classes like RPM, Combat and Body Pump are a little more fun to do than just run. I am planning on still doing those during the week as well.

Skating

Since the girls are always playing ice skating together at our house, I thought that I would try to take all three of them skating by myself. Brett thought that I was crazy, but was right in the middle of building shelves in the basement and couldn't come. Blake's good friend was also going, so I knew that he wouldn't cling on to me the whole time. That just left the two girls...


Blake and Madison took one 6 week session of skating last winter and I was hoping that they would be pros. I figured that I would have to help Caitlin out quite a bit. We tried real hard to convince Caitlin to stay home with daddy. (horrible parents aren't we.???? I thought that all three by myself would be a disaster)


The hardest part was getting them all ready - skates, helmets and gloves. Blake took off with his friend right away as I was finishing getting the girls' skates on. Madison didn't want any help either. She was really amazing. She was trying turns by the end and having a great time.


Caitlin really surprised me. She was a natural. Maybe she has my grace! She pushed a chair around for a little bit, but then was standing and marching on her own. I was so impressed. Several people wanted to know how old she was --- only THREE!!!!

The chair turned into a big hit. The kids started pushing each other around.


We all had a great time and stayed for almost 2 hours. I was so thankful that I didn't fall or hurt my back holding kids. We will definitely do it again.

Snow Angels

I still can't believe how much snow Kalamazoo gets. This is our third winter here. I actually love the snow and thankfully the kids do as well. It is definitely nicer to have the suburban to drive this winter though!

My three kids love playing outside in the snow. It doesn't matter how cold it is, they go out just ab0out every day. Caitlin is so grown up this year. She will go out and play with them all by herself. That means that I can stay inside sometimes. If they are riding the snowmobile, I still go outside. I am a little worried that the two older ones might hurt my sweet Caitlin. She is just so innocent.

Why do kids love laying, rolling around, and jumping in the snow? My guys just wanted to do snow angels. They tried finding fresh snow that hadn't been "USED" yet.

The two girls were being entertained by Blake. He was running around like a dinosaur.
Madison climbing the snow mountain. Our driveway gets plowed and they push all the snow up to this great mountain. The kids love climbing, sliding and playing penguins on it.

Caitlin was singing, "All the single ladies". She loves this song thanks to the Chippettes!

Snow Angel fun...

Trying to find the perfect spot.

Zoe is really getting old. Her seizures and walking are getting pretty bad. She usually doesn't like to run around and play with the kids. Today she was cracking us all up. She was running around in the snow like a little puppy. The kids were laughing so hard. Poor Zoe. I hate watching our pet get old.

Girls Just Wanna Have FUN

Madison and Caitlin just crack me up. They really love their afternoons together. From the time Madison gets home from Kindergarten (noon) until Blake gets home from school (4:15), the girls are busy playing. Some days I have chores to get done, but many days I am one of the girls. It is fun being 5 again.

The girls have me dancing to Taylor Swift, Hannah Montana and Alvin and the Chipmunks. We love turning the music up really loud in the whole house and dancing. Today was a fashion show that turned into an ice skating party! Madison takes Caitlin up stairs and picks out clothes for her. Their outfits are hilarious. They had several clothes changes. Madison's closet was a disaster, but they had a great time. I am the photographer. Caitlin likes me to sit on the stairs to video and photograph.

Then they decided to use my slippers as ice skates and put on their snowmobile helmets for a skating show. They were so funny. I was laughing so hard. They told me to stop laughing at them!!! Twirling in circles is a must. How can they do that for so long????



Notice their matching skating dresses...


When Blake gets home, he doesn't like the LOUD "girl" music. Poor Blake, he is really feeling left out lately!!!!!!

The last week of 2009

Brett had the week off work. It was just amazing to hang out with the five of us. We slept in, made coffee, played the Wii, snowmobiled, sledded, did some house chores, went out to eat several times, watched movies, stayed up late played lots of games and then Thursday afternoon headed up to the Detroit area for a little celebrating.

We went to Chad and Shannon's house for a New Year's Eve party. The kids WAY out numbered the adults. We had 16 kids. They were amazing and I even found the time to play games and talk with adults. It was fun to ring in the new year with the kids. Their little faces and cheers at midnight were priceless.

Did I mention that I love my kids growing up and becoming more independant??????? I finally see the light at the end of my tunnel. For MANY (seven) years, all I ever did was take care of children from sun up to sun down. (and even in the middle of the night) I am definitely enjoying a little freedom!!!!! I had so much fun that I forgot to take any pictures.

Caitlin stayed up past midnight for her first time. She danced her way into the New Year. That girl is a party girl. When it was her turn to dance in the circle, she showed all the kids her moves (shaking her tushy)

Brett and I also went out to dinner with some great friends from the good old Livonia days. We definitely don't miss the craziness of Northville/Novi, but the restaurant choices are amazing. We choose Champs because the Rose Bowl was also on.

We hung out with Oma and Opa on Saturday. Madison is quite the card player. She played her own hand of GOLF and even was the score keeper for us. She definitely doesn't miss a beat. Oma was so great to watch the kids for us both Friday and Saturday night. We love you OMA!!!!

Saturday night, Brett and I took my in-laws to see JERSEY BOYS at Fisher Theatre in Detroit. We of course had dinner at PF Changs first. I love the lettuce wraps there!!! Brett and I used to get carry out from there quite often.

The show was amazing... those guys could really sing. I could definitely get used to seeing musicals.

We headed home right after breakfast on Sunday and even got quite a bit of housework done before things go back to NORMAL. I even got a long run in on the treadmill since I was a real slacker over the break. It was truely a magical and wonderful Christmas season!!!!! I can't wait to see what 2010 holds for our family.

While I was tucking Madison into bed, she said that she had the best vacation.