Randomness / Update

Since Christmas, things have not slowed down for us at all. This week, I enrolled Sean in KINDERGARTEN (yikes!) and Nathan in 3 year-old Pre-school at Judah! I'm not sure how this is possible that my kids are this old, but here we are! Surprisingly, I'm doing really well with it. I think the fact that both my kids will be at the same place (which means ONE place for drop off and pick up) is definitely helping. ;-)

Sean is doing really, really well in Pre-school. He LOVES his teachers (so do we!) and has so many great friends. His speech is developing nicely and he can now say "S" very well. He still my little snuggle bug, and loves reading, puzzles, and of course, his Nintendo DS / iPad. He keeps busy with church, and loves that there are so many kids from his school in his class. I'm pretty sure the fact that they get to play at the indoor playground at church on Wednesday nights doesn't hurt. He is a wonderful big brother, is developing such a great heart, and is so loving. This week, he said his very first prayer out loud. I was one proud Mama! "Dear Lord, thank you for my toys. In Jesus name, Amen." We're getting there. ;-) Here are a few random pictures from the last month of my sweet Sean.





Nathan has REALLY changed a lot over the past couple of months. He is talking up a storm, asks if we are going to church or "Papa's house" every time we get in the car, is sleeping in his full-size bed like a champ, got rid of the pacifier, and... wait for it... WENT PEE IN THE POTTY! I know those of you reading who don't have kids don't understand the excitement in this, but let me tell you, imagine winning the lottery. Same feeling. We have been struggling with getting him to even sit on the potty (full clothed even) at school. He will scream. And by scream, I mean top-of-his-lungs, like he is starring in a horror movie, scream. However, this week, he ASKED his teacher if he could sit on the potty! He was still fully clothed, but this was a HUGE step! Tuesday, he sat on it without his diaper on, and today, yes my friends, today I just got word that he pee'd on the potty! I can hardly wait to go pick him up and love on him! I'm just so proud! We haven't been worried about it since he's only 2 1/2, but he has to be potty trained (or housebroken as Jamie likes to call it) before he is allowed to attend Judah, so we've had it in the back of our minds that we only have a few more months. Other than this excitement, he continues to be our sweet, silly boy. You could just eat him with a spoon! (Well, most days.)

Fireplace

One of the things that's great about being married to Jamie, is that he's such a "handy-man". I can't even imagine how much we would have had to pay for stuff if he wasn't able to do it himself.

One thing we've always dreamed about, is putting in our fireplace in our family room. Fortunately, that dream has come true!!! Jamie acquired a fireplace (that had barely, if ever been used) and we decided to put it in our house. Let me tell you, it is SO beautiful! I can't believe how much it adds to our family room. We've used it just about every night and I can't describe how awesome it is!

The pictures below show the progression of the install. From framing the "bump out" in the wall, too the finished product. If you are ever nearby, stop in a check it out first hand!

MVC

We were invited by our good friends, Ryan and Jodi (sorority sister), to come to Peoria for the night to watch a Bradley game. Bradley is in the Missouri Valley Conference (same conference as SIU), and being Jodi's "home team", we've become fond of them as well! Our other friends, Nick and Jill (another sorority sister) live in Morton, which is not very far from Peoria, so they were also able to join us. It's always fun to get together with those girls... we relive a few memories, catch up on family, and usually have stomach pains from laughing so hard! Unfortunately, Bradley didn't win that night, but we didn't care. Getting to spend time together (especially with how busy we all are) was totally worth it!

Me, Jill and Jodi :-)

Merry Christmas!

Christmas was just wonderful this year! Seriously, the kiddos make everything so much fun! We started Christmas morning at our house, just the four of us. Santa filled the stockings so full, he had to move them from the wall to the floor (Sean was very concerned that Santa had taken them)! Sean really, really got into Christmas this year, which was so cool! Nathan, well, he just wanted to eat. All day. :-)

Nathan enjoying drinking from his new snowman cup




Daddy enjoying his, er, I mean Sean's Christmas present



After playing with the toys from Santa, we packed up and headed over to Papa and Ba's house (what Nathan calls Grandpa and Grandma... don't ask about the "Ba"... no clue!) We met up with my sister and her family and did the Caspers/Lance/Stone family Christmas. It's a tradition that I look forward to EVERY year!

Ba and Nathan reading a quick book before presents



Uncle Rick and Nathan



Aunt Laine and Nathan... being silly :-)



Sean showing off his new toolbelt! He's SO excited to help Daddy!



My four favorite boys: Nick (12), Kyle (9), Sean (5) and Nathan (2)

Christmas programs

Sean's Pre-school Christmas program at school was just beyond amazing. I cannot believe how well all the little kiddos did! There were three classes who each performed two songs, and then they all got together at the end to sing a couple of songs together. There is nothing that warms a Mother's heart more than watching her child sing about their love for Christ and really, really getting into it! I was SO proud of Sean and the amazing job he did! I was so grateful that my parents, sister and nephews came to support him too!

This isn't the greatest picture (it was taken on my phone), but he is on the end of the second row in a red vest. :-)



Nathan's class doesn't really have a program, but they did get in the Christmas spirit!! Their classroom was decked out for the holidays, and each day they did some fun Christmas-y activity! His teacher, Marcella, (LOVE HER) is so good about sending me texts/pictures of Nathan. Here is one she sent with some of the kids in their Christmas gear. Doesn't Nathan looked thrilled? ;-)

Happy New Year!

Hello friends and family! I can't believe it's been two months since I last posted - Yikes! There is so much to catch you all up on, but first, let me say I hope this post finds you all well!

I'll start with where I left off with my last post. December 4th, Jamie and I celebrated SEVEN YEARS of marriage! Although it's not a "milestone" anniversary, I still think it's pretty cool! I can honestly say, each year gets better and better, and I am SO LUCKY to have him in my life! He is THE BEST husband and father I could have ever imagined!

We celebrated by going to dinner at Minnechi's (where we had our rehearsal dinner) following by "Christmas Vacation" at the Virginia Theatre here in Champaign. We watched that movie on our second date, so it was fitting. :-) We just love seeing anything at the Virginia... the atmosphere there is just so cool! We actually managed to get one picture of the two of us, courtesy of Rob (the owner of Minnechi's). This was taken right before Jamie surprised me with my present... a purse I had been ogling over for awhile! He had it wrapped and dropped off at the restaurant before we arrived. Isn't that awfully thoughtful? Here's to 7x7 more years together babe!