Eight eyes?

Nothing explains life as well as this. They could have all the toys in the world, but just be happy with all the things they shouldn't have. Like these...mommy and daddy's glasses! Seriously, the boys had sooo much fun with these. It was funny when they put my glasses on....it took them forever to focus. Matthew went crossed eyed a few times. Sam just looked strange. Should have been this years holiday card! Oh well, maybe next year.

To take a nap..or to not take a nap

That has been the story around here these past few weeks. Sam is starting to reject naps in full force. So, together we decided that not taking a nap was okay, however, I would need him to spend quiet time in his room until Matthew awakes. There is no way in *&$%*) Matthew is giving his nap up yet. However, he loves his naps, so I think we're okay, well for now.

What we are struggling with is, the staying in our room part of the quiet time. I swear Sam finds over 200 excuses to come out. Needs water (when there is water in his room), needs ice in his water, has to poop, needs a Kleenex, his tummy hurts (I'm so over this one), his eye feels strange, his lips need chap stick, the dog outside is barking too loud, he THOUGHT he heard Matthew up (3 minutes into his quiet time) and my favorite, he wants dessert! And today, he came out wearing this....how could I not bust out laughing? He was so serious when he came out all decked out in the gear telling me that someone was in trouble and fell under his bed.

The day before..he came out of his room riding a horse, all dressed up!

I just love this picture

It was our holiday card this year! It is just so innocent!!! My boys are growing up too fast! Someone make them stop.

Our Holiday School Party

Okay, step back to December with us! Here it is. Let me set the stage.
December 18th, 2008

Temperature: 84 degrees

Humidity: STICKY

Attire: Shorts and t-shirts

Agenda: Celebrate Christmas as a class starting out at school, ending at Ms. Stacey's house. Make gingerbread houses, eat pizza and just be together!

It was a great great great day! We started the day as a normal school day. Santa and Mrs. Claus arrived at school a moments after the kids arrived. Sam was so super duper excited, he was shaking!!!! Mommy and Matthew also came to the event. Matthew, screamed the entire Santa event. I found it humorous as Matthew kept chanting (in Matthew fashion with one finger up his nose) : "NO Santa, No, No, go away" as he sprinted to the other side of the church with his girlfriend Katelyn.

Sam was glowing!

The boys under the school Christmas Tree! Matthew still unsure that Santa is going to make eye contact.

Our Present to Ms. Jamie
It was a christmas tree full of gift cards to her favorite places! She loved it!
Getting ready to make a gingerbread house hoping the frosting doesn't melt!

Matthew's house! Mighty perfect for a 2 year old! Sam's gingerbread house. Mighty perfect for a 4 year old!

FRIENDS!

Our wonderful teacher and friend, Ms. Jamie

Matthew and his love, Katelyn! Oh Amy, wouldn't it be awesome if they did marry???? Matthew just loves her.

Stud man with the shades under the tent because it was HOT HOT HOT!!!

Check out the rosey cheeks! It's kind of humerious to think we got in the car the next day and drove to WI where it was -24 degrees and the ground was covered in snow!

We missed you Mallory and Colin

They are ALL better...well almost all....

Matthew under the weather. He was such a sad sad mess. But, he's back :)

Eating Chicken Soup to get better!

Poor sick baby Sam...just miserable. He's feeling better, but he is still not himself.

Well, the sickies are gone...however the butterflies are still lingering. My poor Sam is experiencing extreme separation anxiety. I go food shopping, he freaks out. I go to the mailbox, he thinks someone is going to pick me up and take me away. He has never been this way and it hurts my heart. Ever since Brad and I left for a week, without them, Sam has not been the same. He hasn't really ate. His stomach always hurts. He doesn't smile. He doesn't want to leave the house. He is a mess.

Today was the worst of it. Everyone who knows Sam well, knows that he LOVES school. He always requests to go. If I don't take him he mopes around the house. Today was a complete opposite story. He kicked and screamed all the way to school....he almost threw up. It was horrible. He is worried that I am going to leave him again. I keep reassuring him I am NOT leaving again. It is over. He is worried SICK....literally.

We go everywhere with our children. We really never leave them and we feel lucky to be able to include them in our everyday activities. We've learned that this is what works for our family. Enough said. Now I am dealing with his miserable mess and Brad abd I are at an end. It is so draining day in and day out to deal with a mess of a child. His lack of energy, his lack of appetite, his unwillingness to get off the couch, his lack of willingness to survive. I just want him to drink water without having to force it down his throat. I feel so bad for him....it hurts. I want SAM back. The fun little guy who always has a smile on his face :). Now my mommy duty has doubled and it is not an easy job. It's not easy, but it's a part of parenting....I do thank all my awesome friends for their support. You gals rock!!!

So, here we go again, round 35, talking and talking about things over and over and over. I swear he is like a watch dog. Always with one eye shut and one ear open. If I move, he growls. My poor Sam...please please come back. I promise I have NO intentions to leave you again!!! I love you little guy. You are breaking my heart. You NEED to eat. He is getting so skinny.

The sickies

Oh my oh my have the sickies hit our house. My poor little boys. Last week Matthew had a tummy bug, then a trip to the doctor to find out he had an ear infection. And, low and behold, this morning Sam has been struck with the tummy bug and is laid up. I just feel so bad for him. Rolling around with tummy pains, not knowing which end is going to explode.

Cross your fingers and say your prayers for us that this too shall pass....that darn peanut butter recall is scaring me as well. I surly hope that isn't what Sam has. He just ate those crackers.

oh no...I just got an email from Daddy....he's on his way home. Looks like he isn't feeling well either.

I'll keep you posted.

Christmas time!

Was celebrated at Mimi and Papa Tom's house!

And Great Grandma Trudy was there!

Opening up presents!

And finally, Matthew's dream came true! It was a new bike, parked under the tree! He is so proud

Hanukkah Time

Celebrating the second night of Hanukkah. Cousins Josh and Zach lit the menorah and did the prayers. Sam, he just smiled for the camera.

COUSINS!

Waiting to eat dinner!

Making Hanukkah Cookies!

Matthew and his new camera!

oh the weather is so delightfull!

Oh yes, this year it did feel like Christmas! It was a winter wonderland.

For a visual of snow accumulations

Oh yes, it was great! Sam loved loved loved the snow this year. He dove right on in and loved every minute of it. Matthew, well, he wanted to enjoy it, and tried his best, but couldn't get into the groove. Enjoy the pictures of snow! I'll touch it, but that's it!

Sam, hammin' it up!

See those monster tears...they were from the strong winds. Poor baby.

This was the glare we got....getting better.

The boys went sledding...and as usual, Sam threw a fit to come home.

-2 degrees

Yes, you read it right. -2 degrees and freezing...freezing our little bottoms off.
But oh how wonderful it has been. The boys are soaking up all the attention. Today we played in the snow, pictures to follow. Tonight we celebrated Hanukkah with the family. The house was full of cousins, aunts, uncles grandparents and parents! Gaga Judi made her traditional Hanukkah feast and it was scrumptious. Potato Latkes, brisket and cookies! Yumm yumm yumm. It's been forever since I last ate a yummie home cooked meal.

But, we made it safe and sound....20 hours later and are freezing.

We're in Kentucky!

And freezing our little hiney's off! It's coooollldd.
We made it about 12 hours yesterday. Drove through rain, heavy rain, a thunderstorm, rain and a lightning show. The mountains were so neat as they were fog covered. There we so many accidents it was scary, but we held on tight and plowed through! We rolled into our hotel around 10:15. The boys were every so excited to get here, although they didn't fall back asleep until around 11:30 because they kept giggling and talking to each other. It was so cute and so made me excited for what the future has in store for our family!

We just finished up breakfast in the hotel, and we're getting ready to get back in the car and just get home!!!! But first, Starbucks, here we come :).

And we're off!

And here is what our vacation looks like! Snow, cold cold cold cold. Check out Monday! YIKES.

Please pray for our family as we make this trip home. Our path does hold some snow and slippery roads, however, we're hoping the plows are doing their jobs. Thank you to all who have let us borrow DVD's. It's going to be a looonnnnggggg ride.

From shorts and t's to mittens and hats.....here we go!

Check back on our journey ! We'll be updating along the way.

Weather Weather Weather...Winter Storm Watch

Today I have been watching the weather forecast and talking with Erin since there is very large snow storm headed in our driving direction. We are planning to leave early this weekend for the north but I am thinking we should leave earlier. I know the further north we get the roads will be covered in snow. I also know the kids will be amazed at the snow since it has been almost 2 years since we moved to the south.

I am hoping the highways are in good condition for the southern minivan... we will drive very safely and watch out for the other crazy drivers.

Closing in on one chapter, opening up a new

Well well well....it's almost been two years since our plane landed here in Northern Florida. We were moving from cold snowy Wisconsin to warm sunny Florida. We had absolutely no idea what life would bring us as we held our GPS. We moved into a house we knew nothing about. We led ourselves blind as we put ourselves out there to make friends. And oh my, two years later, who would have thought....I have tears in my eyes as I am writing this thinking back to our first few days here in Oakleaf, to our last few days here in Oakleaf. Wow, what an amazing journey it has been. So many milestones we've reached together as a family unit, and also as individuals. I never dreamed that I would be the one who would live in Florida, let alone live in Florida with my husband and 2 children. However, life takes us in so many different directions, sometimes you just have to go with the flow. For that we are so thankful.

It's time my friends for us to close this chapter of our lives and move onto the next. As bittersweet as it is to leave, leaving behind so so so many close friends, who substituted as family, we feel it has been the best decision to move back home and call it home for good. Brad got the news last week that he will no longer have a job come January 30th. Our homeowners called the next day and told us they need their house back due to some life changing events as well. That was a sign, a huge sign for us to make up our minds and run with this and call it an opportunity.


So, we don't have a plan in place yet as life has been full of craziness, however, we will make something work and we'll keep you updated on our blog. What we do know is this is going to be a hard, but easy thing for our family to go through. Sam is taking it all in as we explain things to him at a very slow pace. He has worries, childhood worries like, "who will be my new friends" and "where will I sleep" and "who will be my new teacher" and how dare we not have a park at a 10 step distance and a pool in our backyard. Matthew is concerned his bed will be moved. However, all things will come with time as we adjust to life as we once knew it. We are so excited to make this journey work, under the circumstances. I already have people waiting for photo sessions back home so get ready friends, I'm going to be signing you up sooner than you thought!

I'm not saying good bye to all our friends yet as we have so many things coming up/going on. It will be a "see you soon" as you have no idea how much you all mean to us in sooo many different ways. Your kind words of encouragement when I need a lift me up. Those mommy day/night outs where you just knew when to call. Those awesome nights at the park where we played until the sun set and we had to pull our kids off the playground and drag them home kicking and screaming. Those pizza nights when we trashed each others rooms. To fun Bunco nights. Those families who have made us who we are today.....through tears of sadness and joy THANK YOU. Our family has grown up so much with your help and for that our family has been blessed.

Now, hang on kids, we're going for a ride!