Comedians

Susie helps get the kids up and dressed with me but then she heads off to work and leaves me and the 3 little turkeys alone to finish our morning routine.  We have it down pretty good.  We turn on Paw Patrol—this is must.  I pump and nurse Teddy simultaneously.   Maggie does her nebulizer treatment. Tommy cuddles on my legs and watches TV :).  I try really hard to stay relaxed in the A.M.  I try not to stress over 5,  10 or 15 minutes.  And I try really hard to make sure everyone has a good morning, no yelling or crying before we head out to start our days.  The other morning though Maggie and Tommy were in cahoots, they wanted to play and they wanted to do everything together—at toddler pace.  I had asked Maggie to run back upstairs and get her glasses, well since Tommy was attached to her hip he had to go with.  It takes him like 5 minutes to go up the stairs.  I was not amused.  Of course once they got up to her room I could hear them starting to play with the dollhouse (I was downstairs putting Teddy in his car seat and making my coffee).  I started nagging them, like hurry up, we need to get shoes on, hats, coats, etc.  Turn off the lights etc..  Just nagging them, not yelling but I was being persistent since they were off in la-la land that morning.  I see them start to come downstairs and all the lights are still on upstairs so I tell them they need to go turn off the lights and get their little butts to the mudroom, we were really starting to push the time at this point.

I turn to walk to the kitchen, Maggie and Tommy are coming down the stairs.  I hear Maggie say to Tommy, (in a defeated voice) “Come on Tom,  let’s just start listening to mom.  This isn't working.” 

This is our morning

Sunday at the Farm

35 has been a super cheesy age for me.  Not sure what happened but it seems like the way I see the world, people, things, etc has been shaken up and  shaken for the better.  I have always loved my family, both my immediate and extended, but I think I appreciate everyone and everything more than ever.  I don’t know if it was the birth of Teddy or just me getting older, but for the most part I am so darn happy and lovey lately, it is scary.  :)  I just wanted to give you a heads up. 

Sunday I took the kids over to my parents farm.  It was nice because for once there weren't a million people or a million things on my dad’s to do list for the day.  So Tommy and Maggie got to fully enjoy and soak up all of grandma and grandpa’s attention.  Tommy and Maggie got to help grandpa and I split, gather and throw firewood in the house.   They both loved it.  And it was something  me and my sisters did growing up with our dad at the farm.  I know it is cliché but it really is the small things.  To have my dad helping Maggie and Tommy and spending time with them—doing a simple chore meant the world to them and me.   

When we were leaving Tommy went sprinting across the ice covered driveway to say goodbye to grandpa.  It was seriously like a scene out of a movie, it had just started sleeting.  Tommy’s little legs running towards grandpa, he gets almost to grandpa and his feet slide out from under him.  Tommy landed on his butt and grandpa scooped him up and Tommy gave grandpa the biggest hug ever.  Pretty sure I had tears running down my face.  Tommy had the best day with grandpa and it wasn't much, a gator ride and picking up firewood but it was the world to him. 

I am so thankful I got to grow up on farm and experience so many things.  I think as a kid I didn't always enjoy it or think it was cool but as a an adult with children of my own, I am thankful that my parents still have the farm, the land, the tractors and the animals.  It is so nice that all the grandchildren get to experience all these things, they sure are lucky kids.  I know farming in the winter sucks and my parents are getting older and there are probably so many bad days were nothing is going right and it would just be easier to not have the farm but then there are days like this one—makes it all worth it.  

Teddy and grandma got to snuggle in the warm house while we worked, he enjoyed his quite time with grandma. 

Our Lizard

We have a new pet around our house…Lizzy the Lizard aka Teddy.  He recently learned to stick his tongue out and he must think he is pretty funny because he does it all the time!  Maggie enjoys calling him, “Lizzy the Lizard”.  Luckily, he is adorable no matter what face he is making.  

What a little turd.  Sticking his tongue out at me while mama Susie is holding him.

Picture Recap

These weeks are flying by.  I need more time in a day.  The weekdays have been crazy busy lately both at work and then activities after school, and the last thing I want to do on the weekends is work on the blog.  So this is pretty much going to be a picture dump but with Maggie's birthday this week and Christmas parties starting the week after if I  don't get caught up now, we might be doomed.  :) 

We had Llisa Ailts stop by our house and snap a couple pictures for our Christmas card

Teddy's first time in the jumper

His little neck is getting so strong

We celebrated Cal's 4th birthday. Tommy loved the party.  He can't stop talking about it.

Tommy and his buddies watching a John Deere movie

I received this water bottle in the hospital after giving birth to Teddy.  It is pretty much a communal water bottle.  Both Maggie and Tommy coming running each time they see me sit down with it.  It's amazing I don't catch every bug they bring home from school.

Christmas is in full swing at our house.  Maggie even has a mini tree for her room

Teddy doesn't' quite fit in his stocking

We decorated the Christmas tree

Tommy pulling ornaments off the tree.  He just can't seem to look at them and not touch them.

This is his face after I accused him of taking down the ornaments. "No, mama."

Teddy and Maggie at swimming lessons

Brotherly love

Tommy and Teddy napping in Tommy's bed. 

I think Teddy is starting to get some teeth.  He has be chewing on anything he can get in his mouth lately.

We took the kids bowling last Sunday.

They had a blast.  

Susie won somehow... 

The two buddies

Our Advent calendar arrived.  Bigger than I was planning on but the kids really like it.

Teddy can sit in the bumbo chair for longer periods of time

Teddy wearing Tommy's old bunny jammies.  He is so cute!

Maggie and Tommy playing magna-tiles

Tommy has finally figured out how to build things all by himself. 

Teddy, Maggie and I went and watched Lucy play basketball.  The sound of the ball bouncing put Teddy right out.

Teddy and Lucy

Aunt Becky and Teddy snuggling

He gets cuter every single day.  

The kids posing in their Christmas pj's

Tommy in his "Grandpa Tom" flannel shirt

The kids helped mommy Susie make an apple pie for Thanksgiving.  We brought green beans and two pies to Aunt Kelly's to celebrate Thanksgiving this year. 

Tommy and Fiona at Thanksgiving

Tommy and Luca

Tommy loves Cal and Luca. He thinks they are just the coolest.

Tommy and Teddy

We completely forgot to take any pictures of our own kids until the very end.  They were tired and ready to go home.  This is the best we one!

Aunt Jessie bought Cal and Tommy personalized Packer jeresys for their birthdays.  Now all 3 little boys have them.  They were pretty proud.  They were more than happy to pose for pictures. 

Tommy doesn't have any pants on because his were wet.  Not his fault though, mommies were too busy looking and ads and eating to change his diaper :)

Heading home from Thanksgiving pantless.

I took Teddy out Black Friday shopping with me.  He did great.  And luckily I don't think he saw any of his presents.  :)

While Teddy and I shopped, Susie and the kids made Christmas treats.

Cookie our Elf arrived

This was a hand-me-down sweater from Cal.  Tommy loves kitties so he loved wearing it.

Teddy is getting some rolls on his arms.

Both kids have really been into baking lately.  

They love licking beaters.

Tommy getting his haircut.  He is so good when he gets his haircut. The ladies are always so presently surprised.  

Mr. Handsome