Starting them young

I will just say it: I have no problem with teaching kids to do house chores at an early age:) Kaylee already helps with the laundry, sweeping the floor, dusting and now.....

vacuuming!!!

This was a Christmas present from Kaylee's GG. Thanks GG, she loves it. I just wish we would have gotten one that actually works:)

Christmas Adventures!!!

Here is our Christmas WEEK, picture style!!!

First, it was Christmas at home:
Kaylee was a lot of fun opening gifts.

We mostly got her travel things: doodlepro, stickers, crayons, and coloring book, a book, and a travel hungry hippos game.

Then it was off to Grand Rapids, Michigan. Brian's college roommate got married in Paris. As much as I would have loved to go to the wedding, we opted for the state side reception. It was fun to see some of his college friends. Then that evening we had his big family Christmas. Kaylee got a Mr. Potato head from her Great Grandparents. She loves it.

The house we were staying at had a piano. It was very interesting to see her climb her way up the bench and then start playing. I just don't think the other house guests liked it very much at 8a.m.:)

On monday, we took Kaylee sledding. She had a blast even though she couldn't move. She went down with everyone there, but then enjoyed just watching everyone else go down the hill.

Brian's way of getting her back up the hill. Unfortunately he went down on a sled that did not have a striing on it to pull her back up:)

Sorry for the blurry picture, it was in motion.

Then it was off to Indiapolis to my brother's house. We met up with most of my nieces and nephews. Needless to say, I really did not see Kaylee much that day and a half. She was too busy playing with her cousins.

Slam dunking!!!

Lots of pineapple to be eaten. My brother-in-law took this picture. I love those eyes.
I love this next picture just for the reflection off the counter.

Then it was on to Bloomington, IN to meet back up with Brian's family.

Christmas Eve: We went to a service: lets just say it was interesting and leave it at that:)

We opened up presents on Christmas Eve.

I may just let you wonder about this one:)

Brian had an axe on his Christmas list, but hs brother could not find the one he wanted. So they wrapped up a shower head and made the tip part out of card board and he opened that. It was pretty good.

All in all, it was a great Christmas. We did a few more Advent activities. We gave everyone life savers to symbolize that Jesus came to "seek and save the lost." I would have also liked to have eaten by candleight one night and Brian made the suggestions to give everyone candy canes to symbolize the shepherds and their staffs. Pretty creative:)

We are glad to be back home and in our normal routine, or as normal as you can get with a 17 month old!!!

Merry Christmas!!!

More pictures and stories to follow.

Not our regular schedule

What does a 7 1/2 hour drive, a Wedding Reception, Christmas party, lunch with relatives, two late nights and early mornings, and no regular naps all in the matter of two and a half days equal?

One tired, grumpy 17 month old(and maybe an equal grumpy mother:)

Kaylee and I are staying home tonight to get in bed at a decent time to hopefully turn this around. We are having a fun time but a little more sleep couldn't hurt:)

Why not have a camel on top of the stable?

I may just be confusing Kaylee with all the advent activities we are doing:)

This week we have just been reading books as she has been more under the weather. She is coming around again so that is good.

I am excited to get together with family this weekend and take part in a few Advent activities with them too.

Lasted 17 months

Well, we made it 17 months without any antibiotics for Kaylee and without any real sickness. We even avoided the Swine Flu when Brian had a few months ago. But now, she has her first ear infection. I do have to say it is not fun when your child is sick. She kept just falling alseep everywhere we went yesterday. The doctor, the pharmacy, in the car. I was getting a little nervous if she was going to sleep that night, but she did.
She is feeling quite a bit better today, not all the way. Very snuggly, but I don't mind that. She still won't eat anything as her throat is still sore, but she is getting fluids in so that is good.
She is snuggling with me now and I think it is nap time.

Indiana weekend get together

This past weekend we loaded up and headed to Indiana for a quick, but good weekend. Brian's sister is back in town until just after New Years. We had not seen her in over a year so it was good to have everyone together.

Saturday consisted of decorating the Christmas tree...

and maybe a little girl:

This is Brians brother (his wife is in the next photo) and sister.

Later that afternoon we all went bowling!!!

The grandparent came later in the day too!!!

Kaylee's first haircut!!

I have been receiving many comments on the fact that Kaylee could not see:) I have been avoiding cutting her hair, trying to decide if I wanted to just let it grow out. Well last night, I took the plunge. I cut her bangs. She sat very still for it and I only cut the bare minimal. It turned out pretty cute - the pictures are a different story.

Here is the before picture so you can tell what I did.

Here is the after:) They are straight, I promise!!!

More Advent Activites

I did another couple of Advent Activites with Kaylee over the past few days.

First, we gave her a flashlight. This is to represent that Jesus is the Light of the World. She loves flashlights so this was an easy one to do. She has had a lot of fun with this one. In later years, we may do a new nightlight instead of a flashlight but either one will work.

Today, we made snowflakes. This is to represent that Jesus cleans us white as snow.
I folded paper and showed Kaylee how to use the scissors. She was more interested in the cutting than I thought she would be. Then I used a glue stick and made the paper sticky. I then showed Kaylee how to put the glitter on. (Note: Use a pan or something under the paper. I forgot how messy glitter is. I atleast did it on the kitchen floor so I could sweep it up but I still think we are going to find glitter all over the place for months to come).
I know that snowflakes and being white as snow should not include glitter but I thought it was fun:)

Here we have cut the snowflakes and I am getting ready to put the glue on for her to do the sprinkes.
Let the mess begin:)

A bath followed and then cleaning out the shower followed that.

We both had a lot of fun though. Memories:) And now the snowflakes are hanging on our tree.

Mia Hamm in the making!!!

This one shows her running!!!

My Tuesday

Here is what I am doing today. What are you doing?

I had to put this one in as it looks like Kaylee is doing the disco:)