Happy New Year!

Last night we put the kids to bed, watched a movie and we were in bed by 10:30. We did wake up at 12 when we heard fireworks going off outside, told each other Happy New Year, then rolled over and went back to sleep. I'm pretty sure there are 90 year olds that party more than we do.

We did decide to get out of the house and do something fun on New Years Day, so we took the kids to the Cincinnati Zoo. We got to the zoo just after lunch and it was empty! The ticket lady said all of 30 people were inside. It felt like we had the place to ourselves. John even said, "I feel like we've broken in and are going to get in trouble for being here." Honestly, best day I've ever spent at the zoo!

Crikey! He's got me!

Porter splashing in puddles!

Porter, John and a cheetah

Really cool duck

Bowls of blood for the vampire bats. John is actually a vampire, so this was difficult for him. He kept licking the glass. So embarrassing.

Sea Lion, Porter, and half of me.

All I wanted was a New Years kiss, but look at the stink eye this guy gave me.

I'm not sure if fries were part of this chicken's special zoo diet, but they are now.

Giraffes!

Happy New Year Everyone!!!

Happy Christmas!

This was our first white Christmas in three years. The snow was a week old, but at least there was snow on the ground! This was also our first Christmas with family in three years! So a big THANK YOU to Grandpa Wayne and Grandma Rosie for coming to spend Christmas with us!

Here's a few pictures from our week:

John eats at this Vietnamese/Chinese restaurant frequently with his coworkers.

He loves the huge bowls of spicy soup. Hoping to clear his sinuses, we ventured to "Noodles" this week.

Even Grandpa and the kids got in on the noodle action!

The kids opening their jammies on Christmas Eve

We hope you all had a very Merry Christmas too!

Kid Funnies

Here's a few funnies from my kids over the past few weeks:

The other day I heard Gabe pretending to order at a drive-thru window.

"I need a number zero, a Dr. Pepper, and that's it!"

Is it a sign we eat out too much if my child pretends to be at a restaurant or fast-food joint? Never mind, don't answer that.

Gabe has code named John "Combat Carl." So everyday when I hear Gabe yell, "Combat Carl! Combat Carl!" I know it's code for, "Daddy's home from work." Love it! You all know that Combat Carl was one of toy soldiers Sid blew up in Toy Story.

Sunday during lunch:

Gabe: (Burps) "Oops, my mouth just farted."

Me: " You mean you burped?"

Gabe: (laughing) "Yes. A mouth fart burp."

I was feeling very motherly the other day, so I actually combed Porter's hair after he got out of the tub. (I typically just use the good old finger comb for my kids hair.) Porter saw Gabe and said, "Mommy, what happened to Porter's hair?" Ha, ha! Love that my children are shocked by the cultures of refined society liked combed hair!

And last, a Porter funny. We stopped at Wendy's (I know, more fast food. Please don't judge me.) on the way home from story time at the library. I handed the kids each one chicken nugget and proceeded to drive home. I glanced back at a red light and noticed that Porter was sound asleep with the entire chicken nugget in his mouth! Guess he was super tired if he didn't bother to chew or swallow. I reached back and pulled the chicken nugget out of his mouth and he immediately woke up screaming. So I gave him back the chicken nugget and he promptly falls back asleep nugget in hand. Some kids need their teddy or blanket to fall asleep, mine just wanted his chicken nugget.

Poker Face

PORTER

Phone Calls

Gabe has started answering the phone at our house. So we're working on the whole phone etiquette thing with him. Last night our neighbor called and this is how the conversation went when Gabe answered the phone.

Gabe: Hello

Matt: Hi. Is your mom home?

Gabe: She's upstairs.

Matt: Is your dad home?

Gabe: No, I killed him.

Matt: Oh.

Keep in mind John gets killed several times a day by either a Jedi Knight or an evil villain. Typically his injuries consist of severed limbs or a beheading. So please don't be alarmed if you call our house and our four year old confesses to have killed us. Usually he puts "band aids" on our wounds and magically we are alive and well again.

It Snowed!

Gabe has been so excited to play in the snow this winter. So when he woke up and it was snowing this morning he immediately wanted to go outside and play. We only had a skiff of snow, so I told him when the grass was all covered with snow we would go outside. Well, it has snowed all day long, so by this afternoon the kids were able to go outside and play!

Hooray for snow and a fun daddy!

Gimmie Bug Intervention

Gabe has a bad case of the gimmie bug. You know, the give me, give me, I want, I want bug. John and I have been searching for a way to get Gabe to understand that he has SO MUCH when other people have so little. Yesterday a package came in the mail and it wasn't for Gabe, so Gabe flipped out! Can you say spoiled brat? I sure did. John and I really don't want to raise one of these. So we decided he needed a very VISUAL lesson about just how good his little 4 year old life is. Here's the pictures we used for our little family night intervention. Gabe had to compare each picture and then tell us which one was most like his life.

HOME?

FOOD?

TOYS?

SLEEP?

True the pictures are a bit extreme, but it was amazing how Gabe saw the contrast between his life and the life of those less fortunate than us! We also talked about what Christmas would be like for him and compared it to what Christmas would be like for some of the kids in the photos. It was amazing to see my little gimmie bug transform into someone wanting to do something for someone else! Gabe chose one of his toys to donate and got some money out of his piggy bank to help buy some more toys. We then went to the toy store and he helped us shop for toys for kids in need. Typically when we go to the toy store all I hear is the never ending I wants. However, last night he stayed focused and when the cashier asked Gabe if the toys were for him. Gabe proudly told her all about the kids that have no toys and how we were buying them toys so they would have a nice Christmas. What can I say? I was one proud mama!

All Aboard the Birthday Train!

Gabe's 4th Birthday Party

"Thomas Style"

The kids had fun playing games in the "train cars".

The Birthday Boy

The kids enjoyed cake and ice cream while they watched a Thomas movie.

It's all fun and games until the birthday boy gets punched in the face . . .

Happy Birthday Gabe! We love you!

Happy Halloween!

The End.