Goodbye 2008 !

As the new year is quickly approaching, I can't help but start reflecting on this past year and acknowledging all the good times, the challenging times and the major decisions that Rob and I have made (and are still making).

During 2008, we have adjusted pretty well from a family of three to a family of four. We have made it through a year of infant feedings and restless nights, to now a nice calm routine and schedule for two active little boys.
We have made a major decision to relocate again, and in the coming year, I am sure we will be making more and more decisions for our future- all at the same time, trying to make it as normal as possible for the boys.
There will be many challenges ahead, and hope that we are making the right decisions. We are "wingin' it", but I guess that is what all parents do.

I look forward to 2009 and all that it will bring.

So here is one last pic of the boys from 2008- enjoy - and hope that you keep riding The Gus Bus into 2009 , it will be an awesome adventure!

One last smile......

More pics and smiles ......

Merry Christmas !!!!

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and was able to spend some holiday time with family and friends. The boys had a great Christmas and we have had a busy couple of days- I think Jake and Owen are both on overload and are ready for bed!

Christmas Eve we spent our evening at my brother and sister-n-law's house- We all had a good time and it is so fun to see all the kids opening up the presents and then playing with them. Thanks Mark and Paula for hosting again this year- we had a great time!

Here are some pics from Christmas Eve and this morning.......

Jake has a song for all of you........

Owen is walking.......

Owen is walking now and finally I got a good enough video to post- all my other efforts were either dark or the kids just know when you are trying to take a video or picture and do not cooperate- haha!!

Enjoy !!

Winter Storm Warning....

We are waiting for the storm.... it has begun.... we have stocked our fridge' with enough milk and rations to hopefully keep us fed. We are suppose to get anywhere from 9-12 inches of snow...

In the meantime, we are also waiting for Santa.... did you hear, he is coming to town??

Gingerbread Train....... All Aboard as Jake would say

We received a Gingerbread Train from Grandpa and Grandma G. in the mail. Sunday night, we had fun putting it together. Here are some pics from the assembly to the finished product.

Bye Bye Baby Pit

We lovingly have referred to part of our living room as "the baby pit". Essentially, while Owen was a crawling infant, we had blocked off a portion of the living room, where the main perimeters were our sectional couch. It was just easier for us to keep track of Owen and it gave him enough room to roam and play with baby safe toys. Jake was always good about keeping small toys outside of the "the pit" and keep them either on the outside of the couch, in the loft upstairs, or in his room.

Owen has recently learned to walk. We have now put up the baby gates and he is FREE!!! He can roam the entire living room, dining room and part of the hallway to the kitchen!!!!
He is walking more and more and I think he is loving his freedom!

Above is a picture of the pit

I think this pic says it all .......

Traditions

Ever since Rob and I have been married and even before we had kids, we have had the tradition to put up our Christmas tree and our holiday decorations the day after Thanksgiving. We love Christmas. We usually put on Christmas music to get us in the spirit and Rob always put up the tree, lights and garland and then I help put on the ornaments. I am glad he likes to do that part of it, if I did it, who knows what the tree would look like. I think I might have put the garland on one year, and it was very uneven and didn't look to good- so, I think from that point on, Rob has done that part of it. I put the other decorations up through the house, so I guess it is all good.

We still have the same tree, garland and most of the ornaments that we initially bought as a young married couple- the garland is bright red ( wouldn't be my choice today) but we will not get rid of it, I guess because it is sentimental.

Anyways, over the years, we have added ornaments and every year we would pick out a new ornament. Now that we have children, they get a new ornament and when they are a little older, they will get to pick it out themselves. This year, Jake received a Thomas the Train ornament and Owen received two bears reading "The Night Before Christmas".

You've got mail!!!

Isn't it so cool to get a package in the mail?? Since half of our family lives out of state, we get many packages in the mail.

The boys received a pre-Christmas present from their Aunt Eileen and Uncle Mark- boy, Jake was so excited to open it up. He thinks that every package we get in the mail is for him- he will ask "is it for me? "
Thanks Aunt Eileen and Uncle Mark !!

Sweet Cheeks

At Thanksgiving everyone kept commenting on Owen's cheeks. They all said how they are so cute and all you want to do is squeeze them- Luckily, at the gathering there wasn't some freaky old unknown great Aunt somewhere, actually squeezing Owen's cheeks or better yet, wanting to wipe off something by licking her thumb and wiping his cheek- these are some crazy family memories, that all of us, I think can relate to in some way- or maybe, that was just my family???

I think I am in trouble.......

I woke this morning to a couple of little boys who I think were trying to break a crib- ok, maybe not, I think they were really just having a good time ; )

I have two rambunctious boys, I think I am in trouble.......

Happy Thanksgiving

We wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and hope that everyone didn't eat too much turkey or pumpkin pie.

Not quite Chuck Taylor

Jake got some new shoes he just loves to wear. They are very cute! They are not the real deal, but they are close enough. Uncle John, this post is for you !!! ; )

Autumn has left.......

Well, Autumn is now gone and winter is here...... the temps are cold and the heat is on . We are bracing ourselves for a long and cold winter......hopefully, snow will be here for the holidays and then it will be a mild winter from then on...... today we have been having some flurries on and off
Here are some last Autumn photos of the kids ..... Enjoy !

GO PACK GO !!!!

Ahhh, Sunday football! We are a Packer family - I am a fan by default really, but over the years, have embraced the Green Bay Packers. Today we are hangin' out, reading the Sunday paper, watchin' the game ( GB is ahead ) and watching the kids play, all while some light snow is falling- Winter is here. Have a great Sunday.

Blue eyes

Owen 14 months

Peaceful

Seems like these days, we all need a place of peace or a place to reflect. Where is your place?

1st Snow

Earlier today, we had our first snowfall. I can not believe it is November already and that the holidays and winter will be here before we know it. Jake asked me if we could go sledding when he saw the snow. I had to explain that there needs to be snow covering the grass before we can go....... Soon enough, we will be getting his sled out!

Happy Birthday Rob !!!

Lately, things have been busy, busy around here. I have been meaning to post a pic of Rob's little birthday celebration. We celebrated it a day early and had cheesecake with candles- Happy Birthday !! XOXOXO

YES WE CAN

Wow- what a night................
I actually got chills when I heard that Barack Obama was going to be our next President. It was an exciting night indeed and we, both Rob and I, can only hope for a better future for our country.

These days...........

These days, this is Rob's Sunday NFL Ticket............