It Got Warmer! yeah!

It got warmer as we watched 2008 come to an end. And we were loving every minute of it. In fact, we got behind on things because we all took time out of our work to play. Shawn was working at home and he stopped. I was cleaning and organizing... and if you come over now you will see that I also stopped. We cleaned the garage and cars as Nicolas and Lexi played all afternoon. Lexi even missed her nap because we didn't have the heart to break hers and put her to bed.



Nicolas runs with one of his presents from the Hyten's for his birthday. It was a soccer ball that you fling into the air and a parachute flips out. It was weirdly addictive. And as you see he was having fun!

Lexi learns to fly!

Uh Oh! A bud? After only two days for semi-warmth?

Lexi breaks open the sandbox. Nicolas and Lexi play so good together when they want to. I can't imagine my life without both of them filling each others lives.

The Night Before Christmas... after Christmas

I had to get a photo of Nicolas reading to his little sister the story of The Night Before Christmas. I want to get it on film. We are going to do that as soon as poor Lexi gets over her Croup and be that great little audience again.



I hate that the photo shows Lexi with a face full of Spaghetti O's. This was right after lunch and she wasn't cleaned up yet. But I had to show the photo because of the sweet adoration of a little sister for her brother.

Let the Sun Shine In!

The first sign of warmer weather and sun meant outside for us! Nicolas wanted to try his new Speedracer scooter from his birthday. So we headed down to our neighboring cul de sac and rolled around. We were quickly spotted by a pajama clad friend, Ryan. Thank you God for a break from the cold and a chance to play outside with friends!



Nicolas was a his own version of Speed Racer. He really did great at this one. I was amazed at how much better he did on this even then the three wheeled version. After this night he had to start wearing a helmet! Too much speed!

Lexi got on her princess one with three wheels. And she actually did much better too. I was amazed to watch them go. Look at her chilly little cheeks as they shine through the smile!

The Last Christmas Dance!

Three little Vetter grandkids line up waiting to get their special presents from Meemaw and Papaw. This was our last of the four days of Christmas. It has been a wonderful one for our little kiddos. Look at their smiles! It says it all.


After lots of wonderful presents, Lexi decided to take a moment from playing and take in her favorite movie.

To Grandma's House We Go!

Christmas afternoon we went to Grandma Birdie's house. We got to see our little Max for the first time in a while. How he has grown!

Proud Daddy Ron holding him!

Lexi got very excited to see one of her presents from Grandma. She loves, loves Cinderella, loves ponies and loves baby dolls. This had all of that in one package! Can't beat that.

Nicolas loved his Baseball Guys. I think we have all the sports covered now. He got hockey guys from us at Thanksgiving, football and soccer guys from Aunt Lanette and Uncle Phil. Since I don't think they make basketball guys... we are now good! I loved how the ponies and Power Rangers are all lined up ready to watch a good game!

Christmas Morning Smiles!

Here they come! It is Christmas morning and look at the grins! Okay, Lexi is real but Nicolas is recreating how he must have looked at 6:30 in the morning when he couldn't sleep any longer (mind you he only went to bed at 11:00 the night before). He snuck down, past the barriers I had put up to keep that very thing from happening.

Lexi was so excited to see her Pinky Pie BIG stuffed pony that Santa left her. And she loved all the other ponies. Nicolas got his Power Rangers and Speed Racer gear. It was a happy Christmas morning!

Let is snow!

We took a break from the cold and yucky weather outside to make our own snowflakes. The kids helped me decorate their grandmother Mae Mae's Christmas box that held all her snowflake and snowman decorations for her Winter Games. They had a great time... although I must admit I got a bit tense as I realized that they were using a LOT of paint... fabric paint... that won't come out of their clothes. What was I thinking?



Nicolas decorates one of his snowflakes. This was before I realized my mistake on choice of paint medium and stripped him down!

Lexi chooses pink glitter fabric paint. Have a bib on her at least and sleeves all the way pulled up. Sorry... snowflake is blending in with the background.

Here is our finished products. The white ones aren't quite viewable as they are laying on the white board I have them do artwork on. But they were actually prettier (in a messy, abstract sort of way) in person. The glitter and such helped! We'll try this one again next year. They did look fun on her box!

Christmas Comes Early!

Sunday was a special day as it was the "first" day of Christmas for the family. It was a bit early but worth it as we got to spend a long time with the Nicol family that we love and adore. Yeah... LOTS of time (hee, hee). We were there about 10 hours having Christmas and family fun!



Lexi enjoys a candy cane cookie by her favorite Aunt Evelyn. Funny part was she would not eat it! She insisted on licking it and licking it. Well, at least the cookie would last a long time!

Nicolas loved playing arcade game after arcade game in Uncle Rich's infamous basement. And it was fun to watch him play with his cousin Nate. What sweet boys they are!

How appropriate! Uncle Rich gave Nicolas a pinball machine (thankfully not full size) and it was a favorite gift!

Lexi loved the tea set that Aunt Lanette and Uncle Phil gave her. Kai found it quite fun to play tea party too. They are such a cute little team.

Lexi is so into combing hair right now! I think she would brush my hair (or anyone else who she can corner) forever if she could. She also loves to scrunch it, flip it, poof it, fluff it, and poof it. We now push her towards just combs since her use of brushes is a bit... powerful and can leave your head feeling a bit beaten and bruised. Good thing I have straight hair that is easy to do this to every day!

Christmas is coming!

It was the last day of school and time for fun! The kids had their Christmas parties and had lots of fun!



Lexi's class had a birthday for Jesus. They had cake and horns and we brought in a birthday balloon for everyone. That was a huge hit!

Nicolas' class had a gingerbread man theme party. Julie Lewis went through lots of trouble to make this a fun filled party. We brought in cupcakes with gingerbread men on top. Admittedly not a fond moment at first when Nicolas tipped over the container of iced cupcakes. They got a bit smooshed... but nobody seemed to notice. Mommy needs to remember that things don't always have to be perfect to still taste yummy!

We headed to McD's with our friends Ryan, Julia, Cooper and Jack. They had a great time!

Forgot to bring Lexi pants to play in but she managed to have just as much fun in her cutie skirt!

Seven Days Until Christmas!

Every year the kids get these homemade Christmas Advent calendars. Every year I am tempted to buy the commercialized ones that they sell in the store. But we loyally buy these. This year MeeMa picked this one up at work. They are usually made by church groups or retired ladies. They wrap up little handmade presents and the kids get to pull one off a day from December 1st to Christmas morning. It is great! The little items are inexpensive. Normally handmade ornaments, stickers, coloring pages, etc. To you and me it would seem so silly and cheap. But to them it is something worth getting out of bed, getting dressed and rushing downstairs.

No need to ask how many more days until Christmas now! Nicolas counted today and proclaimed in excitement... "Only seven more days until Christmas!" (augh, don't remind me how much I have to get done!)



At one point their boards were hanging from their chairs. Last year they were on their doors but they made too much noise when you tried to sneak in and out in the middle of the night. Somehow this year they made it off their chairs and now float around the house wherever they want to sit and open them each morning. Nicolas keeps his by the front window where he rushes each morning before he even lets me know he is up. Lexi's is the kitchen so that Nicolas and I can remind her to do it since she doesn't stand in one place for long.

Who knew how much joy a simple ornament made from a Christmas card and a piece of yarn would bring?

Tried!!

Okay, so many times I see craft ideas to do with the kids and I don't follow through. Was so excited when we pulled out the clear beads and sparkly wire to make snowflakes for the grandparents. Well, this may be the only time the grandparents see those snowflakes... on this blog. Hope they are watching!



They did great... although Lexi seemed to only want to use one type of clear bead and so her snowflake is a bit ... uniform in appearance. That is... the 3 out of 10 wires she got beads on. Then she was finished. Yep. That is the attention span of a 2 year old. Really, guess I shouldn't complain. It took a while to string on what she did. And she had fun doing it. Maybe we will try to have these finished for NEXT year Christmas.

Lexi watches intently as her brother slides on his beads. See her mind working?

Nicolas insists on posing with that forced grin. I told him I wanted to get a photo of him making the snowflake and he wanted a picture of the process. He got more finished then Lexi did but still not an entire flake. Oh well. We tried! Cute idea for next year!

Say Cheese!

Okay, sitting here...nearly 1:00 am.... drinking Sprite Zero and on my new laptop. Thought I would set up Picasa (which I love) on there as a download I rely on. Just got home from Stella's annual ornament exchange and closed it down as usual with the help of Andrea, Dee Dee and those who choose to remain nameless. Seeing what photos are still on the camera to be uploaded to the blog. And here is my sweet Lexi at Chuck E Cheese on Wednesday. Met some good friends from way, way back. So glad we have reconnected. Dena and Jackie met me there on Wednesday with our little ones. Lexi loved sitting next to Barney.



Not sure how many coins were used to pose with her love barney!

Another treat! Around and around she goes on the Merry Go Round!

Is It Too Cold to Play Outside Again???

Yes, in my comfort level it is too cold to play outside again! But after having Nicolas ask me and ask me every single day if we could play outside yet, I figured Monday was one of the warmer days we have had in a while. I asked them if they wanted to eat lunch early and head out to ride bikes. I don't think Nicolas could throw his toys down fast enough. Poor little guy hates being cooped up inside every single day. So they rode their bikes down to the cul de sac and rode around as long as ... I could stand it. Our friends Ryan and Julia came out to play too.



If your happy and you know it peddle your bike....

Even Lexi was buzzing with life as she was all bundled up for the outside and riding her big wheel. Although she had forgotten how to peddle a bit already.

Then we were invited inside to the warmth of the Harriss' house to make cookies. They were equally happy about that, I think. "Princess Alexis" (per her monogrammed shirt... hee, hee) had fun cutting shapes out of these sugar cookies. But I think she will have even more fun eating them!

Nicolas gives us a good hockey face grin.