Merry Christmas!

Wow - this has to be the best time of the year.....period. I love love love the Christmas season and everything it brings. Yes it is busy but that is no different that any other time of year for this family. To say Reese is super excited for Christmas would be an understatement. He goes around the house singing Christmas carols, drawing Christmas trees and other various pictures, wants to bake "Christmas goodies" and so on and so on...... James seems excited too (probably just because Reese is) ha!. Our presents are wrapped, "Diego" our Elf of the Shelf has been visiting, and Santa is getting ready for his big appearance.

We spent the weekend with my parents and had a great "pre-Christmas time". We baked and shopped, and went to a show in Branson. We LOVE spending time with them and couldn't imagine doing anything else. James has learned to say "ho ho ho merry christmas"....the only part that you can understand is "ho ho ho" but it is cute nonetheless..... :)

We had the boys pictures taken a few weeks ago and if there was one stressful thing for this holiday season - I guess that would be it. But if that is all we have to worry about - we have it pretty good. Enjoy the pics....my children are growing way to fast.

Our family has truly been blessed this year with health, love, and happiness. Merry Christmas everyone!

Wow - it's been awhile!

Fall is here and the cold air is setting in...we decided to take the boys to Knob park to take some pics and considering the fact we were just using our hand held camera....I think they turned out okay. They had fun climbing on the rocks and playing in the woods. The boys are growing like crazy and I really really need to be better about updating this blog. :) James is talking and is soooo much fun at this age. Reese is starting to read and is growing taller and taller everyday. Devin has grown exponentially over the last year and is nearly bigger than me. The boys are so fun and keep us on our toes for sure.

I will be posting Reese's birthday pics soon!

Farewell Mama Elli and Baba Katsourides........Hello Kindergarten

Well, the time finally arrived.......sniff sniff.......Our Beloved Mama Elli and Baba (Andrew) decided it was time to retire and move to Florida. I knew this day would eventually arrive, however I was not ready for it to be this May. Many tears were shed and it felt like a piece of my heart was being ripped out by the strings. Reese has been going to Mama Elli's since he was about 16 months and James started when he was 12 weeks old. So do the math....it has been a long time. They have TRULY become an intregal part of our family. Thank you Mama Elli and Baba for loving my children and helping me raise them everyday. You have impacted our lives more than you will ever know. We have moved on to a new place/daycare...but it will never be the same....ever. We love you dearly!


MOVING ON UP....PRESCHOOL GRADUATION>>>>>>>>>>> :)

WOW - what a busy spring is has been thus far...Reese graduated from Preschool and is well on his way to being a kindergartener....makes me happy and sad all at the same time...He is growing and growing. My baby......sigh....turning into a young boy whether I am ready or not. Reese is full of energy every single day, never wanting to come in from outside...EVER. :) He is also such a great big brother to James. I really don't think he could love James anymore than he does. I am so proud of him and so grateful God blessed me with loving children.

SPRING IS HERE!!!!

Well I think it is finally here......welcome Spring and Summer! Bring on the sunshine, bring on the great running weather (for me) ha!, bring on the long evenings of playing outside with my boys, and bring on the fun! We were able to BBQ last weekend and the boys FINALLY got to enjoy a popsicle outside. This is always a favorite for Reese and James was able to eat one for the first time too!! Here's to a fun summer to come!

Thunderstorms

If you have read my latest comment on Facebook, you will appreciate this even more:

A few nights ago we had our first evening of thunderstorms for 2010. Reese is still scared of thunder and no matter how many times we say "angels are bowling" etc .... he is still terrified. He will follow me around and not get 5 feet away "just in case it will funder"..... Well, Kevin got back in town last night after being away for a few days and this was the conversation at dinner:

Reese: "Daddy did you have thunder and storms when you were in Columbia?"

Kevin: "Yes a little bit but I wasn't scared. Did you have some here?"

Reese nods in agreement

Kevin: "Were you brave? (again Reese nods in agreement)

Kevin "Did you sleep in your own bed?" after a very very long pause comes a very hesitant nod from Reese.......and he looks at me (because we all know he slept right next to me the whole night)

Kevin: "Are you sure you didn't sleep with Mommy?"

Reese: "Well I did sleep with Mommy but I wasn't scared....I was just saving your spot......."

We all had a good laugh at that one .......gotta love 'em.....

"Bestest Mommy"

No matter how busy your day was... no matter how stressed you get from the daily grind.... it is all irrelevant when you come home and your son comes and gives you a hug and says...."you're the bestest Mommy in the whole earth". Now that will melt your heart. I love my boys so much and they constantly put a smile on my face...no matter what my day was like. Because at the end of the day...it is just work. All be it work is important... but it doesn't hold a candle to my boys. They are my life. On my way back to work yesterday after dropping Reese off at preschool, I had to say a little prayer as I watched the Children's Mercy Life Flight helicopter land at our local hospital....that was someones son/daughter...I wanted to drive back and hug my children. I even asked Sheila to pray for that child when I got back to work......

Anyhoo...here are a few pics of the boys....Reese had a GREAT time at the MU/KU game....too bad his Missouri Tigers did not prevail.....

Kindergarten.............

So I had to add a few pictures of Reese today.

I recieved a flyer for Reese's Kindergarten Orientation yesterday.

I am in complete denial that my baby is starting school.

He is so unbelievably excited to start Kindergarten and talks about it everyday.

Sniff Sniff

Where has the time gone?

Keystone Ski Trip 2010

We were able to bring all 3 parts of our family together this past January and travel to Keystone CO for a "much needed" vacation for all. My mom worked very hard to organize all aspects of the trip...lift tickets, airfare, living arrangements, car rental, ski rental, and cooking plans. You have no idea how much planning goes into a ski trip until you have done it. My brother's family flew from their new home in Detroit and we all met in Denver. The week was a lot of fun and Reese started skiing for the first time ever! 3 days in ski school and he was a pro. He did great and was trying to do jumps before he even started down the mountain. Devin did a good job as well and became more and more comfortable on the greens as well as a few blues. Kevin did some snowboarding and did a great job until a fall landed him in the ER due to a concussion. He is fine now and ready to go back again....some people never learn....Anyhow, thank you to Mom and Dad for all your hard work in planning this family vacation...We had a great time and we love you very much.

Swimming in January

We decided to take a break from the cold and take the boys swimming a few days ago. Since James hadn't been feeling too well and just recently had tubes put in his ears...we decided he wasn't a good candidate for the pool. So Reese and Kevin got to spend some time together in the pool while I chased James around trying to keep him OUT of the pool. Reese had a great time and wasn't ready to leave. I am trying to sign him up for swimming lessons and just waiting on a return phone call. This way he will be even better this summer when we take the boat out on the lake...oh summer..........it can't come fast enough.