So where the hell was i? Enjoying my sweet family of course! Over winter break the boys got to experience Grandma and Grandpa V coming for a visit, their first blizzard, and a deep freeze. The blizzard was loads of fun, though it sunk us where the highs didn't get above 20 degrees for about 2 weeks, which was sort of difficult to enjoy all that snow. i mean the 3-4 inches we got. Seriously - a blizzard with only 4 inches accumulation? Welcome to Iowa.
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| Our first blizzard - we finally get to use our snow shovels! (BAG) |
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| And Dad finally gets to use the snowblower - aww yeah. |
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| A little winter biking does a body good (BAG) |
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| Putting out some treats for Santa (GAB) |
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| Aidan loved the Soccer Sucker in his stocking! |
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| Brady the streaker - Instant Classic! |
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| Aidan's ready for the ice bowl! |
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| Aidan and Brady wrestle. I mean, play football in the snow. |
We did have a lovely time in spite of the bitter cold. The boys told us they heard sleigh bells on Christmas Eve night, but they didn't see Santa's sleigh. Hmmmm . . .wonder where those came from?! We had a fun time opening some gifts and trying to rip them from their childproof packaging before the boys wanted to move on to opening a new gift.
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| Christmas Eve is AWESOME! We Love Santa! (GBA) |
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| Grandma V reads the Night Before Christmas (GAB) |
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| Brady photobombs me Christmas morning |
Our New Year's sort of came and went - my folks had left that day, so Curt and I basically put the boys to bed early (is that bad?!) and chilled on the couch until we couldn't take Ryan Seacrest and Jenny McCarthy any more. Next year - maybe we will do something to mark the occasion. :)
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| Aidan and Dad play the Angry Birds game from Aunt Pam and Uncle Tony |
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| Brady chills with GrandmaV |
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| Aidan chills with Grandpa V |
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| Gavin asked for a snuggle from Grandpa V. He sat this way for a full 5 minutes. Awww... |
In the new year, we did a weekend in Des Moines to celebrate Christmas with the Kenoyer side of the family. Poor Brady got strep throat and a double ear infection that was so severe he was VOMITING because of it. He was such a trooper. An early morning sunday trip to the urgent care clinic and some popsicles and antibiotics later he was giving us his crazy Brady faces by dinner time. Seeing as how I came down with strep throat one week later, if he felt HALF as bad as I did those first days, he truly is a stronger person than I am. Curt was on his way to LeaderShape in Minnesota the day after I went to the Dr. so instead of being able to prepare a little bit more, he and his folks let me sleep about 6 hours during the day, so that I would at least be able to attempt the week without him in town. I will say, by that Thursday (day 5) when Brady woke up at 230AM and proceeded to vomit every half hour for the next 8 hours, I was feeling PRETTY sorry for myself. Luckily, Brady improved, and we have wonderful neighbors in Joan and Leo who stepped in to help me getting Aidan and Gavin to school and staying with Brady so I could pick them up from school.
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| Brady and Gabe rock out with the Faux-hawks! |
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| Molly's cupcakes while Dad was in MN. Aidan didn't like that his cupcake fell apart because of the fruit filling. |
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| About one minute later. (BAG) |
The boys also got to go sledding for their first time while we were in Des Moines (prior to the first strep throat diagnosis). We found a hill near one of the medical clinics in West Des Moines with a lovely, gradual and empty hill and Curt and I got to spend the morning with the boys on a sunny winter day. Even though it wasn't fresh snow, it really was just one of those glorious days. Seeing their sweet smiles and hearing their giggles was so much fun.
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| Mom and Brady |
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| Dad and Aidan |
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| Mom and gavin go for a spin - Aidan was just enjoying the snow. |
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| Brady zooms! |
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| Gavin decided to go down backwards! |
Since then I have applied for a job and have an interview tomorrow. As I am looking to next year, knowing the boys will be in school more, but still not full time, I knew it was time to at least see what was out there. The position is one I am interested in, I just wish it were being advertised a few months from now. Se La Vie, right? Of course, we don't have any other child care plans, so if I get it and they want me to start right away (the position has been empty since the summer) we would need flexibility as to how I am actually completing the work. Yes, I am thinking as I type this . . .
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| GAB in shirts Grandma K made! |
In other news, the boys have been pretty funny lately (making it all that more difficult for me to think about returning to work). The other morning during our daily snuggle time before we get ready for the day, Aidan was laying on his stomach and says "Brady! Smell my butt!" Calm as can be, Brady says "No. Only dogs do that. They don't know any better." I nearly died. When I asked him where he had heard that he just says "from dad." So funny.
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| Brady and his Nerf gun from Uncle Chad and Aunt Erica |
Brady and I had this exchange the other day:
Brady: I'm not afraid of anything. I'm not afraid of lions.
Me: yeah?
Brady: yeah. My dad would just get a bullet gun and shoot it.
Me: yeah?
Brady: yeah. Mom would you kill a lion?
Me: if it was trying to eat you, yes, I would kill a lion.
Brady: what would you use? (Pause) a vacuum cleaner!
Me: your dad would use a gun and I would just use a vacuum cleaner?
Brady: yeah! You'd vacuum all of his hair off!
OMGoodness! I just about died after that! I guess I am way tougher with a vacuum cleaner than I ever imagined!
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| Gavin wanted a picture of a silly face |
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| Aidan said it was a camera he had made :) |
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| These two. A & G |
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| Gavin and Dad |
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| Aidan and Mom |
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| Hey! Who are those elves? We are actually in a picture with just the two of us! |
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| Aidan and Grandma K sing the Partridge in a Pear Tree! |
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| Gavin was the first to dip his nose (then whole face) in the snow! |
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| Then Aidan. . . |
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| Brady just did his hat - don't want to mess up that adorable face! |
