Hot cocoa and gooey muffins...

Yesterday was such a nice day (and by nice day I mean the sun was out, because we all know I don't like winter), I didn't want to stay in the house any longer. I packed up Grace and went to pick up Mom and headed to downtown Belleville. We went to see Santa's house, no one was home so Grace took a picture of me sitting on the steps waiting for him.

We walked back up the street and looked at all on the christmas window displays the stores had and then went to St. Louis Bread Co. for some hot chocolate and gooey muffins. These are what I look forward to every winter...YUMMY!!!

Grace throughly enjoyed her hot chocolate, so much I think she developed a hole in her lip from drinking it too fast.

She was having a good time chillin in the coffee shop drinking her hot chocolate.

Grace was also enjoyed some free time away from her brother and just being with the girls. She liked the fact there was no stroller and she could take a walk with Nina and Mommy at her own pace and look at all the window displays. She looks so old in this picture, holding her "to go cup" of hot chocolate, leaning on the window, telling us all about it!!

Lazy days...

These are the days I love the most. The ones were I don't have to get out of my pjs, I can cuddle under a blanket with my bestest pals and watch a movie. The days were we can bake cookies, do puzzles, or play dress up. The days were we can race horses around the basement or wrestle on the floor. The days we can play music as loud as we want and watch the kids "rock out". These are the days...

Family Reading Night...

was on Thursday at the school. Seth had been looking forward to this all week. This year was Family Feud!!!
I will have to say Mrs. D is a GREAT MC!! There is definitely no down time when she was the mic in her hand, too funny!!

They had the gym set up with tables and podium for the contestants. This is a great idea for getting the families and parents involved with the school activities.

Mom was running the slide show. The entire school (K-5) were interviewed and came up with some doozy answers. I must say though, the questions, you couldn't help buy laugh at, because you know some of the answers were going to be hilarious. Especially if you think like a K.

Here are a couple of kids joining in on the fun, battling it to the first to ring the bell and get a chance to play on and win the points.

It was a fun time had by all. There was a chili cookoff/dinner before the show and the Book Fair (always a favorite of mine). Thank you to everyone who made chili, it was hard to choose a favorite. Mrs. D, Richie was a huge fan of yours, he couldn't stop talking about all night!! Ask mom for details!!haha

The other day, Grace and I were bored while Seth was at school, so we decided to make chocolate chip cookies. I am going to say I am surprises at how many cookies actually came out of the batter with butter fingers helping me. haha

She thought she was such a big helper being able to run the mixer by herself.

Of course, licking the utensils is the best part of the whole experience!!!

She can have the utensils, this is what I am after. I love the dough!! Quickly we found out how much she likes it too. There aren't as many chips in there as there should be!!haha

(Stacy if you are reading this, I didn't cut the spoons off!!haha) These are the days I love, being able to cook and lounge in my pjs with my bestest girl!!!

While the cat is away the mice will play...

So, today I went to a "girly" party at a friends house and left the kids home with Richie. Now, right there I should have known that I would be coming home to a mystery. LOL When I got home I found all of the pillows at the end of the stairs to the basement. With many questions running through my mind, I couldn't help but ask Seth what they were there for. Of course, he says "Dad told us to put them there." At this point I am almost afraid to ask why. haha So here it is.

Leave it to my "oldest" child to come up with this. It started with a giant piece of cardboard from a huge box, but once it was crumpled, they used the top of a storage tub!! (eyes rolling)

Hope everyone had a good weekend. As you can see the kids did!!!haha

Villa Marie Winery

Last night Richie and I went out for dinner with family and friends for Annie's and my birthday. We went to Ravenelli's for dinner and the food was delicious.

Annie and Aimee at the restaurant.

Mom and Dawnjulene.

The husbands, Derrick, Kevin and Scott.

Ok, now we are off to the winery!!!

Tonight was Villa Marie's grand opening, but it wasn't as crowded as I thought it was going to be!! Lucky for us the Chamber of Commerce dinner was the same night.hahaha

The girls. I guess the guys don't want to talk girl stuff. hahaha

Me and Dawnjulene. She will be so proud that I spelled her name right. LOL

Derrick and Dawnjulene. Derrick doesn't like his picture taken, so we have to be sneaky. Gotcha!!!

Thank you everyone for coming out with us. We had a blast and hope you did to. We will have to get together again soon.

Midwest Twisters...

was the field trip of choice in November for the Parents As Teachers program. The kids had A LOT of energy to burn off that day. Grace slept soooo well that night. haha

First we had to do our warm-ups. I think it was more amusing for me to watch the adults do this part than watching the kids. hahaha

Now it is off to the first obstacle course. We go down the trampoline runway and into a pit of foam blocks, climb out of those and then to two more trampolines.

Climbing out of the blocks proved to be an obstacle in itself for Grace.

Then up the ramps. Wyatt following in line.

Next was the balance beam. Here is Grace's friend F who has mastered the art of balance. Grace not so much!!!LOL

After a few rounds of that course we went over to the other room where we found another. I think the parents were probably more tired than the kids at this point. Either that, or I am totally out of shape!!!hahaha

The other room had a rock wall, rings, high bar and parallel bars for little ones.

Happy Halloween...

everyone. For trick or treating we go to Mom and Dad's house. The kids love the neighborhood and one of the houses does a haunted house and another has cookies and chili and drinks for whoever wants to.

As you can see Seth was Spiderman and Grace was a ballerina. Some of you may not recognize the ballet outfit, it was mine. This was the cheapest Halloween ever. Seth wanted to be Spiderman, well he used the same outfit he did 2 years ago. Who was I to argue? hahaha

Mom wore her green M&M. They were ready to go.

Mom, Richie and I walked around with the kids. Boy, were they fired up and ready to go. Grace was even helping the people close the doors behind them so she could run to the next house. LOL

I hope everyone had a happy and safe halloween!!!

On Halloween the kids at the school had a costume parade around town. My friend, Dawnjulene, and I took Dache' and Grace up to the old soda shop for some ice cream and watch the parade. It was the perfect day for ice cream, sun was out and the temperature was awesome.

Here is Dache' watching for the parade looking for her brother.

Here is Grace waiting infront of the soda shop for her friend Dache'.

Thing 1, Thing 2, and the Cat in the Hat. There were sooooo many really cool costumes.

Here they come.

Thank you Dawnjulene and Dache' for meeting up with us. We had a blast!!!