Welcoming 2009...

As the minutes tick away from 2008 and we prepare for a new year, I can't help but sit back and think about all of the memories that our family has made over the past 12 months. As I reminesced, I started thinking about what I'll miss most from 2008 and what I'm looking forward to in the coming year!

Top 5 things we'll cherish or miss about 2008:

1. Emmalie getting potty-trained. WHOO-HOO only one babe in diapers at this house!
2. Bethanie's firsts: Sitting, table food, crawling, talking, walking.... and even the TEETHING!
3. Devin completing his first attempt at writing a screenplay. It's a horror film though, so his sisters can't watch it any time in the next 14 yrs!
4. Dalton's LAST junior football season. I already miss it... and it's only been 6 weeks since his last game!
5. Monica's Daycare! Monica watched Emmalie as a baby (until she was 9-months-old). We returned to her and gave over Bethanie's infant care for the past year, too. She's now moving on to "bigger and better" things... but Tony & I will miss the great care she's given to the girls (not to mention our piece of mind, too). BUT.... we're friends and the Zoo is close!

Top 5 things we're looking forward to in 2009:

1. Bethanie getting off of her toddler formula and on regular milk. Oh, the savings we will grow!
2. Devin starting his Senior year of High School..... Wait! That thought almost makes me cry! We may have to move that to a "not looking forward to" item later in the year:(
3. Dalton's baseball season... and his first year of Middle School football. Okay, I know what you're thinking! Dalton does do things other than sports (just for the record here!).
4. Emmalie starting Pre-School.... Do you see a trend here? I think my year may be shaping up to be somewhat sad :(
5. Tony letting me quit my job to stay home with the kids. JUST KIDDING.... I'm too much of a work-a-holic in need of adult interaction to stay home. But I do admire those who can/do.
   

The real #1 thing we're looking forward to in 2009 is our family and friends! Thank you all so much for your love, support and sanity... or is that insanity, I never can remember! May God Bless you all and your families as you start on the journey that we'll later refer to as 2009.

HAPPY NEW YEAR from the land of ladybugs & bulldogs.

Shelia, Tony & the Gang

P.S. Did you all check out the colors here?! Yep! This would be the KU Crimson & Blue... to celebrate my college's football win in the Insyte Bowl tonight. ROCK CHALK JAYHAWK Baby!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

I hope you all have had a wonderful and very Merry Christmas. Our family has been blessed with so much thanks to the love and guidance of God above. Christmas is not only special to us because of the birth of Jesus... but also because it was during the Christmas holiday that we chose to baptize both Devin & Dalton. So our boys were "reborn" in their baptismal blessings at this time 16 and 12 years ago! (What special memories to have!).

We have compiled a little video clip for your enjoyment. (Listen closely to Emmalie's message at the end... her greeting is sooooo cute!).

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Merry Christmas from the land of ladybugs & bulldogs.

Shelia, Tony & the Gang

Christmas, Disco Style

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Celebrating Love at Christmas...

Tomorrow is a very special day for our family.... it is a day that has always made us think of Love and remember why we are here. On December 21st, our family celebrates two wonderful Anniversaries... Larry & Donna (my Mom & Dad) and Lisa & Johnny (my big sis & her beau).

Mom & Dad in the early 70's with Rick & Lisa

Mom & Dad some 30-yrs later

Though Mom passed away seven years ago now, Dad is still very sentimental about the day and the promises he made to her all those years ago. It remains a day to celebrate their love.

Lisa & Johnny (still smilin'!)- with the kiddos

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO ALL!

In other news... I finally caught Bethanie trying to mess under the Christmas tree tonight. Actually, while Emmalie was helping me wrap gifts Bethanie stole the bag of bows and must have figured that hiding under the tree was a good idea!

Bethanie sitting under the tree with her bows

This was Bethanie under the tree last year at this time,
What a difference a year makes!

That's it from this little wonderland...! May you all find the heart of Christmas and never forget the true meaning behind the season. Remember those who cannot be with you and surround those who can with all the Love of Christmas!

Shelia, Tony & the Gang

And the Winner is...

Just a quick post to let the few of you who were brave enough to post your vote know that the winner is...

ANG

Both Ang & Kamie had the correct answers... However, Ang won the randomized drawing for the $10.00 gift card to Olive Garden. (Ang, email me to claim your prize).

More wonderful words of life from the land of ladybugs and bulldogs later...

Shelia

Time to Use Your NOODLE!

I'll start with a little update on Bethanie...

Bethie-Boo had her routine visit with the Pediatric Gastrointerologist today (or "belly doctor" as Emma calls her). Have I mentioned a dozen times before that our Peds GI doc is totally amazing? Bethanie is up to a whopping 17 lbs, 12 oz... which is still well below the 3rd percentile for a 14 1/2 month old. But it is a gain of about 7 oz a month, and we'll take that with her activity level these days! Both of her doctors have made the same comment: "Bethanie is following a curve... it's just not THE curve!" Evidently my youngest diva STILL has it in her head that she doesn't want to follow the crowd and likes moving to her own tune! The best news is that we are finally able, after nearly a solid year, to take her off of the Prevacid. NO MORE MEDICINES for her reflux... WHOO HOO! We are still not progressing her to actual cow's milk at this time, but rather moving her up one step at a time. So it will be toddler formula for another 2-3 months or so.

Alright... Now on to the main attraction...

As promised... Are you all ready to play a little guessing game!? I had a totally different game in mind, and actually started posting it when Emmalie decided we needed to do a MUSIC GAME instead. So here is an Emmalie-inspired music trivia game for you all!

Here are your Rules:

1. Watch the following montage... or more importantly, LISTEN to it!
2. Jot down the song title AND artist.
3. Click on the "comment" link to submit your guesses for all three songs. (Sorry all! No emails this time around... my mailbox is tooooo full the way it is).
4. You all have until 5:00 pm on Friday, December 19th to submit your answers/guesses.
5. All valid and correct submissions will be entered into a random drawing to determine the winner.
6. And, yes, the winner will receive a surprise!

Your only hint: Emmalie helped pick the songs... so think Disney! Happy guessing!

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Shelia, Tony & the Gang

Basketball is Upon Us...

I want to start this post off by saying.... YES! My KU Jayhaws happened to lose a very close game this afternoon. However, it is NOT the end of basketball season at our house!

Actually, Dalton had a game late this morning. They won 35-16, of which Dalton happened to score nearly half of their total points. Devin has always been the "basketball player" in the family... I guess DJ has just picked up a few good pointers from his big brother (mainly rebounding focused). Dalton is getting soooo big and grown up looking all of a sudden...

Dalton tries to get away from his "defender"

For the avid sports fans in the family, here is a teasing little taste of what we were able to watch this morning. (Dalton is #15)

It has been a l-o-n-g day already.... the girls were both cranky last night (Emmalie had an ear ache and Bethanie had the sniffles). Tony & I were up until at least 2:00 am with them because, of course, they had to get up together and see who could out-do the other with loud whining! Funny thing though... they both woke up ALL FINE by 8:00 am this morning ready to run & play! Bethanie even decided to help rearrange gifts under the Christmas tree... to go with the few ornaments she moved on the tree last night!

Ohh.. I like this one better right HERE!

Uh-oh... caught by Mommy!
I'll just smile pretty and she won't get mad!

Those of you that have been following for a while remember the girls & my "Mother-Daughter Photo Shoot" back in mid-October. We now have a new picture for the wall as a result of that experience. They did a great job on the pictures we ordered... even though they tried to goat me into spending more money with their emotional photo/video display!

Mama & her girls

Wonderful things are coming.... I know, the guessing game is just about done and should be the next post you get from us! Until then, may your own wonderful words of life ressonate as the holiday approaches.

Shelia, Tony & the Gang

One Way to Spend a COLD Evening...

So how do you spend a snowed all day, cold, windy evening? Well, our little performer gave us a great show while taking a break from watching Christmas movies early this evening. TOO CUTE... so I had to share!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Shelia, Tony & the Gang

Don't Take MY Drink!

Well, Bethanie has learned how to drink from a straw... or, to put it more accurately, GULP from a straw. She starts and I have to sit back and wonder when she's going to come up for air! So this morning she eyeballed my drink and quickly took it over as being hers. It was so funny watching her "protect" the cup that I had to get a quick clip to share. Note that she has the whole female silent treatment thing down to get her point across (I don't know where she learned it?!)... Bethie was NOT going to share!

Life has been rather busy for the most part this week. We finally took the time to put up the Christmas tree and other holiday decorations though. Tony had done the outside weeks ago.. I just couldn't seem to find the time or get motivated enough to do the inside of the house. One more Holiday Party this evening, and then we should be able to have a schedule "slow down" until after the the first of the year... Yeah, right!? Something always seems to come up!

Hope you all are enjoying your weekend. It's a happy, sunny day in the heartland!

Shelia, Tony & the Gang

P.S. By popular demand... Another "guessing" opportunity is coming your way soon.

Goobers Anyone?!

Anyone up for a "goobery" hug and kiss?! Tony & I decided to let Bethanie eat from a bowl for the first time last night (instead of the whole high chair top thing). Mashed potatoes & salisbury steak. YEAH! Not the brightest bulbs in the house... but we had fun as we paid for our decision...

Daddy, these are really good potatoes (finger food... NOT!)

Mommy, I like this new HAT!

Surprisingly enough... Bethie managed to keep ALL of the food on either her or the high chair! It wasn't so bad having to do a bath without sweeping & mopping the floor too!

Shelia, Tony & the Gang