Jam's Fourth Birthday

James had a multi-day birthday this year.  On Tuesday (12/9/08) he brought cupcakes to preschool.  On wednesday, his actual birthday, Grammy and Gramps came up and watched him play hockey and had dinner with us.  We told Jam he could go to any restaurant he wanted and he picked Burger King.  We tried to talk him out of it, but he insisted.  On Friday (12/12/08) Jam had his birthday party at the YMCA in Marquette.  He had soooooo much fun and it was super easy for us.  This was good because we were, of course, fighting colds.  The people at the Y handled all the details and we just showed up and had fun!

The party coordinator at the Y is dating one of the Wildcat hockey players so when we said he loved hockey she had her boyfriend get him a poster signed by the whole team.  He was so excited he was actually running in circles!

Sammy D, James, and Charlie enjoying pizza.  The two people in the background were our excellent Y workers.

Sammy D, Chris Dehlin, James, Max, and Charlie gather around the hockey stick cupcakes while we all sang.

Emmy, Max, and Charlie help James open gifts.

Everyone's favorite part seemed to be the pool.  It was nice to get the chance to swim in the middle of winter.  the Y has a beautiful kid-friendly pool.

Just so you know...

Hi All!  Sorry about the six weeks with no posts.  We have had a crazy string of illnesses that we are just now recovering from.  Poor Jam only made it to preschool 3 times in December.  Hopefully I will be getting a big bunch of posts on here in the next few days.  Here's the first...

Joel is no longer the buckless wonder.  On Thanksgiving Joel shot a spike.  To say James was excited is like saying the Grand Canyon is a pretty good sized hole.  Everyone had to come out so that James could show them his dad's buck.  We've had venison quite a few times and it's been nice.  James wants to put the antlers from the spike on his wall.  That is still up for discussion, but I'm pretty sure it'll happen.  Mom will probably be over ruled by the male majority...I can't wait until Addison's old enough to have an opinion :)  Soon the hormonal tides will change!

More Halloween Pics

At a house getting candy

Jam and his friends

Handy Jammy

Two Peas-In-Pods.

Yes we did this on purpose... we are such dorks :)

Halloween '08

Sorry for the long delay, but illnesses, deer season, and Joel's cd upload have pretty much kept me from the computer.  I had no idea we had as many cds as we have until Joel spent a couple of weeks on the computer. 

 

ANYWAY, Halloween was super fun.  It was actually 3 days long.  On Wednesday, we went to a party at the children's museum.  Jam played with Sammy D, Nolan, and Andy.  Grandma Dusty and Poppa Pete were also there.  On Wednesday and Thursday Joel worked on carving our jack-o-lantern family.  I think he did a wonderful job.  

On Thursday James did Halloween at school and opened a Halloween package from Auntie Emma D.  He spent a good portion of the afternoon covering Addie and himself in Halloween stickers.  

On Friday we brought the kids to Dehlin's house for trick-or-treating.  Addie was one of two peas in pods with Eli.  Jam had a blast trick-or-treating with Charlie, Olie, Sam, Addie, and Eli.  Kristy and I got to eat Addie and Eli's share.  They of course got a little taste a few hours later :)

The four of us posing at the Dehlin house after trick-or-treating

Two super cute kiddos all ready for fun!

Joel's pumpkin family masterpiece

Addie, Jam, and a ton of halloween stickers

Jam, Sam, and Poppa Pete at the children's museum

Addie Finds a Toy

I put Addison on her mat while I was watching the Canton, Ohio rally for Obama on CNN and she started intentionally batting at a toy.  This is the first time she's done this on purpose.  She played with and talked to the toy for like five minutes before getting tired out.  They grow up so fast!

Addison's First Snow Experience

As soon as James heard Addie making noise over the monitor he yelled, "I get to teach Addie about snow!"  So we got her up, fed, and dressed (during which Jam snuck out of the house in his pajama's) and ready for her 1st snow experience.

Addie really liked her snowsuite.  She thought it was very fun to wiggle around in it on the floor.

Addison was not nearly as happy with the cold wind.  She and I lasted about 3 minutes outside before she decided it was time to go in.  Just enough time for Jam to show her the snow and snap a couple of photos.

James thinks its fun to catch snowflakes on his tongue!

October in the UP!

We woke up to what James considers the most exciting sight since the birth of his sister...SNOW!  He has been having a lot of trouble containing his enthusiasm.  When I went upstairs to change Addison he put on his snow boots and snuck out the back door.  Besides not telling me where he was going, he was still in his pajamas!

Jam has spent much of the AM chanting, "It's winter, YEAH!"  He's such a Yooper!