Misc. Monday

We had a good Thanksgiving. My dad drove up from TN and spent most of the week with us. We did some Christmas shopping, watched lots of football, played cards, ate yummy food. But then on Thanksgiving evening Chandler and I started feeling yucky. We both went to the dr on Friday and she was diagnosed with Croup. Which I find amusing b/c she got Croup the day after Thanksgiving last year! And I was diagnosed with an upper respiratory infection and an ear infection. No fun. So my dad cut his trip short and went on home. Saturday we spend the majority of the day napping and lying around. Then Sunday it was time to decorate for Christmas.

Taking a break to walk in Daddy's shoes. Or at least try to.

Chandler was so excited to help me decorate the tree. She picked out each ornament for me to hang and instructed me where to hang it.

While Chandler and I were working hard decorating inside, Jeremy was working hard outside.

We decided it would be too hard to put lights on the house, as the roof is 2 stories. So he just lined the walkway and driveway. This picture really doesn't do it justice. It is one of the best looking houses on the street. Last night I wrapped some presents. It is officially beginning to feel like the Christmas season.

One Word

I have been thinking about what I am thankful a lot these past few months. I could go on and on about what I am thankful for. But I thought I would do this a little different and sum up my list with one word.

Family.

We all know what a family is. Most of us have one. But lately I have been thinking about mine. I am so thankful for the family that I do have. I feel that as I have gotten older, my relationships with my family has changed. But only for the better. I of course am thankful for my parents. They have always been my encouragers and supported me in whatever I have pursued. I am also thankful for Jeremy's parents. I know I am very lucky to have the in-laws I do. I know that they love me as if I were there own child. I am thankful for my brother and even though we are not very close, he's the only one I have. I am so thankful for my sister in laws. Growing up I would have gladly traded Brett in for a sister. And of course I am very thankful for the new family I have with Jeremy and Chandler. I can not even begin to describe how much they mean to me. I am so thankful that Jeremy has a wonderful job that allows me to stay at home with Chandler. I am thankful he works so hard to give us everything we could need and want. I am so thankful for Chandler. She is so full of happiness and kindness. Lastly I am thankful to God, who has given me everything I could ever want.

Nursery Rhymes by Chandler

Chandler loves to sing and loves nursery rhymes. During her last few visits with Sparky she was taught a few nursery rhymes with hand motions. Over the weekend I caught her sitting at the table singing them. She sings "where is thumbkin, Two little black birds and open shut them".

Maybe she will be a singer or an actress?

Let's go bowling

This morning Chandler and I met up with some moms from my mom group at the bowling alley. This was Chandler's first time and she was pretty excited, though she didn't know why.

There were 3 other kids there. Chandler did very well about patiently waiting for her turn.


She even helped us keep score.

They had a cool contraption for the kids to use. The kid puts their ball on the ramp and the ball slides down it. Chandler was such a big girl and did it by herself. That ball sure is heavy!

And away it goes!

I ended up bowling a 86. Where as Chandler bowled a 78!! First time ever too. Awesome for a 2 yr old!!

Peoria Zoo

Jeremy and I took Chandler to the zoo in Peoria today. It wasn't too bad. About a 35 minute drive. We have a zoo where we live, but it is pretty small. The one in Peoria was much bigger and so it has bigger animals. This huge sea lion proves it!

Of course Chandler had to take a picture with Daddy and the sea lion.

This baboon was really cool. His face and his butt were multi colors. Blues, purples, reds. Never seen anything like it before.

It was a perfect day for the zoo. It was sunny and a little cool. The zoo was virtually empty. So we got to see all the animals with none of the crowds. Pretty nice!

Way Back Wednesday

Just thought I would take a trip down memory lane today. Oh how young Jeremy and I look. Here we are on our honeymoon on a cruise in 2003.

Fast forward 4 yrs. We are living in TX and I am 9 months pregnant.

Fast forward again, Chandler is 3 months. I loved her red hair. I can see her 2 yr old self in this picture.

Miscellaneous Monday

Sparky and I took Chandler to the Children's Museum while she was here. Chandler is practicing playing the flip flop. Seriously you bang the flip flop on the different pipes and it plays music. I think she was doing Twinkle twinkle.

I have enrolled Chandler in a 2 yr old story time class at the library on Tuesday evenings. I figured it would be a good excuse to get Chandler out of the house during the long winter evenings. The class is 30 minutes. We listen to some stories, sing a few songs and do a craft. We got there early last time and Sparky and Chandler did puzzles in the play room for a bit.


My moms group had a Halloween party and I was in charge of cupcakes. I made a bunch of different ones, but these spiders were my favorite!

Took Chandler to the park one afternoon and the temp dropped so quickly. The poor girl didn't even have a jacket or hat. She had to use Sparky's scarf to cover her up. Can we say she was COLD?!

Riding in a car at the mall. She was so excited.

So cute

Trying to enjoy the last somewhat warm day of fall. This girl loves playing in her playhouse and "making coffee".

Beautiful curls!

We still have NEVER cut her hair. We will see how long we make it before we do.

Playgrounds and Popcorn

The weather here has been beautiful this week. I know it will soon be very cold and I won't want to be outside. So we took advantage and spent the morning at a playground. This playground is at the zoo. Chandler and I were both in awe of how high these slides were.





After the playground we headed to Target to get Chandler some diapers. I had a coupon for a free popcorn. It was close to snack time so I decided to let Chandler try some popcorn too. This was her first time and she LOVED it!! I could not get her to stop eating it.

Looking for a good piece.

Here is a cute video of her eating her popcorn. At the very end she starts to sneeze so I stop filming. But it is still a cute video.

Both Mommy and Chandler can't wait for more popcorn at Target. It's the yummiest!

Fields of Bloomington

Last Saturday Jeremy, Chandler and I went for a counrty drive. We came across a windmill farm. It was pretty cool. There were these tall windmills poking out of the corn fields.

They were so tall and really loud. Chandler was pretty excited to see them.

Jeremy took Chandler in the corn fields for a bit and then they explored the area. Here they are looking at soybeans that are on the ground.

Chandler found them fascintaing and was picking them up one by one. She could have done this all day.

I thought this was a cool photo. Much different than what we ever saw in TN.

Make it fall down

Here's a cute video of Chandler and Daddy doing one of her favorite things, building castles.

Birthday Girl

There was a birthday girl in our house this week....me!! My birthday was on the 4th. I turned the big 25!! Plus 10 more. I had a good day. Lots of calls and cards from friends and family. Then that evening Jeremy and Chandler took me out to eat.

My world. Aren't they both such cuties?!

Jeremy also gave me the sweetest gift. He turned my blog into a hardcover book. He even wrote a little dedication in the front of it. I tried to take a picture of it, but the flash is on and the photo is coming out weird. So i will get Jeremy to turn off the flash and post a photo of it later.

Our Fence is up!!

It took 30 days, but our fence is FINALLY done!

Some before pictures.... this is looking at the house behind us.

This is looking at the house beside us.

After pictures.... this is looking at the house beside us.

I have the ball, but where did Jake go Mommy?

Looking at the house behind us.

I am so happy that the yard is finally fenced in. It is really big and Chandler and Jake have loved every minute of playing in it. I have a feeling we are going to be spending some time out here even in the winter.

Fall Fest

Last Friday our new friends Michelle and Maryn invited us to their fall festival at their church. The kids got to dress up, there were tons of games, lots of crafts and yummy food. The kids even got to go trick or treating through the church. Chandler has a beautiful tutu that Sparky got her. So we decided to have her be a ballerina.

Here she is working one of the games with her new friend Maryn.

Another fun game. I love this tutu. I think she looks like a flower in it!

Busy girl

She loved this game. It was called plinko, from the price is right. There was always a line for this game.

Sweet girl.

Off to get that candy!

Duet with Elmo

Chandler loves music, to sing and Elmo. This is what happens when you put them all together. Make sure your volume is up. Also the filming goes out of focus briefly. I love the little jump at the end.

Halloween 2009

We had a terrific Halloween with Chandler this yr. We had been to some Halloween play dates and activities this week so Chandler would get use to dressing up and going trick or treating. So on Saturday evening she was getting pretty excited. She had to check her bag to see if there was any candy in there before we got dressed.

Little sheep heading out.

Coming to the first house with daddy.

I ring the doorbell Mommy.

We went to a few houses and no one was home. There was a neighborhood party going on and we figured people were still at that. So we came back home and let her play in the backyard.

Look, we have a sheep in our backyard!

Jeremy and Chandler went back out for a 2nd time and i stayed home and gave out candy. Then we put Chandler in her pj's and let her help give out candy and glow necklaces. At one point a group of kids sat down in our yard to check out their candy. Chandler went right over to join them. She sat on the edge of their circle hoping to be included. Cute, but kind of sad.

Mr. Brad helped hand out candy too.

This is fun!

Let's do this again tomorrow Mommy!

1.5 hours into Halloween evening we ran out of candy and glow necklaces. It was insane how many kids were out. We came inside and turned out the front porch light. It was fun to see how much Chandler enjoyed Halloween this yr. We are looking forward to many more Halloweens with our cute little sheep.