*So Incredibly Thankful*

We had a great Thanksgiving! I hope all of you in internet land did as well. We spent our Thursday Thanksgiving at my Grandmothers house with my Mom's side of the family. We enjoyed the Packer game (ok, well my husband didn't...) and then went over to my Mom's house for a while. Hunter and Abigail had fun running around their place and of course, taking a bath in her tub! Hunter has a love for their bath tub. He did mention to me the other day that he needs a bigger bath at home here. I told him he does and when we get a new house he will have a bigger one. Since we only have a shower here and not a bath tub, he uses a little plastic tub that is bigger than an infant one, but it just isn't as much fun as those big tubs are! We spent Friday hanging out at home and over at Nana and Papa's house while the kids played with their Oshkosh cousins for a while.
On Saturday we had what I considered "Thanksgiving Encore". We celebrated with Jake's family over at Nana and Papa's house. We also celebrated Jake's nieces' birthday that was at the beginning of November. We had a fun time and enjoyed the company. There were lots of smiles and laughter the whole day. Hunter stayed over night with his cousins and had a fantastic time with them. He is currently out to eat with them for lunch today, and Abby is sleeping.
So that is us in recap! Again, I hope that you and your family are doing well. We are so blessed with all that we have in life and couldn't be more grateful at this time of year.
I've posted a video I've been trying to upload for weeks now. It is one of Hunter playing "da ditar" and singing twinkle twinkle. It is so sweet... I just melt when I see it!

*It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Thanksgiving...*

My little marshmallow!

Happy boy in the snow!

Can you make out his snow angel?

Abby's first time in the snow!

Wow we have been busy lately! Guess what I go to do? Clean the house! I finally got to catch up from the past couple of weeks months… I feel much more with it now! Imagine Jake’s surprise and joy when I looked him straight in the face yesterday and told him I was going to clean the house, do the laundry, and get it all done without any help… he was suppose to lay on the couch and take a nap! I bet he was pretty happy then!

We have been busy though, Friday night we had a Tupperware party at my sisters that Abigail and my mom and I attended. Saturday we had craft sales that again Abigail and my mom and I attended. Then Saturday afternoon we went to a baby shower, and then today we went shopping. Jake also hunted this past weekend. Guess what? He got a doe! I bet he is pretty happy that we have some venison now. He did say it makes him want to get out and get that buck.

We have also had a great time playing outside with the recent snowfall. It started yesterday afternoon, and by 6pm we had a couple of inches on the ground. Enough for some snow angels and snowball fights between Hunter and myself! It was a fun time outside with him. He was excited to wake up this morning and go out again. We did have to wait for a bit, but when we did, it was so much fun! He was sledding down our little hill outside of our house. He would bail out every time he would reach the end- he thought he was hilarious!

Here is one issue we have now hit… 2 ½ years old. Period. Ha! It just seems like lately Hunter is all over his sister to take her toys, push her out of the way, get in trouble on purpose (why?!). It seems like he just is pushing it. Poor kid for him, he has Jake and I as parents and we don’t let him get away with much. I do hate the point where I wonder if this is one of the arguments to just let it go, or keep on pushing to make him listen. He does get time out a few times a week at home, and that seems to help curb it, but I hate constantly having to say “or else you will go to time out”. It is annoying after a while to listen to myself! I know that eventually this will just be a phase and it is good if we stay consistent on our redirections and discipline.

 A short week this week! I’m looking forward to Black Friday. One of my guilty pleasures for sure, but at some of those prices, how can you NOT go out?!?  I also just love the entertainment of it all. I go out with a big smile on my face, Christmas music in my head, and understand that some people are just going to be that way. I feel so accomplished when I’m done with it all! I’m baking about 4 dozen cookies for thanksgiving today, and then making sweet potatoes for the parties. I’m doing my civil duty and bringing a dish for the parties I’m attending… it doesn’t happen all of the time, I forget some days that I’m an adult and have responsibilities such as these J

* A long one from mom- An honest narrative*

Well I shouldn't be writing a blog right now. I shouldn't be checking facebook, I shouldn't be catching up on blogs, I should be cleaning the house, picking it up, doing the dishes, taking out the trash, and doing the laundry. I'm not making that list up... the sink is full, the garbage stinks, you might have seen how easy crap clutters up my house, and the laundry... ugh.

But I'm writing a blog. Showing off some adorable pictures and giving some thoughts for where I'm at right now.

I feel like I've lost my motivation. My motivation to clean, my motivation to keep up, get ahead of the game, I feel like I'm just making ends meet, and that is not where I'm usually at. I usually feel like I'm prepared for the next step, able to be super mom and then some. But these days, I just can't. I was thinking this morning, wondering what has changed. Is it because I am working more? The side responsibility of homework on top of that? Working out too much? (nope. that can't be it lately...). Is it because I've been sick? I can't really put my finger on it. I just feel like I don't have the motivation. I want nothing else to do but to go to sleep at 9pm. But I have bills to pay online, a checking account to catch up with, a husband to spend time with, a budget to write, ugh. I just go to sleep, because that list is just too long. I feel like I'm in uncharted territory that I haven't ever been in before. Just a phase, I'm sure of it. I have learned that Jake is capable of doing things on his own (yes women, men CAN and WILL do it... if you don't say anything about HOW to do it!), that I do require 8-9 hours of sleep at night to avoid getting tired during the day, and that working 40+ hours a week and managing a family is HARD work. The balls are always juggling. So maybe I should learn to buy paper plates, cups, and silverware, so that the dishes don't need to be done. Rewear my clothes until they stink... maybe not. Or just let my house get messy- Oh I already do that.

Ok, I think I'm done venting to my blog! But this is where I'm at. I usually don't verbalize, or write down things that I'm struggling with, but this time I felt like I should. No reason why, maybe I just wanted to get it out.

So you ask, enough about Nicole- How are the kids!?  Well the kids are doing well. Getting over some viral things but well. Hunter is napping right now, and Abby is sitting in her bed playing with her blankie, obviously not napping, but happy to be in there... so there she will stay until she decides to sleep or scream! Abby turned 8 months since the last time I really blogged. She is a big big girl these days! She is crawling all over, walking next to furniture, and her latest thing is talking. Her first word was "Wow" But she also says "Uh Oh!" and "Dada" and "Papa". Smart girl! She hasn't quite realized what to do when her brother takes away toys, but the more he does it, the more I feel sorry for him when she knows how to get back at him! She does have her two teeth on the bottom and is working on the top two as well. They just haven't come through yet.

Hunter is doing really well. Guess what? He is potty trained! It took him a matter of what? One day? It was shocking to us really. We just decided the Saturday before Halloween to take away diapers during the day, just use underware. That morning he had 3 accidents, the rest of the day he was dry and using the toilet on his own. He now just tells us when he wants to use the potty and goes in himself. It is great to see him excited about his accomplishment of this.

So here are some of my favorite moments in the past couple of days:
When Hunter was on the couch waiting for his night time chocolate milk and I asked him if he wanted to cuddle with Mommy instead of Daddy (which is the usual routine), the smile on his face was priceless... he was so excited! Abby loved the switch up too...she fell asleep in Daddy's arms!
Hunter playing "Da Ditar" (That Guitar). I finally showed him my guitar and he now LOVES to play it!
Watching Abby dance to "Da Ditar"- she is a natural mover and shaker!
Cuddling with my husband. He is so wonderful :)
Having Abby say Dada for the first time was great! I'm working hard on that Mama now!

Thanks for reading... and enjoy the photos!

*Abby's 8 Month Photos Are Up!*

Hey Everyone!

Abby's 8 month photos are now available for viewing. You must view them in the next week, it closes on Sunday, November 13th.

Go to https://vando.imagequix.com/index.html and enter G9GCR9M in the box. Then click on Abigail's image and enter your email address and password: 11022011av
Happy Viewing!