Christmas Pictures

We had a fantastic Christmas!

Our kids were very spoiled by everyone. Avalynn went to bed way to early on Christmas Eve and then decided to wake up at 3am (that's 2am our time). We didn't let her get out of bed until 4:30. They had all their presents opened and set up to play with by 6. It was a very long day for the kids (and parents) but we all did very well. The kids got lots of much needed clothes and way too many toys.

We had a wonderful time catching up with family we don't get to see near enough. Tony's family has a wonderful tradition of everyone going to each others house and watching them open their gifts for Santa. I love doing that. Watching the kids faces is the best part. Too bad we had to leave a day early because of a huge snow storm that was coming our way.

Hope every one had a great Christmas! Here are some pictures of our Christmas morning.

Christmas Festivities

What a very busy Christmas weekend and week. It's been a blast being with family. Staying up way to late (like 3 in the morning late) talking and playing with my family. Waking up a few hours later to make breakfast and open presents before having to head back home. The kids had so much fun playing with their cousins. My sister made the kids an indoor snow ball fight set. Of course they had to have a snow ball fight before opening any more of their presents. We are truly blessed with the best family any one could ask for. They love us unconditionally and provide us with wonderful memories.
My sister and I have kind of decided that we prefer to make Christmas presents for each others kids. One because it is more personal and more thought out. Second we can make way more for the same amount of money. This year I made a fort kit and bows for and my sis made snow ball fight set, tutus, and a gone fishing set. My two have had some much fun playing with those gifts. The puzzle, slinky dog, and magna doodle Nawnie and Papa got them have also had lots of play time.
We are spending Christmas morning with Tony's side of the family and I am look forward to it very much. Tony's family lives way out in the country and the kids love it. We are all very excited about spending a few days away from home. Once we get back I will post pictures of our Christmas fun.

Merry Christmas

Trying again

I'm going to try this blog thing again because I'm super close to getting rid of my Facebook (it's starting to really bug me).

We are really enjoying being in Peoria. The kids have really adjusted well to being farther away from Nawnie and Papa and their cousins. Tony is loving his job! It's a dream come true for him. He just finished up training on bar so he is now a fully trained barista for Thirty-Thirty.
The kids and I spend most of our days playing and watching movies over and over. After the first of the year I will start working a little more with Avalynn on preschool. She really is just too smart. She has recently started singing her ABC's almost perfectly. Next we will work on recognition. She is really looking forward to starting to go to the library a few times a week with her bubby and me for story time and to get books. I am working with Treyton on getting him to actually talk. He jabbers all day long but doesn't really say too many words. He understands the words we all say to him but choose not to say them back. I'm hoping to see some improvement before he turns 2 in April so maybe we won't have to do speech therapy. That little boy is as stubborn as the day is long. He really enjoys watching animals of any kind and any thing music related. He loves to sing and dance all day long.
I have been keeping busy with the kiddos and doing some crafts of my own. I am hoping to start volunteering at a pregnancy center after the first of the year and maybe trying to get on at one of the WIC offices close by as a breastfeeding peer counselor. I am still working on my classes to become a certified breastfeeding counselor and childbirth educator. Slowly but surely I will get those done. I am very much looking forward to starting homeschool with my kids. I truly believe that this stay-at-home/homeschooling/hippie mom stuff is what I was called to do. I have never been happier with how I spend my time and days.
We are all very excited to see what new and exciting opportunities will come next.