Venting

I have to vent just for a minute.....I think some people in my life need to be more responsible! They have an amazing opportunity and they are ruining it & I don't think that they realize it & it makes me mad! They might finally realize the effects it will have in their life when it is too late & then what will they have left....nothing! Ok I feel somewhat better, it's my blog & I can vent if I want too!

This & That

I have been really bad at keeping eveyone up-to-date on what has been going on with our family....sorry. I don't even have a good excuse....I have just been lazy!

Anyway...We really haven't been up to much, just work & the kids. I am taking my kiddos to the doctor later, Tanner has had a cold since Saturday night and we haven't gotten much sleep the last few nights, he also hasn't been eating anything, and he has been coughing. I am sure they will tell me it's viral, but I would rather take him in and have him looked at. Madison has been complaining of her ear the last few days off and on, so I am also having her looked at, we will see what they say.

Chad has been working the last few Saturdays, so the kids and I have been doing stuff around the house. He just found out earlier today that they won't be working weekends for a few weeks, so we might be able to get a few more things done around the house!!! I am sure he will be thrilled by this idea!

We also have a Disney vacation planned. This will be our 1st family vacation, we are very excited. We will be going with my mom, dad, Ali, & Zach, it will be nice to have them with us to help with the kids! I hope the weather is nice when we are gone. I have been trying to pick up the kids new clothes here and there for our trip, but it has been hard to buy summerish clothes in the winter! I'm thinking I need to plan a shopping trip maybe to IA City sometime, since they might have more to pick from!

Well I guess that is all we have been up to the last few weeks, so until next time......

Tanner's 2!!

I can't believe Tanner is 2 already, it just seems like yesterday I was pregnant with him. He is such a sweet, polite, loving little boy! He is a lot of fun and full of energy. He looks up to his sissy, and loves to play cars, trains, and hunting! I couldn't imagine life without him! We have many nicknames for him, including bubby, T, brother, and I sometimes call him monkey!

We celebrated his birthday with a small family party at Happy Joes. Grandma Rose made him a yummy Thomas the Train cake. He had fun playing games and eating pizza.

Mommy helping Tanner opening his presents. He kept telling me, "It's too hard."

When it was time to sing Happy Birthday, he hid under his hat....I don't think he liked our singing!

On Tanner's actual birthday, December 28th, we had him open the last of his gifts.



His new backpack!He loved his clothes...for a minute!

He even got new Thomas the Train underwear!!

Daddy & Tanner playing with his new remote control car.

wearing his new big boys!!

He had a great birthday party!! We are debating starting to celebrate his 1/2 birthday (June 28th) so he can have a special day not so close to Christmas...he seemed overwhelmed by all the presents at one time! Thanks to all who helped celebrate Tanner's special day!

Christmas with the Klein's

Christmas was a very busy day for us. We woke the kids up early, did gifts at home.....

Wow!!! Santa came!!!


Tanner opening the Tonka trucks like daddy used to play with.

Maddy and her Pet Shops

Daddy bought them guns so they can practice hunting!

We saved Tanner's big present for last, instead of opening it, he hid under it!
(it's a train table)

Then got ready to go to my Grandma and Grandpa Jaeger's house for Christmas........

Princess Madison

Tanner wanted to play with Madison's new princess wand

Chad, Tanner, Madison, & I
Grandpa Skip, Chad, Tanner, Krystal, Madison, & Grandma Lou


All my siblings & parents...Madison, Alexa, Zach, Me, Tanner, Ben, my mom (Nana), my dad (Papa), Courtney

Then it was back home for Christmas with Chad's side of the family.


Wow!! These are some spoiled little kids!





Ethan, Katelyn, Madison, Zoe, and Tanner waiting to get their pictures taken...then present time!!

Madison with her new earrings from Grandma Rose.

Tanner with his new pillowcases from Grandma Lottie and Paul....I think he was tired!! I know I was! All in all we had a great Christmas, and next year I am going to try and be more organized and get all my shopping done early!!

Christmas week and Eve with the Klein's

So after the Klein Christmas the kids went to my parent's house for the night, we got a call early the next morning because Madison was sick. She had been up the night before puking all over my sister's bed! UGH!!! So we went to get her and after we picked her up she only got sick once, and she took a very long nap. I decided to take Monday off to be on the safe side, I didn't want to share this illness with the other families right before Christmas. Monday afternoon she was feeling better, so Grandma Rose was planning on having all the grandkids over for supper and a little party. I was getting the kids ready to go, & then Tanner starts getting sick all over! UGH!!! So Leah was a lifesaver and came to get Maddy for me, and Tanner and I snuggled in for a LONG night! I called all my daycare parents yet again and told them about Tanner. I had already decided to take Wednesday and Thursday off, I still had shopping to do! But this stomach bug had other ideas for me! I ended up with it next...UGH!!! I still had gifts to buy and others to wrap I didn't have time for this!! I started feeling somewhat better by Wednesday night, which was a good thing, I still needed to clean up the house for Christmas Day with the family! Luckily Chad didn't work long on Wednesday, so he took the kids for the afternoon, so I could rest. The problem was in the time the kids and I were home, they got nasty colds that they could not get rid of. Tanner ended up having to go to the doctor, his eye was very swollen from drainage and I was worried about letting it go. The week of Christmas was a long one, but by Christmas everyone was feeling somewhat better!

Our Christmas Eve tradition is to go to my parent's house and do Christmas with them. The kids got lots of toys and cute clothes. We had fun, but Chad and I still had work to do when we got home!

The only thing that was missing this year was my Grandma Hopson, she has a stoke last December 26th and ended up passing away January 6th, 2009. We miss her very much, and this Christmas was very difficult for me.

Klein family Christmas

On December 19th all the Klein's got together for the annual Klein Christmas. It was great to get to see everyone and visit with family that we don't get to see to often. The kids had a great time and Santa himself made a stop to deliver presents to the kids! Madison was very excited! And Tanner was ok with Santa, but he had to keep on eye on him....

Santa passing out candy canes to all the good boys and girls!





Tanner keeping his eyes on Santa

When it was time for Tanner to get his gift from Santa, he was brave at first, then he took off towards Chad and I....

He was moving quickly towards us! Mommy ended up taking him up to get his gift, but Tanner was very polite and told him thank you.

Madison wasn't afraid!

Tanner got a truck and trailer that had 2 motorcycles and Madison got a Lil Pet Shop set.

Matt, Leah, me, Chad, Tanner
Bob, Ethan, Rose, Madison, Katelyn, Andrew



Chad, Tanner, Madison, & I

After the party was over Chad & I took the kids to my mom and dad's for the night. We went out for a few drinks with some of the cousins, but we got a call early the night morning....Madison was sick....see next update!!

Playing in the snow!

We had a little snow on the ground...so we took the kids out to play & they loved it! This was Tanner's 1st time in the snow! Maddy was showing him how to make snow angels and he had fun throwing snow at us. Unfortunately we haven't been able to take the kids sledding on any big hills, but Chad found our old sled and pulled the kids around our yard. Maddy's favorite thing about playing in the snow is the hot chocolate afterwards!!