HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!

We spent NY Eve with our dear friends Gopher, Annette, Amy, Johann

& their kids (Michael & Kim stopped by too). We went to a Holiday Inn. The kids got to swim (along with the dads), we ordered pizza, had some snacks/drinks & talked late into the night. We had adjoining rooms so the kids watched movies in one room & the adults hung out in the other room. We had an early NY countdown for the kids and they got to do a toast with sparkling juice. All of the kids fell asleep by about 11:00 except the Pierce kids...they stayed up 'til the adults went to bed. We had an awesome time!!

FISCHER CHRISTMAS

We spent the past few days visiting my family for our Christmas.

We hung out with Nana & Ben on Thursday. Will stopped for a game of football with Jake. Mandy came for dinner that night.

Friday...Kim, Mandy & I shopped while Nana & Michael babysat the kids. They had a ball playing games, watching movies and eating McDonald's. All of the family came for pizza dinner on Friday night, except Scott since he was working. We even got to meet Will's new girlfriend Anne.

Saturday...the kids, Michael, Kim & I took my grandma Marge out to lunch. We also took grandma shopping for a few things that she needed. We made it home in time for the Iowa game. Jake & Papa watched the game together. Scott arrived Saturday evening.


On Sunday morning, we all went to Mandy & Mike's house for our Christmas. We had a delicious brunch & opened gifts. Mid-afternoon we all headed out in our directions to celebrate NY Eve!!

CHRISTMAS


It has been a busy few days! We celebrated
Christmas Eve & Christmas Day here at home. It was wonderful!!


On Christmas Eve, we played several games as a family & we had a wonderful steak dinner grilled by Scott. We watched Home Alone & parts of A Christmas Story. We read several Christmas stories & got cookies/milk ready for Santa's visit. The kids went right to sleep & we gave them STRICT instructions that they couldn't get up until 6:00!!

On Christmas morning, Jake came in 100 MPH & and told us it was 6:02!! We had to wake Allie up & we all we down to see what Santa left. Jake got an Iowa Hawks football uniform (which he has worn for 3 days), a Playstation 2, Legos, football cards and a stocking full of stuff. Allie got Barbies, Mini Groovy Girls, a CD player & lots of girly things in her stocking. After we played with the Santa gifts, we opened our gifts to & from each other. Jake & Allie each made me WONDERFUL ornaments for my tree (with their pics in them), I absolutely LOVE them!! They are my favorite gifts.

On Christmas afternoon/evening, my parents came up and we grilled steak again, cooked shrimp and had tons of side dishes. We played games that night & now have Jake hooked on UNO.

Mom & I got up early yesterday and hit the after Christmas sales at the mall. We got some great buys. We picked Dad & the kids up for breakfast at the Waffle Stop. Dad & Mom left shortly after lunch and I began the fun task of cleaning up the house, putting away gifts & taking down decorations. I got all of my decorations down but one tree, which I will do this afternoon.

Here are some of my favorite pics from Christmas! The first 3 are pics of what Santa left for the kids, not including their giant stockings full of stuff. The rest are just snapshots that I thought were cute.

ALLIE'S CHRISTMAS PROGRAM

Allie had her annual Christmas program at St. Pat's yesterday morning. She did a wonderful job knowing all of her songs. My favorite was the "Reindeer Pokey". I've attached a picture of her "putting her antlers in..." and a of course one of the entire class.

JAKE'S WINTER PARTY

Jake had his winter party at school yesterday. We decorated Gingerbread cookies, played games, sang songs & read stories. The entire school wore their PJ's yesterday too. Note the class picture!

NEW MP3 PLAYERS

Aunt Kelley, Uncle Mike, Kate & Lucas gave each of the kids a new Disney MP3 player for Christmas last weekend. Both kids had me download some of their favorite songs. Allie chose lots of High School Musical, Kids Bop & of course her all time favorite, "You're So Vain". Jake opted for wide variety...the theme song to Rocky, "We will Rock You" by Queen, a High School Musical song & the Monday night football theme song to name a few! Both kids have been listening to their new players constantly...Allie even plays dress up while using her new player. Check out the picture! I'm not sure what she's supposed to be!

ANOTHER CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION

We celebrated Christmas & Hannakah with Scott's family this past weekend. It was nice spending time with his siblings & their families. Since we are all so spread out, that only happens about once or twice a year. There was tons of food, laughing & fun!!

For some reason, I didn't get a lot of pictures taken but here a couple of cute ones. Maddie & Allie putting on make-up, Lucas & his BIG blue eyes, Kelley, Mike & Kate with their funny teeth they won in a game & one of Jake with his new t-shirt.

CHRISTMAS PARTIES

We went to our first Christmas parties this weekend. On Saturday, the kids and I drove to CR to my Aunt Toni's for my mom's side of the family Christmas celebration. It was so fun seeing everyone. We only get together a couple of times a year, so it is nice when we can get together. The kids loved playing with their cousins. I don't think that we saw them the entire afternoon until the gifts were to be opened!!

On Saturday night, we went to my friend Sophie's house for our annual Kid's Christmas party. Each year, Santa makes an appearance and gives the kids an early gift. Typically, we rent a Santa suit/beard & beg a friend with no kids to be our Santa. This year, Sophie hired the Santa from the mall...he was AWESOME!! The kids were in awe...some even played with his REAL beard. Santa left each child with a small present to open...Jake got a set of football cards and Allie got a Fur Real chimp. Both loved their gifts and the early taste of Christmas.

Please excuse the bad photos...not sure what happened!

BIG NEWS!!

My sister finally called with the news of her ultrasound. She is having a girl. Of course, they aren't 100% sure, but didn't see anything to indicate a boy. Allie was really excited at the thought of having a girl to play with at Nana & Papa's house. Jake really was hoping for another boy!

This morning I was telling Jake about Mandy's ultrasound & that we'd know if it was a boy or a girl. He explained to me that you can tell if it is a boy or girl because "girls have long hair & long eyelashes". I about died laughing!!

Lots going on this weekend...look for new pictures by Monday morning!

WEEKEND

Scott went deer hunting this weekend so the kids and I were on our own. We kept busy as always!! On Friday night, we went to the movie Happy Feet (which was cute), mini golfing at the mall & then to dinner at Carlos O Kelley's. On Saturday, Mandy, Mom & Ben came to visit. We had a sitter come over and watch the kids so that the adults could go to the Men's Glee Club Christmas Variety Show. It was FANTASTIC! We can't wait until next year's show. After the show, we made the mistake of taking the 3 kids to the mall to eat at BK and do a little shopping....we should have ordered pizza in! I spent the day today baking...I only have a few more things to bake before I call it quits for the season. Scott is off this week, which I am looking forward to...not sure what we have planned for the week, but I am certain that we'll find something to keep us busy!

CHRISTMAS SPIRIT

The kids and I are really getting into the Christmas spirit. Our shopping is done and the last of the gifts were wrapped yesterday. Our house is decorated inside and out. We visited Santa & had pictures taken with him. We've made our homemade gifts for the grandparents/great grandparents. Our baking is well underway, the Kiss cookies, fudge, peanut clusters, turtles, Oreo bark, Ritz cracker cookies, pumpkin bread & banana bread are done. There is a little more baking left, letters to write to Santa, holiday parties, Xmas concerts & family get togethers...I'm not sure who loves this time of the year more, me or the kids?!?

THANKSGIVING WEEKEND

We spent Thanksgiving Day here at home. I made a traditional Thanksgiving meal. After lunch, Allie and I started working on getting our inside Christmas decorations up while the boys went outside and put up our lights and lawn decorations. That took all afternoon, but we got it done.

On Friday morning, the kids and I jumped in the car early and headed to my parent's house. Allie spent the day with my mom while Jake & I went to Michael & Kim's house. Kim and I hit the shopping scene (& had a ball) while Michael & Jake hung out all day (they went to Chuck E Cheese's, walked down by the river, played football, and ATE). We went out to dinner with my grandmother & parents Friday night.

On Saturday, mom watched Ben & my kids while Mandy & I went to some gift shops. We came back to Mom's for lunch and a game of whiffle ball in the back yard. The weather was wonderful!! The kids and I came home Saturday afternoon.

Sunday was spent running a couple of errands as a family. When we got home, Allie & I did some holiday baking while Jake & Scott played video games & watched football.

Now we are back to our usual schedule. Allie has a birthday party this afternoon/evening so Jake & I will spend some time alone. We have tumbling, CCD & dance this week. I will be in Jake's classroom this morning and have lunch room duty later in the week. As always, we will keep busy!

Christmas Trees, Riding Bikes & Thanksgiving

The kids put up their own Christmas trees this morning. Both have little 3 foot trees in their bedrooms decorated with the things that they love most. Jake's is sports themed and Allie's is just girls (hearts, ballet, Care Bears etc.). They are both lacking ornaments, but we can add to it each year until they are full.

The weather was gorgeous here this afternoon. We went outside and rode bikes & scooters. Jake finally got up the nerve to have me remove his training wheels (it is about time). He did pretty good until he got frustrated. With another nice day forecasted for tomorrow, I'd guess he could be almost a pro!!

We are having our Thanksgiving dinner here tomorrow. Just Scott, the kids and myself. The boys are also planning to get the Christmas lights up while Allie & I get our holiday decorations inside the house done.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

BUSY WEEKEND

We had yet another busy weekend!! There is something going on every weekend from now until the end of February!! Maybe not something that takes up the entire weekend, but something (Christmas celebrations, basketball games, a play, b-day parties, a concert, etc.)

Michael & Kim came up for a visit on Friday night. We went to dinner with them and then just hung out around the house.

Mom, Dad, Mandy & Ben came up Saturday morning. The guys sat in the basement all day long & watched football. The girls went to the Festival of Trees at UNI & the Holiday Ballet.

Allie danced in her first ballet on the "big stage". She performed on Saturday afternoon at GBPAC at UNI for the Holiday Ballet. She did well for her first time on stage & looked adorable (I may be biased).

We celebrated my dad's birthday a few days early on Saturday night. We ordered pizza and had dessert. He opened his gifts and then we all sat around and talked. It was fun having a houseful!

This morning we had brunch here and then everyone left for home. Allie & I got dressed up and went back to UNI for more Festival stuff. We attended the Teddy Bear Tea together. Santa made a visit and Allie spent some time with her friends.