OMAHA, ha, ha!

So we arrived Saturday in Omaha, barely, after 11 hours of traveling through the snow, wind and ice. We have been so busy but having a blast every day. We celebrated Liam's first birthday on Sunday with my family, took the boys and Daniel to the Children's Museum(both boys loved roaring at the larger than life dinosaurs-huge hit!) and then out for pizza on Liam's bday, cousin party, skating on the rink, haller party xmas eve, and then Santa and gifts this morning. I think both boys have been up well past 9, if not 10, every night but oh well, we are having a great time. We will exchange gifts with our family on Saturday night(delayed due to a hockey game for my dad tomorrow!!) after the big skating/hockey party tomorrow night here out back.

Christmas morning was certainly different this year from past as we both woke up early, waiting for the boys to wake up, to get them up stairs to see the presents. Liam got right into opening and playing, but most interested in Connor's doings. Connor saw his huge tractor and didn't open another present after that! He was so enthrawled with the eaten cookies, little snow footprints, filled stockings and letters Santa wrote to him and Liam that it made this Christmas one of the best ever!! Santa certainly was good to us this year.

Merry Christmas!!

Polar Express...or lack there of!

I'm the bad mom who for the SECOND year had her camera die the minute we got to the Polar Express last night. Therefore, check out my friends blogs who are"good moms" that graciously took pictures for us. We really enjoyed ourselves and were glad things went so smoothly. Connor enjoyed every aspect of the train ride, the book reading, Santa, and the cookies and cocoa. Santa was sat on by both boys as Connor quickly recites, "I want a tractor and Liam wants a dump truck!" Guess we've seen Santa a few too many times this year.
We also had Doyle Christmas this week and "cleaned up" in our eyes. The boys got so many great toys, books and puzzles that we can't believe we have another christmas and a birthday still to come. We have already gotten lots of use out of the dinosaur foor puzzle and tractor sticker book. What a blessing to have such giving and loving aunts, uncles and grandparents!
We are preparing for the big snow storm coming our way and slowly beginning to pac for our two weeks in Omaha. My dad is so excited we are coming and bringing some hockey love that he has been calling every day with a weather update("Michaela, its warm today but tomorrow should cool off, snow on monday and then tuesday and wednesday will be perfect conditions for the rink to freeze. We should be skating by the weekend!!") Every day!! The outside rink he makes in our backyard should get a lot of use during the two weeks we are there.
Happy Holidays!!

Just a few pictures from the past few weeks

1,2,3...Liam is now venturing up in the world!!

1. We cut down the perfect tree last weekend and spent the morning decorating it as a family.

2. Today Dan and Connor joined our neighbors Mike and Brady for some hockey on the pond down the road. We look forward to many games out there.

3. Connor found a little tree he wanted for his room and Uncle Kevin helped him cut it down with a real saw.

4. After surgery Connor was allowed endless popsicles to help heal his throat. Of course, Liam wants everything Connor has!

5. The only scrubs they had the day of the surgery were pink elephants and dinosaurs. All moning the nurses kept saying, " Oh, shes so cute!" Guess its time to cut the hair!!

6. Auntie Mary with the boys in the hot tub.

7. We cut an old box to make a robot for Connor.

8. Liam carries the Lincoln logs around in his mouth. Big stud!!

This weeks quote: We set out our nativity this weekend and since then Connor has been all over it asking questions about who is who, why they are there and he adores the little baby Jesus. Most days he pretends baby Jesus is his real baby. Tuesday he asks "Mommy, does baby Jesus have a wenie under that blanket(the cloth)?" Later he says, "My baby Jesus needs a bottle...he needs a diaper change...and some diaper cream on his butt butt..." He's a curious kid !!

Picture Gallery from November

Just a few random pictures from the past month. From top left:

The girls at Old Chicago for Mary's 25th Bday, Friday night at the Christmas of the North Parade, Connor and I reading a book at the Steven's Point Museum, this past weekend at the Gopher/Iowa game in our front row seats!!, Dan and Connor using the wheelbarrows to bring fire wood around back, Liam cheesin' it at the museum. The last two are awesome. Connor loves the UMD Bulldog and when we got there on Halloween he had the same costume on as Connor. He followed him around the whole game hugging him and holding his paw. The last one is Connor giving his Godmother Erin Millea Budde a kiss on her wedding day. So precious!!

Happy Holidays!!!

Quote of the week: Connor-"Mommy, is that a dead kitty cat under Liam's car in there?" Where did that come from???!!!!
After much questioning, there was NOT a cat under there. I am as confused as you are as to what he meant by this. HA!

We have had quite the two weeks! Dan was scheduled for 'feet' surgery on the 6th in Stevens Point, WI. His cousin was doing the surgery and we planned to stay with them for a few days while he recovered. The night we got there I got a non-violent case of the flu, which then Liam got and Connor too. Dan was laid up with boots on his feet, I wasn't feeling well, Liam had developed the worst diaper rash I had ever seen and Connor had a 103 temp and ear pains. What a fun bunch, eh? After three days of constant chaos in someone elses house with sick kids and an injured husband, I called it quits and we left early.
The night we got home Connor was up all night screaming in pain from his ear. Turns out his ear drum ruptured! We visited an ENT on Tuesday and Connor was scheduled for tubes on Thursday. Although we heard it goes quick, it seemed to take forever and nothing breaks your heart more than seeing your little one hooked up to IVs and in pain, too sick to eat or sit comfortably. He is doing great now with no pain and we are hopeful that this will eliminate his ear issues.
On a good note, Liam started walking this week as seen in the video below!! Its so fun watching him gain more confidence as he conquers more steps in a row. Connor gets so excited when he walks too.
I have decided to begin posting quotes of the week heard around our house.
This weeks quote: Connor(as he watches)-"Mom, Liam's eating trash!"