Monday, February 23, 2009

Happy Birthday Miley...

Happy Birthday Miley! One year old already. Miley has been a great addition to our family and I can't imagine life without her. Although some days I think to myself, "what the h was I thinking??" She no longer has accidents in the house, but she still has a chewing issue. She really doesn't have a preference to what she chews, it can be anything from tissues to toys. Miley mostly chews when she is bored and mad at us for leaving her home alone while we were at work. (along with haircuts every 6 weeks, ear infections and submissive urination when company comes over) But...the good outweighs the bad. I melt when I see Will kissing her (always on the mouth - yuck) and him pretending he is a super hero and Miley is his sidekick. He will say, "Come on Miley" in whatever kind of deep, husky voice he can muster at the age of 2. LOL

Miley on her 1st day with us last April. When I picked her up for the first time, I swear to you she curled up in my neck and made this crying noise that said, "take me home!" It made everyone in the room laugh. Lexi and Miley on her 1st day with us.When Miley first came home she used to follow Will everywhere. Soon after, she turned into a mamma's girl. If I am at the computer she will lay next to me. If I walk to switch the laundry, she will follow me and then when I return to the computer she will lay back down by me again. She normally won't get out of bed until I do even if Rick and the kids are up. She has definitely chosen me as her master (she loves Rick and the kids - but respects me more, if that makes any sense) When we have plans, her babysitter is my dad. She and Lenny just love him. Not sure what he gives them when we are not there, but they are definitely attached to him. Last weekend she stayed over with the kids at my mom and dad's house and they brought them back to Neenah. Miley wouldn't leave dad's side the whole time they were here. Then when they were getting ready to leave, he put his shoes on and she actually barked at him like she was mad he was leaving. Will and Miley last night. She crawled in bed with him and he was of course kissing her again. (even after I have explained to him several times she drinks out of the toilet - I guess boys don't care about that kind of thing - ha ha)For her birthday she got treats and a new bed. The kid's couldn't wait to sing Happy Birthday to her. Since she has been with us she has mastered kennel training and moved on to being trusted to roam the laundry/bath area with the doorway being blocked with a baby gate. We are now thinking about letting her have the run of the downstairs while we are gone now that she has turned 1.

Happy Birthday Miley!
We love you!

Mother Nature...

Last week we had our first snowfall in about a month. It was a heavy, snowman making snow that covered every branch on the trees. I asked Rick to take some pictures since I leave before it gets light out. It was still somewhat dark when he took these, but they are still beautiful. Then it snowed again on Saturday...not so beautiful anymore.

Fun with Leighten...

This weekend our niece Leighten came down to visit. We love having her here and try to ask her at least 2-3 times a year. Leighten and Lexi always have a good time and Will adores her. They started their weekend off by making bracelets. They both got the kits from Grandma and Grandpa Radies for Christmas and decided to wait until they could make them together to open the kits.
Leighten's bracelet. She has the nickname "legs" because she is getting so tall. The girls met up with Taylor on Saturday morning in Appleton. We went to watch Heather try on a couple of bridal gowns. They also got to try on miniature brides gowns. Will went with Jim to the mall while the girls hung out (Rick had to work). His future uncle Jim couldn't say no to him and I guess they rode the escalator 10 times. After a day of looking at dresses and going out for lunch, we came back home and the girls wanted to play in the snow. (Taylor dumped Heather and Jim and stayed with us) They decided to help out and shovel the driveway and did a heck of a job. Thanks girls!They also went in the backyard to play so that Miley could join them for awhile. Miley was SO excited to play fetch in the fresh snow.We went for dinner at Perkins and then headed to the roller rink. Lexi and Leighten are really getting the hang of skating. Taylor hasn't been to the roller rink many times, but was doing very well by the end of the night. Me on the other hand, didn't fare so well. I have probably been skating 6 times in my entire life, 3 of those since Lexi has been born. I have never fallen hard before until Saturday night. Oh my gosh that cement is so unforgiving. I lost my balance and my feet came way up and I landed on my wrists and bottom. Knocked the wind right out of me, I bet some people got a good laugh out of that one.
We bought Will a pair of skates so that he could go too. (they let you push kids in a stroller, but I knew he was getting old enough he could probably skate with the rest of us). The first skate of the night was for boys only. Rick took him out on the floor and he did really well for his first time on skates. The people were going pretty fast past him and he looked up at Rick and said, "daddy, we gotta go faster!". LOL
Will and Leighten
Lexi - speed demon. Will and Leighten.
Lexi isn't afraid to try anything. Every time they do the limbo at the skating rink she participates. She once again made it to the end to earn a free popcorn.



Monday, February 16, 2009

Congratulations...

Congratulations to Heather and Jim. They got engaged in Door County over the weekend on Valentine's Day. My family and I are thrilled to have Jim become a part of our family. They are planning a November 14th (yes on our birthday) wedding. They have asked me to be the matron of honor, Rick to be a groomsmen, Lexi a miniature bride (9 months can't come fast enough for this little girl) and Will to be the ring bearer. We are all very excited for them.
The engagement ring...WOW! Can't wait to see it in person. Gorgeous.

Hanging out with Grandpa...

On Sunday my dad and Rick were hanging some pictures for my mom and Will really wanted to help. In the first picture I was trying to figure out why Will was standing that way and staring at my dad. Then I realized he was trying to copy exactly how dad was kneeling. See second photo. (what is with Lenny's face - LOL)

Disney On Ice...

On Valentine's Day we took the kids to see Disney on Ice in Green Bay. There were a total of 13 of us and the kids had a great time. We planned to meet everyone at a restaurant in Green Bay and once we got there, it was a 90 minute wait - so we had to go to option B - a pancake place. The kids were happy, but the adults were really looking forward to margaritas and steaks for Valentine's Day. LOL

Lexi and Will leaving for the show.
Will and his Valentine's date Abbie. They were SO cute together. You should have seen their faces when Mickey Mouse came out. I would have loved to capture it, but I was sitting too close to get a good picture. Lexi and her "girls", Rouge and Maddie.Rouge and her brother Dylan. Their mom Tammy was also along but opted to be out of the picture. LOLJenny and Alec Bartz.Maddie, Josh, Tammy and Abbie Fischer.
Lexi and Will. Will - someday he is going to go back to his normal smile again. :)Abbie and Minnie. Here are some pics of the show. Pictures were hard to come by..it was so dark and they were moving pretty quickly around that ice.

Valentines Day...

Happy Valentine's Day! (I know.. a couple of days late)
My two little Valentines.Will and Lexi making their Valentine Day cards.Lexi dressed up in pink for her Valentine's Day party at school on Friday.I wish they got along this good all the time!

Monday, February 9, 2009

Kal's Basketball Tourney...

Every year I try and get up to Marion to watch my nephew Kal (who is now in 6th grade) play basketball at least once. This year he actually switched schools and is now playing for Iola. The tourney was still in Marion though so the kids and I stayed with Heather and Jim. (Rick is deep in tax season)My brother-in-law Kyle is one of Kal's coaches.
The first game was a real heart breaker, losing by 1 point.