Merry Christmas...just a little late!

We have been so busy getting ready for the holidays. We went right from working on the house to getting out the tree and we haven't stopped since. Thanksgiving snuck up on us while we were still busy on the house. I only have a little trim and touch ups to finish. Everything got put away the week of Thanksgiving so we could get the decorations up for the holidays. Here's a look at a few of the things that had us running. I love being with the girls during the holidays. They wait with anticipation and even now Kat is asking for things for next Christmas. We were told repeatedly that she was good and Santa would bring her something!!

Kathryn was in her first Christmas program at church (she's the last one on the left). She did awesome and we couldn't be prouder.
Kat and her cousin Erin made gingerbread houses at their Great Grandma Ellen's. I think they had more fun eating the decorations than using them, but that's the fun of being a kid!!

Kat decorating her house.
Santa came to Headstart to meet the kids. It was a special day for Kat because her cousin Erin was able to come with her for the Christmas party. Santa actually knew Kat (he's a friend of ours) so she thought that was cool. He talked about her grandparents so Kat really thinks that Santa is watching which might come in handy next year!!

Christmas Eve at our house with my family.
We started the tradition of having our family Christmas on Christmas Eve after the church service at 5. Santa comes while we're at church and out for supper. The tradition continued this year with my sister and her fiance added to the group since they were staying with us.

The girls got a Barbie house. So far Kathryn hasn't complained about it not having an elevator like the one she saw on tv!!!


Christmas Eve evening at our house.

Lili on Christmas morning at my in-laws.


Kathryn opening one of many presents.
Uncle Eric and Aunt Beth bought the girls princess dresses. They loved them!!!!

Christmas day my family was back at our house. My grandparents came up from Kansas a few days before to see my brothers new baby. Trinity was a month old on Christmas.
Opening more presents.

Christmas day evening is always spent at Jesse's Grandma Ellen's house. The girls love to play with their Papa and they spent the evening jumping on anyone that would let them.
Grandma Ellen's

I hope your holiday was as busy and filled with as much love and fun as ours was. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!!

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So much to say

Well, I thought we were back, but things are forever changing. After finally getting back in the house after construction we all had the flu (H1N1) two weeks ago and this week was spent finishing most of the house and finally having it as clean as I would like.

Right now I am currently in the hospital waiting for niece number 5 to make her entrance to the world. She seems to want to take her time. They induced Madison this morning and now at 6pm she is only at a 5 1/2. The epideral isn't working and the back labor is already unbearable. We might be having a baby sooner than even this little one thinks. Praying that the miracle of birth out ways the pain in the end as I know it will.

For us we are well into holiday planning. I have a 'problem' with over planning and have almost all of the girls gifts bought and now what the other gifts are going to be. Jesse has even agreed to go shopping with me on Black Friday. We're hoping to get a TomTom and a few smaller things. We have our friends Thanksgiving planned for the 5th along with taking the girls to a Christmas movie with Santa present. Kat is getting into the holidays and asks for anything that she happens to see on TV or in the many ads we receive. Lili even asked for a baby and we are looking forward to soon having a 2 year old and have start the stages of potty training.

Well, that's a little look at whats been happening here. We hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving. Hopefully tomorrow we will have pictures of the new little McDonald to post. Please pray we do!!!

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We're Back !!

Sorry that we've been AWOL for awhile. We have been working on our house (pictures to come soon). We moved in with my mom for a few weeks and have spent the last few at home working constently. We're getting close so I thought I'd take a break and show you all some of the fun the girls have been having. The month of October was full. We had a wedding in IL, a senior show for Jesse's sister in MN, and a baby shower in KC. We also has a 1st b-day party for our niece in KC, but we were unable to attend that.

Here are a few of the things we've gotten to do at home. I'll try to put pictures up of all the other 'adventures' later.

A local pub hosted a free halloween/fall party for kids so I jumped at the chance to get them out of the house so Dad could work in peace. The day was so nice, but just as we got there the clouds moved in and it cooled off, but the girls had a blast anyway. Their favorite part was the hay 'maze', but they colored and played the other games also.
Kathryn fell asleep after only trick-or-treating around the square. The businesses around the square handout candy from 4-6 before the actuall trick-or-treating starts. We still had a lot of places to hit not that they needed anymore candy! Their bags were almost full.

This year we had a Tinkerbell and Ladybug. I got the costumes done just a day before we went trick-or-treating. In Iowa we do beggers night and not Halloween.
You can kinda tell just how windy it was. We didn't spent much time out after hitting the realitives because it was way to cold and windy.
Kathryn was so excited and giggled and screamed the whole time. Lili wouldn't let her bag go even though it was to heavy for her. They had a great time and even got to go trick-or-treating in KC the next day when it was warmer.

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First Day

Kathryn started preschool last Thursday. We were able to get her into Headstart (we're over guidelines so it wasn't easy!) and she goes 4 mornings a week. Kat has always been 'smart' and we felt that she really needed to be learning now while she thought it was fun and while learning is so easy. We realize that just because she is advanced now doesn't mean she'll always be but we wanted to give her every advantage. It helps that her teacher, Danielle, is married to one of Jesse's best friends so Kathryn knew her and my mom worked at Headstart for 5 years when we first moved here and we know most of the staff through that.

Kathryn wore the new dress that Grandma Gail made her (Lili has hers on too). No fighting over clothes on the first day!

This picture shows the true Kat...ornery and cute!
Lili wanted in the pictures to.

The Headstart building has water in the basement so for now they are using the Methodist church which just happens to be our church. I think this also helped because she is use to me leaving her for Sunday school and in the nursery.
Kathryn's (temporary) classroom. She was so excited.
Sitting on her spot. No tears when I left after this picture.

This is how I found Lili after coming down from making beds. Sound asleep leaning against the couch. She slept the whole time Kat was at school and miss the first day of having the house (and toys) all to herself!!

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Grandpa Ed

Jesse's Grandpa Ed passed away this morning. He will be greatly missed by all of us. He was greatly loved and respected by Jesse and my girls loved playing with him. He was a wonderful father, grandfather and great-grandfather and even grandfather-in-law! Please pray for Jesse's family. I'm sure John, Kathryn and Grandpa Ed had a wonderful reunion today. We miss you and will see you again someday.

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Kat, Lili and Mommy too

In July Lorelai had tubes put in. We had been battling ear infections and then Lili stopped talking as much and some of the words she use to say she was no longer saying so we decided that is was time.

Lili looked so cute in the gown but it took me awhile to convince her that it was a pretty dress. She wasn't so sure.

She played happily before the surgery. We were worried when we were told no food or drink after midnight. She always gets a sippy first thing in the morning. She surprised us and did wonderful.

Goofing off before. Trying to keep her entertained and out of trouble.

Taking my baby. I had a hard time letting go and trusting that she would be okay. I had prayed for weeks, but still...it is so hard to trust fully when it's your baby. I am learning.

This is the only picture of after which was at home. She threw a huge fit coming out of the anesthesia and I could barley hold her. This is after coming home and taking a couple hour nap. She was still so tired.


Well, Kat waited and waited and finally got to meet Suzie. Suzie McEntire Luchsinger is a wonderful singer and role model and I was so happy to be able to take Kat to see her and not have to worry about this concert being inappropriate. Suzie is, yes, Reba's sister and Kat sometimes gets them confused. We watch Reba on TV a lot (both the show and music videos). Suzie sings gospel music and does Cowboy Radio. She is truly a women of God and I have to say that I am happy that both her and Reba are some of Kat's favorite singers. They are wonderful women and I pray for their continued testament.

This is after Suzie sang just for Kat. 'My Kinda People' is Kat's favorite song and this year Suzie didn't sing it, but was kind enough to sing to her.


Suzie wanted to make sure we had a good picture and spent sometime talking to Kat.

As for me, I had a heart appointment last week and my heart is actually better. Praise God!! I went from a 3+ (high moderate) to a 2+ (mild moderate). We don't know what did it, but not having the stress of extra kids (daycare) is my guess. I have to go back in 6 months and if everything is the same or better then I will probably start going once a year. I have been worrying about the future and surgery, but it won't be anytime soon if things stay good.

Have so much more to post and will hopefully have more time this week.

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A birthday, a castle, a princess...

Kat turned 3 on the 4th of July. I'm clearly way behind on posting. We're officially out of the terrible 2's or so they say!!! and I'm having a hard time realizing that shortly I will no longer have a baby just two toddlers. Time sure goes by fast.

I planned an outrageously large and extravagant party for our Princess Goofball, but of course it rained and ruined all my plans. To Jesse's disbelief I started planning the party months ago with big dreams of creating a castle out of the swing set with little castles surrounding it, balloons everywhere, a red carpet to walk, and tiaras for everyone. Well...I came down off my cloud of dreams, promised to reuse some of the stuff and have a princess party for Lili at 3, and finally made a budget. The swing set would have decorations, tiaras for the little girls, and 2 castles made of furniture boxes that we got for free and the local furniture store. Despite the rain things turned out okay (no decorated swing set and castles inside) and Kathryn enjoyed herself.

I'll leave you with pictures of your royal highness Princess Kathryn's 3rd birthday.

Kat's Aunt Amy couldn't stay for the party but spent the morning decorating her cupcakes. They turned out great!

The red carpet. Things are just thrown together because of the rain.

One of the two castles I made. Mom help a little, so did Wes.

The little princesses playing party games. Pass the teapot.

Grandma Gail with Lili and cousin Meredith.

Lorelai made a cute princess.

Eating cupcakes.

Heading for Chinese that night (we did fireworks on the 3rd this year).

Kathryn excited for Chinese and the fish!! She picked where we ate. Chinese is her favorite, but not Dads. He was sick that night!

Jesse and Aunt Bee's boyfriend Manu just being themselves.

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Wedding #2 - The Hoovers

Saturday started out rainy and dreary, but turned into a beautiful day. Jesse was the best man in his friend Joe's wedding, so we spent the day chasing kids, helping, taking pictures and finally enjoying time with friends.

Joe and Jesse grew up together and have been friends nearly all their lives and since Joe only has a sister Jesse had the honor of standing up with him. Joe and Danielle dated for 5 years and we have all been waiting for this day which we knew would come eventually. The wedding was short and sweet and really showed their personalities. The wedding party even took a hay ride to the reception. I didn't get pictures of this because our two year old was crying because she didn't get to go with Daddy. All in all it was a good day, but very tiring!



Kathryn and Daddy. She was a little tired!



Lorelai was worn out after dancing all night.


Karaoke again. The wedding party serenaded the happy couple.

Jesse and his brother Eric and our niece Meredith. They're finding a song to sing, but Mer Mer left so she didn't get to sing!

They had the little girls sing Hannah Montana's Best of Both worlds. You know you're a mom when you know the words!! Robin and I both were singing along with them. The flower girl and ring bear were suppose to dance, but Sydnee said " I don't know what to do!"

Our friends Dave and Robin who just got married a few weeks ago.


Jesse and I. Not the best picture, but it had been a long day.

All the groomsmen. They helped Jesse with his toast. Sorry Danielle!!

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