Miss Mia turns 3

So I know her birthday was a while ago, but a good friend took pictures that day for me and just gave me them yesterday. So here's my little princess Mia at her Hello Kitty party!

Winter Storm and Soccer

Luke's soccer team this year is the "Golden Bears" --- he's #12. He has had several games cancelled due to cold/rain, but all three they played they won (thanks mostly to two awesome 2nd graders!) He played really hard his last game - he's a lot less scared out there this year!

First grade never has an award assembly in the winter, but Luke did bring home his perfect attendance certificate. Then we found out they would have one - today! - so I'll have pictures of him getting his awards later.

His two top front teeth fell out soon after one another

Last Saturday's game - action shot!

We finally got snow! Tuesday the 23rd it snowed ALL day! Perfect packing snow too. Sadly, it's all gone now, just two days later, except for some little dirty remnants!

Holiday Photos

Luke's new Texans jersey, shades, and jammies!

Loving bitty baby Grant!

Cookies and eggnog for santa, and carrots for the reindeer

Christmas Eve

New Year's Eve - noise makers a little early... hard to keep them up till midnight!

Here I am!

Let's see if anyone still checks my blog. I've become a facebook addict so I haven't been on here much... Here are some photos of our lives lately

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Halloween -Indiana Jones and a sick witch

getting ready to plant plum trees

Planting the trees with Nonno

Luke's disguised turkey project

Thanksgiving... in bare feet

Going to UH game

First day of school - I mean, first grade

That's for you Nonni... When we mention that Luke was going back to school, he makes sure to point out that it's "first grade"! Today was a good day, but seemed very long! Have some challenges this year with my kids so hopefully I can manage to have a great year like last year again.

I thought we were going to be off to a rough start when Luke woke up last night at 10 feeling really sick. He finally fell asleep at 11:30 feeling ok again. Luckily he woke up feeling great today, ready to go!

Notice how BLACK it is outside in these photos... it was 6:45 am. So early! And Luke had me take a photo of myself too.

And so she's not left out, Mia had a big day too! She started back at daycare last week, and our sad efforts of starting potty training over the summer were blown away by how great she started doing once she was with fabulous Ms. Sonya and her friends! We were told after only a week that she was to start with panties today... So she got her elmo and dora panties and we sent them off to school today... and she came home in the same dry pair! Friday night when I got home from buying them, she put on a pair of elmo, then a pair of dora on top, then said "I want to go dance in my unnerwears!" and off she went to dance in her room! silly girl! Should have gotten a picture of that one!

Photos. Finally.

I am going to just post a few of my fave photos from my Ohio trip on here. If you want to see more, check them out on my facebook page! In backwards order...

Cuyahoga Falls river

My college roommate with her baby and my friend Vickie - we got to hang out on my last day at a park with all our kids

And here are all the kids, minus baby Benjamin. He wasn't up to hanging on the rock wall for a photo at only 4 months old

It was hard to get everyone to sit for a photo with my grandma after a long day at the beach in Lake Erie, so this is the best I got

Taking a snack break at the lake

Luke worked on this for a long time. He wasn't sure what it was, but he was proud of it.

In grandpa's tree

At Jenna's gymnastics party

4 generations with great grandma Lehman

Cousins ready for a bonfire

Sesame Place

We spent our first day in Philly at Sesame Place. We rented a car and drove the 30 miles there, expecting a crowded, crazy day. I was very pleasantly surprised to see that it wasn't crowded at all -in fact by early afternoon, there was no waiting in line for anything! We pretty much did everything including rides, shows, parade, and water activities. I have to say that this was my most pleasant and enjoyable theme park visit. Everyone was polite, and with the lack of crowd (school was still in session around there) and great weather, made for a perfect visit. I took so many photos, but again will narrow it down to the hilights!

Waiting for our turn on the ride

Flying fish ride

Hanging out on Sesame Street

Teacup ride

Waiting for the parade

Ernie stole Mia's hat... but he gave it back. She was not happy about it.

This is her reaction to the Count. Not a fan.

Abby show

Luke and I are on this inner tube ride. We were freezing and soaked!

In Count's Castle - a giant water play area with slides. 

Elmo Live Show