Christmas 2015

Well Christmas was crazy for us as usual.  Lots of places to go and a lot of family to see.  We actually started it all at our house this year.  Christmas Eve we hung out at home just the 4 of us.  We had steak for dinner and watched a movie.  Later the kids put out their plate for Santa.  We decided this year to not just put cookies on the plate as Santa might need a break from cookies.  

The next morning our kids actually slept till around 7:00.  Rob and I were shocked as we were prepared for for a 5 AM wake up call.  They went running down the hallway to see what Santa had brought them.  Santa brought them two new movies, coloring books, and a popcorn popper that they were both super excited about!

After we ate breakfast and opened all of the presents that they couldn't wait for, we packed up and headed to my sisters.  We spent all of Christmas day with my mom and Heather and family.  The kids had so much fun just running around together and playing with all of the new toys.  Henry and Colin just kill me together and the girls play so well together.

He did so great at waiting patiently this year.

We went home on the 26th, unpacked, and got ready for Christmas with the Hartz family the next day.  We headed to Rick and Gail's at a decent time to get all of the play time we could with Tyler and Sophie in.  It's so fun to see how Paige and Sophie talk about Kindergarten and all of the sports they both are playing.  Tyler played with Henry most of the day and was amazing with him.  So fun to see an 8 year and 2 year old play together.

College fund money.  Don't know a lot of kids who get excited about that for Christmas but these 4 do.

A Christmas tradition in the Hartz house is the pickle ornament.  Watching Henry do that this year was so funny.  He took it very seriously and got so excited when he would find it.  We let each kid go on their own as they are a bit competitive (wonder which family they got that from **cough cough** Chapman *cough*)

Our last Christmas was with my Dad and Pat.  We had a blast.  The kids were in the basement running around and the adults were in the kitchen drinking wine and having a great time.  Here are all 8 of my Dad ad Pat's grandkids.

All and all it was busy but a lot of fun.  My kids love seeing and spending time with their cousins.  To Rob and I that is the most important part.  We hope everyone had a great holiday season and are adjusting back to the real world.

Fun December Weekend

Hi Friends and Family!!  Man can I finally have time to blog and it feels great! This weekend is our only weekend at home with no plans until after the new year.  We made sure to do it up big with all sorts of things.  Friday we have our weekly movie night which has now turned into game night as well.  Paige earned a free personal pan pizza for reading so many minutes at school so of course we had to do pizza. Paige is getting so good at Uno and other board games it's so much fun. Now if we could only work on her competitiveness, I wonder what side of the family she gets that from (*cough cough GAIL cough*).  Rob and I got new cell phones so we've been taking a ton of pictures!

Saturday we were full of activities!  Paige helped me make chili in the morning and then we did chocolate dipped pretzels after that.  Paige and Henry both had so much fun decorating them!

Saturday afternoon it was almost 50 degrees so of course we went outside to burn off some energy.  Nothing better then kids on bikes in full winter attire on December 5th.  They had a blast!  We stayed out until it was almost dark and getting a lot colder.  Paige is getting really good at her scooter and Henry is still a speed daemon on his plasmacar.  Later that night Rob and I had a date night!  Two girls from daycare who we love very much came over and played with our kids.  Rob and I went out to dinner and saw a movie.  It was much needed as we've both been slammed at work and just trying to stay above water.

Sunday morning brought more cooking, but not as much as planned.  I did some canning for the first time ever on my own.  Gail taught me about a year ago but I finally decided to attempt it on my own.  I made pepper jelly for teacher gifts, they turned out great!!  I was lucky all of my cans seals and they look like jelly HA!

Later that morning Rob did crafts with the kids.  He had found these kits to build a little wood race car.  They were so excited to get to hammer everything in by themselves.  I'm telling you have them both big enough to do things like this is so much fun!!  As much as I love babies, I don't miss the baby phase.

Then after nap time it was back outside to hang Christmas lights on the house.  The kids did an OK job at keeping themselves busy, but then they got cold, tired, and hungry that they were fighting non stop.  But at least I got this cute picture first!! 

It was a great weekend just being crazy with our kids and getting things done.  Now we start the busy Christmas season which should also be fun as Henry is older and more aware of what's going on. 

We hope everyone is doing well.  We love you all.

Thank you!

Thank you Thank you to those of you who donated to Paige.  She raised quite a bit of money!  She earned all of the puppy keychains you could, a pizza party, and a shirt.  She's super excited!!  Thanks again everyone!!

Jump Rope For Heart

Alright friends and family...a bit of a parenting fail I just realized.  Paige is raising money for jump rope for heart.  Rob and I both did this when I was younger and had a blast!!  We don't want anyone to feel obligated to donate but would greatly appreciate it!!  Here's where the fail comes in, donations close Dec 1st.  Sorry for the short notice.  If you go to her website here:

Donation Link

Thank you Thank you in advance!!!

Nikki

First Snow of 2015

Well we made it until November 20th before it even got cold enough to snow, I feel like that's a win.  I also know the first snow in Iowa brings a lot of mixed emotions for many people.  I think on Friday I heard "its about time", "yay the holidays are coming" and "crap I hate this".  I personally am one of the people who likes the snow.  I don't mind everything that comes with it, until March when it's just dirty slush then I hate it.  I love how happy Paige is when we tell her it's going to snow and when she goes outside to play in it.  This year has been different though, Henry put on all of his snow gear w/out any tears and is currently outside running around with Paige.  I think the days of me taking pictures of him watching from the window are over.  Today is the first day that the kids have been able to get out.  Friday we got called from daycare saying Henry has another fever (thankfully it's gone!) so we had movie night Friday.  Saturday we went to Rick and Gail's to hang out and watch our Cyclones lose, it was really cold to be outside.  So today the kids are out with Rob running around the back yard.  I can here them yelling and laughing while I type this.  We hope everyone is doing well.  I'm inside cleaning getting ready for Thanksgiving.  We're hosting again, but this year its a smaller group.  Tuesday brings pie baking, Wednesday cleaning and shopping, Thursday we'll do 2 Thanksgivings, and Friday we're starting a new tradition I hope, we're going to Disney on Ice!!  It's Henry's first show so I'm excited to see his face.

Have a great Thanksgiving everyone!  I know myself and my little family are very thankful for all of the support we receive from our family and friends!  We couldn't do this crazy thing called life without everyone's help!!

Where did October go?

Well I just realized today that I haven't blogged since Paige got her cast on.  Work is crazy this time of year, my Etsy shop has gotten very busy, Rob was sick, Henry was sick, and the list goes on and on.  This is how I'm surviving right now.

Henry got sick right before Halloween.  Ear infection, fever, and croup.  He finally got him on the mend and now it seems a cold has snuck up on him again.  This was him one day while we were home.

With my Etsy business keeping me very busy, the kids have taken up a lot of craft time as well lately.  Henry has found a love for painting just like his big sister.  I think the two of the could sit here forever.  It's funny when we bought this desk and I bought those chairs I thought how great they could craft together.  It's nice to see them actually doing that.

Paigey and I had a Mommy & Paigey date.  We went to a movie just us girls.  It was a lot of fun for us to get out of the house.

The way the cast came off was an event.  We went to the doctor after 3 weeks they did x-rays and decided we better be safe then sorry with her arm so we kept it on one more week.  When we went back the 4th week it came right now.  She was so excited.  It was stiff for a day but she's back at it, including monkey bars (lord help me).

Rob got invited to go to the opening ISU basketball game, so the kids and I had movie and pizza night.  I should say they did I was falling asleep on the couch.  Burning the candle at both ends will do that to you.  Our cyclones won by a lot and Rob had a blast.

Then this last weekend we celebrated my birthday!  Friday night we went with friends to a wine & beer expo here in Des Moines.  We went last year and it's a lot of fun to walk around try new wines and eat food.

Saturday our kids went to Grammie and Papa's.  Rob and I spent the day being lazy and it was amazing!!  We rented a movie, took a nap, and watching ISU football.  We also installed our new headboard that Rob built.  I couldn't be more excited for how it turned out!  Moving onto nightstands next.  Rob did an amazing job!!

He also surprised me by building me a necklace holder for the wall.  I was excited as I had no idea!  He thought I saw the board in the garage, I explained to him there were so many boards in the garage I didn't pay attention.

My best friends Graham and Pat came up before my birthday dinner.  Graham built me these amazing pie boxes I had my eye on!!  It was the year of heart felt handmade gifts and I love every minute of it!

We're running 100 mph and the holidays are starting to ramp up.  We're doing great.  The kids are growing like crazy.  Paige is reading and spelling.  She's getting so good at it.  She absolutely loves school which is all we can ask for.  Henry is talking more and more and turning into an aggressive but sweet boy.  He will throw or kick any ball that is near him and he has an arm on him.  He's stringing sentences together and having full conversations with us, still a little shocking with us.

I'll get better at posting photos now that work is getting move level.  I hope everyone had a great October!  Here's to Thanksgiving and all of the amazing holidays to come!