Girls, Girls, Girls!

As many of you can attest, the more kids you have, the more they fight and annoy each other.  Chad and I have been trying to separate the kids as best we can to make their lives a little more enjoyable.  Not saying that when they are together, they don't have fun because often times they play fine, and they are each others'  best friends; however, absence makes the heart grow fonder.  

The girls' new thing is "Girl's Day."  Just Mama and the girls doing something fun.  I have been having a blast hanging out with my girls and am looking forward to more quality time with them.  While I whisk the girls away, Chad and Brock have their "Boy's Day," which has included watching football, going out to eat, and shooting squirrels.  I am hoping to get some quality time with Brock, but we usually get our fill in the spring/summer/fall playing soccer with each other and going to the bike trail.  I am also looking forward to spending some quality time with Chad, too.  ;)  Tee hee!

Nebraska vs Michigan Gymnastics Meet

The girls were in awe of the gymnasts, and it was such an incredible event to attend.  The girls got spoiled with pom-poms, glow necklaces, face tattoos, candy, and popcorn.  I have to say, it was a little nerve-wracking watching the gymnasts on the uneven bars (and some of them who fell off -- YIKES!) thinking that someday that will be Ella and Sophie.  Oh, boy!

Bedtime Stories

Monsters Inc. 3D

Date with Mom and Dad

Strawberry Gummie Milkshake

What do you do when your treadmill breaks down and costs $200 to repair?  I suppose you run in the elements.  I am making this a mini-challenge as I go forward with my training.  Wind, rain, or shine, I will hit the gravel.  

Tonight it was pretty cool watching 4 does run past me as I turned the corner.  I was very tempted to chase after them in an all-out sprint; however, the fear of slipping on the ice patches kept me content at the pace I was going.  KFL (4 miles)!!  **only for you, Heidi**

Chad and Sophie in their bibs:

Hunting with Grandpa

A Little Taste...

Since I only have a few more months of school left before I start student teaching, I have been working diligently on getting all of my observation hours in.  I have been at the elementary and middle school full-time this week observing some of THE BEST teachers that I have seen so far.  It has truly been quite the experience to get to know and see these teachers in action.  In doing so, I have been hit hard with the realization of what working moms feel like when they are trying to attend school.  Oh.  My.  Goodness.  I have HUGE kudos for any of you who have done that because working all day and then trying to get in 3-4 hours of school in on top of that...WOW.  Although it has been stressful, I am finally starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel, and I am SO, SO EXCITED! 

Aside from observations, school, tests, and homework, I have started training for the Kentucky Derby half marathon that I am running with my sister in April.  I never thought I would run a half marathon because for me, running is fun, but is 13.1 miles going to be fun?  I guess we will see!  I am really looking forward to the challenge, and who better to do it with than my seester!

I think I may have pictures on my camera, but I am in no hurry to get them uploaded because my brain is fried, so until next time...

Christmas 2012

What a wonderful holiday season to add to the list of loving, memorable, and never-dull experiences that our families share during this time.  We began our holidays with the Hiller Christmas, and it was special because it was the first gathering in my parents' new house!  The "Last Supper" table was officially sworn in with a feast of crab legs and seafood bisque.  The kids had, as they put it, "the best days of their lives" when they got to spend an extended weekend with Maddie. 

 

 

 Presents

 

 

Brock's Favorite:

Doggie Doo!

Within minutes of playing Doggy Doo, the dog was constipated and had to be cleaned out with a stick.

 

 

 
Secret Santa Gift Exchange

Mom laughing at my petite gift to her

"The jewelry box is kind of hard to open.  Not sure if you can open it."

Inside the jewelry box was a pair of earrings that my mom had when she was a little girl.  She has been searching for these earrings for a very long time, and with a little help from my Aunt Cindy, we were able to find them and make this one of my mom's most memorable Christmases.

Along with the earrings were a few pendants and a necklace that held a strong significance with her, as well.

 "Gril - lay - pro...must be Italian."

Brock shooting off his fizzy bottle exploder from Aunt Heidi.

Brock playing catch with Uncle Tom

Uncle Adam dancing with Sophie

Of course, a Christmas would not be complete without:

Shirley Temples

A Sexy Christmas

Some Fits

Cherry Turnovers Christmas Morning

And Pinkeye

Oh yes, pinkeye.  It started with Sophie and spread throughout the house.  I was the only one to remain unaffected by the pink inflamed eyes of goo, but unfortunately, the pinkeye took its toll on Chad and Ella right during Christmas, so they had to forgo Christmas at Great Grandma and Grandpa's for fear of spreading it to others.

This is how Chad caught the pinkeye from Ella:

Elfie getting a head start on the jello:

Christmas Eve

  

Ella's kitty enveloped in a wreath of M&Ms (pic by Ella)

Christmas Morning

In their hooded blankets from Santa

Then the camera dies =(

At Great Grandma and Grandpa's

Carter got a DS for Christmas, so he spent the majority of the time taking pictures of everyone.

Making a Snowman

Apparently, Brock's part was too hard to push.

Forgot the Hat

Randoms

Non-insulated exterior bedroom walls = 20 blankets at bedtime

Ella's Wish -- "my cousin in Crete."

Sophie let Harper have her beloved blankie at bedtime because she was cold.  Usually Sophie can't sleep without her blankie, so this was quite a selfless act.

Kids wanted to do P90X on their vacation.  ???

I laughed so hard when Ella brought her schoolwork home and I saw this page.  Her and her swirly S's.  Whenever I write the kids' names on things, I try and make them fancy and fun.  It looks like she is trying to do the same with her handwriting homework.