Infestation!

Did you know there is a show on Animal Planet called "Infestation"? Sounds like the worst idea ever, right?! Well, we had a little infestation of our own in the kitchen this morning... A giant mouse! Take a look...

A little fresh air

Was just what we needed today! It was 50 degrees and seems like the forecast for the next few days is even warmer! The boys and I enjoyed the fresh air and change of scenery!

Hanging Around

We have spent the last couple of days mostly hanging around, enjoying new toys and each other's company! Mike is heading back to work tomorrow, so it is back to the real world, at least for two days! Yesterday, it was chilly and poured all day. We decided to take the boys bowling, which was a great time! No pics, due to the fact that it was cosmic bowling! Bonus: dance party!!! Today we has to run to the mall to exchange a couple of things. We ate lunch at the Cheesecake Factory. The boys were so good. Maybe we are getting to a stage where we can do this again... Or, maybe it was a fluke! The highlight of my meal was when Ben thanked our waiter after dinner by saying,"Thank you, guy!". His name was not Guy, but it was very sweet!
Also, went to the doctor today as a follow up from my excitement on Saturday. Baby is doing well! My doctor's advice: try not to sneeze!!! I'll work on that!

Merry Christmas!!!

Please enjoy these pictures from some of our holiday festivities...

Christmas jammies from Nana

Cookie baking day at preschool

Owen's Christmas Program 2011

So handsome!!!

Cookie baking at home

Mike's homemade egg nog

Christmas Eve

We had a crazy Christmas Eve morning.  I was making breakfast and everyone was sitting at the table and I passed out!  I have had a bad cold for a couple of weeks and had actually gone to the doctor on Wednesday because I had been having some bad pain under my ribs on the left side when I coughed, sneezed or laughed.  He said I probably pulled a muscle or cracked a rib from coughing.  Oh, my!  Well, on Saturday morning, I sneezed a particularly large sneeze and then I passed out.  After a trip to the ER and quite a thorough work-up, I was diagnosed with having a vaso-vagal reaction to the pain from the sneeze.  Really?!  I have given birth twice with out pain medication, but that sneeze was really a doozy, I guess!  The good news is that I am fine!  I feel like I ruined Christmas Eve.  We didn't even go to Mass!  Mike would barely let me off of the couch and he is still watching me very cautiously!  He is definitely a better nurse than I am :o)  

Christmas Day

The boys had a great day and Santa was so good to them, as well as Mike and I, too!  We went to Mike's Aunt and Uncle's for a fantastic dinner and were lucky to get to celebrate with a bunch of Walsh's!  

Like my new pjs?  They were a gift from Mike and the boys!  Not only am I modeling the pjs, I'm also sporting a 14 week along baby bump!  That's right!  Baby #3 is coming in June!  We are very excited!  

The boys were very excited to get to spend part of the Christmas holiday with their cousin, Olivia!

Merry Christmas and happy holidays to all of our friends and family!  We hope you had a joyous holiday, surrounded by the ones you love!  

The Dump

Today the boys decided to pretend they were workers at the dump. They look pretty official, huh?!
Unfortunately, our fireplace is down in the basement and Santa has to go through that "dump" to bring the presents up to our Christmas tree... The little elves did a good job cleaning up today, but they better keep up the good job tomorrow so Santa can come!

He's 2!

Ben's 2nd Birthday was last Friday, December 16th!  Here are some highlights!!!

Ben received lots of nice gifts and had so much fun opening them this year!!!
He will be all ready for Christmas!

 
Ben just loves ducks, so we had to have a duck themed day!  Whenever I asked him what he wanted to  do or eat or celebrate with on his birthday, he shouted "DUCKS!"

He was thrilled with the cake, clearly!!!  Thank goodness he's only two!  I don't usually make cakes for a reason!  But, duck cakes are kind of hard to find :o)  

Other than having a cold, Ben had a great day!  We celebrated with our family, had dinner at The Dogfishhead Brewery and finished up the day looking at a huge light display at Seneca Creek State Park.  

Ben is a bright, happy, sweet little guy and we are so blessed to have him as a part of our family!  I just can't believe he's two already!!!  How does this happen?!  

2 Snuggly Pirates

Who weren't particularly interested in posing for this picture...

Birthday Week

Mike's 31st birthday was on Saturday. We celebrated with some delicious grillled Omaha steaks on Friday night. Then, Saturday morning, we got up early and drove to Philadelphia. Mike, Owen, Uncle Carl and Olivia all went to watch Creighton play St. Joe's (in basketball, if you were wondering!).
Ben, Aunt Katie, and I did a little last minute Christmas shopping. Saturday night, the adults went to dinner at Yang Ming's and the kids stayed with a sitter!!! So much fun! We drive back home Sunday after lunch. We had discussed stopping by Sesame Place ( a Sesame Street themed amusement park for their Christmas celebration) but decided against it given that the boys were up at 5am and it was a little chilly. They slept the whole way home and went to bed like troopers at their normal time. Monday am, Owen got up bright and early as normal but Ben slept until 9am!
The birthday celebration continues this Friday. Someone is going to be "big!"

It is Done!

I think I might need to lengthen Owen's sleeves a bit! I guess he's grown in the last month since I finished this... That guy just never stops growing!!!

A Pintrest Dinner

If you don't know what Pinterest is, you should definitely check it out!  This was called the Broccoli Chicken Crescent Braid.  I did not make the beautiful braid like in the picture because the boys were getting hungry, but it was pretty darn good, none the less! 

You might want to return those toys you bought

Because they are pretty happy with the boxes!

Snowmen

Our first holiday art project...
Made by Owen (from a kit!)
I'm sure there will be many more to come :)