In Chicago it snows and when it does it stays for a long time. Never-the-less, the boys have had some fun in the snow for the first time.

With the move I neglected to post Jeremiah's 4 year birthday info. Yes, my boy is 4 (January 7th). We had a little party with the Murphy's (Ben's boss and friend). They have two kids close to our boys' ages. We had brunch, played games, opened gifts and just had a nice time chatting and hanging out with very fun, sweet people. I totally forgot to take any pictures of the actual party...once again neglecting my poor child's birthday.

This year the holidays were a bit crazy with the move, but we managed to spend time with each side of the family. My parents had the boys when Ben and I left for Chicago so they came up and spent a couple weeks with us as we unpacked and celebrated Christmas with Santa (my dad) a few days early. Then we drove to Southern IL to Ben's Grandmother's house to meet up with Ben's parents and sister for the holiday. We were so blessed this year with some great gifts for the kids and for us. Overall, it was a really nice holiday.

Jeremiah's pre-school does a monthly news letter and each month they interview some of the children. This month they interviewed Jeremiah. This is what Jeremiah had to say.

Today Jeremiah's pre-school was doing a special performance at church. So, instead of going to our normal church we decided to go to Jeremiah's school. On our way Jeremiah said that his belly hurt but we figured he had to go to the bathroom. When we got there Jeremiah went to the bathroom with Ben while Davis and I found a seat. The performances began and Jeremiah's class was up next. They all walked into the sanctuary toward the front of the church. I saw Jeremiah holding his teachers hand as they were walking. As the other kids walked to the front he would not let go of her hand so she sat with him in the front row. I went up and got him and he said his belly was hurting a lot; so we headed home. A few minutes later he felt fine..come to find out it was just nerves. I can't believe it, his first performance and he was so scared that he couldn't do it. His teacher said that he was shy but I guess we have a bit of stage fright as well.

Today I put Davis down for his nap. I heard him upstairs crying so I went in to check on him. He had thrown his nuk and blanket bear out of the crib. I picked up blanket bear and got on my hands and knees to find the nuk. As I was looking for the nuk I looked up at Davis; he laughed and said "GRRRR". Yes, my kid growled at me.

Our house officially went on the market today. In less than three hours we had someone come to see it. I hope that is a sign of how quickly our house sells. Wish us luck.

The last few weeks have been pretty tricky. First of all my sister and her family decided to move to Austin because my brother-in-law was looking for more work and CA was getting too expensive. They got here mid September. During their trip my brother-in-law got a call from a company in Seattle with whom he had already been working with. They offered him a full-time position. They settled into our house for a few weeks and then he took off to Seattle last week to begin working and get things settled for the kids and my sister.

Since our visit to CA in July Jeremiah has been obsessed about roller skates. His cousins Logan and Kaia had some and he LOVED them. So the other day I saw some on the discount rack and could not pass it up. He was so excited when we got home. We made him put all of the protective gear on since we have wood floors and he was off.

Davis really wanted to try them and Jeremiah was really sweet to let him.

After a hard day of skating the boys enjoyed some fresh chocolate chip cookies in the cabinets.

About a month ago Ben asked me if he could give Davis a Mohawk. I kind of just laughed it off and said "we can talk about it later." So the other day I walked into the bathroom where Ben and Davis were sitting on the floor midst haircut...or better yet midst Mohawk. Ben figured if I didn't like it he could just cut it. I hate to admit it but it is cute and fits the kids personality.

Our trip to CA this summer was fantastic.  We flew my parents out as well so we could have the entire family together.  We got to CA on July 18th and spent the night with Ben's parents.  That morning we got up and met up with my extended family in Tehachapi; cousins, aunts, uncles, sisters, parents etc.  I would say 20 plus people.  We had a very fun BBQ and stayed there that night before heading up to San Luis Obispo.  

Today Jeremiah and I had a big debate.  He would not, could not, and still will not believe that Goofy is a dog.  He thinks that Goofy is a person.  

This is the summer of weddings for us. It has been a while since I have had so many friends get married, but this summer we had three weddings.

While eating lunch today Jeremiah began asking me questions about what hippopotamus' can do.  The conversation went like this...

This summer Ben's company flew us out to Chicago for a week.  While Ben trained new employees the boys and I played in the city.  It was great weather and we had a great time.  We spent a lot of time splashing in the fountains at the new Millennium Park, ate at all types of fun restaurants including Weber Grill and Ed Debevic's.  Jeremiah enjoyed watching the bridge rise for the big boats to go through, he said that the bridge "broke".  If you ask him what his favorite part was he would have to say the BBQ at the Murphy's house (Ben's boss).  I am sad to say we have no pictures of the BBQ and the kids playing but they were really good and sweet.  Overall the trip was a fun break from the regular day to day schedule.

This year was the first since we have lived here that I was available to participate in a day with the Austin Fire Department.  Jeremiah, like most little boys, loves trucks so I expected this to be fantastic.  The problem is that he is rather shy in this type of situation, I couldn't get a picture of him in the truck because he wouldn't get in the truck.  He did climb on the side as long as I was right there.  Never-the-less it was fun and I can finally say I have taken my boys to play on a Fire Truck.

Ben has been traveling so much with work this past 6 months that we put all of our eggs into one basket and decided we would pack 6 months of quality time into one fabulous week in Hawaii.  We have never had so much fun in one vacation.  

Today we were playing in the little pool and blowing bubbles in the backyard when Davis decided that it was time to go back inside.  He walked over to the back door and began pushing the door and screaming indicating that he wanted in.  Jeremiah walked over very calmly and said "Davis, we are playing in the pool or blowing bubbles, those are your options."  Pretty darn funny.

With the summer in full swing here in Austin we had to get our annual play pool.  Here are some cute pictures of the boys having a great time in the pool.  Davis goes in head first it is classic.

Thanks to Aunt Denise and Uncle Greg the kids have adorable Dodger outfits now.  I am thrilled about this as is Jeremiah.  He wore my Dodger hat because it "matches" and played ball in the back yard.  He was too funny removing the hat each time he ran the bases. 

We decided to brave the world of theme parks and take the boys to Sea World.  We waited until Davis was ready for his AM nap and drove the hour and 15 minutes down to San Antonio, piled on the sun block and headed into the park.  The first thing we did was the Shamu show, it was amazing.  Both boys were fascinated and it nearly brought me to tears.  These whales are so big, beautiful, and graceful.  We sat in the last row of the "splash zone" so that we got the effect of the splash without the wet-fishy aftermath.  

So I realized that I really do love to clean, it is therapeutic for me.  I know it sounds wrong but I have finally come to terms with it and have decided to embrace it.  I realized it yesterday when I went to clean a little pee from a little boy on the bathroom floor.  It turned into a full out clean the bathroom and while I am at it scrub the kitchen floor on my hands and knees.  While I was cleaning I thought about my cleaning habits.  It seems to happen like this...

It is hard to believe how fast time goes by.  It was a year ago that I was so ready to have this sweet baby boy never knowing how much he would bless us.  He was born on May 27th weighing 7lbs 15oz....my big boy.  

Jeremiah is all about sword fighting, we went to the Pecan St Festival and there was a man making balloon animals and such.  Jeremiah asked for a sword and the man made him a sword and saber.  This was the focus of most of his play for the next few days until the balloons became flat.  So I got inspired, I went to Youtube and found some videos on how to make balloon art.  It was pretty easy, I am not great but I am super cool in the eyes of my boys and they always have a soft balloon sword "For Narnia".

Tonight while putting Jeremiah to bed he asked if I would cuddle him for a while.  Typically when we cuddle at bedtime he chats about whatever may be on his mind at the time.  Tonight he asked me why my eyebrows were big (ok, I thought I was keeping them well trimmed).  So I explained to him that God made me that way.  Then the conversation turned to what else God made.  It went a little something like this...

Jeremiah is totally into fitness.  Working out with Ben, doing yoga or pilates with me.  Today I was working out and he just really got into it...I on the other hand gave up.

Wow, my baby will be a year at the end of the month and he is so motivated by his older brother that he does all he can to keep up.  The attempt to walk started about a month ago when he would take three steps here and there, fall and crawl.  It slowly graduated to 5 steps, 8 steps and now he walks, stops, looks like he will fall but regains his balance and walks again.  

While making dinner tonight the kids were playing in the kitchen.  Not anything out of the ordinary.  Not until Davis grabbed the container of cheerios out of my purse, dumped them onto the kitchen floor and grinned with joy.  Cheerio Heaven.  

I have been finding sippy cups in Jeremiah's toy kitchen.  I just assumed it was Jeremiah playing with them.  Tonight I found Davis stuffing his water cup and Jeremiah's milk cup in the kitchen and closing the doors.  Stinker!

Since returning back from CA we have gotten back into the swing of things and back onto a schedule.  Davis knows when it is nap time and has a new way of telling me.  The past few mornings he removes the pillows off of the couch and lays on them...letting me know it is time.  Too cute.

Davis is starting to walk.  This week he took three steps in a row and has done so several times.  This evening, after dinner, Jeremiah and Davis were playing chase.  They both crawl very fast around the living room.  I told Jeremiah that very soon they will be able to play chase running and not crawling.  Jeremiah looked at me, looked at Davis and said "I will be so excited, Davis is getting bigger."  I just love watching them two of the interact.

This morning Jeremiah dressed up in his pirate bandana, construction goggles, sword and shield (tupperware lid).  I told him he looked silly...he proclaimed "I don't look silly, I look stupid."  

This past week we went on Vacation to CA.  I traveled with the boys...by myself...I will create a completely separate posting about that with pics.  Never the less, while we were gone Imhotep (EMO) or dog was being watched by an old co-worker of mine.  Unfortunately it rained and when it rains he digs in the mud.  He tracked in muddy prints throughout the downstairs with twigs and leafs.  But the sad part is that he got out on Monday night and has yet to be seen since.  He has a collar with number on it and most of the neighbors know him.  Anyway, today the boys and I are going on Imoquest...wish us luck.

I walked into Jeremiah's room tonight to hear him singing Jesus Loves Me.  This is how it went...

This video is a little old (about a month) but I am finally getting around to posting it.  I have another one but I can't seem to get it to load properly.  Enjoy...THE CHASE.