Christmas Cards 2010

I have ordered pictures from Shutterfly quite a few times with great results and super fast service. I am always pleased when the big, bulky envelope comes in the mail! My pictures always look so great and I never have to leave my house!

And while I have never ordered my Christmas cards from Shutterfly, I have to say that I am REALLY, REALLY excited about ordering them this year. I like to include pictures in my cards. Mostly because that's the kind of cards I like to get myself. I love seeing how my friends and family's kids have grown. And it is so much fun to go back and look at how small my babies were too. The reason I usually do not order my cards is because I really LOVE to create my own cards, but listen...I have 3 boys (ages 4, 6 and 8) and I'm halfway done cooking another baby! So seriously folks, I just don't have the time or the energy! :) And to be completely honest, I look to Shutterfly for inspiration. They have the cutest stuff!

Go here to create your own unique photo cards for this year's Christmas card!

In the past, I've given calendars as fun gifts and received them too. So fun! It truly is the gift that keeps on giving All Year Long!

And I can't help myself from looking at these adorable birthday invites. I am going to have a 1 year old again next year! Oh, I just love planning that party! Can't wait!

Ridemakerz Giveaway on Aim's blog!

My sister is doing an AWESOME giveaway on her blog. Click here to read all about it and enter!

Sledding!!!

I love that we have 4 seasons but some I enjoy from indoors. I do not like being cold. I haven't been sledding since before Jon and I got married, but yesterday was FUN!!! More fun than I could have imagined. We went with Aimee and Ryan and their kids. And I wasn't cold AT ALL! Well, at the end of the day, my face was kinda frozen (into a permanent smile) and my fingers started to get a bit cold! We had an absolute blast! Here are some pics of our day...

Buzz, Jack and a green frog...

Well...here ya go! One week later. Not bad!

Halloween 2008Talon was the frog that Ben was 2 years ago. Gotta love a costume that was $1.97 and 2 kids WANTED to wear it!

Bennett was Captain Jack Sparrow...and he LOVED every minute of it!

Simon was Buzz Lightyear. His wings even had lights. I tried to get a picture of it but they flashed...so it was nearly impossible.

Ben, my non-picture taking boy, insisted on this one. I couldn't believe it!

Me and my love - thank you Simon!Waiting for more trick-or-treaters...we didn't have many after we got home.This is my favorite picture! I love their faces.

Why I Love Fire Prevention Week

by Melanie J. Stevens

:)

Really, I do. Why, you ask? LOTS of reasons!!! :) One of the main reasons is the Fire House Open House. Our town goes all out and it's just such a fun day! We look forward to this so much. The kids LOVE it!

We get to go for a ride on the antique fire truck with a siren blaring!

The boys get to slide down a real fire pole,

pretend to drive and rush off to a huge fire,

sit in the jump seat and pretend to talk to the other fire fighters, squirt the fire hose,

and watch the real fire fighters use the jaws of life! I think that was Ben's favorite.

"Thanks you fire fighters. We love you!"

(from Elmo Visits the Firehouse, for those of you that don't know!)

It's Not All Baby Rides Anymore!

Yesterday, we went to a carnival in Dyer. We had so much fun! Ben and Simon are now tall enough to go on some of the bigger rides.

Look how excited Ben is. He thought he wasn't tall enough and he was so sad...then he found out he actually WAS tall enough and jumped into his seat - right next to Mom!

Unfortunately, for me, the operator decided that since the boys were so excited, he'd let them have another go. I was so relieved when it started slowing down, then the guy with one tooth said "One more time!" I was pretty queasy after that. :)

Simon's first bumper car ride - all by himself.

You can tell that he's s-t-r-e-t-c-h-i-n-g to reach the pedal but he did GREAT and had an absolute blast!
Talon loved this motorcycle ride. It did wheelies! On his second turn we could tell he was making motorcycle sounds. So cute!
Tal was cracking up on the dragon roller coaster. He loved it so much!
Ahhh, the fun slide. I think they went down this thing at least 20 times!
Our last ride. The Super Shot! I've been on the Giant Drop at Great America but this actually scared me more than that. I think because I heard this clicking sound and thought it reached the top but we were already at the top and it was actually dropping us. It was crazy!Simon did NOT like it - at all!

Big Wheel 500

How about that - a post from an event that happened less than 3 days ago!

The Big Wheel 500!

Ben got 2nd place in the 4 year olds division

with a time of 2 minutes and 4 seconds.

He had to go around the track once - a quarter mile.

Simon got 3rd in the 6 year olds division with a time of 4 minutes and 7 seconds. He had to go around the track twice - half a mile. And his crazy mother didn't insist on shoes so his flip-flops kept falling off.

We can't forget Talon. He didn't have a nap so he was EXHAUSTED!

My winning boys - they were so proud! I'm so proud!!