Happy New Years!

Happy New Year! We are hopeful that 2010 will be better than 2009.
Even though a lot of great things happened in 2009, it had it's bad moments. We had to say good bye to another grandparent of Jeremy's...very tough to deal with yet we are so happy that the kids got to know their great grandpa. He was a great man and meant a lot to all of us. We had to deal with a 25% paycut...tough for any household but esp since we are a single income household. We made it thru it, made sacrafices where we needed to and did what was best for our family. One could even say we may have ended up in a better place...Jeremy got a new job that he LOVES! He loved his old job, but as the company grew it made changes. We also made it thru job cuts.
But there was plenty of good too. If you have time I suggest going to the beginning of the year and just looking at the pictures...oh how they have changed...like they have hair! So here is a brief year in review:
January
*1st ER visit with Zach; 3 stitches
February
*1st attempt at potty training
*1st time at Papa's farm
*Turning 2 year old...welcome the terrible two's!
March
*1st grocery trip with just me and the kids
*1st buzz cut for Zach
*1st time for piggy tails for Liz...finally enough hair
April
*2nd attempt at potty training
*1st Easter egg hunt
*1st buzz for Alex
*1st haircut/bangs for Liz
*1st ponytail for Liz....even more hair
May
*no more cribs or pack n plays
*no more sippy cups
*no more plastic utensils
*1st veggie garden
June
*no more nuks
*no more bedrails
*1st time participating in a parade
*got their big sandbox
July
*1st swim classes for Liz
*1st big pool
*Move into big kid beds
*1st trip to the zoo
*3rd attempt at potty training
August
*Liz is potty trained
September
*Staycation rather than a vacation
*1st day f daycare/school
October
*Final NICU checkup
*1st pumpkins & decorating them
*no more bibs
November
*Alex is potty trained
December
*1st time baking with mommy
*1st time brewing with daddy
*no more highchairs
*Zach is potty trained....NO MORE DIAPERS!
We have said good bye to a lot of items that attach us to the baby world....the biggest being daipers. Potty training is probably the toughest thing we have had to deal with so far. We did not want to push and cause problems, but going at their pace was sometimes frustrating to say the least. We ended the diaper era with 3 diapers...lol. We are still dealing with pull-ups at night. These kids have made us so proud in every milestone they reach and how they deal with them. They know their manners. They have a vocabulary that some days shocks me and reminds me of how far we have come. They are growing up to be three amazing people.
So we add saying good bye to 2009 to the list. Here's to a great 2010!
Love, Jen

Brewin with Daddy

Jeremy finally got to brew the beer kit we gave him for his birthday, which is great. But was even better is him having the kids help him. They were pretty excited about it and I think he was pretty exicted to share his hobby with them. Here are some pictures from the brewing.
First daddy gets out all the supplies so the kids can see them...
After the future homebrewers helped pour the grains daddy got it ready to add the water...

Everythign that Jeremy had them help with, they all got to help...here is Alex on his turn holding the grain bag while daddy pours the water...

After a quick change into jammies, then it was time to stir...here is Liz with her turn...

Then before the kids went to bed they poured in the hops...here is Zach enjoying his turn.

What a great way to spend the new year. A social life would be great but these moments are priceless.

Happy New Year!

A day with Nana and Papa

Nana and Papa came to visit for the day. The kids had a blast with them here. I decided to try putting a video on for the first time, but it did not work. Everyone had fun! Thanks to Nana and Papa for coming to visit, we enjoyed having you here. Check back for the video...I am bound and determine to get it on here as the pictures don't do justice.

Goofy Kids

The kids have been on a serious toy overload and are just plain goofy...here are some of the pictures I have gotten of the craziness...
Zach sporting some shades with his new Thomas shirt and undies!!!
Liz being the diva she is...

We knew the ball pit would not last long...the top has been disassembles into parts but it is still giving the kids a lot of fun...here is Zach playing around with two parts...

Alex trying out the very top part as a hula hoop...

Liz being crazy...

Dressed up in her new light up tutu and crown...she's a princess...

The reason why the ball pit is in pieces now...

Liz helping do laundry...what doesn't everyone need a tiara to do laundry?!?!?

Christmas in Montfort

Saturday morning we packed up and headed out of town to Montfort to celebrate Christmas with Jeremy's family. We got a later start than we wanted (not shocking as I had to pack and the kids were still dealing with toy overload as well as routine just being off). Due to being late we needed to stop for lunch, but Alex fell asleep before getting to food so we tried to eat lunch on the go...it went pretty well. We also had to make a potty break for our now no diapers kids...yes that is right I got the greatest present...3 kids out of diapers...Zach decided he would give potty training a whirl. Public potties are suppose to be scary but all three kids went...so proud am I!!! Anyways, we got to Nana and Papa with a little nap under our belts but needed more. Jeanne, Brent and the girls came over and the kids loved seeing them. Tonight was another long night for the kids but they did well. It was close to 11 again before they were asleep. And yes once again they were spoiled. Sunday we headed home after lunch. We had a great time and thank you Nana and Papa for all the presents, great food and time together as well and Jeanne, Brent and girls. Here are the pictures from the celebration.
Mackenzie and Alexander reading...
Morgan and Elizabeth reading...

Madalyn and Zachary reading...

Zach showing off his new slippers...

Alex showing me his new dinosaur...

Nana cuddling with Zach in his new blanket from her...

Liz being...well Liz...

Zach opening his new camera (yes we will be exchanging the first set...it happens)...the thing is the kids LOVE them...gee I wonder why...

Alex opening his new jammies and jacket...

Liz opening her new baby...she is super excited...

We tried for a good picture with Nana and Papa, but Alex wanted nothing to do with it and the best picture I got has Zach taking a picture of me...

Liz showing Daddy one of her new puppies...

The girls showing the kids how to play a fishing game...they did pretty well at it...

Merry Christmas!!!

Merry Christmas to all! Today is a day that we have to ourselves as a family. In fact the kids and I did not get out of our jammies until Grandma invited us to come eat supper at their place...had we stayed home I am pretty sure we would have stayed in them all day...it felt great. Brought back memories of my childhood...even though Santa always came ot our house on Christmas Eve...getting up Christmas morning was exciting to play with the new toys and such...anyways I was pretty pumped for Christmas this year...the kids understand more and they really get into their toys and have some things they really like. They were spoiled by us as well thanks to rummage sale and Craigslist. Anyways, here our the pictures from our exciting morning/day.
Alex's reaction as he came into the living room where Santa left the kids presents...
Mommy and the kids...

Alex trying out the new drum while holding on to his new giraffe and new Thomas DVD...

Liz patiently waiting for more...

Group gift...

Daddy did some shopping on his own so mommy was as surprised as the kids...42 piece tool set...

This is what three 42 piece sets looks like...

Daddy also got them some nail pouches...to freakin cute!

Liz with the tool belt from the tool set...

Zach showing daddy what all fit into the tool belt...

Zach enjoying the ball pit

Liz and Alex trying out the train table with some track mommy laid down...

Christmas with the Turners

Today started out with me taking the cats and dog to the vet (nice Christmas present, eh?) then after naps a rush to get ready and head to my parent's. There is always more food then we need and you eat WAY too much...anyways we ate and the kids play as we waited for Auntie Jackie to arrive...unfortunately the weather was not the greatest so it took her a little longer to get here. We had to keep the kids occupied as we were pushing them past their bedtime. Thankfully, she did arrive safely. The kids had a blast opening presents...they helped everyone they could. They were extremely spoiled, but that is what grandparents are for, right??? They did a great job as we did not leave until 10. It was 11 before they were actually in their bed and asleep...it was then that I had to wrap their presents for the morning...it was a long night. Here are the pictures from the Turner celebrations. Thank you again to my sisters and parents for all the gifts, great food and wonderful time together. Love you all!
We were the first to arrive so we took some pictures...Zach was bribed to keep his sweater on until we got to the house but then forced him to keep it on just a bit longer...
A nice family picture...been a while since we had a nice one...

Grandma & Grandpa with the kids...two seconds after this picture was taken Zach sweater was off...

Zach and Uncle Willie sharing some fake food...like there was not enough real food...

Auntie Jean being a tickle monster...

Liz reading to Grandpa...I'm not sure he is listening...

Wrestling match before presents...

Um, Zach it is upside down...

Alex trying out his camera...

CHEESE!!!

So it starts already...these kids will soon be doing blogs of their own...

On your mark, get set, go!

Zach checking out what Liz opened...

Zach seeing what Alex opened...

Alexis in her fairy dressup clothes...