Merry Christmas!

We hope you all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

This one's for you, Jen

Hi everyone! Yes, its been forever. Yes, we're alive. I'm just posting to say "hi" to everyone who checks for updates every day even though I haven't updated for like months now (Hi Jen!).

I'm way behind, but to give you a sneak peak on our life: last school year ended, and this one started. Michael goes to preschool for 3 hrs/day, Eric is in 2nd grade. Kate and I try to enjoy some girl time while they're gone. Jim is in-between jobs - on purpose. He has a new job he starts next week working for Kaiser Permanente, but quit working at the hospital early to have a week off at home.

The kids and I spent almost a month in CA and had a great time - the boys took swimming lessons, we hunted for leprechauns, Kate learned all about ice cream and sleeping in her own bed all night long, and Jim joined us and the rest of my family for a nice camping trip/reunion. Eric turned 7. He almost lost a tooth in a sandwich on the way home from CA, but luckily it was still barely in his mouth and we pulled it out on the plane. Michael played T-ball for his first organized sport, after watching Eric play for all these years and being sad that he was not old enough to play. He really liked practice but not the games (they're boring). Kate is walking (and running away from me after she grabs trash out of the trash can and wants to eat it - true story).

That is the last 6 months of our life in a nutshell. I'll be back to blog more, sometime. Until then, send me an email or give me a call and we'll talk!

-L

Tooth #2, Gone!

February 27, 2009

It finally came out! This tooth has been bothering Eric for quite a while. It was SO CLOSE for forever. Finally, one AM before school, I was able to yank it out. The pre-pull was tramatic for Eric. He knew that last time it hurt a little, so he didn't want to pull another one. If you look close, you can see the tears in his eyes still. But, its out.For the record, this tooth is sitting right next to the first one, still not left under the pillow for the tooth fairy. Eric still has a hard time letting go of things. That's fine.

A Crust of Bread

Kate has been screaming at us while we eat, wanting food. So, Feb 23, 2009 we gave her a crust of bread. Here she is, enjoying:
Sad that it fell out of her hands. Not the best picture lighting, but I LOVE the look on her face! So sad! So adorable!Happy again! Look mom, no hands!And thus it begins - the feeding of the baby, solid foods. (Not really, that didn't truly happen until April.) But, she did like a crust of bread!

Valentines Day!

This year we had a fun Valentine's Day. I made a special dinner, complete with red juice and plates, and new plastic cups...nothing says fun more than food and decorations that are the color of the holiday, right? Well, at least the boys think so. Oh, and the red crepe paper decorations too. As I was decorating, it made me remember last year when we decorated their room with hearts and TP while they were sleeping, and even got caught doing it. (For a picture, go back to Feb. 08 in the blog if you want to.) Jim was working Valentine's eve, so I put paper hearts on the boys' door and in the dining room area. I think they liked it.

Here is our dessert, with a heart shaped brownie stacked like a cake in the middle of little round brownies. Yes, I even put strawberries on top. The powdered sugar attacked as I was trying to lightly dust it on top, but it tasted good.
Eric seemed to really catch on to the idea this year. He spent quite some time making valentine's - which ended up being just one valentine. I will show 1/3 of it here. Notice directions on how to open. Also, see "do not trash"! He was making the valentine and asked me "If I put a trash can with an x on it, does that mean don't throw it away?" I wasn't sure at the time, I just figured he was connecting real-life things and making his own idea for clarification. Well, that's what he put on the Valentine. Good thinking!Michael was allowed to attend (because I was helping) Eric's 1st grade party. He was so happy to be able to be a part of the party, and even have an ice cream sundae. (see picture of Eric posted earlier in the random pictures post) He also made a valentine or two, mostly drawing and then cutting up the paper. Sorry to have no pictures of them.

Jim was home on Valentine's Day, and that was enough to make it nice for me! Happy Valentine's everyone!

Going for a ride!

February 12, 2009

It was time to try out daddy's new bike. Fresh from the shop. The boys all got on their bikes an went for a ride. Here are a few pics:

Michael. (Turn! see, if you move your body to the side, you will turn!) Eric

There they go!

Jim, going down our (steep) driveway. Bike color = blue. Thats all that mattered to the kids, was that daddy got a blue bike. Jim knew all the other specific features he wanted in his new birthday bike.

You must remember, children, always wear a helmet! Jim got one with some ventilation in the top - not for any hair to wave through, but for the air to cool off his bald head.

The boys were way excited to have daddy go on a ride with them. And, Jim seems to really like his new bike - even if its used on the street with the kids instead of on a mountain trail.

Running for Mayor

Here's a little story about my political activities:

The "main road" right outside our street, where it ends and hits another road (a road which has 2 names, by the way)...that intersection is very very dark. The "main road" is Link Rd, and it intersects with C&S - or Marksheffel - depending on if you're going to turn left or right. So, that intersection, it's scary. You can know for sure that the intersection is there and still be in danger.

Coming home from "town", driving on C&S, planning to turn right onto Link...you can flat-out miss it! Or, since you know its coming up, you slow down and drive way slow for a mile! Not to mention the fact that if you're coming the other way from driving on Marksheffel you come out of a turn in the road and truly drive past Link, not knowing you've missed it. Or, the fact that if you're on Link your headlights are the only think alerting other drivers that the street is where you are at the moment.

I called the city. Can we put a light up? I was ready to go see people, fill out a petition or something involved like that. Well...I left a message and when it was reterned a week later, I was told to call guy #2. Called guy #2, who told me I needed to call guy #3. Guy #3 was my man, and I explained to him I wanted a light at the intersection. Do I live in the house there? No. I just drive that way often, and think it would be safer to have a light there. He'll check into it and get back with me. Great!

Not even a few hours later he got back with me! Yes, they have power there so it could go up. Yes, his boss said it would be ok. When? He can't make a promise, but sometime within a few months. Not even a month later, Feb. 9th, this is what I see:

My light!

Next on the agenda? Maybe I'm going to run for mayor!

Jim's Birthday!

2/8/09
Jim turned 31, which makes him officially an OLD MAN! ha ha ha Ask him, he'll admit to being old. We had a fun dinner with his parents, who came down to help us celebrate. Jim requested angel food cake with frosting on it, his usual birthday cake. Here is Grandpa, with the traditional birthday torch!
Here is Grandma, the woman who waited and waited and waited for years, and then gave birth to Jim and still loves him after all these years!I think Jim had a pretty good party this year, he got some sweet presents! This one had him a little confused, but Grandma sure got a laugh out of it - and so did the boys. They thought it was hilarious! Too bad the picture doesn't show it better. It is a popsicle stick with a marshmallow on either end...the only way Grandma could wrap up an olympic-sized weight bar without it being too obvious. Pretty clever!
Here is the real deal after it was brought out of hiding.The boys and I gave Jim catalogs so he could look through them and find "the perfect bike". It came with the financial backing to go and buy one. I actually went and was going to buy one for him and surprise him, but went to one store and the salesman actually told me to go somewhere else if I wanted a good bike! So, after visiting a few stores and being surprised by sticker shock and by how many variables there were in buying a "real" bike, I decided to let him choose it out himself.
Happy Birthday, Jim! And here's to at least another 31 more!

Reading Glasses

Eric had been saying "my eyes are blurry" for a while, so at the beginning of February I finally decided that since we had eye insurance I'd take him to the eye Dr. Between Jim and I, the kids are doomed to need glasses of one kind or another. Either that, or because Jim is blind from reading out, and I'm good until I read (and even then I'm ok if its not for a long time) - maybe because we're opposites the kids will be just fine?

Well, the trip to the eye Dr. was interesting - I could tell Eric wanted glasses because he kept saying "I can't see it" to things that I'm sure he could. The Dr. even said to him "I can tell you're a smart kid, so I'm going to talk to you like an adult. If you need glasses you're going to get them. But, you have to tell me the truth. You're probably getting glasses, so don't worry. If you need them you'll get them. But, tell me what you can see and what is blurry so we get you the right ones" After that we got better results!

His prescription is so low that you can't even buy him glasses at wal-mart or wherever off the shelf. A week or so (and some of Jim's hard-earned money) later, they were ready. I was glad they came in as fast as they did - Eric kept asking me if they had called yet! He seemed to think he was really cool with his glasses on, and knows to be careful with them! Here he is reading.

Eric really is a big reader, he loves to read! He will stay up for hours in bed, when I think he's asleep, and he'll be reading to finish a book! Last summer he was so excited about the summer reading program - he finished the entire program in just a couple weeks because he kept reading and reading to get it done! Good for Eric! May he forever enjoy reading (and never loose those glasses!)

Random Pictures

Here are a few random pictures.

1/26/09

The next few were 2/4/092/8/09

Thanks Riley and Jill for the ADORABLE outfit! 2/11/09

To proove that I exist...

2/14/09

Eric's Valentine's Day ice cream party at school.

Give a kid a camera...

Jan. 24, 2009

Give a kid a camera and this is what you get! I was planning to get a few pictures of the lady in a different location than before (her chair she sits in while we shower), while the boys were supposed to be getting in the tub...and we ended up with both cameras and even a battery change...here is a taste of what happened.

Michael being funny with batteries.

One of the boys took this picture of me.

Can you see how much fun Eric's having?

Kate, making a funny face.Michael, happy to be allowed to even touch the camera!Kate, looking up at her brothers lovingly. CUTE!Another boy-taken picture. They thought it was pretty cool!Eric, having his turn at battery fun.Happy Girl! (Kate)

Happy Boy! (Eric)This picture is for Jenny - her shirt says "Does this diaper make my butt look big?" Thanks for the funny clothes, Jen!

Remember that time...

Tired girl (Kate).Michael, finally getting in the tub for his bath.

Kate, 3 Months

Here are some pictures taken mid-January of Kate, 3 months old. She is so cute, sometimes I can hardly stand it. Don't you just want to kiss those cheeks?

This is a funny one! But, look at those pretty blue eyes!Jim thinks its mean, but I've been trying to get a picture of her sad face. It is so adorable, and sad! Her little lower lip does the perfect curl-up thing, it breaks your heart and makes you take pity on her! This picture is pretty close to "the look"...and, for the record, I did pick her up!

Awards Ceremony and Lunch With Dad

Eris was given 3 awards at the school awards ceremony in January. Good job, buddy!Sometimes Jim's work schedule makes it so that he doesn't see Eric for a few days: Jim is sleeping when Eric goes to school in the AM, and then Jim doesn't get home from work until after midnight. So, the solution - go eat lunch with Eric at school. Eric never knows when daddy is coming, but he is always really happy. January 14, 2009 we all went to school for a family lunch.See how happy he is! Eat fast, there's not much time!

Playing Games!

Grandpa's funeral brought us together, so we had a little fun. We O'Neils always seem to have a new, funny, game to play. Eric must be an O'Neil to the bone - he always wants to play a game, and this was his big chance! Here are a few pictures of the fun!

Eric, eating all the chocolate he can until his turn is up.

Michael, with help!MeganJadePapi and Eric, sucking M&M's into their bowls.Papi, Chris, and Eric watching the "bear hunt" and other action games.Michael and Maddie, going on a bear hunt.Michael's first self-portrait!

It was good to see everyone again. When is the next O'Neil reunion?