Hi Santa!

Alexis tells Santa about the Barbie she wants for Christmas. She said Santa wasn't scary anymore.

Nolen is in awe. This is the first time he has really seen Santa. Last year he was only a few days old when Santa held him. He just stared at Santa with his mouth open. It was really funny. The next day Santa visited our house and Nolen cried.

Happy Birthday Nolen & Mom!

Nolen turned 1 on December 19th. Here is his cake with a 4 wheeler on it.

Nolen dove right in and ate 2 pieces, one vanilla and the other chocolate. His hands were so slick from the icing, that he had trouble hanging onto his bottle.

We had Nolen's party today, which is my mom's (61st) birthday. I bought her a DQ ice cream cake. The ice cream went perfect with Nolen's cake.

One Year Ago

This was me one year ago today. This was taken the night before I entered the hospital. I was never so glad to get rid of the maternity clothes. I hope I never see them again. Yeah I really mean that. I'm done!

Welcome to our house Mr. Bald Eagle!

Last Sunday Pete noticed something eating on the deer carcass he threw out in the field. When he looked closer he realized it was a bald eagle. He grabbed the video camera and took some video of it eating and flying. It was real windy Sunday, so it had a hard time in the air. He then snapped these photos from the video. Today we noticed another eagle out there. This one seemed to have more white on its body.

I'm finished Christmas shopping & cards sent out!

I'm so happy that I'm done with my Christmas shopping! I was done early last year because I was VERY PREGNANT at this time. So this means that my little boy will soon be 1. He is turning 1 on Friday, which is hard to believe. It has been a rough year because Nolen has been a very fussy baby and doesn't like to sleep through the night. At times we have just had him cry himself to sleep because we could not comfort him. He is a totally different baby when he is outside or at other places. So most of you have not seen the real Nolen, but believe me when I say he is a fussy baby. I can't wait for the warm weather to come back and we can get outside. He absolutely loves the outdoors, gets that from his daddy. Don't get me wrong, we have had some good times. Nolen likes music and bounces up and down when he hears it, gets the music bug from his mom. Maybe piano lessons in his future. He runny nose has returned and I just hope he is not sick for his party on Saturday. Alexis was sick on her first and second birthdays. I was thinking about dragging the kids to Wal-Mart for a photo, but decided that we could probably get a good one here at the house in front of the tree. I got some precious photos that I don't think Wal-Mart could beat.

This was the last photo we snapped. Perfect! This was on our Christmas card this year. I did not place his hand on Alexis, he just put it there by himself. Just love it!

I thought Alexis smiled great here, then I realized she is getting ready to pull something off of the Christmas tree. See her hand in the back. Sneaky!

Nolen can look very handsome when he is not drooling or snotting all over the place. I bought this suit for him last year and guessed at the size he would be this year around Christmas. I guessed right and looks cute with a tie. Got the photo before he decided to try to eat the tie.

Day off due to weather?

Here is a photo I just took out my front door. Does the weather look bad enough to cancel schools? You wouldn't know it, but just a few hours ago the driveway was pure ice. We were running a little late this morning, but we did notice that it rained. When I got in the car with the kids, I noticed that it was all ice. I didn't even think about school being closed today. So I drive slowly into town to take the kids to day care, Pete calls when I'm a few blocks away and lets me know that schools have been canceled. WHAT!!! My phone contact was unable to get a hold of me because Pete was on the computer this morning. (Remember we have dial-up and this makes the line busy.) She did try me on the cell phone, but I couldn't hear it in my purse. So I left the kids at day care and decided it would be a nice day to wrap Christmas gifts and clean out the kids closet. It all worked out for the best. If I would have found out school was cancelled before I left the house, the kids would have spent the day with me.

So I just spent several hours cleaning out the kids closet and found a lot of winter clothes in my closet that I wasn't going to wear anymore. I'll make a trip to the Salvation Army to drop off my stuff on my way into town to get the kids. I also have a lot of stuff to throw out. With Christmas just a few weeks away, this is the perfect time to get rid of some stuff. And it's easier when the kids are not around to drag it all back out.

Female Christmas Gift Idea

So you have a female who is hard to buy for......let me introduce the latest greatest item. It does require some assembly, but a glue gun will do the trick. Oh, a few other other items are needed. Here is the photo, can you guess what these slippers are made from?

Don't you just love the Christmas wreath glued on!

So this photo should give you a good clue to what they are made of.

Slippers made from maxi pads! What a wonderful invention.

I went to my annual Christmas ornament party last night and the hostess made these for everyone there. We just about died laughing! And the funny thing about it all...they actually fit and keep the feet warm! Just get 2 maxi pads and hot glue them together and add a lovely Christmas pretty on the top. So easy and simple! I just had to pass this idea along. Happy Crafting!

Fun with black and white

Ok, I'm still alive! Just haven't had the time to do much blogging. We put up the Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving. Alexis was anxious to get it up and all the decorations that go in the living room. This year a few items had to be placed in different locations because Nolen is mobile and gets into everything. So we decided to get the kids dressed up and try to get a good photo of them instead of trying to get one done at Wal-Mart. After 10 minutes we were done and had a good variety of photos that we liked. I'll post the one we used on the Christmas card later, don't want to spoil it for those who will receive it in the mail. I love turning photos into black and white sometimes. Here are a couple of my favorites!

Nolen in the middle of a laugh. I just love it!

Alexis looking gorgeous with her long hair.

Nolen turns 11 months old

Nolen likes to get in the toy box now. One more month until the big 1!

Open Gym Night

They had an open gym night at Alexis' school Thursday night just for the kids her age. I figured the place would be packed, but either due to the cold weather or something else, they had a small group and Alexis had a blast. Sorry the photos are so small, but it was taking FOREVER to download these photos on my wonderful (not) dial up service.

Alexis practices her cleaning techniques.

Alexis jumping on the mini tramp while her buddy Hudson claps for her.

Balance is the name of the game.

We're All Healthy Now!

I know it's been a while since I've blogged, but I've been busy fighting the sick germs. I had strep last Saturday & Sunday and took Monday off of work. I finally got some strong drugs that helped me out. I hoping once the medicine is out that it doesn't come back. Nolen finally got over his runny nose and he seems like a new baby now. He is sleeping much better and is able to relax more. We took him off of the formula a few months ago. I know they want you to keep them on formula until they are 1, but he never seemed full.

We're out of school on Friday, due to deer day. Yes you read right, deer day. Since so many skip school for the first shot gut season, we have had this day off of school for a few years. Though next year I think they did away with this day off of school. Anyway it gives me a good Christmas shopping day. Only 4 days of school this week and a day and a half next week then Thanksgiving break! Alexis is ready to put up the Christmas decorations. I told her she had to wait until after Thanksgiving. She wanted to know what Thanksgiving was. I said it was when we go to Grandma's and eat WAY TOO MUCH FOOD. I thought about giving her the real story about the pilgrims and Indians, but decided to wait until next year when she might understand better.

I've been tagged by Jodi

So I guess I'm tagged and will play the game. Jodi tagged me on her blog the other day.

Here are the rules:

1. Post the rules on your blog.

2. Write 6 random things about yourself.

3. Tag someone at the end of your post (or however many you want)

4. If you are tagged, just do it and pass the tag along!

6 things....thinking......thinking.......still thinking.........I think my brain is fried from stress and being overworked.

1. I'm stressed out and overworked!

2. I like to listen to "Pink" real loud on my way to school. Why? Don't know, just helps me wake up I think.

3. I'm a neat freak.

4. I keep having dreams about still living in Herrin, Illinois. No I don't want to go back there to live, though it was close to Carbondale and Marion and the shopping was great there.

5. A crying baby doesn't bother me anymore, I'm immune to it now.

6. I really had to think a long time for #6. Chocolate is my friend!

Now for the tag.....I tag Heidi :)

SICK GERMS GO AWAY!!!!

We have all been sick here in the Seals household. I've had a sore throat off and on for 3 weeks. Pete and his mother have strep. Alexis has had a runny nose off and on. Nolen had a cough for two weeks, and now he has a nose that will not shut off. He doesn't sleep well because of the drainage down his throat. Pete took him to the Dr. today and they said his throat was a little red, but he doesn't have strep. When will the fussiness go away? Guess it's back to the Benadryl and nose syringe. I have parent/teacher conferences tomorrow night for three hours. I probably won't be able to talk after teaching all day. I'm ready for the light at the end of the tunnel. We need some relief soon. Anyone have any suggestions for a 10 1/2 month old with no fever and a nose that goes and goes?

Happy Halloween & Merry Christmas 2 Me!

Nolen was "Blue" from Blues Clues and Alexis was a cheerleader for Halloween trick or treating. I even taught Alexis a cheer to do for everyone, but when it came down to performing it, she froze.

I think the Christmas trees at Wal-Mart two days before Halloween confused Santa Claus. He brought my gift early. Maybe, I have just been that good! Anyway, here is the reason I haven't posted for a while. I'm trying to get used to my new laptop. I thought a lovely green color would be different. Trying to figure out PowerPoint at the moment. Alexis loves the Purble Place game that came with it. I'm glad to see a kids game pre-installed. Santa also left me a new microwave as well. Ask Pete how fun it was to install the new one. This is one with the vent out the top and is mounted to the wall above the stove. So on Christmas Day I won't be opening gifts, I'll just be enjoying the joy on my kids faces when they open their gifts.

My 2 Boys

Just thought it was so cute that Pete and Nolen were both dressed in green shirts and camo pants.

10 months old

Nolen turned 10 months old on the 19th. Won't be long and I'll be planning that very important first birthday party. Nolen would like to wish Emma a happy 1st birthday on Friday.

Halloween Party & My Busy Weekend

Our Halloween party last Saturday was a success! Everyone had a blast and of course we all ate too much. The weather was perfect also.

Alexis as a unicorn and Nolen as Blue from Blues Clues.

Avery and Brayden paint pumpkins.

The group photo of those who came dressed up. If anyone has a better photo, send it my way. It's hard to get everyone looking at the camera at the same time.

The kids enjoyed a scavenger hunt and their treasure at the end was glow stick necklaces. These came in handy to keep track of everyone once it became dark. Also came in handy to find one boy who wandered out into the corn field. Many went on the hay ride and had a wonderful time.

Pete's brother & family arrived from TX on Sunday. We cooked pork chops on the grill and ate too much again.

Monday was Columbus day and schools were closed. I did errands most of the day and took some clothes and baby items to a family in need. It feels so much better to give than to receive. We have been having some warm weather. I had to dig out some shorts that I had already packed away. That night we had a fish fry and ate too much again.

I'm starting to see a pattern here with eating too much.

Tuesday it was back to work. Pete left a message and said we were eating pizza with his brother's family before they returned to TX. MORE FOOD!!! I think I need my stomach pumped out. I'll just hit the gym tomorrow after school.

I just happened to look at the lunch menu for tomorrow. It's the first day for home made hot rolls at school. Ya I'll be eating them, then I'll go work out. I'm not stepping on the scales any time soon.

On a good note, Nolen slept through the night last night!. He slept from 10 until 6. I thought he was getting over his cough, but I think it might be coming back. His nose has been runny as well. He could be teething, but I'm not for sure.

What we have been up to lately!

We'll it has been real busy around here. We are getting things ready for a Halloween Party this Saturday. Alexis and Kelly helped me make treat bags for all the kids.

On Sunday Alexis got sick out of the blue while we were having lunch at the river with friends. Once she got it out of her system, she felt fine and decided to play. Then she got too close to a dog that was tied up and got bit on the hand. Luckily it wasn't a deep wound. Pete wasn't there because he works on Sundays. He said the dog should be shot. He'll have to travel to Chicago because that is were the dog actually lives.

Nolen has been having a bad cough and I decided after a very long night of him coughing, it was time to visit the Dr. I made the appointment for Tuesday afternoon. That morning I woke up with a red spot on my eye. The school nurse said it was a broken blood vessel that can be caused by straining like picking up heavy things. Hmmm picking up my chunky 9 month old may have done it. I really don't know what caused it. So as the day progressed Tuesday, I developed a really bad headache and knew it was going to turn into a migraine. I left work at noon, came home and took some migraine medicine and took a two hour nap. Then it was time to pick Nolen up for his appointment. Migraine was gone and I felt so much better. Nolen did a wonderful job at the Doctor's office. He was having a blast showing everyone that he could walk. Filled his prescription for some medicine, picked up Alexis, and headed home. What a day!!

On a totally different note. What is up with the squirrels in this town? I have almost killed two white squirrels in the last two mornings. They just seem to run at my car. Maybe my white car has something to do with it. Probably just the cooler weather and they are going "NUTS" looking for "NUTS". I did run over a gray squirrel a few weeks ago on main street. I slowed down and almost stopped completely and the stupid thing just ran at my wheel. At least he wasn't white. I know the squirrel count is taking place soon, I think the number of white ones has gone up. I saw a total of 3 just this morning while traveling through town. One was on the court house lawn. He was probably there filing a complaint about a white car hunting down his friends. Ha Ha!

No school for me on Friday, but we have a teacher's institute. Luckily it will be over at 1:30! No school on Monday either because of Columbus Day. I am looking forward to the long weekend and Halloween party. I think the weather is supposed to be nice. Photos of the party to come later! HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND!!!

Happy 34th Birthday Pete!

Pete turns 34 on Thursday, October 9th.

Happy birthday from your loving wife and kids!

FYI

Guess what season starts tomorrow?

Alexis has her bow and is ready for bow season.

Nolen is practicing for gun season (2017).

Look what I can do!

Nolen is walking! He can walk across a room without falling down now. He is really enjoying it as well.

Nolen can climb into his swing all by himself. He rocks the swing back and forth and loves the ride.

Alexis takes a sick day

Around 2 am Friday morning I hear coughing and something else I don't want to hear come from the kids room. My first thought was that Nolen was sick. I checked on him first and he was in deep sleep. As I look over at Alexis she is staring at me. "Alexis are you sick"? I didn't have to wait for an answer because I had just seen the wall and covers. YUCK! So Pete & I rip the covers off the bed and get her cleaned up. She goes and lays on our bed and before we had the bucket ready... yep it happened again! So now it is straight to the tub for her. We rip the covers off of our bed. After a bath she sat with Pete in the recliner. This time we had the bucket ready. Ok, third time is the charm. Luckily Pete has Fridays off, but was supposed to work on this one. Now he had a good excuse not to go in. She must have got everything out of her system because she was fine during the day on Friday.

Pete snapped this photo of Alexis taking a much needed nap on Friday.

Saturday after a bath, Alexis paints a pumpkin that she talked Pete into buying.

Happy 9 months Nolen! He is now taking a lot of steps by himself.

Ike left us in the dark!

What a weekend! Where do I start? Friday after school I had one of those yearly Dr. appointments that I'm glad is over until two more years. Went to a friend's surprise birthday party that night WITHOUT the kids. I needed the break. Thank you in-laws for watching them over night. On the way home from the party I about took out 5 cows that were standing in the road. Luckily one was brown because all the rest were black and very hard to see. I did get a good night sleep even though we didn't get back home until 1:00 in the morning. Saturday I washed some clothes and cleaned house. We went to a fish fry that evening. A friend of mine that I haven't seen for several years came to visit that night for a few hours. Sunday we went to my mother-in-laws church for Rally Day and a noon carry in meal. As soon as the garage door went down after I got home----The electricity went out. Great time for naps and I figured it would be back on when we woke up. Wrong! Maybe it will be on when Pete gets home at 5:00. Wrong! Maybe we better check on finding a generator because it has been off almost 6 and a half hours. So after a phone call to dad to borrow his generator, it comes back on just seconds after we get off the phone. Great I can now start the stove and start supper. 30 minutes later----The electricity went off again. So we ate supper by candle light and the kids just loved playing with the flashlights. The dishes are really piling up since I can't run the dishwasher and I refused to stand there in the dark and wash them. Alexis didn't want to sleep in the dark by herself, so she climbed in bed with me. I'm surprised she stayed in the bed because she tossed and turned all night. We're not for sure when the electric came back on, but I'm so glad the lights worked in the morning so I could see to get ready for work. After work I had to get a cavity filled. It has been a long time since I had a cavity filled. Sara I promise I will floss more often!

Pets On Parade

Tonight at Alexis's school they had a pet parade. There were lots of dogs, a few cats, turtles, hamsters, and one chinchilla. Since we don't have a pet, Alexis took her favorite stuffed pet.

Bentley and Alexis with their favorite stuffed pets.

Alexis thought that dogs wearing shirts were silly.

A nice soft chinchilla. Just how many does it take to make a coat?

Front Page News

This picture was featured on the front page of the Olney Daily Mail on Monday. Alexis is in the pink helmet on the far left with Pete behind her. I told her that having her photo on the front page was better than getting a trophy.

Busy Saturday

Alexis, Avery, and Brayden (in the background) participated in the Bicycle Classic. Avery raced in the first heat and Alexis raced in the second heat for the 4 year olds. For some reason, Alexis wrecked after she crossed the finish line. She was third in her heat and had to race again in the final. She over corrected her bike in the final and wrecked again. Pete ran to get her and asked her if she wanted to finish and she said yes. That's my girl! Finish no matter what happens.

Saturday evening we helped Haylee celebrate her birthday from August. From left to right: Aden, Brayden, Avery, Alexis, and Haylee. Were stuffed ourselves on cake and home made ice cream.

I'm not for sure what Danny was thinking, maybe practicing for next years bicycle classic. Ashley in the background was probably wondering if the bike was going to survive. The dog even looks stunned.

Nolen and his first girlfriend Emma. Emma is two months older, but Nolen is about twice as big. I thought this photo was just darling.

I'm Standing

Nolen can stand by himself for several seconds without falling down. He has tried taking a few steps. Won't be long and he will be chasing Alexis around the house.

Who needs toys when you can play with the laundry basket.

From the mouths of babes

Alexis surprises me all the time. I never know what will come out of her mouth next. The other day she came home from Pre-School with a piece of paper covered with stickers. She said, "Mommy I'm going to put this snowflake sticker outside for the sky to see so it will snow". She has mentioned that she is ready for snow several times lately. About a month ago she was looking for her snowsuit to put on. 90 degrees and she wants to wear a snowsuit! Questions she has had lately that stopped me in my tracks: What are meteors made up of? What is diarrhea? I think she has been watching too much tv. The meteor question was easy to answer, but how do you explain diarrhea to a 4 year old? I don't quite remember what I said, but she hasn't asked about it again. She also thinks the Easter bunny lives in her closet. The other day something fell in her closet and she thought it was the Easter bunny. I'm not for sure why she thinks the bunny lives in there, at least she doesn't think it's a ghost. I caught her tapping her teeth with a toy a few weeks ago and I asked her why she was doing that. She said she was trying to knock out her teeth so the tooth fairy would come. Several of her friends are losing their baby teeth and she wants to join them. She said the tooth fairy brought toys and I told her that the fairy only brought money. When I was young it was .50 a tooth. I now hear that it is up to several dollars. Maybe I can talk the tooth fairy into leaving 50 pennies so it seems like a lot. It will take longer to deposit all the pennies into her bank and she will enjoy that.

Stuck Baby

As I was in the middle of publishing my last blog I hear Nolen let out his hurt cry from the living room. This picture says it all. Ok I didn't let him suffer long, the camera was close and I just had to laugh as I took the picture. He even crawled a little bit while still in the basket.

What a deal!

Pete surprised Alexis with a new bike Friday evening. We were just going to replace the old tires on her bike, but found out it was cheaper to buy a whole new bike. Tires were $14 each and the tubes were $7 each. That would make it $42 and Pete found a brand new Princess bike at Pacific Cycle for $27. Can't beat that since Wal-Mart wanted $72 for one just like it.

Alexis seeing her bike for the first time. Pete had it hidden in the shed.

And away she goes! She is still using training wheels, but probably not for long because she catches on to everything so quickly. She had a wonderful week at Pre-School, but she can't tell me any of the other kids names. I think she sticks pretty close to her best friend Bentley during school.