Keira Dances

While Aunt Lisa was holding Keira, she decided to bust out some of her moves. She was such a happy little bean.

Christmas...Take 5... Indiana

Today was the last hurrah for Christmas. We all packed into Bill's parents van and drove down to Bill's aunt's house for Christmas dinner and once again.... More presents :) Max and Megan enjoyed playing with their cousin Chris. He brought his Wii, so we were all taking our turns playing some Guitar Hero and challenging ourselves with the sports games. This has been a great holiday season; spending time with family and friends. The best part is when you can sit back and relax and know that Santa made the kids happy and that you can already start planning for next year ;)

Look who is walking...

Connor has started to walk. He is stringing at least 8-10 steps together before falling on his buns.. He is so proud when he does it too. Look out animals, here comes Connor!

Christmas... Take 4.. The Grandparents

After we finally sorted out what Santa had brought everyone, it was time to clean up and get dinner cooking for Mingma and Papa. We had the annual feast of turkey and all the fixin's. Then it was time to open MORE presents.. Where are we going to put all this stuff?????
We hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!!

Christmas...Take 3... The real deal! Santa!!!!

The sounds of little feet and hands rumbling through packages was being heard down the hallway. Then we would hear, that's mine or I think I have more. Luckily it was at least after 8 am. By 10 a.m. most everything was opened and children were scattered in their respective rooms playing with new toys that Santa brought. I think Megan's favorite gift was from Mommy and Daddy, a brand new cell phone. Who would have ever thought that it was a necessity for an 8 year old girl to have a cell phone. Boy have times changed! I think I was 18. :) Max is enjoying playing with his new Transformers figures, watching some new movies and trying to take everything his sister got. The twins however are currently sleeping and havent opened everything yet. They really like the paper and the bows so far the most.

Christmas...Take 2... Christmas Eve Day

Today was the traditional Christmas Eve Day gift exchange with Heidi's extended family. All the kids get together and play and the grown ups sit around and eat, flap their yaps and eat some more. Once again the kids get drowned in presents and are slowly running out of places to put things. I think Santa can skip this house this year :)

Christmas... Take 1

Tonight we did Christmas at Heidi's folks' house and the kids have already made out like bandits. Does Santa really still need to come? :) Megan was in heaven; she finally got some Webkinz (pets you grow and play with on the computer). Max got some Transformers toys and a snowball maker/thrower. The twins were just happy to be held, fed and to eat the occasional piece of wrapping paper. There were grandkids playing all over the place. Amarii really likes playing with Bill, provoking bouts of jealousy from Princess Keira.

Max's Christmas Program

Today, we had Max's Christmas program. They sang about 7 songs, enjoyed some yummy snacks, and had yet another visit from Santa Claus. Santa read from his big book of "Good Little Boys and Girls," told everyone what they wanted, and asked what else they might want. It was cute seeing Max and all of his classmates up there singing their songs. From what I hear, Max has a thing for the little red headed girlie in the black and white dress. :)

Max Sings

Keira claps for her big sis

After Megan's school finished up their last song, Keira got into the excitement and clapped for her big sis and all the other fellow OLH'ers.

Keira Claps for Megan

Megan's Christmas Program

Tonight we had Megan's Christmas Program at the school. Each grade sang a couple of songs and the whole school sang a few as a whole too. It was a very nice presentation and each class did extremely well. You can also tell from this video that Megan had her hair all chopped off a couple of days ago. We cut off about 6 or so inches off the back. I figured she is getting old enough to make her own decisions on her hair, and it is her head. Daddy about had a fit :)

Megan Sings

Let's ride!

Today the kids got to have breakfast with Santa again, this time at the Moose lodge. They each took turns sitting on his lap and are enjoying the presents he gave to each one of them.

Max got a portable air hockey table, the twins got a little baby toy and Megan got a superb piece of Chinese engineering. According to the box, her bead necklace making machine has "lamplight beautiful melodies." Check out this gentle, soothing girlie music:

Megan's new toy

Likely it's to distract from the elevated lead levels. :)

Yellow Belt Test

Bill and Megan both had their Yellow Belt tests today for Tae Kwon Do and both successfully passed with flying colors.

Look who has a case of the standies

Connor has been getting bolder and bolder each day with his efforts towards walking. He will stand there all day long, and will even turn around, but no steps yet. If he wants to beat Megan in walking first in this family, he better step it up in the next week or so. He will probably be jogging by the time Mingma and Pawpaw get back from visiting Kate :)

St. Nicholas Day visit

The patron saint of children and sailors visited the other night bringing gifts for all. Megan and Max got some oranges, apples, The Nativity Story DVD, Spiderman cartoon DVD and some snow brick making thingies. The twins got some Gerber Puffs and some babyfood :)

Holiday Craft Fair/Breakfast with Santa

This weekend at church was the annual Craft fair and breakfast with Santa. Megan and Mingma signed up for a booth and were selling doll clothes, bracelets and many little miscellaneous items. Megan had a great time selling things and talking to all the customers. I popped in from time to time to check on them, while I was monitoring the crafters.
After breakfast, all the kiddies hopped up on Santa's lap and told him of all the toys they wanted.

Putting up the Christmas tree

We got motivated early this year and actually got the tree up right after Thanksgiving.

Random baby shots

Random baby shots

Here are some shots that have been taken lately.

Merry Christmas to Us!

We got an early Christmas present from Heidi's mom.
Since it has become difficult to visit friends or family without taking over their house with all 15 of our kids, we started looking at pop-up campers. Luckily one of my mom's friends was selling this camper in terrific shape. It may be older, but it is just what we need to visit the grandparents. It sleeps six, has heat and electric and keps us dry and off the ground. I think it will be fun getting out and about with it.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Ok... So I am a litle late posting this, I have been a bit busy lately with all the holidays coming up. I dont know where the time has gone or is going :) We spent the day with Heidi's family enjoying the many turkeys, ham, and roast beast.
The babies were enjoying the time, being held by random family members and eating whatever they would put in their mouth.

Happy 3rd Birthday Claire!!!! and ??? to Katie!!

We all wish you both a very Happy Birthday!! We wish we could be there to celebrate it with you. We love you!!

Elf Time

Well since Kate posted her girls doing the elf shuffle, I thought I would post mine doing the same dance and have some fun in the mean time.

Kiddies

Kitties

Welcome Baby Leah!!

Bill's cousin Beth and family welcomed a new addition to their family today.
Leah Ruth Williby. She was born at 12:15 p.m. and weighed in at 7 pounds 6 ounces and 21 inches long. We can't wait to see pictures. Congratulations Beth and Greg and of course the two big brothers Adam and Josh!!

Keira and Connor Pics

We just got the twins' six month pictures back. We also brought their costumes along for some fun shots.

Megan's School Pic

We just got Megan's school pictures in, and I think they look very good. She seemed very happy with them too! She definitely is growing up. In a couple of years, Bill will have to start sitting on the porch with a shotgun!

Halloween at the Park District

Every year we go to the Park District for their Halloween festivities. They usually have games, hayrides, moonwalks, and a haunted maze. The evening ends with a costume contest. Megan showed up about 10 minutes before the contest; she was out trick or treating again with Sofie, one of her friends from school.

This year, the twins took first place for their age category in the costume contest and Megan also took first for hers. Max was a little disapointed that he didn't win anything for his. We took him to McDonalds afterwards and he got a happy meal, nobody else. He was all better after that. :)

Park District Halloween

Candy Candy and more Candy

Max and Megan both had their school Halloween parties today. They both actually got to wear their costumes, too. I spent all day yesterday making cupcakes for both of their classes. I have seen enough orange frosting for one year! I can't believe how much candy these children brought home, either. Max's class went over to the retirement home and they loaded all the little kids up. Megan brought home a bunch from her class, too. If anyone needs or wants candy, you know where to find us!! Keira loves sorting all the candy out. Once I get some pics of Megan's party from school, I will post them. Here is a pic of the pumpkin Max made at school.

Keira sorts candy

Pumpkin Decorating

We finally found some time to carve our pumpkins. This was the first night in like 2 weeks that we were all home and had nothing going on.
We spread out the sheets and the big kiddies picked their patterns out of the books. Daddy cut the tops off, Max and Megan cleaned out the guts and seeds, Mommy scraped the insides down and Connor and Keira slept. :)
Megan picked Dr. Death, Max chose Mr. Peepers, and Bill picked an angry pumpkin face.

Trick or Treating, take 2

Our local mall, Gurnee Mills, was doing trick or treating on Sunday night. We knew we already needed to go out there to pick up a few things, so we costumed the kiddies again, and off we went. We brought along Megan's friend Haley to join us. A lot of people thought the twins were either two cows or they looked like puppies. I guess I should have unleashed Connor and let him gallop around.