Tuesday, December 31, 2013

What are you doing New Years? New Year's Eve?

This year for New Year's Eve, we went over to play at Ryan and Amy's.  
And I learned a few things about Jacob.  A. He HATES being out after dark.  He screamed his head off the whole way there.  B. He will only sleep at home.  And that's with my boob by his head most of the night, a couple hours nap on me, then we might get lucky about 11 for him to sleep in his own bed.  Still, in spite of his terrible mood, we still managed to have a good evening. 


Laughter through tears is his favorite emotion.


Grandma brought Noisemakers.  
Chris and Sam fought over green ones, and blew them until my head was ready to explode, then blew them some more.  Sam's disintegrated before we even left the house. 


We rang in the New Year together.  
Eric spent the afternoon driving up to see Karl's new baby.  We missed Karl and Erica, but that's ok, because of anyone not being there, they had what I determine to be the only Legitimate excuse.  Baby Cole is the very Best of Reasons. :) Then we hung out and watched Superman - Man of Steel which was pretty good, but there was way too much fighting and blowing stuff up.  I was surprised that I didn't miss Christopher Reeve as much as I thought I would.  I will say though, at one point, I left the room for 15 minutes to calm Jake down, and when I returned, they were still fighting, the plot had not advanced at all.  Ugh.  Anyway, after the movie, we tuned into Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest (whew that's a lot to say) and I have decided I'm not cool.  Miley Cyrus annoys me.  And I don't like hardly any of the music that's cool.  At least I recognized a few of the tunes, but that's really only because Glee has done them. We filled our cups up with some sparkling moscato wine, and Toasted the New Year! 


Happy New Year one and all! 


My mother in law was hysterical.  She and Aunt Teri were cracking me up.  Some of us didn't take noisemakers, so she was blowing 3 of them with the boys.  It was hysterical.  Not just a case of too much wine, it was legitimately hysterical.   


Silly horn blowers one and all.  Jeremiah was upset by the horns, though I think he's not much of a late night person either.  


But he wasn't in as bad a mood as Jake and I, but maybe next time, we'll just have our own grumpy grinchy party and go to bed at 9.  Still, by the end of the evening, even with a monster headache, and a giant fusspot (or 2), I could still rustle up a smile and laugh spending time with my loved ones.  
They are a fun and funny bunch.   
It's been a rough year,  a big blend of Good and Bad, literally in Sickness and in Health, and I wouldn't want to spend the end of it with anyone else.  

The newest family member

Welcome to the world Cole Alan Willman. 


Our newest nephew was born yesterday December 30th, weighing 6 pounds, 4 ounces, and 20 inches long.
And he's Beautiful. 
And Perfect.  
And I am so Thankful.


I had Therapy up in Zionsville last night, while Erica was laboring, so I told Karl I'd swing by with some sandwiches afterwards.  I remembering being in hospital, and Eric rarely remembered to eat until he was starving.  We have always been so Thankful when people bring food to us.  I also couldn't wait to see them...if I happened to be there when the baby was born ok.  But I only had a minimum amount of time away from Jacob, I wasn't bringing him in, and he is still on antibiotics, he has no business in a hospital.  I Lucked Out!  Cole Alan was born an hour and a half before I arrived.  They were still in the labor/delivery room, recovering, and hadn't quite been moved to a room yet.  They were giving Cole a bath when I arrived, getting him all spruced up and clean.  His little head was so fuzzy.   He was Perfect.  From head to toe - perfect, beautiful and healthy.  Praise God. 


And Erica - Well, I just have to say, she looked fabulous!  I have NEVER seen someone look so beautiful after giving birth.  She was smiling, happy, and frankly, it was just downright rude to look so good after giving birth.  They even had her get up to go to the bathroom.  You know, it occurred to me on the way home, after 3 c-sections, I've never sat in the room I gave birth for a while (it's always been an OR), nor have I hopped up to go to the bathroom without bringing a bazillion cords along for the ride...I haven't been able to walk for hours, that's what surgery and a spinal will do to you.  Duh.  But she was doing so well, I couldn't believe it.  They had her pack up and get ready to move.  


Karl came over to check on Cole, just chillin' on the warmer (actually not chilly at all, quite toasty). 
I love this pic of him, totally sums up his pride and joy at Baby Cole. 


He's so pretty. 
I hate to say that about a boy.  But he is.  
He also looks a lot like Erica. He's totally got her nose and eyes.  
He got a little fussy, and made a face that I've seen on my boys, a pouty lip.  Oh yeah, he's a Willman.



And once Erica got in a chair, they brought her over too. 


Then they gave Baby Cole to Erica. 
And we had a happy family of 3. 
I didn't use flash very much, because babies hate it, and the light was low in the room. 




Mama and her sweetboy. 


But he's such a sweetie. 
Ah yes, the furrowed brow, just like my boys.  


I did get to take a turn holding him, and asked Karl to get a picture of me.  
But it focused on the door.  Oh well.  

Baby  - still cute.  He kept sticking his little tongue out.  
I tried to get a picture but couldn't.  
Eric said he drank an ounce of formula before I got there, he's not going to be a 6 pounder for long!


Today during naptime, Eric went up to the hospital to meet his newest nephew.  
We decided the boys could wait to meet him, we didn't want him to catch anything. 
When Eric arrived, Karl said, we just fed him, and you just missed me changing my first diaper. ;) 
He was precious, and pooped in his pants for Uncle Eric.  
He told Karl, "Well, it's about time for the second." 
Being an Aunt (or Uncle) rocks.  Poopy diapers or none.  
I can't wait to give my newest nephew lots of loving and spoilage again very soon!

Sunday, December 29, 2013

For the Dawgs

It's another good morning for blogging.  Something to be said for being inside with a sick kid, lots of blog progress, so maybe I'll finally get all caught up. ;)  Occasionally, for Christmas, Santa will bring us tickets.  Sometimes, it's a show.  Sometimes it's a Butler Basketball game.  We used to have Season Tickets, but since having children, we're lucky if we can make it to one game a year.  We didn't make it last year...for obvious reasons.  And we missed it.  So when the opportunity came up over Christmas break for us to take 2 tickets off our friend's hands, we had to snatch it up.  However, rather than just Eric and I go to the Basketball game on a date, we decided to go as a Family.  We got 2 more tickets and all went, but first Mommy had to have a little mini-dawgs photo session.


My little Butler Bulldogs. :) 



We actually got some pretty good parking, down by the carillon.  


This was Jacob's first visit inside Hinkle Fieldhouse for a basketball game.  
We'd been there for Homecoming football game this past fall, but this was Baby's first basketball game. 
And it couldn't have been a prettier day for it.  Bright and sunny.  
And using his new carrier made the trip So Much Easier!  


Baby watches his Bulldogs play basketball. He watches, just like everyone else, as one of the players, I'm afraid to say I forgot which one, takes a foul shot. 


The first half of the game, Christopher and Jacob and I sat down in the nice lower bench seats that were our free tickets, which Daddy and Sam took the upper section.  We snacked on things that I'd brought: dry fruit and cracker packs that had been stocking stuffers at Oma and Opa's.  At halftime, Daddy brought Sam over, and held some sweetboys while we listened to the band play.  During halftime, an older gentleman came up to us, we were just standing there laughing and being silly, and he stopped to admire the boys.  He thought they were very cute and sweet, which was true.  And at that particular moment, anyway.   He dug into his pockets and pulled out a 50 cent piece, a Kennedy half dollar, and gave it to Chris.  Then he pulled out more, one each for Sam and Jake.  My mind was blown.  I couldn't believe an old man was giving my kids money just for being sweet.  I suppose there was a lesson in that, about good behavior gaining more rewards than just money, but I was so flabbergasted, I couldn't say much except have the boys say Thank You.  That guy was so sweet.  
After the break, Chris and Daddy went back up to their seats, and Sam and Jake and I stayed put.  


Sam had a great time snacking, too, he was pretty hungry, and playing with each other. 
Jacob held on like a champ, he didn't start getting tired or snippy until 2 minutes before the end of the game.  


We won! 
As the game ended, I commenced to load Jacob back up in his carrier.  I'm so happy he likes it! 
The kids got their little basketballs out of the back of the carrier, so that they could go down to the court and play.  Only, there were guards on the court.  They wouldn't let the kids go play.  Chris started to get really upset.  The guard said they couldn't play because it was a double header, and the Women's team was coming right out.  What a bummer!  It was naptime for Mama and Jake, so we had to hit the road. 


But on our way out, we stopped for some pictures with old Hinkle Bulldog. 
The elder boys are big enough to climb up and sit on his back now.


Jacob wasn't going to fit up there, so Mommy went over with him on her back to pose with the big boys, and Daddy snapped this picture of Mommy with all her little bulldogs. ;) 


Then we started to mosey back to the car.   
They have since built a grassy knoll in the years since we attended Butler.  So we let the kids take their balls and run around and throw them a bit.  They weren't in danger of getting hit by cars or anything, and they had a great time!  I do so love the Butler campus.  The sports, the music, everything about it makes me smile.  It reminds me of the old days when Eric and I were students and just starting our relationship.  But it's also been a part of my whole life.  My parents used to bring us down there to play.  Now I get to bring my sweetboys down there to play too.  Can't wait until spring, we'll go for a picnic or something! 

Saturday, December 28, 2013

The new nativity


Some of the characters have changed, the Reason for the Season is still true. 


Jesus! 

Happy Holidays

We were Blessed to have a wonderfully Merry Christmas even though Jake and I were sick.  Turns out it was a Very Bookcase Christmas!  The big boys couldn't wait to rip into Everything.


I got Eric a bookcase, it was still in the garage, because I found I couldn't lift it from its hiding place alone, let alone put it together.  But Santa brought a couple bookcases all put together.  And I was so excited that he didn't even see it hiding by the lawn mower - perks of having hiding holidays in near winter.  But Santa put together a couple of bookcases.  They all look great in the piano room, and we'll be making huge progress towards getting the last of the boxes off the floor. 


The boys dug right into their piles.  
They weren't even going to wait for Jake and I to get comfortable.  
Hard to capture a moving target.


Chris is excited about Santa bringing him winter crocs.  He'd been trying to wear his crocs to karate even in the cold...then complaining about his cold feet. Duh.  But these nice toasty crocs will keep their bare feet warm while we run them back and forth to things.  Also, there were jibbitz in each.  There was a Flash jibbit in Chris's. And a Green Lantern one in Sam's.  Just Perfect! 


This is a great age for the baby to celebrate the holidays.   
He was more interested in the paper than the presents.  But he was intrigued just enough to help open. 


Santa put flashlight keychains in the boys stockings.  They loved them. 
Chris's was blue, and Sam's green.  
They love when they receive gifts in their favorite colors.  


A water bottle topper for Jacob. 
Soon enough, he'll be ready for drinking water from a bottle, definitely by this spring/summer. 
"Medicinal wine from a teaspoon..."


Santa brought legos for sweetboys too.  A bin of miscellaneous duplos for Sam, and regulars for Chris.  
The duplos had a green top - that made Sam happy. 


The boys play with their stocking stuffers. 
Well, Jake plays with paper.  


What is this?!  
New shoelaces!  Glow in the dark green, so much fun for his regular shoes. 


Christopher gets a great look at his new train car. 
Santa brought a The Flash car for his train. ;)  The Flash symbol was painted on the outside, and if you looked inside the door, there was an actual sticker of the Flash inside the car.  Sam got a Green Lantern one too, but I didn't get any pics of him.  But it was painted and has stickers in the same style.  The boys were stoke, and Daddy was quite proud, I'm pretty proud too! 


I went to a baby shower last month, and was introduced to Mo Willems. I had never read any of his books, but this one about Elephant and Pig being in a book was one I picked out for Jacob at Sam's preschool book sale.  Chris immediately grabbed it, and started reading.  


All the boys were thoroughly enchanted.  I think we've found a new author to love! 


Another gift for Jacob from Santa, baby's first box of Cheerios!  
We'll be trying those very soon!
I think Jacob may have been more interested in the box than what's inside. 


Jacob got the boys a new present, bowls with straws in the side.  
He got Sam green bowls, and blue ones for Christopher.  (seeing a common theme this year?) 
Sam doesn't usually have milk with his cereal, but perhaps this will help him be so inclined, thus get a little more bulk into his diet.  Chris usually doesn't drink the end, because he doesn't like the mess. But his friend Max had these bowls in Wisconsin last year, and he told us he wanted them then.  When Max's grandma moved to town this year, the first thing Chris asked was if she brought her bowls with her. ;) 
Jake knew all this. ;) 


Sam helps Chris open the present he picked out.  


In case you can't tell, it's a football. 
Football? Football? What's a Football?


Jake picked out this toy, and wanted it opened up.  It's from Uncle Karl and Aunt Erica from yesterday's Christmas with the Willman clan, that he couldn't make it to, since he was still feeling puny.  But he feels good enough to make some noise with this fun musical toy.  




The boys can't wait to get reading their new stories! 


Even Jacob! 


Jacob found the little red flashlight in his stocking, and since he really didn't know what to do with it, he tried to eat it.  Not exactly what he's supposed to do, but hey, if he's having fun with new toys, whatever?!


Daddy had to heave his Christmas presents!  


The boys wanted to get him beer.  So he received a very nice holiday pack of Samuel Adams. 
His new favorite is the Cherry Chocolate Bock. 


Look what Sam made for us!  
It's beautiful. He made the wrapping paper, and inside was a book about Jesus that he made at school.  



Of course, we needed to read it right away. 


Jacob shows Daddy his music cube. 


Mommy's big present to Daddy - new running shoes.  
He was surprised!  Oh yeah, I had a temporary part time job to afford them, but that's another story. 
Jacob was not a fan. 


Mommy got some treats for the boys loaded on my ipad.  
I bought Sam's favorite song, Good Morning by Mandisa
And Minecraft for Chris.  But he has no idea how to play it, and neither do I.  

We spent the rest of the morning playing with our presents. 
I love how we spend our mornings on Christmas now, just at home with ourselves.  Eric and I cracked into some new brand of coffee with a new coffee maker than Santa brought.  It was low key, just our own crazy kids, who wanted nothing more than chocolate and honey flakey biscuit egg sandwiches.  OK. 

After lunch and naps, the elder boys headed down to my Dad's for Christmas.  
Jake and I were too sick to attend. He is a coughing snotty mess. Now I've got it too, I have a bit of a cough and a sore throat.  I hope Jake is getting on the upswing, he seemed a little more snotty than coughy, but every he insists on sleeping on my chest all the time, and every time I cough I wake him.  But at my Dad's, the boys were more than sufficiently spoiled, and they brought home an entire meat pie for us amongst other goodies.  Instead of 1 day of unpacking, and putting away, like Boxing day, it will take us Days because our family has been so generous.  Thank You! 


While the big boys were at my Dad's, Jake and I celebrated that he also turned 8 months old on Christmas day!  I can't believe my baby is growing so fast! 


It was a quiet holiday at home, but we are Blessed.  We know Jesus birthday is the reason for the season, and we are so happy that we get to share this day with our loved ones.