Cousins Christmas 2010

Cousins Christmas has become an annual tradition, but this was mine and Kelly's first year attending. Usually, we have a hard time getting back due to travel, etc., but this year we got to experience the joy of just being together - no presents (except hostess presents and favors) - just time together. Jon had to travel to Colorado for a game with his team and he asked, "You traveled 8 hours round trip just to eat breakfast?" I answered, "You bet I did, and I loved it!"

The kids were superb. The girls and I stayed with the Fritz's, and we had a blast. Guthrey, Heather and I worked and cooked and talked in the kitchen and we never heard one thing from the 4 musketeers downstairs. Heather realized at 10:00 that we hadn't put them to bed yet!

Together, all of us made hash brown casserole, breakfast pizza, ebleskiver stuffed pancakes, quiche, monkey bread, mini buttercream cupcakes and cake! (and orange-banana gingerale punch). Fantastico!

I love this tradition because I love my family. No one has cousins like I do. They are my best friends who know my life, my loves, and my dreams, and I know theirs. I am blessed to know and love them and to be known and loved by them. I hope not to miss another one...

Giddy Up!

As simple as these costumes look - it took us 5 weeks of looking to find boots and a cowboy hat. The plan was for simple and cheap. The reality? Not so simple and not so cheap. The outcome? Adorable matching cowgirls who were comfortable and can wear those darling boots many more times!

We drove to the best candy-giving neighborhood in town (as did the rest of the town)...met an Iowa State fan (of course!) and heard oohs and ahhs of "so cute" and "matching cowgirls!" from house to house.

They were so proud as they strutted from house to house. They never missed a thank you once...

The chill got to Jon and I, but the girls never complained about the cold or even put on their jackets!

Caitlin kept her sister close by, and they saw lots of decorations and cute costumes from other kids along the way.

Macy kept to her routine: all business-like and serious, she held up her bucket and shouted, "Take You!" (thank you) and then walked way, realized she had forgotten to say "Trick or Treat!" and would turn around after they'd shut the door and yelled, "Tick o Teet!" Jon and I got the biggest kick out of it! Caitlin informed her she was messing up the order, and Macy would respond with "Otay," but never changed anyway!

Jon outlasted us all...he kept wanting to go down more streets, but the girls and I were ready to go home (and eat supper!)

Now I realize why Jon wanted us to keep going...

The cowgirl costumes were definitely cute, but I stressed and stressed over finding those darn hats (8 stores, 2 cities, and I finally found them at the Tractor Supply store). I would've liked more dazzle to costumes that took me so long!!! Next year - we've already purchased them, so I'm done!

Cheer Camp

Saturday consisted of:
Caitlin's soccer game
Caitlin's cheer camp
Lunch
Caitlin cheering at the USM football game
Football game
Supper
Dad's alumni game

We left after the 3rd quarter of the soccer game - which was quite a game - Caitlin got her groove back for this one: 7 goals in 3 quarters! So, we were okay with leaving at this point. We raced home, changed, and brought Caitlin to cheer camp.

She got to be in her babysitter's group, which made it so much fun! They even straightened her hair and put a little make up on her! Flash forward 12 years!!!

She really got into it. They did a dance and a cheer and she was really movin'! She rocked it!

The most important thing with this busy day is that she had a blast! Watching her, so did we!

A Day at the Pumpkin Patch

While Jon recruited, the girls and I went to the Pumpkin Patch today. As the driver of our horse drawn carriage said, "Don't rush! We'll wait for ya! You rush all week long, but here at the farm-relax! Take your time! You've got all week to rush; slow down and enjoy it here." And that, we did...

Batter Up! (and cookin')

This past weekend, Grandma and Grandpa Bishop came up. We enjoyed a soccer game, a football game, and on Sunday...a baseball game!

We easily could have counted it as a cardio workout because we played for just under 2 hours. At first, we only had 3 people playing - Grandma, Caitlin and Mom, but we brought up Grandpa from the minors and that made it even.

Caitlin started sliding into every base after hitting it over the retaining wall, and Grandpa raced Grandma to the bag and held nothing back (he did help her off the ground afterwards, though). :)

While we played, Macy made...rock cupcakes. She fielded a ball or two, but her love was "making" rock cupcakes. Every once in awhile, we took a break from the game when Macy yelled, "Cupcakes ready!" She only sold chocolate, and we paid with leaves. She was a very good sales lady.

It was a great weekend with lots of sports involved. Would you have guessed any different? The one we left out? Basketball - Dad had that one covered though. Sadly, he missed the game because of basketball practice. We'll catch him for the next double header!

One of a Kind...

I walked out of our bedroom last night from working on the computer and found Macy dressed like this on a mission. Notice she came up with the "outfit" all on her own. This type of thing is not uncommon for Macy to do. The other day, she was digging through the silverware drawer and found a pacifier, and Jon walked into the kitchen to find her with it in her mouth on her back, naked, knees pulled up going, "Wa Wa Wa," because she was playing baby as she told Jon.

Here is what our little Macy is up to in her later months of age 2:

• says, "Sissy, you my bet fend" (best friend)


• loves panties, but sometimes gets a little preoccupied to remember the toilet


• screws up pronouns with the best of them ("Her took that out of my hand")


• asks us about our day every night at the dinner table, and always asks interested by saying, "uh huh...hmmm...oh..." It cracks Jon up.


• sleeps with her sister until she falls asleep


• can still throw a 2year old fit


• loves to talk about toots


• likes pet shops, polly pockets and barbies


• loves iCarly, Chipmunks the Squeakquel, and Diego still


• screams with the highest pitch you could ever imagine


• loves cake, ice cream and cookies


• still has not broken the 25 lb barrier


• is a stellar rock wall climber at the park, but still won't brave the big slide


• is more daring than her sister


• says "I miss you," to dad every night when he gets home


• wants to play soccer like her sissy


• gets mad when she doesn't win a running race (which is by FAR her favorite thing to do and she NEVER tires)


• loves Maggie, Grandpa's dog


• when we ask her how her day was, she says, "I didn't get in time out!"


• loves her pink blanket and pink puppy


• can't go to bed without a book read to her first


• likes her sister to read to her


• misses her cousin, Talia
  

This is what was in her bucket. After I put her to bed, I found 3 more containers (a basket, purse, and coloring book holder) full of mini toys that she had gathered and filled these containers with...bless her little heart

The Pictures Don't Do It Justice (except for the grilled pizzas)...

Two weekends ago, we went to Iowa. Several people were coming (Aunt and Uncle Kelly and Brian and Cousin Talia, Grandma Phyllis, Aunt Ann, Cousin Emily and boyfriend, Terry, Aunt and Uncle Mary and David, Grandma and Grandpa Engstrom) and we all gathered at Grandma Dawn's! (Lucky her)! The weekend started with Grandma Phyllis...and I wish I'd gotten pictures because, as she kept saying, and I quote, "I just can't believe this!" Macy went from my arms to hers right after we got out of the car. They went inside and Macy sat and cuddled in her lap for a good 30 minutes. She leaned her head on her chest and looked content as could be. Grandma Phyllis was thrilled. I was so glad they got to see each other.

On Saturday, Grandma Tootie and the girls played Balloon Alphabet and Grandma kept cracking up at the girls! (Although, later, when Caitlin made her play school, I thought she had a lot more fun as she kept laughing at Caitlin's strict teacher instructions)!

David and Mary were the Grill King and Queen! We had grilled bacon wrapped shrimp, wings, and grilled Make Your Pizzas! David let Caitlin join in the fun! It was kind of a downer that our tailgaiting had to be moved to my mom's garage b/c of the rain - but it worked wonderfully for the kiddos! Plenty of toys and people to entertain!

Macy was busy following her sister and Talia, but Kelly was able to get her to snuggle every once in awhile. Macy is very hard to track down when she's on a mission, but Kelly made a point to snuggle and I'm glad she got a few cuddles in!

The girls nestled in for a movie, Tinkerbell, although it didn't last. I didn't really care, I was just so happy the girls got to see each other. I looked (and still do) forward to every moment with my cousins and sister and I had a TOTAL BLAST growing up with these little get togethers. On our drive to Iowa, I talked to quite a few people and said, "I just couldn't let the opportunity for cousins to see each other pass by...I don't want them to only see each other twice a year." They had such a good time and I know Talia did, too. She was so well behaved and fun! Such a cutie, she even was calling Caitlin, "Sissy," by the end of the weekend!