Say good-bye to the FUN BUS ...

I never in a million years thought that I would say "I'm going to miss that car!" I did not want to drive a mini-van.... EVER!! It took me several months to start liking that car, but we had some fun in it...piling 2 families in it and all getting out like a bunch of clowns in a vw bug! It was fun, but the lease is up and it's got to go.

Say HELLO to .....

SUZUKI XL7 .... I know, I said the same thing, "a suzuki"?? I've never even been IN a Suzuki, and actually didn't know they even made cars! It has the 3rd back seat and leather seats and of course dvd player (can't live w/o that now that we've had one)!! It will take some getting used to... the kids aren't used to opening up their own door, and have nearly dented up Calvin's car several times! I have to park away from everyone so that don't fling their door open and hit another car! I guess I'm a little spoiled as well, I actually have to open the hatch back...I can't just push a button anymore. :o( Anyway, Darin and Kevin, say goodbye to the FUN BUS!!

Had a FAB time at Disney...

Kaitlin, Rylee, Karlee and Kathryn

Colby would not get in the picture (imagine that!) The cars were running and were a bit loud and he freaked out and would not come near them!

Karlee and Rylee

Raining at Animal Kingdom...

We were lucky enough to go to Disney last weekend. Thank you Kari for inviting us to stay w/ you in that mansion of a house! For Christmas a friend from IA got to go to Olrando for like 12 nights w/ her extended family. They rented a 7 br house w/ 5 full bathrooms and a heated pool and hot tub in the back yard. It was huge!! We went to MGM the first day and Animal Kingdom the 2nd day. It was a good thing we brought our rain panchos ( the ones we spent like 40.00 on the first time we went to Disney) because it rained on us again.. down pour this time! We got our moneys worth out of those darn panchos.

It's a ZOO out there...

Our backyard looked like a petting zoo the past few days. The kids were out on the back porch practing their Heelys (what was Santa thinking!?!) and some ducks came up to the back fence. We had some bird seed so we put it in a bowl and they went crazy over it! I guess they went and told their friends because before we knew it, there were birds everywhere! A little later a momma and her babies showed up and Colby thought there were 'adorable'. Isn't he sweet! HA HA!!

HAPPY New YEAR

Joe and Laura Cabutto were in town visiting their family and invited us over for New years eve. We hung out there for awhile and then came home and did some fireworks and sparklers in our back yard and popped some bubbly at midnight ( sparkling apple cider). I think Colby was the only one that liked it... he said "we need to do that again!"

Fun in the Snow...

Oh my gosh!!! We had SNOW much fun at Seven Oaks in Boone! If you live in the area and have never been... you've GOT to go!! We went night snow tubing and it was a blast! The first picture below does not do the hills justice! There were 3 'runs' for tubers and they were over 1000 feet long and super fast! I mean loose your hat fast, and tears coming out of your eyes turning into icicles on your face fast! It was like 19 degrees out but we didn't care. Thanks Mindy for thinking of this great idea (even though I thought you were insane at the time). I really didn't think my kids would be able to hang in the cold weather, but they absolutely loved it! There was a lift that you hooked your tube to and it took you up the mountain (hill). Not bad for a little Iowa fun!

Rylee and Alison

Alison, Mindy and Ken

Colby, Rylee and Britton

Colby

We miss you GRAMMIE!

The funeral went well. A lot of people showed up to celebrate Leah May Fengel's life. She was quite the spunky lady, and we'll miss her alot! I got to see cousins and relatives that I have not seen in 8 plus years. All of the grandkids were pall bearers and it was quite an honor. We love you Gram!

Christmas Day...

Wow, I can't believe the Holdidays are already over! My parents got into town on the 24th around 900pm. We came back to the house and let the kids open up their presents from Grandma and Grandpa. They got some really cool stuff... Colby got an airhog (remote control helicopter) and a remote control surfer dude and Rylee got a cool baby that talks, Hannah Montana shirt and cd's (among some other things.... they are very spoiled by their Grandma!)

On Christmas morning we started all over again. We were having a great time, until we got that terrible phone call that everyone fears.... my Grandmother had passed away on Christmas Eve. It was quite a shock even though she was 93 years old. She has been in a nursing home for several years, but has been quite healthy. We decided that we would all go back to IA together the next day to attend the funeral. Since my parents had to cut their vacation short, we decided to go to the beach that afternoon! Wow, was it crowded! I could not believe how many people celebrate Christmas day by going to the beach!! That's just not right!! It was crazy!!