Since we've been gone!

It's been a couple weeks but we have had such a fun filled November!!!

First off we went to Kalahari!! It was an amazing time! There are so many things to do there for the family and we as a family enjoyed every minute. The kids were able to swim, play in the arcade, the dry Tree Top playland and every day there was cookie decorating. The food we ordered to the room was so yummy and reasonably priced. Ellie and Jack both did good sleeping away from home too. Except the morning we were all up at 5:30! We went for two nights and would highly recommend it to everyone.

Thanksgiving was next on our list of our time off of work. We celebrated with the Trebisky family at Beth's house. We ate so many yummy things! Grandma Carol's sweet potatoes were FABULOUS! And everyone loved Uncle Matt's turkey! Ellie and Jack enjoyed their first pumpkin pies and both loved it! Well - Jack loves everything about food. It was so nice to spend time with family taking pictures, talking about the upcoming Holiday and just enjoying each others company. We then went to visit Grandma Mare and Pa Pa! Boy the kids love playing the piano there! Jack loves to clap when he is done "playing." Both kids are growing up so fast. Jack is now walking and trying to run everywhere! He was at the doctor's last week and is close to 26 pounds! WOW!! Close to his big sister! Ellie loves learning - especially about the holidays. We talked about Thanksgiving and she now knows about pilgrims, indians, the food....well there are two turkeys. The alive one we call a "turkey bird" and the one we serve is "the turkey we eat." Don't want to scare her!!

Our week closed out with some Mommy & Daddy time out!! We got a baby sitter and went out shopping all night for Black Friday! What a good time we had! We got tons of good deals at the stores and although we waited in line for an hour and a half at Toys R Us it will be well worth it on Christmas morning to see the kids enjoying their gifts. We also went out for Matthew's 40th birthday! I had such a good time going out with the adults that I can't wait to go out again! The Faiman and Trebisky families have such a good time together! Happy 40th Matt!!! Hope you had a good time!!!

Well it's off to finish stockings, shopping, baking and all the fun stuff that is left to do!! Hope everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving and I can't wait to update about Christmastime!!

The PARTY!!!!!

What a BLAST we had!!! Jack had his first birthday party this weekend at Brecksville Rec Center! We want to send a big THANK YOU to Uncle Andy and Aunt Linda for getting us the room! It was absolutely perfect.

Jack (and Ellie...and Mommy) all were under the weather this past week and it was a tough week to get through but the preparations and dealing with the colds was all worth it in the end.

The party started with some good eats from Stancatos and Antonios! After we ate we had the kids take turns with the pinata. Yes, we used Grandma Mare's cane to hold it up and Ellie's play golf club to whack at it. It was a success!! The kids sure LOVED the candy after Dave ripped it open. We then sang to Jack who wasn't interested in his cake - but later I found Ellie sticking her fingers in his smash cake. We bought the cake from Giant Eagle and the lady there did a fabulous job following the sports theme.

Jack received so many wonderful gifts. We are truly blessed with all the friends and family we have. We thank everyone for the love that was shared at his party ;o)

I have to get back to things now......we are at Kalahari.....which I will update on soon!!!!!!

The Big ONE!!!

Jack is finally one! I no longer have a toddler and a baby - I have two VERY active toddlers!! Jack is getting better and better walking every day. He is a very daring little guy. He loves to play and get into trouble - especially in his big sister's room. It's so fun to watch them interact. Last night in the bathtub Ellie kept pouring water over Jack's head and he laughed and would splash her back. I can't wait to see them play together at Kalahari next week!

We gave Jack a cupcake on his birthday - even though his party is still a week away we just had to practice! Dave blew out his candle and Jack cried!! I hope he doesn't react that way next week!!! It will probably be a little overwhelming for him to see all these people singing and smiling at him but I'm sure Ellie will LOVE to help him out! I took the picture below after he settled down and realized what he was missing!!!

I thank God every day for my two blessings Dave and I are very, very lucky to have two such wonderful kids!!!