Getting ready for the big performance!

Emmy and I have had so much fun this week getting ready for her big performance on Friday.  We had a rehearsal at the Belle Mehus where she enjoyed getting out there on stage.  She is so outgoing and is always running up to girls she has not met and introducing herself and asking if they'd like to be her friend.  She leads her group of girls out onto the stage and loves to do her moves.  Also this week she had pictures.  This photo is one I took prior to the photos they took professionally.  Emmy only needed one pose to nail her shot and she looked so darn cute.  I was so proud of her!  The photographer put her right down in front for the group shot.  I ended up buying a package of photos.  Friday all the grandparents and Robb and I will be watching our girl (in her less than 5 minute performance) at the Belle Mehus.  I hope she has fun.

Emmy's thanksgiving prayer

Emmy had the honor of giving the Thanksgiving prayer while we celebrated at the Eckerts'.  She did such a nice job until about 3/4 of the way through when she decided to take a huge bite of her bun and chew it while she finished up her prayer.  Bobby mostly ate pickles for Thanksgiving dinner and that is his new favorite word.  He can be on the floor, bawling and crying big tears and Robb will mention a pickle and the tantrum immediately ceases and Bobby will ask, "Pickle?"

Hanging our ornaments on our tree

 Emmy found the perfect spot where Bobby could not reach her ornament.  She placed her ornament right next to the one we picked out last year (Belle) and looks at it all the time with a big smile on her face.

Bobby failed to understand the concept of hanging the ornament on the tree vs playing with it and put up a protest.  You can see he is not happy leaving the ornament on the tree in the picture but what you can't see is how we had to chase him down to get the ornament away from him prior to its hanging.

Eckert kids pick out their ornaments

 Robb and I took the kids to pick out their own Christmas ornaments this year at the store. Emmy spent a LONG time choosing her favorite and several choices were made before she came to her final decision with the Barbie pink pop star princess ornament.  Bobby was happy with a tractor.  We may have spent more time at Hallmark looking at the Christmas items but dad does not have a lot of patience for Bobby's antics when he is in the store so we had to leave before the Christmas spirit evaded us.

Grandpa Sauter made a nativity scene for us

 I am sure that Grandpa Sauter is watching from Heaven when the kids enjoy the nativity scene he made for them.  We set it up in the office so that the kids can both share the office chair and have room to play with the nativity scene.  They are very careful and gentle with it.  Emmy is old enough to understand now the story of Jesus being born in the manger.  She told me the other day when looking at the mother Mary that that mommy reminded her of me ;)  Yes, that is right....I am an angel!  Emmy shares so nicely with Bobby when they play together and he is really pleased with himself when he is able to play by his cool big sister.  In this picture you cannot see the nativity scene but I wanted to capture the kids faces.

When dad is gone we miss him

Robb was on a hunting trip a few weeks ago and when he was on his way home again I had the kids send him a video expressing their concern for his safe travels home (this was right after a big snow storm had hit Bismarck).  Emmy had a stern warning for him not to bump into any rats or cactuses and Bobby was concerned as well (until he put Emmy's  headband over his head and then got mad about it).

Bobby loves to talk....and eat pickles.....and have Emmy put lip gloss on him

Mom may be too tired to update.....

There has been a lot going on recently at our house....but I am just too tired to catch up on blogging lately.  Robb had a major sinus surgery (3 hours) last week.  He has not recovered well and we are constantly trying to keep the kids away from him so he won't risk getting his nose bumped.  He has to go back to the Dr. to get the splints out of his nose this week but I'm not sure when I will get help bathing kids, changing Bobby's diapers or taking them to/from daycare.  I have had much help from our parents in the past week (thank goodness)!  Last night I got no sleep at all between getting up to check on Bobby and Emmy running into my room at 4 a.m. yelling that she had a fever and cough (she had neither by the way).  This late night, early morning wake ups from Emmy is getting to be a habit.  Emmy woke me up two nights ago by tweaking my nose.  I woke up pretty frightened but had to regain my composure quickly as I didn't want to scare her (even though I was VERY scared).  Last weekend she woke me up about 6 every morning but I actually didn't mind because I let her crawl into bed (Robb was downstairs sleeping on the recliner) with me for a  cuddle-session.  My favorite times during the weekend are when Emmy and Bobby both want to cuddle up with me.  I want to make sure I am always available for cuddles since I know that 10 years from now I will be wishing for them! 

Emmy did tell me the other day after watching a commercial for make up that I should get some of that make up so I could be beautiful like those ladies.  When I asked her if that meant they were much prettier than me she thought about it and told me....."No, mommy, you are much more beautifuller"  This is in contrast to something she had told me earlier that week when out of nowhere (in fact, I think I was helping her go potty and she was sitting on the toilet) she told me that she is "much prettier than me and although I am pretty I could never be as pretty as she is." She has picked out all of the presents she wants from Santa and even though it is too early for it, I have started using Santa to get Emmy to be on her best behavior!

Bobby is now talking in 2-3 word sentences.  He is so cute with his inflection.  His sayings are exactly as Robb and I talk.  For example he now answers, "Yep" instead of yes and I've noticed that I often do this too.  He also says, "Cooool!"  The favorite thing for me that he does now though is skip and dance around the living room saying, "Go Bobby, Go Bobby, Go Bobby Go!"  He chants this while skipping, running circles with a big smile on his face.  I just love that little pumpkin.  He and I have become really good buddies (especially since Dad is no longer someone to wrestle with and won't be for a while).

Snow = Sledding!

Robb was so excited yesterday to take the kids outside to play in the snow and go sledding.  He had bought them each a sled but as I watched them it looked like they preferred to ride together.  Poor Bobby got a little pulled down by momentum as Robb led them around the driveway and over some snowbanks.  They looked so cute out there in their snow suits.  It gets really dark after work and it was very cold outside so they only played for a half hour but they came in with rosy cheeks and smiles on their faces.  Robb is such an awesome dad!  He is always finding ways to create fun for the kids.

Trick or Treat!

 After work today I quickly got the kids fed and dressed up so I could take them out Trick or Treating.  Bobby was supposed to be a Garden Gnome but he refused to wear the hat and beard so he ended up just looking like a strangely dressed little boy.  Emmy was Ariel for daycare and then Minnie Mouse for trick or treating.  Emmy remembered the process from last year and so her and Mason were ready for the trick or treating.  Bobby didn't really go last year since he was just a baby so this year was his first real experience.  He told me many times that he was having fun and he was very selective of the treats he gathered at people's houses.  He always chose the biggest treat and with some prompting from me he would say "dae doo" which was his version of "Thank you!"  Emmy was so funny to watch because she would try to sneak (much to my embarrassment) extra treats while Bobby was taking his time choosing one.  She also would ask to pet any animal she could see from the doorway and then wish the people "Happy Halloween!"  It was cold so I pulled the kids in the wagon for the last few houses and Bobby was so bundled up that you really couldn't see his outfit.  We made a special stop at Aunt Toni's house and she spoiled the kids with outfits and candy.  The kids also had fun at daycare today as they got to wear costumes and get candy there as well.  Bob's 2T costume barely fit him and the ladies who watch him during the day reminded me again that he is biggest sized kid in the classroom.  Our Bobby is a brute!  He is a sturdy little man....and I love every pound of him.

Once we were home the kids enjoyed passing out treats (not as much as their dad does though I think).  Robb keeps track of how many kids come to our house (as he has every year) and never seems to want to call it a night and turn out the lights.  Both Bobby and Emmy passed out treats and wished people Happy Halloween.  Emmy tried to give most people large handfuls of candy and she told us her philosophy was the bigger the person, the more candy they should get.  Robb told her it probably should be the opposite as we had several Jr high and high school aged kids come to our house.  Emmy admired some costumes (especially the princesses) and made sure to give compliments out.  It was such a fun night for the kids.  Emmy told me later while we were saying prayers that she had a great Halloween this year and that she "loved, loved, loved being part of our family."  This warms my heart ;)

Brrrrr! It's getting cold outside

Here is a pic of Bobby all bundled up for the cold weather.  It is getting really cold outside now but the kids still love to play with their winter gear on.