Crib Bedding...

We made the all important purchase of crib bedding today. How exciting! We also looked at cribs and nursery furniture, of course the one set we like is the most popular and like Molly advised, will take 12-16 weeks to order. So we are going to look a couple more places this week and then get ordering. The crib bedding we ended up buying was one I picked out awhile ago and thought was too expensive, but in person it was way nicer than the other choice I had made. We are both happy with what we picked out though!

The Final Christmas Gift...

So we got a last minute Christmas gift this weekend from Ed and Sue that I forgot to mention in the last post. Ed and I are proud owners of 4 playoff Packer tickets for the weekend of January 12/13!!!! Neither of us have been to Lambeau Field ever. So this will be our first time, and we get to do it together. Initially I wasn't going to attend and was going to let Ed take whoever he wanted, since it will be freezing, and I am pregnant so I wouldn't be much fun, but after much discussion we have decided I have to go. This may be my only opportunity, might be the last time to see Brett Favre, etc.. And with a baby coming who knows if we will ever be able to get away for something this awesome for a long time. We are sooooo..... excited. We received many wonderful gifts, but this was the most unexpected, most exciting one ever. We haven't decided who will be attending the game with us yet, maybe we will scalp them and get rich quick!!

Christmas Week 2007...

Well, where do I start? I think we will begin with Saturday December 22, the first Christmas celebration of the week. It all began at our house celebrating Christmas with the Knutson family (Dad, Julie, Amanda and Mitchell, and us of course) We got together about 2pm, had some appetizers, then gifts of course and then a nice ham dinner. Then we all had to head to bowling. I think we all got what was on our list, Mitchell got the one Xbox 360 game he has been waiting and waiting for, and he didn't even have to wait until the 25th. Oh, Amanda and Mitchell also found out that they are going to be an Aunt and Uncle! YIPEE!!! It is so nice to actually talk about it now, I can write all about it in the blog now, watch out everyone. Might get a little old, too bad though! So after a decent night of bowling we came home early because we had a Sunday full of family and gifts too. The morning of the 23rd we headed over to Ed and Sue's house to celebrate with the immediate Smith Family. Didn't take long for Molly to hear the news she had been waiting for, she can now be the Aunt spoiling her niece/nephew. It sure was/is fun spoiling Kieran, but now we will have one of our own to think about too! So we spent the day opening gifts, couldn't wait too long for that, watching the Packer game (the one they lost to the Bears :( ) and feasting on some prime rib and other yummy fattening things. The weather on Sunday was rather crappy, windy, snowy and cold, so Blayne and Molly ended up spending an extra night so we all hung out and played games and what not. Then Monday brough Xmas Eve, which was rather uneventful, I had to work so i napped in the afternoon, and Ed went to my aunt and uncles house for a few hours and then to Ed and Sue's for some dinner and quality time.

Tuesday morning when I got home from work we headed to Lyndon Station to spend the night and celebrated Christmas with the Blodgett's and my Mom and Bill. I attempted to sleep a bit when we got there having had worked all night, then we had some appetizers, gifts and then dinner. I was really tired after all the food and what not so I napped again, the rest watched a movie and to bed early it was for most of us. Wednesday morning we had breakfast and the rest of the Blodgett family headed home, and we had Christmas with Mom and Bill, got many nice things, had some lunch and then headed home. Ed had bowling and I ended up working because they were short handed and worked out a deal to give me off Friday night.

So Thursday I slept as I had to work again, Ed relaxed, did a bit of pick up around the house and what not, and back to work I went. Friday Ed and I both worked a few hours, but I didn't have to work all night. So Saturday morning it was off to Illinois!

Saturday December 29th we headed to Moline IL to see the entire Smith family and share the good news! We have created the 12th Great Grandchild for Ed and Jan!! How exciting, and possibly Ed Smith IV, won't find out until July though??? So we spend the afternoon with all the family, had sloppy joe's, lots of appetizers and cookies, then pizza for dinner, Kieran went swimming for the first time with Blayne, all the Smith babies from 2007 were together for the first time, in matching attire. Molly's mom made the cutest onesies for all of them and Molly got them all matching pants, they were adorable, I am waiting for mine, for the baby of course!! Then some of the guys went gambling on the boats, most of us headed home for some much needed rest, I did at least. Sunday morning it was back on the road to Cedar Rapids for the final Christmas of 2007. After Ed loaded up some much appreciated tools and toys from Papa Ed we were back on the highway in a nice little SUV caravan to visit the Farleys for Christmas. Grandma Carol came home to her house for some lunch and family time. We again feasted on some unneeded extra calories to finish out 2007, opened gifts, and visited with everyone. Carol and Dick are happy to have the family grow with another baby, as long as it wasn't another dog Carol stated!! When late afternoon rolled around and the Packers won, we were back on the road home. Was a good thing we left when we did because mother nature is blessing us with some new snow as we speak, hopefully not too much! So in a nut shell, our Christmas was wonderful! We tried to see as much family and friends as humanly possible when you have as many as we do. We received everything on our Xmas list and hope we fulfilled many others wishes too. We are blessed to have a baby on the way and hope everyone else is as excited as we are. Normally I would have spent more time on each Christmas description, but I got a bit behind this past week. Sorry this post is neverending.

Happy New Year to all! Check back soon for baby updates!!

There are many more pictures in the Picture Album, too many to post!

Gizmo and Tolulah...

We took a trip over the the Smith's tonight to let the dogs play and drop off some christmas gifts. We decided to let Tolulah open one of her gifts so she can get some use out of it before the holidays are over. You can also watch how the two of them play together, should be interesting when we add Peaches into the mix this weekend. Fun times. You can also tell that this is the girl that Sue never had, the dog has bling on her collar, a leopard print bed, a pink blanket for when she lays on the couch, the list goes on!!

Someone is opening the presents...

One day over the weekend Ed noticed that a rather large gift that is under our Christmas tree has started to be opened? Keep in mind there have been gifts under our tree for several weeks now, even wrapped dog treats and human treats, and of all gifts Gizmo decides to open, it is the biggest one, that isn't for him, that will take the most paper to re-wrap. What a silly dog!

Friday night with the ladies...

So Friday afternoon Casey arrived home...Yeah!!!!!! She came home for Ashley's Graduation and I think to see some family for the holidays since they will be on a cruise over Christmas. Therefore, Friday night us ladies went out to dinner at Pedro's for mexican. I am not sure what we love so much about that place since we have eaten there frequently in the last several years and none of us were pleased really with our meals. And the verdict is, we like Pedro's Margaritas, not the food. Well the chips and salsa are fine to go with the margaritas, but that is the reason we have frequented the place in the past. And since I didn't have a margarita this time due to having 'strep throat' and being on antibiotics, the trip wasn't the most enjoyable, other than being with my friends. So anyway, after dinner we went back to the Swans where we played some Mad Gab, and Balderdash, and also made a craft courtesy of Andrea 'Stewart' aka Martha. A good time was had by all!!

We also celebrated Crystal's Birthday which was Saturday Dec. 15th. Big mouth Casey told the restaurant, so they sang and clapped and made he look stupid, or so she thought, we got some free bad cake out of the deal too!! She doesn't look embarrassed, does she?

And here is our craft for the night!!

We also exchanged ornaments too, they were all cute and well picked out. Sorry no pictures of that!

Gizmo opening gifts...

This is gizmo opening presents last Christmas! He did just as good with St. Nick gifts this year, I am working on that post though.

Okay, here is this year's. I am new to the YouTube video scene.

Happy Belated St. Nick...

So this post is a couple days late, but St. Nick did stop by our house surprisingly. Gizmo got a new toy and some treats, Ed and I also got a couple of things. I guess we have been good this year. Here are a couple of pictures of our fireplace with stockings, and Gizmo opening his gifts!

We allowed him on the bed because I was trying to sleep and I wanted to see him open his presents, we couldn't wait until the next day to open gifts! He was back off the bed as soon as he was done though!

Snowed in...

Okay, so we weren't exactly snowed in, but it was nice to pretend. I haven't left the house since I arrived home from work Saturday morning, it's been great. We got several inches of snow by Saturday night, in addition to some sleet and rain, so it was great to not have any plans this weekend. Ed had to work a bit, which he spent most of the time plowing at Menards, so he is ready to come home where it is warm.

Gizmo is ready to go inside, waiting for his dad though.

You can barely see Gizmo in the right side of the picure, he is running away from the snow Ed is throwing at him :(

It has been very relaxing, plenty of time to catch up on sleep and some house cleaning. Gizmo has been loving the snow, the higher the snow gets, the harder it is for him to get around in it, but he still enjoys it. He went out after Ed was done snowblowing last night, and Ed was throwing snow at him, he didn't like that too much. But Gizmo does his business and then gets the zooms, and then comes inside. Today he has taken many naps in between his jaunts outside. Tomorrow it is back to work and school.

Gizmo, being a good boy, napping on his bed in the living room. He is still learning to stay off of the furniture, he trys to sneak on every once in a while.

Christmas with the Hansons...

Saturday night was our second Christmas celebration of 2007. The Hanson Xmas was moved up to November this year because the Swan family will be on a family cruise over Christmas, so we tried to get everyone together earlier. I was only able to attend for a couple hours as I had to work. Everyone is doing well and looking good, it was nice to see everyone even if it was only for a short time. Ed left for bowling for a bit but returned afterwards to celebrate a bit more. Another late night!

Thanksgiving!!

So Ed's Thanksgiving started off wonderful as he bowled a 605 on Wednesday night, and started celebrating the holiday early with the men and not arriving home until 2am. I was at work while he was playing, the downfall of being a nurse in a hospital :(

Thursday morning, Ed headed to his parents to help prepare the holiday meal while I slept a bit. We enjoyed our turkey dinner during half time of the Packer/Lions game. (Which the Packers won of course) There was quite the rivalry with Ed II and Blayne being Lions fans, Ed III and Sue being Packer fans. The rest of us could really care less, but since the Packers are winning this year, I guess I am a fan too. Gizmo got to go to Ed and Sue's too since Peaches was home, Ed wouldn't let him go without his Packer jersey on, and he kept it on all day long surprisingly. Other than eating and relaxing, the real highlight of the day for me was Kieran. He is a whole new little boy compared to two months ago when we saw him last. He hardly sleeps anymore and he is smiley, quiet and content all the time. He loves playing on his tummy time mats, and actually plays with toys a bit now, he drools like no other, has a tooth, he loves to stand, he blows bubbles and talks, he is so much fun. And boy can he poop! He went through a couple of outfits on Thursday. Just can't seem to keep it in the diaper. You wouldn't know by my pictures that all he does is smile because I just haven't mastered getting the picture at the right time. I tried really hard though.

Molly and I took Kieran outside to enjoy his first snowfall. Wasn't much, but it stuck for the day and was white and cold. He got to touch it, Molly and Blayne didn't have any snowpants for him yet so we couldn't sit him in it. I think he would have loved that. Molly and Blayne were heading home to MI to several inches of snow it sounded like, so he will see plenty of white stuff.

Ed had to work at 530am on friday morning for all the crazy shoppers, and I happened to be one of them. I think this was the first year I went early, I was out of the house just before 6am. I managed to go to Menards, Sears, and Kohls where I was successful, Best Buy and Sports Authority I didn't find anything I had to have. I was home by 8am.

We had lunch at Ed and Sue's Friday (turkey, imagine that) so we could see Blayne, Molly and Kieran before they headed back home. Kieran had on the cutest onesie for Christmas, can't wait to see what he wears on Christmas. And I finally got a picture of him smiling. I'm learning fast.

Ambitious Sunday...

Well we got a lot done on Sunday. After football watching and shopping of course. While Ed watching his weekly sunday football I headed to the store to search for some tree trimming necessities. At least that is what I like to call them.

Since we invested in a pre-lit christmas tree this year, I decided I would like our tree to look more elegant and 'grown-up' for lack of a better term. I also changed from all silver to red and gold this year. So I needed new ornaments, trimmings, tree top and skirt. So it was mission christmas tree yesterday. I had made a trip to my Dad and Julies to analyze their tree because I wanted it to look similar to theirs (yes Julie has the tree up, the Hanson xmas is this saturday that is why it's up so early) So after much needed help and guidance from Julie I was on my way. Well almost 4 hours later I had most of what I needed. Ed has been asking when I was going to put the tree up since the box has been sitting in our living room for 2 weeks now, but I was trying to wait until the friday after Thanksgiving.

Also Ed wanted to clean the carpet before we put it up. So I borrowed the carpet cleaning vacuum from Dad and Julie, Ed cleaned the carpets last night in the living/dining room and up the tree went shortly afterwards. It is definitely a work in progress. I over bought in some areas and under bought in others, so I have a few things to return and a few more to buy, still missing a tree top also.

Here is Ed cleaning the carpet in the living/dining room.

This is all the stuff we had to move out of the living/dining room in order to clean the carpet.

While I was our shopping yesterday I finally got my long awaited flannel sheets from Target that were on sale like 3 weeks ago and I have been patiently waiting with my rain check for the kings to arrive. So we put those on the bed last night too, they are wonderful and cute too.


The other revelation we have stumbled upon this weekend is, we are now teaching Gizmo that he can't go on the furniture and our bed. We are trying to change something we have allowed for 2 years now, could be interesting. But someday we will have new furniture that we won't want the dog on and dog hair is just getting to us. So it is time for a change. Stay posted for how that is going.
Here is Gizmo illegally laying on our bed while Ed was cleaning carpets, we now need to keep our door closed so he stays off. He isn't a fan of noisy things though, so he was 'hiding'.

Game Night...

Last night we finally had a chance to get together with some friends and family for dinner and a few games. We went to dinner at Bravo at Brookfield Square with Aaron, Andrea, Chris and Jessie. After dinner we came back to our house and played a few games. We started out with LCR (left, center, right, dice game), but no one had any money, so playing with our quarters wasn't as much fun since no one really won. So after a few rounds of that we pulled out Catch Phrase, I think it was the first time it was opened since last Christmas (shows how much time we have for games) Catch Phrase was fun for all of us, boys against girls of course, I am pretty sure us girls won. Wasn't a late night as Ed had to work this morning, and I was only going on a few hours of sleep myself, but it was a fun night. Long overdue.

Playing Catch Phrase...

The Ladies aka 'Champions'

Cousin Jessie and Fiance Chris, engaged, Wedding date June 7, 2008

Andrea and Aaron, expecting Baby #1 May 2008!