And The Stockings Were Hung

We are back from a good holiday weekend. We ate lots of turkey and I finished off a whole cherry pie after picking on it for 3 days. Yum. We did the shopping thing on Friday and the crowd at the Price Walmart was the biggest I have ever seen it. It was crazy! We were toward the front of the line and still didn't get the main things we wanted. We got a few things off the list but were kinda disapointed in it. I guess we can't win them all. After a few successful years, we were bound to have a less stellar one.
We got back last night and relaxed some then this morning we got out the rest of our Christmas decorations and Mike finished hooking up the outside lights to find that a few strands of our icicle lights aren't working , so he'll be heading back up to the roof to figure those out soon.
Our Christmas plans are changing on us. Usually we get up Christmas morning and do the present thing and have breakfast then head to Price, but after several days of Papa dropping big hints and telling us that we needed to be at his house for Christmas morning and him pointing out to Caleb where the chimney is to be sure Santa could find him, I think we are going to try it out.
So we will be doing the SC presents there and I think we'll leave the presents under our tree for the day after when we come home so we can still do our own little Christmas here as well. Wish us luck!

A Message from Caleb

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!!!!!!

Turkey Day is Nearing!

I can't believe that tomorrow we'll already be leaving for Price for Thanksgiving this year. Here's the cute tile I made this year for Thanksgiving. I am excited for the turkey, the potatoes, the rolls and of course the Cherry Pie! I can't wait for all the goodies. But most of all,I can't wait for the wicked deals on Friday. Of course I will be one of those silly girls lined up at the stores (all 3 of them down there) starting at 4 am. It's tradition, we have to! Plus I have been scouring the ads online already and there's some really good deals this year. So I am packing my running shoes and making a game plan. By Thursday night, it will be all mapped out as to who is running for what. This is one shopping trip that even Mike gets in on, he likes running through the stores for the good stuff too. I've already lined him up on what he's going after.

So here's to another fruitful year. If I don't blog again before then, Happy Thanksgiving everyone. Eat lots of turkey and take the time to stop and think about the things you are most thankful for. I do it everyday here at home when I see my 4 boyz.

Until next time!

A Homemade Weekend

This weekend was spent primarily at home. I thought it was going to be pretty boring but it turned out pretty productive. I was able to finish up my last couple of homemade gifts, Caleb made gifts for his teachers and old babysitter, I wrapped a bunch of gifts, I made myself a Christmas tile, I started making my Christmas cards (until I ran out of the cardstock color I needed), we got the Christmas tree up, the Thanksgiving stuff down and while I sit here with homemade bread cooking in the breadmaker Mike and Caleb are outside getting a small start on those lights. Here's a bunch of pictures to share of some of these activities.

I get the boyz each one new ornament every year. These are the kid's this year. I got them out to let them put them on the tree while we were putting it up. Caleb loves his because it's wearing blue like the NY Giants (his favorite team). I found them at the craft fair in Omaha and couldn't pass them up. Plus they personalized them for free.

Zaden helping dad test out the tree lights. If they taste good does that mean they work?

Not to be out-done, Zaric helps as well.

And Caleb has to join in the light testing fun

Caleb helping decorate the tree. He had a spot right there where everything went. Mom and Dad helped spread out those ones later since there were about 15 ornaments grouped on about 4 branches.

The final tree for this year. Pretty much the same as most years but I always take a pic anyway. Mike insisted on a 9 foot tree about 5 years ago and although I always complain about him needing such a big one, once it's up and decorated I fall in love with it every year.

This year we got out Mom's stamp collection and Caleb stamped stationary for his teachers and old babysitter. Since they don't read the blog I figured it was ok to post a few. He stamped them then I threw some ribbon on to embellish a little.

We grouped some together and made them each a little stack with envelopes then tied them together. I think it turned out to be a cute little gift.

And finally the tile I made for myself. It was kinda a "make as you go" design and I wasn't sure I liked it at first but the more I look at it the more I do. I like that it's simple and kinda peaceful itself, just like it says.

A great weekend and can't wait for turkey day in just a few days........Caleb is counting down the days until he gets to go to Papa's.

P.S. Papa: Caleb told me today that you are shooting your own turkey and then cutting off the head to cook it for us. So you better have a good story about it by the time we get there on Wed. :)

A Letter to Santa

Dear Santa,

My mom told me that you read her blog so this year I am putting my letter on there instead of mailing it. We sat down with a piece of paper and I told her stuff to write to you. Thank you for my powerwheels 4-wheeler last year, I like to ride it in my front yard and I always stay where my Mom and Dad can see me because I know that's very important. I just had a birthday and turned 5, so I'm getting very big. I go to preschool and have 3 teachers: Karen, Kristen and Grandma (Lenna). I like to play with my toy trucks, cars and motorcycles and I like to fly my toy airplanes. When I grow up I want to be a cop.

I have been very good this year. I have two new brothers, Zaric and Zaden, and I am very patient and helpful with them. Sometimes I am mean to them and get in trouble but I try to be nice all the time. They are just babies and can't talk yet, but I saw this jungle toy that comes with balls that I think they would really like. And that's all I think they need.

As I get bigger so does my list. When I go in the store I want everything. My mom said I could only pick a few things so here's my list this year :

Spike the Ultra Dinosaur
Books to help me learn to Read
Mario and Luigi stuff
New Trucks

I hope to see you soon. I will help my mom bake cookies for you for Christmas Eve.

I love you,

Caleb

More Milestones

Zaric has a new Milestone of his own to tell you about. His brother may be sitting, but he got the first tooth! I was holding him yesterday afternoon when he took my finger and took a bite of it. And sure enough there was a little something sharp this time. He's been working on teething for a while now and I am usually covered in drool on a daily basis. So it was exciting that one finally poked it's way through. What an exciting week of Milestones here at the Ouren household.

You can't see it very well in this picture, but I assure you it's there. And that's the Tooth! (sorry I just had to :) ).

May I Sit Down?

Exciting News! Zaden is sitting on his own now and longer than a few seconds at a time. I timed him a couple of nights ago and I got in a full 4 minutes before he toppled over. Zaric is almost there too but not quite as sturdy as the Tank is. So here's the grand unveiling of Zaden's new milestone!

Hooray!

Mommy Tag

My cousin's wife Melissa tagged me with this on her blog, I'm game, so here goes my answers to these questions.

1. What time do you wake up? Usually about 5 am one or both of the twins have us up.

2. On a good night, what time is your child in bed? The twins go to bed between 8 and 8:30. Caleb is usually in bed by 9.

3. How long have you been a mommy?5 years and 5 days

4. How old were you when you became a mom?23 and 6 days later turned 24

5. What is your favorite chore?I like cleaning off the counters. It just feels good when they aren't cluttery. The non-cluttery hardly ever happens anymore but still when it does, it's great.

6. What is your favorite meal to cook? On Christmas Eve we started a tradition of having chicken on a beer can (usually done with a pepsi instead) with roasted red potatoes and rolls. This will be year #4 that it's on the menu.

7. What meal do you cook most often? We eat tacos a lot

8. What are 5 things about being a mom that make you smile?1-Giggles from all of the boyz 2-Listening to Caleb sing songs from the radio, like Rockstar by Pink 3-Snuggling with tired babies 4-That Caleb still wants me first and most of all when he's sad or hurt 5-Watching Mike makethe twins giggle and him rough house with Caleb (even though I yell at them all the time while doing it to settle down and be careful)

9. If you could take your child anywhere, where would it be? Hawaii

10. When was the last time you went out without your child?When we were in Omaha I got a couple shopping trips in with no kids.

11. What is your most heartbreaking moment as a mom?The first time I went down to the NICU after I had Caleb and saw him laying there with the ventilator tube down his throat. Then I repeated the same experience with Zaden 4 1/2 years later.

12. When was the last time you told your child "I love you"?About 10 minutes ago

13. When was the last time you were told I love you?This morning right after Caleb got up. The twins don't talk much so they can't. Mike tells me at least a couple times every day.

I tag Tracey and Sarah

Party Like You Just Don't Care!

Do we know how to have a partying weekend or what? After partying like it was 1989, yesterday was finally Caleb's big Spiderman party and we are done with birthday #5. Feels like we have been partying for weeks! He had a fun party and the weather was great so all the kids played outside most of the time. Afterwards ,on a whim, my family decided to stop by Boondocks on their way back to Price so we followed and had a really good time. Caleb was so worn out that he didn't have the energy to play with many of his gifts last night and slept until almost 8 this morning which is late for him. But not to worry he got up this morning and went straight to it! Here's some pics from the big day.

We set up Caleb's new playmat this morning. It was so cute that he then took his balloons down there and set them right in the middle that I had to take a pic.

Don't worry, he got his turkey. Thanks Aunt Tracey!

Just a pic of some decorations and the cake. He picked out a Spiderman on a 4-wheeler to put on it.

Blowing out the candles.




Opening the scooter from Mom and Dad

We had a pull string pinata for the kids. I wouldn't recommend these only 2 kids went before the right string was picked. Oh well....CANDY. Next time we will go back to the basics of hitting one with a bat.

Us at Boondocks on the Bumper Boats. I think we are all in this pic somewhere. Me and Caleb are in the red and white one squirting my Dad.

Thanks to everyone that came to the party. Caleb loved it and was saying that he already missed all of his friends from the party. Here's the next short list of his haul. I don't think we even need Christmas to come! He got: Spiderman Scooter, Hulk Smash Fists, A superhero look and find book, a googly eye book, a "How to be a Superhero book" that has costume pieces with it, a giant Diego coloring book, a Tshirt with a skull on it, a Spiderman pullover, Spiderman Undies, An Indiana Jones Cargo truck, a car organizer with tons of loot in it, the turkey and the giant floor mat with roads on it for his cars.

Fun Hangover!

Click on this concert going outfit for the full effect!

This week will be host to my 29th birthday. For my birthday Mike got me New Kids on the Block tickets. I went with 3 awesome friends who also dressed in some radical outfits.
I has soo much fun, I'll be singing for weeks. I was screaming so loud and much that I lost my voice. I then danced right out of my leggings...quite literally actually. After they sang "tonight" I had to sit down and take them off because they kept rolling down. My head was pounding, my ears were ringing and I didn't care I just kept partying the whole time. The girls I was with partied right along and our outfits were a big hit! Several people stopped to stare and laugh and a few others that were dressed up made sure to acknowledge us with screams and we did it right back to them. We sat right behind the cutest girls that had researched the whole concert and could tell us everything about it from the costumes to the play list and in what order and they were hilarious. We never caught their names, but thanks to them for making it that much better. I also caught them escorting in Utah's American Idol and last years runner up, David Archuleta so I was sure to point that out to anyone around us that would listen. How fun of him to be there too! And let me tell you, the guys of NKOTB are hotter than ever. I used to only be in love with Jordan, but I think I fell in love with all 5 of them after tonight. They are definitely getting even better looking and hotter with age. I was screaming "I love you Jordan" during the section where they were in the middle of the crowd and closest to us. I think he heard me and every time he sang a love song, I swear I heard him say Becca several times in it. Seriously, ask the other girls....they heard it too....I asked them.

I haven't laughed that hard in such a long time and we decided we needed more outrageous nights out like this. I let Mike know this was the best Birthday Gift EVER! I stayed up for another hour afterwards just telling him all about it in my screechy voice. I have been playing their new CD non stop this morning before Caleb's party. Best Birthday EVER! Thanks Allison, Jenn and Juli for making it unforgettable.

Birthday Fun

Caleb has been having a pretty good birthday so far. After preschool today, the old Financial Aid Office had invited me to a lunch so I went along and took the boys. It's always good to catch up with them. Then we ventured to the mall to take Caleb to Build a Bear for our special birthday outing. He wanted to make the turkey they had there but I was able to steer him away from that idea and he made a T-Rex, dressed it in a football uniform, gave it a roar sound and named him Lightning. It turned out cute and of course I am sharing pictures of our trip. He was a little sad when we left Build a Bear that there was still a turkey sitting there with no one to take it home. I assured him someone would but he said that he wanted it to be him and that he needed the turkey and the dinosaur. If anyone out there is thinking of a last minute Bday gift before the party on Sunday go to Build a Bear and snag a turkey (only $12 on sale right now).

Then from Build a Bear we had to stop at Dad's work to show him the new T-Rex. After we got home he took a 2 hour nap. I told him that he got to pick out what we were having for dinner and he picked dinosaur chicken nuggets and Ramen noodles!!!! That's right.....Ramen noodles!!!! I was thinking to myself that this was kinda a silly request and wondering where it came from. Then I reminded myself of a time when I was probably about his age and I asked for pepperoni and french fries for my birthday and that's what I got. I guess he does take after me in some ways after all. And since I am such a gourmet cook, I was able to pull of his request with no glitches!!!!! Yes, I am an amazing Momma. His preschool teacher sent him home with a small birthday cake so him and Dad are chomping on that as we speak. Then it looks like we are letting him pick out a movie to end the night with.

He's been funny today with people telling him Happy Birthday. When I told him that this morning he replied "Happy Birthday to you Mom." I explained to him that it was only his birthday and he said "well, what do I have to do?" As if there would be a birthday test of some sort. Then tonight as people have been calling to tell him Happy Birthday he has been responding Happy Birthday right back to them with their name, like "Happy Birthday to you Nellie" then to Grandma Nette now to Uncle Ryan. He's making me giggle.

Ok with no further waiting, onto the Build a Bear Pictures. And the grand unveiling of Lightning the Football Playing T-Rex.

Caleb stepping on the pedal that shoots the fluff into the animals.
Caleb making a wish on the heart that goes inside it.

Giving him a bath afterward to blow off any lingering fluff.

And here is Lightning with no helmet so you can see his cute face.

And with the helmet on, it's a little snug since his snout is so long. Still fun though!

Happy Birthday Caleb!!!!

My little boy turns 5 today!!!!! My how time flies when you're having fun. Today he is taking goodies to preschool then we are doing something fun together later. The Spiderman party isn't until Sunday. We'll be posting more pictures after that one. Here's a few birthday parties over the years to Celebrate today!

Caleb's First Birthday after his own smash cake. He enjoyed it as you can tell. We didn't even have time to put a bib on him. This was a construction truck themed party.

Birthday #2. A "The Dog" themed party. The balloons were a favorite at this party.

A Clifford Themed party for birthday #3

And last year was a Go Diego Go party for #4. As you can tell, we like our parties.

Here's to another fun year! I love you Buggie!

Home Again, Home Again...Jiggity Jig

Thanks Nebraska Family for such a nice trip. We had fun and Caleb says he already misses you all. We made it home about 8:30 last night Hooray! Caleb was excited to finally be here and played with his toys until 10. We had a somewhat fussy flight with the boys, but who can blame them after such a full week? For our last couple days there, we went to Great Aunt Peggy's work to show off the boys. Aunt Kari took Caleb to Toys R Us to pick out a present from her (hello giant Batman Castle!) and we had Mike's siblings over to play Wii while we packed up and did laundry yesterday morning. Today was spent recuperating and unpacking bags, along with grocery shopping and my trip to the dentist for some fillings. Do we know how to live it up or what? I thought I would share some good old family photos from the trip. Just click on them for a bigger view!

Great Grandpa with the boys

Great Grandma with the boys and baby Sam (all 4 great grandchildren)

Great Grandma holding a sleepy Zaric

Great Grandpa and Great Grandma Sandy holding the twins

Grandma Braska with all 4 of her grandbabies

Great Aunt Peggy with Zaden and Caleb

Mike's brother Chris with his son Sam. This is the first time we got to meet Sam who just turned a year old in October! So much fun!

Omaha- Update #2 Keeping Us Busy

We are keeping busy here in Omaha. Since my last post we have gone to Ashland to visit Mike's High School art teacher and see his gallery that he now runs. This is the first time we have gone and not bought anything. I love my two paintings I have from him already. I picked out a couple things of course and if money wasn't an issue they would be coming home with us, but no such luck. We also went bowling. It was fun but the place we went to was really loud. Even louder than us (if you can imagine that) so we didn't do much talking just bowled a game and left. Great Aunt Peg and I then went to the mall (again) for some more shopping because Caleb and Mike decided they both needed new Husker sweatshirts. You can never have enough of those you know. Yesterday they had a early birthday party for Caleb and I. Here are a few pics from that.


Here's Caleb opening a present. It's the book of monsters.

Caleb trying out his new skateboard that Grandma Braska got him

Great Aunt Sue and Zaric were partied out by the end of the afternoon

Zaden got a taste of frosting from Caleb's cake. He's not so sure about that.

Zaric, on the other hand, couldn't get enough and kept wanting more. He was drooling over it so much he was creating a pile of drool but picked up a napkin by himself and held it to his mouth hoping that would convince someone to give him more.

Here's a short list of our loot that we got:

Caleb- Skateboard, monster book, dino book, dino coloring book, Nascar book with cars in it to build, a motorcycle toy, a flying disk toy, some clothes and a magna doodle

Me- Scrubs-Season 5, Will and Grace- Season 1, some mula for something crafty, and a giftcard to Target. And lots of cute cards and cherry pie for me instead of cake.

Sorry if I left anything out I am going off of memory this morning and we all know how's that's been lately. Thanks Nebraska family for a fun party. 2 more days to go!

Omaha- Update #1

We are happy to report that we made it here without incident for the most part and really the worst part was just getting through security in Salt Lake after having to disrobe everyone and getting all of our crap and the double stroller through the xray machines (that's a story all in itself). After arriving we got to Great Aunt Sue's house and were met with a bunch of family for a little pizza. Then we just visited for our first night.
Yesterday we separated and I went to a huge craft fair with Great Aunt Peggy and I found some great craft ideas and bought a few goodies along the way. Mike went with his siblings and Grandma Braska watched the boys. Mike ended up at an arcade playing Dance Dance Revolution. I hear it was pretty hilarious to watch two white boys with no rhythm on it. The video should be coming soon as Aunt Kari was able to record some of it.
Today was time with Grandma Braska in the morning. She brought over her 3 big Labradors that Caleb loves to play with and then they made them some homemade doggie treats. After that we grabbed a quick lunch and it was off to the Children's Museum where they had a dinosaur exhibit going on. Here's a few quick pics from today.

Caleb helping to cut out the dog biscuits. He had fun but got tired toward the end and was asking her why it was taking so long.

Some of the biscuits on the tray. She even cuts them into doggie bone shapes (of course, right?)

Caleb and Uncle Sean sharing a bonding moment over the Nintendo DS.

The ball room at the museum was just as big a hit with Caleb this time as last. He has fun making those balls do all sorts of things. In this pic he was making them float on the air coming from those pipes.

Me and Caleb in front of the T-Rex. Caleb was a little scared of him since they were robotic and moving and roaring so mom had to sit with him for the pic. My pants look all funky. I promise they are just white with little black stripes not the funk in this picture.

Grandma Braska posing in the sizable dino footprints. She was also sporting Caleb's stegosaurus hat that he wouldn't keep on his head. It was a "must blog" photo.

More adventures to come. Still 4 days to go. I'll post more as I can.