Blessed

Alot has happened in two weeks :)

Wednesday, January 13th, we went to exchange Connor's new shoes that I had bought for him. I ended up finding some really cute Puma shoes that are easy to put on him. After that, we went to Olive Garden for supper, and then back in time to watch American Idol.

Friday afternoon, we headed to my parents, but my brother and dad were at camp, and Mike went ice fishing with his friends, and my mom and I hung out with the kids.

I have been thinking about going to Disney World for a while, but wasn't sure if it was a good idea bringing the kids next year, since they would only be 4.5 and just about 3.

Saturday morning, they had a Disney show on tv, and Bella was quite intrigued by all of it. It was then that I decided that we would look into going to Florida in April 2011. My mom went and got a big plastic jar and gave her some change to start her fund. It is so funny to see her looking all over the house for quarters! The money fairy even came on Saturday night! We had a great weekend baking cookies and she made a snowman and played outside with grammy and Connor.

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Monday, January 18th, Bella stayed home with daddy and he took her to the Dr. to check out a rash that was developing in her armpit and down her side. We were thinking that it could possibly be strep, but Dr. said it was just from the dry air. Daddy took her to McDonalds for a happy meal and rented a Dora movie, and she had a great day :) The day turned even better when he got a call asking permission to check his references. I worked late that night, but came home to a happy household :)

By Tuesday afternoon, he got another call that his references gave very high recommendations, and that they would like to do a background check next. We spent the night watching American Idol and in happy/hopeful moods :)

Wednesday, we did a very much needed grocery trip, so Bella and I started while Connor and daddy went to Walmart. Somehow Connor lost one of his brand new $30 shoes at Walmart and it is nowhere to be found. Later when Connor was napping, Bella and I ran to the mall for a birthday gift for her friend, Madison's 3rd birthday party next weekend. I also had a couple gymbucks to spend, so we stopped at gymboree for some spring clothes also.

Thursday, Mike ended up going to the chiropractor because his back has been bothering him again. I practiced taking some pictures of the kids with my new lens, and we ordered Olive Garden to go- salad and fondue. yummmmm!

He took Connor home early on Friday since we need two cars and he would have to stay back in town to schedule a physical for the job. Bella and I got to my parents, had pizza hut, and hung out with the family. She is practicing tracing letters and doing a wonderful job. We are so proud of her.

Saturday, grammy and Bella made a "Dora Lunch." It was apple empanadas, arroz con leche, and cowboy cookies from her "Dora's sharing day" book. I sampled it but wasn't a fan, especially since Mike and I met friends out for supper later that night. We had a great time visiting with friends that we don't see too often. The weather isn't too nice today, so Bella and I left early.

We hope he is offered a position soon. We are counting our blessings :)

New year

Well, we went one full year of Mike not having a job. 2009 has been good to us in other ways. We had alot of fun events to look back on, and of course, tons of pictures. Our family is happy and healthy, and that is what I can thank God for. We have big hope and dreams for 2010 :)

We drove to my parents' on new years eve, quickly changed and got ready, and headed out for dinner with our friends, Brent and Krista. Brent's brother and sister-in-law joined us and we had a great time visiting and eating yummy food. We stopped at their house to hang out before heading back after midnight. The kids had a blast hanging out and playing with their new Christmas presents with grammy and popps.

On Friday afternoon, my mom's highschool friend and her husband drove over for the night. Mike and his friend Jeremy worked on building their ice shack all day, and then we went to his parents' for the night.

Saturday morning, we went back to my parents' house and visited with our company before the left. We had a nice and relaxing weekend, despite poor Connor having a very high fever on Saturday and Sunday.
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Monday, January 4th, after work, I spent the night folding and catching up on laundry while watching the Bachelor premiere! I noticed that the kids' fish wasn't moving. She kind of got trapped under the rock the night before, and we didn't put the special stuff in the water when we changed it and fixed the rock. Needless to say, I think we killed her :(

By Wednesday, Connor's fever has gone away and he had his 15 month well child visit. I brought him to his appointment because Bella and daddy had a movie date planned, but she fell asleep.

Thursday, after he dropped Bella off at daycare, he went and got a new fish, with the hopes that she wouldn't be able to tell the difference. We are happy that she has no idea that this is a new "Perchy."

We spent Friday night with my parents and then Saturday night with the in-laws. We ordered pizza and then when the kids went to bed, we went to the movies and saw "Brothers."

Connor stayed with them on Sunday, since Mike had his interview in town. We are praying that he will get this job and we will be back with our family!

Christmas 2009

Wow! what an amazingly fun and spoiled Christmas we had!

Tuesday after work, I spent the night packing for the rest of the week before we headed up north Wednesday morning. Wednesday night, Mike and I made his wonderful homemade pizza recipe for my family. My whole family loves those pizzas!

Thursday morning was the start of a big snowstorm and unfortunately, my dad had to go to work to call people in for snow removal. My sister came up in the morning and then shortly after we saw her quickly, we headed to the in-laws. Bella loves her cousins, Ellie and Jake, so she was very excited. I love having family together all at once during the holidays :) The kids started getting pink eye in the morning, but with a prescription called to the pharmacy just in time, they were perfect in church on Christmas eve. Bella is quite fascinated with baby Jesus and just loved the children's play that they put on. After church, we headed back to eat Christmas eve homemade raviolis. My church service was at 8:30pm so we quickly drove back to my mom and dad's and the kids opened their Christmas jammies. Connor was too tired to make it to church for the second time, so he stayed home with daddy. When we got home really late, we got Santa's cookies ready and took a few pictures. Bella and grammy's tradition is to sleep by the tree on Christmas eve and wait for Santa. The tired little girl was sound asleep by 11pm and so Santa went to work ;)

cousins ready for church

We woke up early to go back to grandma Fran's and have Christmas there with everyone in the morning. The kids saw their chairs that Santa had left and got so excited :)

We don't take turns opening presents one by one at the Pickett's, and I have to admit that it kind of bothers me, although I understand that with seven grandchildren and a house full of people, it would take quite some time. I am glad that we open them one by one with my family because I like seeing what everyone got and everyone will receive the proper hugs and thank you's. Bella got her stash of presents and started tearing them open! She was so happy and she got some great gifts! She got some great movies, a Wii type thing for kids and some games with it, some cute outfits, a Dora and Dora horse, a baby doll, some cute pj's, and more. Connor wasn't too interested in his presents since he wasn't feeling too great, but he got a really neat truck that moves and makes sounds, a bunch of outfits, pj's, tool bench, puppy that barks, some books, a swimming Nemo, and a bunch of other toys. I got a blu-ray player, the cutest pj's, bath and body works stuff, and comfy slippers. Mike got a spear for spearing fish, from his brother, new hunting boots, fly-fishing shirt, movies, and more. We had a great time and then had lunch. Poor Connor couldn't even stay awake, so he face planted right in his plate.

After lunch, we went back to my parent's for our Christmas and another dinner. Connor was cheerful by then and had a ton of fun playing with his new chair. Like I said, we open them one by one and each year someone plays "Santa" and passes out the presents randomly. My parents and family just spoil the kids rotten and love it :) Bella, once again, tore right into her presents and then posed for the camera each time.

Spoiled much?! ;)

Once again, the kids got great stuff! Santa brought the chairs embroidered with each of their names, Bella got a mixer, Dora movies and books, crayola glow board, camera, tag reader stuff, magnetic alphabet board, swimsuit, princess blow-up bed, playdoh maker, a make-up vanity from auntie, and tons more. Connor got a crayola music board, tool bench, books, a interactive puppy, racetrack, mr. potato head, swimsuit, Micky trainset, and more. One of my favorite moments was when my mom opened the gift from my brother, sister, and I. We had gotten professional pictures done of the three of us, considering the last time they were done, we were about 8 years old. We knew she would cry, but her face was priceless. We are so blessed to have the most wonderful and loving parents. I was thrilled to see that Santa got me a new Nikon lens and remote for my camera as well as other neat stuff! My nice husband got me a beautiful diamond necklace. He was pretty spoiled too and we had a wonderful time and have wonderful Christmas memories :) Unfortunately, after supper, my dad had to go to work because of the nasty weather, but he came back after a few hours.

Saturday morning, we checked the weather and then made sure it was safe to drive three hours for Christmas in Wisconsin Rapids with my dad's side. I would have been so sad if we wouldn't have been able to make it because we only see most of them at Christmas each year. We have our get-together at a hotel and the kids can swim if they would like. I didn't take too many pictures, but we had a nice time visiting and doing the gift exchange. Sunday morning, Bella and daddy swam for a bit and then we went back home and unpacked and relaxed. Christmas 2009 was wonderful and happy for our family :)