Build-A-Bear 2009

For Christmas this year, Grandma and Grandpa Kovach gave all the kids gift cards to Build-a-Bear. (A brilliant idea- not only do they get a gift, they get to make it and they get to spend time with Grandma and Grandpa!) With so many grand kids it would be tricky to go all at once and so tonight was the night the first group. We met up at the mall food court for some dinner and then headed over to Build-A-Bear. Declan was so excited that he was just bouncing around everywhere! He could hardly stand the wait! He decided on Hal the Christmas Moose then changed to Frosty the Snowman then Alvin the Chipmunk and then finally settled on a dog. His absolute favorite part of the whole process is giving the animal a bath after they've been stuffed. He takes it very seriously! This was the first time that he's ever been able to chose anything extra and he was in heaven. He dressed his dog as a Denver Nugget, got it a leash and a dog bed! Tonight when I put him in bed he had it sleep on the floor on it's dog bed because he said dog's aren't supposed to sleep with us... Delaney got a long eared rabbit with a cute little pink track suit and bows on the ears! Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for a fun night out, these will definitely be cherished memories!

Declan

It's been way too long since I've written down (or blogged) any of the funny things Declan has said or done. Of course since I didn't write them down right away I can only remember a few of them....

- Driving in the car one day Declan said he wanted to have 16 kids. I asked him why 16 and he said so that he could have a really big house.
- Just today we were doing that ink a bink a bottle of ink game I remember from when I was little. After a couple of turns Declan wanted to say the words but instead of ink a bink he said "oink a stink"
- Also today...we were discussing things that start with the letter G for him to take to show and tell at preschool. He was set on taking a golf club until I told him Grammy, Grandma, and Granny all start with G. He had to call up his Grammy right away and tell her he wanted to take her to show and tell.
- He loves to tell jokes. His favorite is this Knock-Knock joke. Knock-knock, who's there? Banana. Banana who? Knock Knock. Who's there? Banana. (Repeat a few times and then...) Knock Knock. Who's there? Orange. Orange who? Orange you glad I didn't say banana. We go back and forth telling this one and every time he busts a gut laughing- it's really cute!

This little boy always keeps things interesting around our house. He wakes up at 6:30 every morning without fail regardless of when he went to bed. (No joke, on a few rare occasions he was up until midnight and still was awake at 6:30!) He talks all day long. He has even talked himself to sleep recently. Sometimes when I am visiting with a friend I don't even get to visit because Declan talks the whole time. Even though he is talkative and busy at home he is a whole different kid at church and school. He is so quiet.

I am so grateful for Declan. I am so grateful for his sense of humor and his overall happiness. He brings me so much joy (and I think I've been taking that for granted) and he keeps me smiling.

I love you Declan.

Halloween 2009

Guess I never did get around to posting these...
Declan was a pirate for the third year in a row- his choice, and Delaney was a ladybug!

New Moon

Waited. Saw it. LoVeD it!
A big group of friends and family went to see the midnight showing of New Moon and I seriously loved it. It was so good. Good enough to see again with the rest of my family on Friday.
Before the show we went to a themed "pre-show party" at my friend Kari's house where she really had everyone in the Twilight mood. She even sent us all of to the movie with snacks like "Rosalie's werewolf kibble" and licorice with blood type labels. It was so fun and I can't wait to see the next one at the end of June!!

Bridal Shower

My sister and her fiance were in town for bridal showers and wedding planning- less than a month to go till the big day. My Aunt, Mom and I did a shower for her on Friday night. It was the perfect opportunity to use some of the ideas I have brewing in my head. We had an Italian soda bar, soups, salad, sliders, mini fruit pizzas and the cutest decorations and party favors. It was so fun.....




She got an infamous quilt from my Granny and a super sexy one piece footy pajama thing from my Mom and I as a joke. It was funny to see her reaction to getting lingerie- she proudly held up this hideous blue thing and was so embarrassed by the real stuff!

Preschool Halloween Party

Declan had his first official Halloween party at preschool today. I am on the party committee and so I got to help plan it all. It came together really well and it was so fun to see all of Mrs. Browns "cuties" (that's what she calls them) in their costumes. Of course there was one little pirate who stood out above the rest...

Last night after the kids baths Delaney brought me a pair of Declan's underwear that she wanted to put on. (She is very into putting on clothes and shoes as often as she can get her hands on them so I knew what she wanted!) Underwear led to shorts and shorts to the shirt. Why should I be the one to spoil her 17 month old dreams of being just like her brother? So......


Because if we let her do it we can't tell him no. Also because it gave us a good laugh! (And because we might need some blackmail sometime in the next 14 years!)

Snowy Days

It's snow secret- we got dumped on! Okay I know I am totally lame but at least I crack myself up?? Anyway, Declan finally was able to drag his Daddy out to play in the snow when it finally stopped on Thursday! They were out there for way longer than I expected and Declan wasn't even ready to come in when they did! He was so proud of himself for getting Jason with snowballs! I went out to take a few pictures and Jason playfully kicked some snow up at Declan and Declan got this mischievous look and returned the favor. Maybe you had to actually witness it but it was such a grown up thing to do... know that your Dad is messing with you and just get him right back. He just is getting so big so fast.

I'm sure we will be having a lot more snowy days to play in soon!

Pickin Pumpkins

We made it to the pumpkin patch a little late this year. The night before we got some major snow we made a quick trip in the bitter cold to find that perfect pumpkin. I don't think we found it- ours is lop sided and kinda ugly but that's what you get when you wait this long. Halloween has just snuck up on us this year!!

Seriously, could they be any cuter?

A Park Post

(I am so out of clever post names!)
After the Fall Carnival we took the boys to the park to play! After a little bribery they let me take some pictures of them!

Fall Carnival

We had the first Halloween party of the season this weekend. A "Fall Carnival" at Declan's cousins school. Declan is going to be a pirate this year, again- for the 3rd year in a row! His choice! And Delaney is the cutest little ladybug you've ever seen! Better pics to come!

Our Little Getaway...

Jason and I left the kids at home and headed to California for the weekend. This was our first vacation where we chose where we were going and when and paid for it- it was all ours! We went to San Diego and had big plans to do nothing! We got up when we wanted to, slept when we wanted to and ate when we wanted to. We even went to a spur of the moment movie in the middle of the day!

We went and looked at the seals in La Jolla. Jason took this picture of me as I was watching this big wave about to come in and soak me...thus the expression on my face!

I made Jason pose by this sign, "Brave men run in my family," and he was a good sport about it. Our kids tried to stow-away in our bags before the trip but all the giggling gave them away! Amazingly enough we both missed the kids but it was a much needed break!

Family Pics 09