Addison is FOUR today!!!

Here she is four years ago...







And here she is today!(well, actually it was yesterday, but close enough!)





Those were the quickest four years of my life!!!

Until next blog,
Jen

things to do when your kids have cabin fever

Ah, the creative juices are starting to flow...otherwise Keith will start destroying things and Addy will start whining. So, we started off with the old favorite...hot chocolate...



Then, of course, tv in our pjs...



But now I'm starting to do some new things. Last night I found out that Keith LOVES to squeeze glue out of the bottle. So, we made glue designs on a paper plate (translation: big blobs of semi-dried elmers all over the dining room). This morning the kids played the "Laundry sorting game" See the color cards above the piles? I would hand them a piece of clothing and tell them which color to put it under. It was a race to see who could get rid of their clothes the fastest! (and I can sit back and finish my coffee!!)



And now, the kids have finished helping build their rocket ship and are busy flying in space!!!







I'd love any of your creative ideas of what you've been doing while cooped up in this cold weather!

Until next blog,
Jen

Winter Blahs

I'm sure everyone has heard of S.A.D. (seasonal affective disorder) which is a cause of mild depression due to winter weather and lack of/decreased exposure to sunlight. Well, I think I have something related to it. I'll call it S.A.C.G.O.M.B. or seasonal affective can't get off my butt!!! My house did get clean recently, but only because we hosted our bible study last night. But, today is a sunny day, so I have been getting some things done, including re-organization of my craft area. (sadly, I enjoy organizing). Overall, though, I am just sooooo ready for spring to come!!!! I'm sure most of you probably are feeling the same way (except for Aunt Brenda and Uncle Larry, who hopefully are enjoying the warm beach right now!) so, I decided to attach some springtime photos of years past. Enjoy spring early in blog form!!!


April 2002: Wisteria blooms in Capri, Italy


OK, this is actually in SUMMER 2003, but I liked the pretty flowers. This is at Niagra falls, Canada side. Brian wears my new hat and poses with Nana and a young Brooke and Audra.


March 2004: Jen and Addy in front of springtime flowers in full bloom



Spring 2005: Addy poses with bee-dog and flowers



Mothers Day 2005: Brian, Jennifer, Addy, and in-utero Keith!


Spring 2006: Addy picks tulips...we had just moved to our current home and hadn't purchased a lawn mower yet...can you tell?


Easter 2006: Addy and Keith in front of our blooming forsythia bush


March 2007: Nana and the kids at the flower and patio show



Until next blog,
Jen

I'm a big boy now!....Where's my helmet??

Ah, the bittersweet day when your tiny baby has grown up enough to enjoy the freedom of the big bed! Keith reached that milestone last night since we finally got around to purchasing his bed rails. Well, it turns out we should have bought three...about 3 a.m. we heard a big "thump" followed by a half-hearted whine from Keith. Brian went up to see what was going on and, when he searched the bed for Keith, he was not to be found. He turned on the closet light and saw that Keith was ASLEEP on the floor at the foot of his bed, with a pillow and blanket over him! Seems he had slid off the foot of the bed and onto his carpet! But, since he slept through it all, he was none the worse for wear! Right now we are attempting his first nap in the big bed. So far its all talking and singing, but still in bed!! Hopefully the excitement will wear off soon so he can get a little shut eye!!

Until next blog,
Jen

The Beanies come out of storage

Yes, we were one of the thousands that were sucked into the Beanie Baby craze about 10 years ago. We even had a few that were preserved in their plastic boxes to keep them in "mint" condition. Well, Brian recently realized that they weren't worth squat, so we pulled them out of storage last night to see if the kids would have any interest in them. Keith showed no interest in something that didn't have wheels. Addy, however, was in heaven. She immediately claimed all the cats and reptiles as her own, as well as anything with rainbows or green on it!! The rest were put back in the boxes and back in storage. We still have 2 boxes, so if you're looking for a beanie baby to complete your collection, let me know and I'll see what we can do!

Here is a pic of Addy asleep last night with her new beanies. She awoke in the middle of the night crying because she "didn't have any room"!!!

Holy Moly! I haven't blogged all year!!

Ah, the holidays! We had a great time these past two weeks, but I can definitely say all of us here at the Billmeier household are ready to get back into our routine. We've been so sleep-deprived and sugar-infused that its made even Keith a little cranky! I can say, proudly, that we did EVERY Christmasy thing that was on our check list. At the peak of our Christmas celebration, Addison had an accident and broke her collar bone. She was pretty difficult to manage on Christmas eve, since this was the day after she broke it, but otherwise was in good spirits. Her left arm was in a sling, and she was pretty worried about how she was going to open all those presents one-handed. But, she soon declared that her right hand was the "present-ripper" (said while making a claw with her hand) and she tore through Santa's gifts in no time! Since Keith was mesmerized with the first toy he opened (a train, of course) she even opened the rest of his for him!!

Our cold little house sure did get a work out from all the guests that came through these past two weeks. We were glad to be able to spend time with Aunt Beth, cousin George, and soon-to-be Uncle Kyle. My friend, Tracy, also came and stayed with us a few nights. On Christmas Eve, we hosted Brian's family including Uncle Alex and Gretchen, Grandma and Grandpa, and Brian's Aunt Carol, her husband Mark, their four grown-up children and 2 kids! After Christmas, our friends, Laura, Jared, Noah and Hunter came over for a quick visit with Tracy before she headed out of town.

Christmas was spent at my Aunt Brendas house and then at my moms. We visited our friends Guy, Rachel, Little Guy, and Noble in Brown County for New Years Eve and watched the "Planet of the Apes" marathon on AMC (neither Rachel nor myself were very excited about that!).

Here are a few selected pics out of the hundreds that were taken. Hope you all had a great Christmas!!

Our visit to Santa's workshop:



Brooke, Keith and Addison ride a replica of the LS Ayres Tea room train at the Indiana State Museum


Addy on Christmas Eve morning


George's Christmas rawhide


Modeling one of my Christmas gifts!!


Brian tries out the kids new "PeaPod" from Santa and thinks its comfy!


Audra, Addy and Brooke at Nanas


Keith with his stash of cars from his stocking at Nanas


Addy models her new green things from Nana


Christmas at the Zoo



Addy and Keith at the train/poinsettia exhibit at White River Gardens


Keith falls asleep with candy cane in mouth!
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Until next blog,
Jen