Merry Christmas 2010

Merry Christmas to all our family and friends. It has been a great year full of fun in our home. And more fun is to come with baby boy #3 on the way sometime toward the end of April. We are blessed to have a wonderful home, neighborhood, friends, school, and much more. Stay tuned for more updates in 2011. All our best...

Gingerbread Train

We've got a little tradition going with the Diestlers, so when we got a gingerbread train kit in the mail from my sister, we set up a time for them to come do it with us.

Dillon LOVES Amy. And he LOVES working on projects with her. He was in the best mood I've seen him in in months. She just brings out the best in him.

Happy Boy!

Thanks for coming over Diestlers. It really added to the season.

First Big Snow

The first weekend in December we got our first big snowfall. It was the beautiful, packable snow that is really fun to play in. I knew I had to get the boys out to play because it will likely be too cold to play in the snow again. That's the miserable thing around here--with negative temps the snow just ices over and stays until it finally melts in March.

Dillon was on cloud nine. He kept saying "Winter is my favorite season!"

(Apparently he doesn't remember those negative temps--he will this next week!)

And Wesley had fun for the first 20 -30 minutes. He really liked eating the snow and trying on different hats. Then he face planted in the snow and started getting cold. He wouldn't keep his gloves on either, so eventually I put him inside and let him watch a show so Dillon and I could build a snowman. It was a pretty little guy, but considering my time allowance and energy level I'm happy he even looks like a snowman at all. It really was great packing snow and I kept wishing Aaron would have been around 'cause I know he would have had fun making a masterpiece.

I had totally forgotten arms for our little snowman. But my awesome Dill found the perfect little twigs and did the job.

Hopefully we'll get another "warm snow" this season so the boys can play again. For now, we're headed into the freezing temps. The high next Monday is supposed to be 8 degrees! That means with humidity and windchill we'll likely stay in the negative numbers! Winter is officially here.

Turkey Day at our house

We had a great Thanksgiving. It started out with Aaron coming home early enough on Wednesday to watch a movie with the boys while I baked pies. The boys LOVE Daddy Time! The excitement soared when I pulled out the turkey Thursday AM. The boys loved touching the slimy bird and telling everyone (phone) about it.

The finished turkey turned out pretty good--not bad for a novice.

Time to carve

The cooks

The meal

The children

The next day we put up the tree. Dillon nearly jumped out of his pants with excitement. And Wesley kept yelling, "Ho ho ho!" Children just make holidays so fun.

The beard is gone!

One last look

On closing night of our show, a cast member, who is also a hair dresser, had his buzzers up and running, shaving off all the beards and unkempt hair. Ron had fun "playing around a little" as the beard slowly came off.

Somehow I didn't get a final picture when it was all off, so you'll just have to stay tuned in other posts to see his cute little baby face! We had no idea he could grow such a good beard, so it was fun to have the excuse to try. I really did like the look of it, but am glad to have his smooth, more kissable, face back!

Savior of the World

A week ago we finished our last performance of Savior of the World. Act I tells the story leading up to the birth of the Savior and Act II concentrates on His resurrection. Aaron and I both had speaking and singing parts in Act II. Aaron was "Disciple" a.k.a. Cleopas's sidekick (disciples who saw the resurrected Lord on the road to Emmaus), and I was "old" Mary, the mother of Jesus, but just in Act II. It was an incredible experience to be involved in this production and I really consider myself lucky. It was however, also a sacrifice. Aaron got a li'l behind on work; we all got behind on sleep; and our boys really missed their parents, especially with a different person putting them to bed every night for 2 weeks! They were troopers and I'm so grateful for good boys that will let others take care of them now and again. It really was a family affair. The boys watched the performance on "family night" and although I didn't hear them, they were apparently cheering us on every time they spotted one of us on stage. I love my boys!

Savior appearing to the Twelve Apostles and some disciples. Cleopas and Disciple Aaron kind of stole the show. He is such a natural on stage and I heard never-ending compliments about how talented he is.

Mary singing "Alleluia" with the women

"How could we not recognize Him?"

Cute disciple!

Singing "Did not our hearts burn within us?" They were awesome together!

"...and for these past three days, when it seemed we had lost Him again, it was the will of the Father He was doing, as always. That is why He laid down His life, so He could take it up again, and us, with Him."

Mary Magdalene and Mary listening to Thomas questioning why he hadn't yet seen the resurrected Savior.

"Come, Lord Jesus, come"

Such beautiful music, beautiful script, and after it all, my testimony of my Savior is strengthened and there is no doubt in my mind that He truly did live and still does.

Aaron and I were cast in our stake's production of Savior of the World in late August and have been busy preparing ever since. And here we are----show week! Family night was Monday, dress rehearsal Tuesday and Wednesday was the first ticketed performance. We've gotten better every night. Two more performances and it'll all be over---which I have mixed feelings about. I'll post more thoughts and pictures later but just know that it has somewhat taken over our lives, in a good way---despite the dirty house, neglected children and Aaron's job on the line--j/k. My testimony of my Savior, Jesus Christ has been strengthened and I truly do know that He lives. I am so grateful for this opportunity to study more intensely His birth and resurrection. Stay tuned to find out how it all turned out...

Halloween 2010

Between Halloween gingerbread houses, school parties, the ward Trunk or Treat, Saturday Trick or treating and Chili with friends, a bonfire and our traditional "Dinner in a Pumpkin", we had a very eventful Halloween week at our house. By Sunday I was pretty exhausted! Fortunately the weather really cooperated to help make it all fun. Here are some highlights:

I can't believe we are approaching the holiday season now! Here we go...

Weekend with Grandma and Grandpa

Less than a week after returning from Idaho, my parents came to Chicago! They had already planned their trip before we knew we'd be home for the funeral. (My dad had a medical conference) But even though we'd just seen them, it was a totally different story having them on OUR TURF! We loved it! My boys couldn't get enough of them. Some of the best times were just playing games, doing puzzles, reading books and playing outside.

We introduced them to Chicago style pizza the first night they were here. We ventured down to the city and did a quick driving tour of some of the city, and then we parked so we could walk through Navy Pier. We got Chicago style hot dogs and popcorn while we were there too!

Grumpy Chandler boys for pictures---but my mom was really excited that the person that took this picture was from London and had a great accent!

The boys always love the Thomas train at Navy Pier.

I tried to get Oprah tickets while my mom was here and was unsuccessful, but I at least drove her by to see the studio.

Grandpa was the best babysitter. He rode bikes, went on walks, gave baths, drove Dillon to school, put boys in bed, etc. My mom is the best book reader, train player, back scratcher and kitchen cleaner. So the two of them together are a great team. I keep hoping I'll get them back here when I have the baby.

We went to a local farm to get a feel for the season.

Of course the boys loved the train

and the animals

and the blow up toys

and the hayride.

My mom loved all the signs you can put your faces in Thanks so much for coming Mom and Dad. We loved having you and are hoping you'll come back soon. End of April? First of May?? Hint! Hint!