Sunday, November 30, 2008

~ Thanksgiving Review ~

2008 Thanksgiving Memories and Pictures:


  • We were an hour late for Thanksgiving Dinner. Thankfully the family had only just started to eat. Sadly, I didn't get to eat with everyone because Kara needed to be fed first. We all enjoyed the yummy deserts together though. :)

  • My APPLE PIE was a hit once again. Thank You to Jamye Gaston for the secret recipe that has been a family favorite for many years now. I love you bud!

  • Ryan had fun playing with uncle Paul and Stephanie. Uncle Paul showed him a trick with hula hoops that Ryan thought was neat-o. Wish I would have gotten pictures of them playing. Maybe next year!

  • Ryan did not have a nap and was tired. But there was too much excitement to rest. Instead he would lay across Nanie's (Chris' grandmother) lap and have her rub his back several times throughout the afternoon. It was cute to watch them bond.

    Ryan and Nanie Smith


  • As I was packing the kiddies clothes for our weekend stay, I had an intuition that Kara might have a "blowout" and ruin her new outfit. I ignored my thoughts and didn't pack a second special outfit. Well...wouldn't you know it. She not only had one BUT two blowouts while visiting Nanie's house. I did not get a picture of her in that first beautiful outfit. :(
Note to self: Listen to your Motherly Intuitions. They are usually right.


Many thanks to Grandma High for spot treating it so the outfit wasn't ruined. Oh well...I will just have to take a picture and post it later. It really is a beautiful jumper!

Chris changed the second blowout and this is the outfit that Kara ended up wearing for the remainder of Thanksgiving. I wouldn't have put that shirt with those pants but he didn't have much to choose from. I've given up on keeping the kids in nice outfits!



Just a little trip down MEMORY LANE....


This is Stephanie (Chris' cousin) holding Ryan who is only 5 days old on Thanksgiving 2005. He was too small for that cute green/white striped outfit that Grandma High got him. He was such a good baby...slept the entire Thanksgiving Dinner.

Here is Stephanie holding Kara (5 months old) on Thanksgiving 2008. Boy has time flown by...Steph will be graduating High School this year and off to college. Kara was a good girl and allowed several family members to hold her without a crying fit. It wasn't until the end of the afternoon that "cranky Kara" started to show. It was our cue to head over to Grandma & Pop-Pop High's house. We spent our weekend there....always fun and relaxing.


Every year Grandma and I head out to Tannersville to do outlet shopping on Black Friday. Kara joined us this year. She only went because she refuses to take a bottle and I am the only one who can feed her. The bottle is something we will be working on in December. Wish us luck...she is a very stubborn baby! We were a little worried about how Kara would be in a stroller most of the day but she did great! I think we have a "shopping buddy" for future trips. We ended up only shopping for the kids. I wanted to check out a few stores to get items for Chris and my nieces/nephews BUT Kara had had enough after 4 hours of shopping.

Ryan told me that he missed us when we got home. Isn't he a sweetie!?


Kara all tuckered out from her first outlet shopping experience!


The loot! Aren't these kiddos lucky!?


Our GOALS for next year are:

  • Arrive on time or even early for dinner.


  • Bring several changes of clothes for the kids!

  • Take more pictures and video.

  • Maybe incorporate games into our family gathering.

  • Start a tradition with creating a craft with the kids.

  • Leave both kiddies with the boys while Grandma and I shop on BF.

  • Laugh even when things don't go the way you had planned...because they usually don't!


I dedicate this post to Dorothy "CORK" Schulz.

Nanie and Cork (on the right) at our wedding in 2004.

We found out on Friday morning that Cork had lost her battle with cancer. She was Grandma High's cousin but I always felt like she was a great-aunt to us all. It was sad that we weren't able to see her one last time. We all spoke about her during Thanksgiving and I want to feel like she knew just how much we loved her before passing that next morning. Sadly, she never got to meet Kara but I was able to send her pictures after her birth. Cork had a gentle spirit about her and she loved being the "family historian" with creating family trees and collecting photos throughout the years. I've learned so much about Chris' family because of her. Cork will be missed but we know she is at peace now.



Thursday, November 27, 2008

Thanksgiving ~ 2008

Each year I am thankful for many things...

This year I am especially THANKFUL for...
(a little trip down memory lane)

The Love of my Life ~ Chris

....that he asked ME to be his one and only for the rest of our days!


....that HE cleans the toilets in our family!


....and I couldn't ask for a better FATHER for our children!
(why do they like to pinch his nose??)

Daddy & Ryan ~ February 2006

Daddy and Kara ~ November 2008

I am also thankful for this little BOY...


...and this baby GIRL!


I am forever THANKFUL for the health and happiness in our family.


Oh...and we are always THANKFUL for spending each Thanksgiving with Mom & Dad High. Each year is filled with beautiful memories and of course a YUMMY feast!




What are YOU thankful this year?


HAPPY THANKSGIVING!


Tuesday, November 25, 2008

LAUGHTER is the best medicine

Had a BAD day again....

Let's just say my BAD day involved cleaning up a carpet full of water and a red (NOT washable) crayon off the baby blue colored walls and freshly painted white trim in Ryan's bedroom....yea not exactly a fun day let. me. tell. you. Thank God for Steam Vacs and Magic Erasers!

If you (ummm that would include a fair amount of you!!) saw my number come up on your phone and were wondering why I called....yes I was trying to reach you to mommy vent about my very BAD day! But it's ok...Chris finally got home at 6pm. I am doing much better...but next time could you please pick up?? I wanted to thank my wonderful mother-in-law FOR actually picking up and listening to me cry....thanks Grandma!

So like I said, Chris aka Daddy came home and saved the day. He made Ryan clean off the rest of the crayon, made dinner, gave me Tylenol to ease my pounding head and entertained Kara. Then he gave the kids baths....and that leads me to the BEST part of the day....

STORY TIME!


I don't know why but everyone has the best time at the end of the day reading with Daddy in Ryan's bed. Tonight turned into silliness when Daddy decided to give Kara "razzberries" and boy did SHE LAUGH!


Here's a video I took of her laughing!

Warning: As you will see...it is CONTAGIOUS!




Kara Laughing from Bobbi-Jo High on Vimeo.

Had a BAD day?
Hope Kara was able to turn that frown upside down!

Ryan Funnies

Last night we are sitting at the table, eating dinner and talking about the days events....

Mommy- Ryan don't you have something you want to tell Daddy?

Ryan- What Mommy?

Mommy- What did you eat today that you shouldn't have?

Ryan- Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh

Mommy- I think you need to tell Daddy and maybe apologize....

Ryan- *with a serious look on his face* I eat your cookies Daddy. No more left. They in my mouth. I sorry I eat your cookies.

We (Chris and I) look at each other and burst out laughing and are in complete shock at the paragraph he just said!

Ryan continues to eat...

Monday, November 24, 2008

Caleb is FIVE

Today (11.24) is Caleb's actual birthday but we celebrated his party on Saturday. Caleb is the sweetest boy I know. I love his smile and he always greets me with a big hug when we come over to visit. I can't believe he is 5 years old. I still remember the day he was born and holding him for the first time in the hospital. He looked sooooo much like his mommy...he still does.

A great time was had by all (well except for when Ryan knocked over the family guinea pig cage and was found holding that poor poor animal by her hind legs!! oh and when the cupcake fell on the carpet...ooops!) at the Gaston home and we can't wait to see them next month as they are hosting our annual Friends Christmas Party this year! We can't wait to see you all again soon!



Happy Birthday dear Caaaaleeeeeb...........



The following are pictures from Ryan's view...maybe he will be a photographer someday!

Little Miss Jaylin

aunt Wendy and uncle Chris

Ryan High ~ self potrait 11.22.08

is that you uncle Sean???

Jamye's mom Mrs. Fidler (aka Sharon) holding Kara

These next few are FUNNY!

This is how a 5 year old eats a cupcake with black icing...
not bad...just a little hitler 'stache going on!

and this is how a three year old eats a cupcake with black icing!
Awww..what a cute little puppy...uh wait--that's RYAN!

Happy 5th Birthday CALEB!



Saturday, November 22, 2008

WE ARE.....




BIG 10 CHAMPIONS!

We did it! We beat the Michigan State Spartans with a final blowout score of 49-18 to end our season. We not only won our conference but we also secured a spot in the Rose Bowl.

It was a snowy and VERY cold afternoon but Chris, his brother Mike, and Pop-Pop & Grandma High braved the weather to watch our Nittany Lions end their 2008 season with 11 wins and 1 loss. Sadly, Chris wasn't able to get pictures of this game. I had the camera this weekend for Caleb's 5th birthday party celebration. That's another post in the works...stay tuned.
Our booster button said this week: Defeaticus Sparticus
(I love the Harry Potter feel it has to it! )

We tied Ohio State for the 2008 championship title. I don't understand all the mumbo jumbo that goes into who gets what title, but I do know we also shared the championship title with Ohio State back in 2005 as well. Chris and I have noticed that each year we have a baby, our PSU team wins the BIG 10 Championship?! Isn't that funny!? And NO...we are not going to have a child each year just to see if our offspring are really their good luck charms! hahaha In other news, I just found out that Joe Paterno (or JoePa as we affectionately like to call him!) received Coach of the Year! Go JoePa!

Here are a few of my favorite PSU clips:

Please note: If you are viewing at work, please turn down your volume button...the following contain music and cheering!


This video is from the 2007 season but I love how it sums up PSU football.






Every year our mascot performs the Thriller Dance...
I added this one for you Christy!







And the following are just a taste of what we experience at each game...
Some would call it crazy but we think it's awesome!

WE ARE... PENN STATE!












FOR THE GLORY!

Friday, November 21, 2008

Just because I can...

I am re-posting this video because I love it....Kara shows more of her happy personality. It's something that our family members rarely see because she is usually "cranky Kara" around them. So once again I hope you enjoy it...and if you missed her 5 month post click HeRe.



Kara and the Exersaucer from Bobbi-Jo High on Vimeo.

I found a new site to help with our videos. It is called Vimeo. I've been having problems with posting my videos using Blogger. It takes forever and at times gives me an error message. I do enjoy using OneTrueMedia when I create our montages but having Vimeo is great for just a short video clip. This blogging thing is an ongoing learning experience. I never thought I would be able to do half the things I do on here. Thanks to all my blog buddies who help me out along the way too. :)

I know you are all patiently waiting to see pics from Ryan's b-day party! I promise a post soon. Just need to find the time...

Chris leaves us tomorrow morning to go up to State College and watch the last football game of the season. We need to beat MSU to get to the Rose Bowl. Hope you all watch the game. I believe it starts at 3pm EST on ABC or ESPN. GO PENN STATE!!



Wednesday, November 19, 2008

~ 11.19.05 at 6:53 am... ~

...at that exact moment in time, you came into our lives....we were now a family. You weighed 7 lbs. 3 oz. and 20 inches in length.
Such a beautiful baby....still are.


At ONE years old, you amazed us all by communicating through sign language. You had already been walking (toddling) for over 2 months before you turned one. We thought your blond hair and big blue eyes would have changed by now...but they didn't.

Oh what a cute baby boy you were!


Your first school picture at 18 months old. Look at how GROWN UP you look!! This is when we realized that you were becoming a little boy and our sweet little baby was slowly disappearing. You continue to amaze us with how quickly you learn things. You still prefer to use sign language over talking but we know you will join the chatter club eventually....and you did.

TWO years old. A month before you turned 2, mommy shared a secret with you. You were going to be a BIG BROTHER! We had you tell our family and friends at your birthday parties. Even though you didn't completely understand what was going on, we could tell you knew something special was going to happen....and you took to your new role in the family very well. You have such a loving and sweet bond with your baby sister.

THREE years old and such a BIG BOY! Oh my have you grown! You are such a curious and lovable boy. You melt the hearts of everyone around you. We are still waiting for you to decide that potty training is a good thing but we know you will get it some day...hopefully soon! Words can not describe how much JOY you bring to your Mommy and Daddy.

We love you more than you will ever know!

Happy 3rd Birthday, RYAN!


Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Back Blogging and Birthdays

UGH! I am mega behind with getting my posts up.

If you would like to know WHO turned 5 months old and how our visit to PSU turned out...then SCROLL ON DOWN! (Friday and Saturday posts...)

In other news...TODAY my nephew Joey turned 4 years old. I almost gave birth to Ryan on Joey's birthday but Ryan decided he wanted his own special day...he waited another 12 hours to be born! So the boys are 1 year and 1 day apart. I don't have a recent picture of our darling Joey...uh hem--Richie and Jonna.

Here is one from my mom's 50th birthday back in February. Isn't he a cutie?! I think my brother is quite the cutie too.

HAPPY 4th BIRTHDAY JOEY!!

Our little man will be turning 3 tomorrow....where did the time go? Check for a post and a trip down MEMORY LANE....

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Fall Fun with Daddy

Last Sunday....

It seemed our ENTIRE neighborhood was on Fall clean-up mode...including my hubby. I drove down our street to find almost every yard being raked, mowed or weeded. It was a beautiful Fall day and most likely our last because this weekend was cold and rainy. It seems winter is coming early this year.

We have only one lonely tree (well we do have 2 small trees on either side of our house but they don't produce a lot of leaves) in our yard. It lives in our side yard along the corner property that we share with our neighbor. It's a gorgeous tree. I think it is some type of Maple Leaf but I'm not sure. I was never good at tree names. I guess some would say we are lucky to have only one small tree to have to clean up after all it's leaves fall off. Yes, we would agree but it would be nice to have a few more in the front for more privacy. I think we are going to work on "curb appeal" next Summer. Our yard needs some more pizazz!

Chris was so excited to rake up the leaves with Ryan and play in the leaf pile with both kiddies. He took many pics and video. I created a montage for your enjoyment.

Below are some pictures of their Fall Fun! Ryan loved it....Kara not so much.

Our lonely Tree

A few final blooms from our Rose Garden...





I love this leaf color.


Ryan with his new camera...they are attached at the eye!


Helping Daddy blow the leaves into a pile.


Kara thinking, "what's so special about this?"