Carver's First Haircut

January 31:  Carver got his first hair cut!  It was a BIG deal for this momma.  It wasn't technically his first, he had many trims up to this point (both by myself and my friend/stylist Lisa!)  This big boy hair cut  actually stared as a trim but it wasn't looking so hot and Marc convinced me to let him cut it with the clippers.  The transformation was HUGE--he looked like a different kids.  Kinnick said "He doesn't look like he is in our family anymore!" when he saw him for the first time.  It took me a few days to get used to but he is handsome as ever (and looks so much like Kinnick did when he got his first haircut!)  

SO Much Hair!

My BIG boy!

Snow!

January 26:  The kids were so excited to finally get enough snow to play in (little did we know there would be snow for 2 months solid!)  This was Carver's first time to play in the snow... he was so excited to go out with the big kids. 

Mini Snowman

Not so happy anymore...



If only every trip outside didn't end like this... I got to be pretty efficient at cleaning up snow gear by the end of winter!

Daddy Daughter Dance

January 15th:  Marc got to take Sadie to her 3rd annual Daddy Daughter Dance.  (This will be the last one she gets to go to solo--next year, Macey will be joining them!)

She loved her corsage!  Last year she lost it after the dance so I never got to see it.  She saved this year's.

Sadie wanted to have a surprise to give to her Dad the night of the dance.  She used her own money to buy him a box of whoppers and made this "whopper" card to go with it.  I love her thoughtfulness!

Snow Much Fun

January 15:  Because of the FREEZING cold temps, we couldn't make it outside as much as we wanted to to play in the snow.  One of the kids favorite in-door activities we did this winter was bringing the snow inside :)  They played for over an hour (and it didn't melt as fast as I thought it would!)

Carver--18 Months

January 2015:

 Carver Loves... bathtime, bananas, wearing hats & boots, playing with balls

Carver had his first dentist appointment!  

 Carver gets into lots of things--he loves exploring, he plays very well independently, he climbs on things, he loves to run & giggle.

 Carver weights 26 pounds and he is 32 inches tall!

Carver goes to bed around 7:30 each night and sleeps for about 12 hours.  He also takes a 2-3 hour afternoon nap each day. 

 This kids loves to be with Mom or Dad and he loves to go!  Anytime we are getting ready to leave, he runs to the closet to get his coat and runs to find his shoes.

This sweet boy is such a BIG helper!  He loves to throw things away for me or put things back in their places.  When I ask the big kids to do something, he is often running to beat them to it.  He loves to get everyone's shoes for them.  He really is the sweetest!

2014 Top Ten

It seems to be becoming a trend that I am WAY late in posting things... but better late then never, right?!?  On New Year's Day we made a big breakfast with a sparkling juice toast to the new year.  We also had fun talking about our favorite memories of the past year.  After lots of discussion and hearing what the kids thought, we put together a "Top Ten" list:

#10--4th of July Slammer's Game

#9--Celebrating Great-Grandma Gorsch's Life

#8--Hawkeye Spring Season Practice 

(Kinnick, Macey, & Carver's first time at Kinnick Stadium!) 

#7--Roseland "Good News" Daycare Center Grand Opening

The daycare is a huge part of our lives.  We go once a week to volunteer.  This is the only pre-school that Macey & Kinnick attended.  We were so excited to watch this brand new building being built and are fortunate to continue serving inside of it!

#6--Lego Land Discovery Center/Christmas

We surprised the kids with a trip to LEGOLAND on Christmas Eve.  We had such a great time and an awesome Christmas day following!

#5--Hancock County Fair

Every summer the kids look forward to spending a week with Grandpa & Grandma and attending the fair.  They talk about it ALL year long!

#4--Wisconsin Dells Christmas Trip

#3--Birthday Celebrations...

We had to call a 3-way tie for this one.  Each of the kids got to do something cool for their birthdays... Macey had a family FUN day--packed full with fun things for #4; Kinnick had a cowboy-themed friend party at Ellis House Equestrian Center for #6; Sadie got her ears pierced for #7

#2--Colorado Family Vacation

This was hands-down the most talked about memory of the year.  We had such a fun trip--our first "big" family vacation!

 #1--Carver's 1st Birthday

So maybe not everyone agreed ranking this #1 but mom pulls trump on this decision.  My baby's first birthday is a REALLY big deal!  We all adored watching our big boy eat his smash cake.

And I must note that we got to celebrate THREE first birthdays this year...my nephew Henry: 

and my niece Jersy both celebrated in November:

In making our top 10 selection we had to make some hard cuts; therefore, I am including two honorable mentions:

Beach Day with the Downings:

Trick-or-Treating

~We had an awesome 2014~

New Year's Eve 2014

December 31:  New Year's Eve 2014 was very low key for our family!  We left in the afternoon  and did some shopping at the outlet mall.  We had giftcards and Christmas money to spend.  We had fun--even in the freezing temps!  For dinner, we went to Panda Express--a favorite of everyone in our family.  We were the only ones there.  To end our evening we went to see "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No-Good, Very Bad Day.  It was such a cute movie.  We were all in bed before midnight... there's always next year!

 

Anual Henry Christmas Vacation

This year for Henry Christmas we went back to Wisconsin Dells.  We stayed at the same resort as last year, but in a brand new cabin.  We stayed December 27th--30th. 



The kids had fun swimming at the resort indoor pool:

We had lots of fun hanging out in the cabin--we enjoyed the game room & the home theater, we played LOTS of games, and of course we had lots of yummy food... 

Macey helping Grandma make mini-cinnamon rolls.



Cards!



Ice Cream Sundaes!



Hot Chocolate!



On our first evening we had our Christmas gift exchange...

Carver loved his new undies--didn't want to take them off!



Family Stocking

 

Checking out the book mom made of  2013 Christmas Trip

On Sunday morning we had our own church service.  Kassie helped the kids perform the Christmas story, we sang, and had communion.



Shopping at the Outlet Mall

On Sunday night we went bowling at Kunckleheads and had dinner at Buffalo Phil's.  The night wasn't complete until Grandpa & Grandma treated the kids to the arcade.

 On Monday we went to the Calahari Waterpark.  We swam and swam and swam!

All the cousins... posing for a picture, but not happily!

 

On Tuesday morning before we left the kids made a gingerbread train...

 What an awesome trip with so many fun memories!