Gingerbread House 2009

I think this will be a tradition in the Kibbe house from now on. Emily liked doing it last year, and this year she was really into it. Asking each day when we were going to decorate. She sorted all the candy into a muffin tin, who doesn't like to sort candy! I only did the frosting, which was soley directed by Em. I think it is a wonderful house!

Obligatory picture in front of tree with jammies, out of the dozen I took this is the best, why is it so hard to get a picture of two kids smiling and looking in the same direction with eyes open?
Unwraping books

Special 40th anniversary edition, neato

On the road, playing with new doll, Emily's santa gift

Looking out the window in our new place

Christmas beverages

"think they know I took it?"

my first egg nog and nutmeg mustache

hot cocco enjoyment

ahhh, slam it

Fireplace inside the house, above the mantel is a vinyl pocket to put a picture in

Back of the house, garden, the corn, carrots, lettuce and apples all come off

Dog house entry on right side

Left side of the house, the flowers in the window box are removable

Front of the house


There are also some other interior pockets for things they deem important like chapstick and diapers

I am several event post behind. I hope to catch up soon. I embarked on a huge (for me) sewing project for the kids Christmas present. I will reveal it soon, when and if it gets finished. I have been working on it a couple of nights a week since Thanksgiving weekend. I usually can't sew during the day or the nights when Rob is working downstairs. I am really impressed my sewing machine hasn't conked out on me yet either. I also know I have hyped this gift up in my head, and I am sure the kids won't even like it so I am trying to not be disappointed.

I know there are lots of reasons God gave Adam a partner, a wife. I can tell you first hand from our experience Monday, that husbands and wives are meant to parent together. At about 3:30 am Dallas woke up, I went to see what was the matter and by 4:00 am I couldn't leave the bathroom. I know adults are not really supposed to get rotovirus, but I had all the symptoms! By 6:00 Rob said I think I am getting sick to, I am going to the store now. He likes diet 7up and I like orange Gatorade when sick. It is funny how comforting those familiar things are. I spent the next 12 hours not able to do much, somehow we made it through the day. The kids did so well, and Robert handled much of the parenting. I lost it about 5:00 pm in tears, I was dry heaving again, and Dallas was slamming the toilet lid on my head. Emily didn't feel like eating dinner because her tummy felt "full" I was worried she was getting hit too. I felt so helpless, and Robert reminded we were not meant to do this alone.
We decided we were going to need help on Tuesday if we were not better. Friends were ruled out because we couldn't possibly ruin any one's week by giving them what we had, but family that we were going to see anyway was first on our list. I was about to call my mom to see if she could take a sick day, when I remembered Lynne had Tuesday off. She agreed to come if we needed her. After dinner, which no-one but Dallas ate, I was up to two saltine crackers, which I only ate so I could take Tylenol, Emily had a Christmas cookie. The kids went to bed by 6:30 and Robert and I were in bed by 7:30. My prayer that night was to be restored enough to care for my family again. I woke up so much better. I was able to be "mom" again. What a blessing. I feel almost 100%, but not really up to eating still, nothing sounds good yet.

It's his birthday!

Dallas is one today, well actually tonight, but today is the day! We had the fam up yesterday to watch him demolish his cake. Today is super special because, Robert worked on Saturday so he could spend today at home with the birthday boy. I am more that pleased because I have been fighting getting sick for the last couple of days, refusing because I have had too much to do, but I think it has finally caught up with me.

The boys went out to do donuts with the truck in the new snow. Emily and I donned all of our snow gear and played in the front yard and took Bo around the block. I think we will try to find some place festive for lunch.

Dedication of Dallas

We, our family, and church family dedicated Dallas this past Sunday. It a great service and much of our family was able to be in attendance. Dallas got his first semi-dressy outfit for the occasion. A sweater vest with a real collar shirt. It was a set and also came with pants, but he essentially crawled right out of them (I guess he is not ready for 18 mo pants). We rounded out the day with some turkey spagetti casserole and sugar cookies that Em decorated.
Thanks to everyone!

Dallas update

Dallas continues to be such a joy in our life. I can't believe he is almost one.

Today we went for his one year well visit. Side note: I guess they are not supposed to sched. you for the one year well visit before they are actually one. They can receive the vaccinations medically, but it screws up the records for school. If the MMR is given before 1 year (even if it is a couple days) then it will have to given again to make the paperwork look nice for school records. That being said we just walked away with just two pokes, a flu booster shot and some drawn blood for counts. He didn't cry or even wince, what a trooper!

We were just at the ped. Sat. for yet another ear infection, his ears were still red today after 4 days on antibiotic, so we will do a recheck in a week and he will get the shots then.

He came in the 50% in weight and height and 90% in head circumference.

Dallas 1 year 22 lb 9oz, 29.5 inches long, and 48 cm head circm.

Emily 1 year 21 lb 7 oz, 28.75 inches long, and 46.5 cm head circm.

-oh and I had read about this for the past couple of years on the internet, but it is now officially recomended by the ped clinic in Ames too, keep your babes rear facing until 2 years. Emily sat backwards for several months past her birthday, but I guess Dallas will hang out there until Dec 2010. I want him to be safe, but I was secretly hoping for a little more leg room for me.

He has four bottom teeth, one visibly poking through on top with the other top front tooth right behind. He is a swift crawler, readily tackles the stairs and then slides back down them. He can pull himself up on anything and everything and likes to cruise along furniture or will walk with me while grabbing onto my legs. He can stand independently for seconds and then slowly lowers himself to the floor. He seems to really love music and claps happily along. He is defiantly ready for his first haircut which I have been putting off until he officially reaches one. He loves to read and turn pages (and rip) Emily's books, and he still has stealth radar for Bo's water dish. He easily located it at grandpa's house within 2 minutes of being in the house.

from the mouth of babes

Emily talking to me

Em "Mom is this your bible or my bible?'
Me "What do you think?"
Em "I think it is your bible, this is God's bible and it is good"
Me "yes, you are right, good job!"
Em "it is the truth"

I am so thankful she knows such wisdom at three years old. Of course we had the whole conversation while she was holding the bible, and waving her sparkly, Dora wand over the words. She continued to tell me a story from the bible where it rained a lot from the sky, which was collected in the sink and the people were sad.

gobble, gobble

This is my first attempt at brining a turkey and then roasting it. I loosely followed these directions from thepioneerwoman.com Brining would be impossible if we didn't have an extra fridge in the garage. 24 hours of a 24 pound turkey sitting in a pot of salt water, who has room for that? I wanted to try it, Robert thinks most turkey is dry, and brining is supposed to be the solution, prognosis... he liked it! Oh and basting in a stick of butter helps too. It's funny though none of us like the skin so it sort of goes to waste. It was a great experience and I now have tons of turkey in the freezer, but the how could I pass it up at 39 cents a pound.

Emily's Christmas Decor

Emily was running the camera for this post. This is her version of the Christmas decorating we did for her room. Each of the kids have their own tree with their personal ornaments. She has a throw size quilt that features nativity scenes on her chair. She also has a little music box with a train that goes around a track when it is wound, and a little nativity for her room. Oh and the reindeer sings a great version of jingle bells when you push its foot!

Dinner for two

We have had Em's little table out in the kitchen for a couple of days, while I do some rearranging to accommodate the tree. She has been crafting at the table quite a bit, although it is at the right height for Dallas to be a helper too! Emily has also been toting Teddy Bear with her everywhere. He takes naps, he gets left with me when she goes to the store, yesterday he was sick and needed his temperature taken and some medicine. Last night Emily wanted to eat at her little table so she could sit with Teddy Bear.

another first

Emily attended her first "drop off" birthday party this weekend. We are entering that stage where we parents don't always "get" to be around! We have tested the waters with this concept during her Tumbling class where parents are encouraged to wait outside in the hall. If you prep her right she doesn't seem to mind at all, especially when there is promise of cake!

saturday somethings

It has turned into a pretty great November, today was no exception.
Robert trimmed out our front door this morning, Greg needed his saw back to keep working on his house, so this project needs some wrapping up. Rob did a great job, I think I can handle the part that is left, a little dry wall patch-up from when we ripped the old door out, and then touch up wall paint, and paint trim.
Emily was invited to a princess party today. We dropped her off, and then grandpa picked her up, as we went tailgating! The recap we got was that she had lots of fun, and really, really enjoyed the cake and singing happy birthday, but had a lot to say about the cake!
And did I mention the Cyclones won! We are bowl eligible at 6-5 and could possible still win the Big 12 North, what a crazy season. My dad took some pics today of Em as a princess I will try to post those soon.

Dallas at 11 months

Our smiley boy with golden locks will be one year old next month! Can you believe it? We have been so blessed with a very content, mellow, and happy baby. Plans are underway for his dedication at church, and the big birthday party, which I realize is more for us than him, but a who can turn down a great excuse for cake.

He is pulls up on any object, climbing me/my legs seems to be a favorite. He is a very fast crawler. He has tried a couple of stairs, but doesn't seem to have the interest to do all of them, he safely slides backwards to get down from them. I haven't yet had to remove him from the stairs. When he wakes at night he quickly goes to stand up in his crib and then gets "stuck" and can't manage to go back to lay down and find his paci. He is still enjoying all foods, and eats quickly. When he wants to eat, he lets you know! He doesn't mind being left at the church nursery or with baby sitters, but I love the greeting I get when I return. Emily and Dallas are getting along really well, he loves to help her play with things, and she does a great job entertaining him. I can't wait to see what the next couple of months hold!

Halloween 2009

Don't we look like a happy family
My little duck

My little snowman

Trick or Treat

She is not afraid to touch the gutsYep! she licked her fingers, I think she was hoping for pumpkin muffins

Robert's, Dallas, and Emily's pumpkinsAll aglow

"Kibbe" Mash

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We are sleeping a little better around here. After another sleepless night, I took Dallas to the Dr on Friday, he had an ear infection, to go with his new tooth. He isn't quite back to himself, but we are working on it. The Dr office is not for those worried about catching the flu, I would estimate that 60% of the people in there were wearing masks. I still think we already had this business at the beginning of Oct, so I am not to worried, Robert and I never got symptoms but were around when the kids got it so I think we have been nicely exposed. Did you know that they think a similar flu strain was around in 1976 so some people might have natural immunity from that outbreak, not me because I am not that old!

I still think Robert and I will go get the regular flu shot soon, the kids got it in Sept at their well visits, although the clinic here does not have enough supply to give Dallas the booster that first timers are supposed to have. He will still have some immunity.

the last 24 hours

we have had a hard 24 here. Dallas seems to be really sensitive to teething, at least that is my guess currently! He has woken up multiple times the last couple of nights. Tuesday evening 6:30-11:00 pm, he probably slept 1.5 hours.... who knows about the over night, I think he was awake more than he was asleep.

He slept on the babysitter this morning for 30 minutes, and I did finally get him to take an afternoon nap. He must be down at least 1/2 of his sleeping hours. The front of his shirt is soaked in drool, which is really unusual because he is usually not a drooler. He doesn't have a fever but feels warm to the touch and his cheeks are warm and pink! He stopped nursing at noon, and won't take a paci, his gums must really be inflamed! The only time he was not fussing/crying is when I hold him on my hip standing, or he lays on my chest and tummy while I am lying down, needless to say it was a long day. He needs sleep and finally succumbed, although he hasn't had milk since noon so I am not sure how long he will be down. Perhaps I can finally get him to use a sippy cup!

The weird thing is his gums don't look that swollen, here's hoping he gets a ton of teeth at once so he won't have to suffer like this again.

girls fun day

Emily had her favorite friend over the other day while she was visiting Ames. Emma and Emily play so well together, I wonder if it is similar to having twins?

Candy Land (look at that sharing!)

Dress up
Puzzles

Cooking, I think Emma is getting her faced cleaned by Emily

and maybe her hands washed

This is how our week shaped up
Monday, call the Dr. for three hours in the am, get a 11:30 appointment, turns out we have a perfectly healthy boy who just happens to wake several times during the night (again, we had just fixed this issue), and scream and cry and cry some more with no comfort. Lucky us, that phases sure don't see to last long. Although they don't seem that way at 3:30 in the morning when you are only sure of one thing, he must be dying of an ear infection!

Tuesday, drop the kiddo's off, drive to Nevada for jury duty

Wednesday, Wicked was awesome, I enjoyed the night off of parenting (thanks Robert), had a wonderful time with Lynne enjoying table side guac and a margarita. And of course the show was completely well, Wicked.

Thursday, back on sched. gym, errands, nap, clean house...

Friday, more of Thursday!

Sat, ISU Homecoming vs. Baylor. Can't wait!


Update on the kiddo's
my little tailgater from the backseat
Em "look Mom it is Iowa State, that is where we park the car, have chips and hot dogs. They have a lot of red."

Dallas started clapping his hands this week, so cute. He loves music, he will clap along to anything. He also will copy me, if I clap or tilt my head he will try to do the same, what a fun game. Developmentally waving bye should be next. He is spending lots of time crawling around following me, and If I sit down or stand still long enough he will climb right on up!

enjoy the view

Read for the Record 10/08/09

Today, Jumpstart is trying to set a World Record, you can help by reading Eric Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar to your child or classroom. To record your participation and to see if they set the record you can go to readfortherecord.org

I read to two little ones and a dog this morning.

another tailgating pic

Emily has been our little tailgating partner this year. She has attended the North Dakota game, the Army game and the Kansas State game. She might get one more in this year too, if we can get some friends down from MN or in from CO to come to homecoming and bring their little ones... hint hint! She went to almost all the games in 2006 as an infant and could be snuggled into the Bjorn front carrier. She does very well watching the game, we make an event out of locating Cy, and our seat neighbors love entertaining her as well! Plus $2.50 worth of popcorn goes along way in occupying a little one. I want to take her to some gymnastic meets this winter, and maybe a couple of WBB games. I think they will be perfect mommy and em outings.