Year In Review

Okay, I figured since this is my first attempt at a blog, and I haven't been doing this for a year yet it would be hard to reflect on my blog a year ago so I thought what better thing then to highlight some of the highs in our family!

1. My mom is doing much better and on the road to recovery!
2. Emmah lost her first teeth!!!
3. Jake is potty training!!!
4. Emmah started Kindergarten, is it possible I have a 5 year old?
5. We are all happy and healthy.

I know kinda lame, but hey what can we say! Hope everyone has a happy and safe new year!

Christmas in a nutshell!

Okay well of course Santa came to our house and brought many happy smiles to two very lucky and loved little children! This year was one of the best so far since Jake and Emmah both truly understood the whole Santa thing and are beginning to understand the true story of Christmas. Emmah was most excited about her Princess Wii game, which is just for her and daddy to play with (this I will have to see...and don't worry I will also take pictures!) and for Jake his Batman book! We made some truly wonderful memories this Christmas that I plan to continue. I have also had the chance now to sit down and really reflect on the past year and how many things have changed and how we have grown and changed there are many things to be thankful for and many more lessons to be learned. I hope that all of you had a wonderful Christmas and were able to enjoy some time with family.

A Bloemers Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve is the night we reserve every year to celebrate Christmas with the Bloemers family. A good time is always had the this year was no exception. It is always nice to sit down and just talk to everyone, share in some really good food, and of course play a rousing round of BINGO. I think it is one of the highlights for everyone, and this year was no exception. Emmah even got to be the caller for a short time, during dirty BINGO (where people can steal the gifts you have won!) It is great to see everyone, not that we don't see them often, but it is always nice to get together this time of year and reflect on all the wonderful memories of years past and present.

Making Cookies

Well, I decided that since Christmas is fastly approaching that maybe we should make some cookies for Santa. I was a little nervous about taking on this project since a friend of mine had a series of complicating events occur when she attempted, but I pulled up my sleeves and decided to dive it. Besides what else were we going to do, we're SNOWED IN!!

It was a good time. The kids loved deciding what cookie cutter to use, and really wanted to sample them when they are finished. We are going to attempt to make some gingerbread boys and girls later today, and then decorate. That I am waiting for Toby for, things never go well with frosting and a 5 year old and a 3 year old!!

Kid's Christmas Party

Together with our friends we got together and had a Christmas Party. It was a BLAST!! Even Santa showed up....and boy were the kids surprised! We hung out, ate some pizza, and then headed to the ice rink to do some skating.

This was the first time we had taken the kids, and it has been awhile for me as well. We had a ton of fun! Emmah took to skating really well. She even did some skating without any help. Jake needed some help, but he had fun anyway. He even asked later when were going skating again! It was definetly a time to remember and will have to be an annual event.

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Saddle Up

Tonight we went to Zeeland and rode on a horse drawn wagon through the city. It was so much fun! We didn't tell the kids where we were going and they LOVED it! On our short journey we sang Christmas carols (and yes all of us sang!) and enjoyed the lights as well as the big Christmas cards. The kids enjoyed the ride and loved petting the horses too!