Hooray! It's your Birthday Emmy!

Yes, it's true my sweet baby Emmy is officially two years old. I remember the day she was born. I wasn't due until the 19th, but as is her fashion she does everything her way and on her schedule. My Emilee-sweet, cuddly and at times meaner than a snake. She's rough with her not so rough older sister. I predict many nights of screaming and hair pulling between the two, but I also can already see the incredible bond that they have. Emmy always wants to know where her Sissy is and Natalee feels the same. I think it was harder on Emilee when Natalee started going to school this week than it has been for Natalee. Any who...rambling again...Here are some pictures of us four hanging out at the house for Emilee's birthday. We gave Emilee a little stuffed Tigger Toy-she loves him. Natalee tried to take it from her and Emilee said in her high pitched little voice, "No, Mine!" My baby is two-on to potty-training!

Enjoy the pics!Emmy always has her tongue hanging out-my Grandpa Ben use to do that all the time too! Here she is opening her present-she was pretty excited!!

Here she is checking it out and trying to show it to me. When she peeled the wrapping paper back she yelled, "TIGGER!" She was definitely showing him off now. She said, "Mommy, see? Tigger!" ~Sisterly Love~ She is so special to me. What a sweet face.

Emilee and her Daddy-They do kinda complete one another-She follows him everywhere! A bond that can never be broken. Sisters for life-live, laugh, love. She looks so silly in this picture-I think it's my favorite! Don't mind us-just doing as monkeys do-Just hangin' around! I think that this monkey is just a bit too tall for daddy to play this game anymore...Sorry Nat!

Natalee's First Day of Pre-School

It has happened. My darling daughter, Natalee Cara Jean, has started pre-school. I am broken up inside about it. On one hand I am extremely proud of her, but on the other hand she is my first born, my first daughter and I just don't know if I am ready to let her go just yet. She is doing so well in school-I know only day 2 right?! She is able to do things in the classroom that other children can not do. She was able to group items my shape and color today and find the match to that item. *I'm beaming with pride*Natalee is also very proud of herself. I'm trying to let go a little bit, but she is only three years old. I am still aloud to have a little bit of my baby left, right? The biggest surprise from all of this was the following conversation:

\Me: Okay, Nat. I'm going now-love you. I'll be back later to get you.

Natalee: OK c-ya

Me to her teacher: I can't believe she just told me "c-ya"

Teacher: it's OK you'll get use to it-wait til she's 15!

When I came to get her after the longest 2 hours of my life she cried b/c she didn't want to leave her school! At that point I was convinced that she hated me-until later that night she said the sweetest thing to me: "Mommy, I lub you-I miss you muches taday-I have fend ( friend)"

As she was saying this to me her smile was brighter than I have ever seen. Natalee needs a friend-besides me and and her sister.

Here are the two pics that she would hold still for before we left for pre-school.

The 1st pic she is showing off her back pack. The second pic is her best effort at a rushed smile.

Christmas 2008, Continued!

Okie-Dokie...So I still have some Christmas pictures to share and some from New Year's Eve. So here ya go!

Above are pictures from my Grandma's house on Christmas day. Top Left are my Aunt Lori and Natalee. Lori came home from Florida for Christmas this year with her two sons, Benton (18) and Mason(14). Top Right is my Uncle David. More recently he has started coming home more often and I LOVE IT! We have all missed him so much. Pictured bottom right would be my Grandma. It's very rare to catch her in any pictures-take that lady! Hahaha!

Lori standing behind Kelly being a goof...Kelly had no idea!

Emilee was feeding her baby while sitting with her favoriteThese are the "Hillbilly House shoes" that Kelly gave all of us older woman for Christmas this year. "Hillbilly House shoes" are pads wrapped one around the other...gross and funny all at the same time. Cracked my butt up!

My Grandma-best person ever-loves me no matter what-makes me laugh everyday-lets me cry when no one else has time to hear me-I love her.Kelly and Me. She was the closest thing to a sister I had growing up. We shared a bedroom and a life. I have always loved and admired her so much. Our shopping trips and silly talks. Her sisterly advice-even when I don't want to hear it-that I do appreciate. Fourteen years seems like just a few on most days..unless I want to rag on her for being *40*Left-Right, top-bottom: Natalee Jean, Jake Carlson, Amanda Jean, Shannon Mullins, Benton Grass, Emilee Jean, Tyler Mullins, Kinze Carlson, Mason Grass and Samuel Carlson- Cousins til the end.

The Love of my Life-Nathaniel. Constant support through out the past five years. I am indecisive, flighty, forgetful-and he still loves me. NO ONE ever thought we would last-to that I say HA! I am proud on most days to say he is not only my husband, but my friend. We fight like every couple about the same crap that all couples fight about-money, the kids, my lack of employment-which I absolutely hate, but we love each other, we love our kids and we have faith in ourselves and in God. I love this man and I am so proud to be his Wife.

Christmas with the Jean Family

I SURVIVED!! Yes, it's over! I survived the holiday madness!! It was all very enjoyable, but I am glad it's done with and I can move on to 2009. I predict this year will be a rough time for us economically, but I am hoping with support from our familes we will be sitting here a year from now and again I will be saying WE SURVIVED!

We started our Christmas holiday with a Christmas Eve Dinner and gifts with Nathaniel's family. We went to his mom and dad's house to celebrate with his sisters and their families. A new guest this year was Mr. Wally Brenner and we all welcomed him with open arms-make it wrk michelle, make it work! Natalee tore in to her gifts just as I had expected and Emilee was too tired to care. Emilee just wanted to bug her older cousins and she succeeded. Here are some pictures from the that evening:

Natalee was BURNING up in her mama and papa's house-wood heat! But she was actually excited about her Barbie that she can take a bath with-even though she doesn't look like it in this picture. Emilee was SUPER tired but she was still willing to unwrap some preseents

Later that night we went home and had prepared to unwrap one gift before bed with the girls. Unfortunately, Emilee crashed on us in the car so Nat opened her own gift and her sisters. NEW JAMMIES!! YAY!! I had prewashed them before wrapping them so they could wear them to bed on Christmas eve. TRADITION!

Natalee and her Jammies on the left and Nat telling me, "Jut a minit!" while she was opening her sisters gift. Natalee and Nathaniel opening Nathaniel's gift from mommy.

The nexy morning was everything I had hoped it would be. The girls came down the stairs and were so surprised. Natalee was upset that "Santa" had broken the cookie that she left for him. Natalee ripped in to her gifts and emilee got her self a slow start but finished strong. All of my gifts were on the walls. Three floating shelves for our living room and new curtains. To me, that was a good set of gifts. Isn't it crazy how you go from barbies to shelves in a span of 20 years?! BElow are some photos from Christmas morning at our humble home:

Frustration!

Ok so lastnight, in preparation for my day of wrapping presents, I found my favorite movie, White Christmas and was totally psyched about watching it today. This morning I get up and magically the movie has disappeared. I have looked all over this ridiculouslt small house and not a movie to be found that is not animated in some way. I find myself losing more and more movies as time goes on. Is it that I'm too busy to notice myself putting things places they shouldn't be or is it age? Lord knows he has blessed me with a few gray hairs as of late. All I know is Natalee isn't home today and that meant I could watch my fave movie without interruption-Emilee loves the movie. AHHHH!!! WHERE IS MY MOVIE!!!!

Wow! Two weeks since I lasted posting anything...Well, let's get up to date! Not a whole lot going on. We are all just getting ready for Christmas. I remember as a child going to midnight mass at St. Francis. The smell of frankincense or something like it filled the air in our church. It was black as night outside and the church was full of glorious light. Many candles and beautiful music. At 8 years old, I was enchanted by it all. The tradition of it all is what gets to me now. I have long sense left the church. I pretty much ended it when my grandpa past away. I use to go to mass every Sunday and you can bet I was there every holy day of obligation and sometimes even when we didn't have to be. Grandpa was the one who instilled GOD in to my life and how important God was and His son. You know how it goes-rebellious teenager filled with doubt and grief-I turned on the one thing that could have helped me-My church and God.
Now that I am older and have children of my own, I realize the importance and the significance of what I was taught and once loved. I want my girls to grow up in the Church and know the real meaning of it all.

On to more secular news findings....Natalee has seen the Santa man this year and it did NOT go well. She was TERRIFIED! So, to counter act the bad experience I've been shoving it down her throat! We have watched more Santa movies than I had ever known to exist. I think she is almost over it. We have decorated the inside of the house as much as I can-I don't really have alot of space to put anything! I need shelves. We have decorated the tree and Natalee has put the stockings up-but not before she wore them as socks! She is convinced that Santa is bringing her a Hanna Montana doll and you can be sure that "Santa" will not let her down. Emilee still doesn't understand the concept of "Santa" bringing her things so for now she will just be excited about toys. We are busy once again this year with making sure we are everywhere we are expected to be. Sometimes I wish that we lived far away and couldn't come home-then we could stay at home in out own beds all day long!
So, in closing I wish you all a very Merry Christmas! Try to remember the season for what it is intended-the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

With Love,
Amanda

ONLINE SHOPPING

Just so you ALL know...I hate trying to buy anything online at disney.com! I can not believe that I have to drive all the way to Castleton just to buy a few items for the girls?! Wish me luck in the coming days as I will be driving to Indy. As many of you know the farthest I travel would be Lafayette. Ask Lynn Fischer...She had to ride with me to get to the Beef House because I DID NOT KNOW HOW TO GET THERE!! I really do need to get out more.
COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS: 23 days