Holiday program at St Peter

 

So here is a little video, I'm not sure if it will upload or not (it wouldn't so here are some photos), of Brennan at his school program.  By the end of the show, Brennan had warmed up, but this first song he was pretty grouchy.  This song is something about Christmas Christmas Reindeer paws, Santa Santa Claus.  His last song was We wish you a Merry Christmas, and he was smiling and singing that one, but I didn't get good video.  Her is a photo of him and his teacher Mrs Bronwyn.

Christmas

Christmas has come and gone as it has for everyone else.  It was fun and nice, but stressful too.  Needless to say I'm glad it's over with.  I tried to keep up with some of our Christmas traditions, we went bowling (it was a bust) and Xmas eve worship (it was a bust, we had spent the afternoon in the house trying to help Quinn be successful on the potty, which she wasn't).  But we started some new traditions too, we went to see Christmas lights after church, the kids enjoyed the popcorn the most, and Waffles with the works (nuts, bananas and whipped cream) for breakfast, and currently we're celebrating the 12 days of Christmas while we wait for Epiphany. 

Here are a few photos of the kids with some gifts that they received.  Everyone was so generous, thank you so very much. 

 Large Lego blocks for Quinn, duplo blocks I think they are called, it is a gas station set.  She got some games and books and clothes and a nice doll and a Mickey Mouse microphone and a big girl bike, she doesn't understand how to pedel, but we'll get there.

 Brennan was very excited about the napkin holder that he made for Adam and I, shaped like a gingerbread house.

 Brennan got some little legos from Papa and Grandma Deb, he loves sitting and playing with them.  I on the other hand am already sick of stepping on them... he got some books, a remote control car, clothes and games, a nabi tablet and a new bike.

 Merry Christmas to little Vann, he got some clothes, and books and a gift card, what to buy....  He and I sat on the couch and worked the camera.

 Nice shirt for Adam from Joe and Suz.

I've been looking picking up a scarf, but there are too many choices, so it's best if the choice is made for you.  Thanks Joe and Suz, nice choice.

Vann Adam Thomas

From my ultrasounds the doctors were under the impresson that the baby was going to be on the small side.  The last two weeks while we waited for the baby to arrive I was pretty uncomfortable and thought each ache and twinge in my stomach was 'go' time.  But I must be a good home, because this little guy did not want to come out. I was able to schedule my induction for my due date though, which is nice, cuz we liked that fun date of 12.12.12 whichh won't come around again for 89years, right..  So we were to be at the hospital on 12.12.12 at 8am if I didn't go there on my own earlier. 

 

Here is a photo of the family just before we headed to the hospital.  Adam and I got to hang out in the delivery room from 8am til about 8pm.  And it was odd for us to have an induction during daylight.  Normal for us is going in at 9pm and then sleeping through the process and having a baby in the early morning.  But not this time.  People laughed when the saw that I had brought a book.  But I needed a book, when we showed up at the hospital I was only 2cm.  The pitocin was started around 9:30 and I got the epidural around 1pm.  And by 430pm I was ready to go.  I think I surprised the nurse when she checked me, with a funny tone to her voice, she said I think I better call the doctor, you are going to have a baby.  I don't think she was expecting me to be that far along (and by this point Adam and I have been checking the clock commenting that we were running out of time for 12.12.12 and that the baby better hurry up.)

 Here is the first photo of baby boy, we decided to name him Vann Adam Thomas, his first name is something that Adam came up with, for several reasons; I wanted double nn in the name, he thought Brennan would get a kick out of his little brother being named van (he loves cars/trucks etc) and it incorporates his dads name Ivan. And the middle name is for the little guys dad, Adam.  He was not such a little guy like they thought, he was 7lb 4oz and 19.5in long.  Pretty good size if you ask me.  Take a look at this photo, I can't believe how purple he is, this is him just after entering the world.  The dr said he presented with his hand on his face (I don't know if that is necessary for the story, but I just remembered it as I'm looking at this photo).

 At birth, he had some black black eyes with no eyelashes.  The eyes are still dark, but the lashes are coming in slowly.

 I have a photo of the other 2 like this too, they all have the same cry face.

 and they all have the same pout face.

 And check out the hair.  The old wives tale talks about bad heartburn, and did I ever have bad heartburn with this little guy.

 The nurse decided it would be easiest to get the gunk out of his hair by just putting him under.

 I have photos of the other 2 like this too.

 Oh, and this is funny too.  When he got all cleaned up and combed, we had to laugh, he looks like he was born 40yr old.

 The kids came to visit on Thursday night.  They were very excited to meet their new little brother.

 Here is the happy family of 5.

 We came home from the hospital on Friday afternoon, and both kids just wanted to play with Vann.  So we had to take pictures etc.  They both already really love the little guy.  It's hard for them to understand though that he can't do all the things they would like him to do.

 Here is one of Quinn with him, and everyone looks to be happy.

And then we all get back to the reality of life.....

Thanksgiving...no family and California style

Just being honest here, we were hoping for an invite to join someone for a nice warm, family style, Thanksgiving meal.  We have kinda lucked out in that area the last few years.  But that didn't happen, which is OK too, but we decided to take a drive and head to the beach instead.  We packed a picnic lunch and went to Santa Cruz.  It was just over 2 hours away, the weather was nice, about 60.  The water was chilly, Adam did say if he'd had his suit he would have gone in though.

We visited two beaches, Capitola first.  And there was lots of people surfing in wetsuits and plenty of people on the beach with the same idea as us. 

We actually made a uturn not far from home and went back for the sand toys, which I'm glad we did.

Trying hard to get a Christmas card photo, but I'll keep trying.....

took a little walk on the pier that you can see from the earlier photos

We visited another beach called Natural Bridges.  The kids are walking with Adam here on the rocks.

 

Of course, being with more family would have been better, but hanging out just out little family was great too.

Big Sibling class

In preparation for the baby, we took the kids to the hospital here in Lodi where we'll deliever and attended the sibling class.  It seemed to be helpful for Brennan before Quinn came, so we thought why not.  And Quinn really enjoyed herself some baby....and Brennan was in one of his moods and was being Brennan.

She loved holding the baby and wrapping the baby and she was all up in there when it was time to take off the shirt and diaper.  This was all on her own, with no help from me.

Brennan and Grandma Linda observing from the back row.

Finally warming up a bit.

We headed up stairs to see a room, and we also got to see a brand new baby, he was less than an hour old. 

Home Sweet Home......

Just wanted to post a few pictures of the new place.  It's really nothing special, but I'm sure you may have been wondering.  For the proximity to Adam's work, (about 45 miles round trip to the south), school for Brennan, the cost/month and size; for what is available for rental in Lodi, we did good. 

 

Front entrance, there is a bedroom (babyroom/guestroom) and Adam's bathroom (guest bath) on the left and the kitchen is on the right.  Front closet on the left, then master bedroom on left.  On right just past the seated bench in foyer is the kitchen table and living room.  The stairs to the second level are right behind the bookcase, and the sliding door for the backyard is there too.

Kitchen, on the smaller side, with a gas stove -have not gotten the hang of that...- the counters are tile with old/poor grout, so that is a bummer for wiping/cooking etc.  The cupboards are also very high, I've never been one to worry about reaching the top shelf, but as you can see the step ladder in these last two photos, it gets used atleast every other day, so no sense putting it away.  For about the first 2 weeks (when the kitchen was operational) it was up and open in the middle of the kitchen, like it was a fixture.  In this photo the fridge is on the right, then dishwasher and sink.  The sink has a nice window over it which faces the west.  But I guess it's a skorcher in the summer, so I have already put a curtain over it.

Here is the backyard, we have a nice corner lot, which I'm thankful for.  Not really the time of year for playing for the kids, but it will be nice in the months to come. 

Brennan and Quinn have the upstairs.  This is a loft area, which we have turned in to the toy room.  The bedroom they share is through the door and they have a bathroom there too. 

Big room for the kids, the first 2 weeks were hard; they did not want to sleep upstairs.  They were afraid, monsters etc.  That fear has come and gone thankfully.  Now they just don't want to sleep cuz they are having fun talking to each other.  I'm not sure what size bed we'll get Quinn, but that time is coming soon for her to be out of the crib.  For sure a twin will fit, but a full size bed would be nice for her to have too.

Looking down from the loft area.  The kids are down below engrossed in PBS.

Here is the master bedroom.  It has some of the baby things in it; just to help with the transition of the new addition, and company visiting using the front room, it was just as easy to set some of these things up in here for the time being.  There is a walk in closet and I have the bathroom in this room, it is left of the bassinatte. 

Kids bathroom, they have the largest bathroom, but that's ok, I'm actually enjoying having my own bathroom.

 

With the pictures of Brennan biking, there was the garage/front of house.  Not a lot of storage in the garage, and I worked so hard to make room in there for the van; and then it just barely fits.  I get out of the van several times when I pull into the garage to view if the door will be able to close without taking off the back of the van.  So that was/is a little annoying.  The laundry is also in the garage. 

 

Home Sweet Home.  Adam really likes his new job, so it's all worth it in the end.

Training Wheels

 

We took the training wheels off his bike on Sunday.  By the end of the day he had dad running behind him to catch up.  And he was ear to ear with a huge grin.  He says he needs help starting (but he has done it a few times) and his dismount is a little ackward.  But so far so good, and he only has one speed....fast.  So we'll keep practicing in our little circle, we're not ready for him to be on the real road.  (I tried posting video, but it didn't work)

I like the smile on his face in the last photo, he was really proud of himself.

 

 

 

Halloween at the Y

Another fun event we love that the Y hosts is Halloween at the Y.  Since this was our last weekend in Green Bay, it worked out nice that we were able to attend at the Broadview Y.  The kids love the Y and why not run around in a costume to add to the fun.

Playing a few games.  Brennan wanted to be a dog again this year, and Quinn is a dragon.  Fine by me, I just glad that I can talk them in to one of the costumes that I have in the bin in the basement, all of which are costumes that my mom made for my brother and I went we were kids.  I still have plenty of costumes, so I sure hope I can get them to wear them in the years to come.

For some reason Brennan does not want to have a his face painted.  He is just happy as a clam when it is on his hand.  And he was super excited that the guy could freehand a car, even though it wasn't one of the many on the sheet for the kids to pick from.  (I think the car looks pretty darn good, I think it should be on the list).

And the guy wasn't too sure about drawing on her cheek, he was worried that she would wiggle too much.  But i think she proved him wrong. She sat very very still and got a pumpkin on her cheek.

Mom was the only one brave enough to check out what was in the boxes; monkey brains and witches heart all those fun things.

craft projects, here is a little black spider

and a snack cup with skeleton cross bones on it

it was a great event organized by one of our favorite people, Amy Reieking.  Here is Quinn playing a game with Amy, picking a duck from the cauldron.