It's been awhile...

I am way behind in posts. I figured I'd better squeeze one in to get people off my back. We all have been sick this week. Brendan had bronchitis, I have had a horrible cold, and Jeremy was tossing his cookies earlier this week plus is battling a cold. Good fun.

Christmas was good. We went to my mom's on Xmas Eve. After dinner we opened presents. Cole and Brendan (in their matching pj's) don't quite get the concept yet. They are perfectly content just looking at the characters on the wrapping paper. Who cares what's inside? We made the mistake of letting them (ok, us) open their presents from Tony first. Once they saw their John Deere Big Scoop Tractor they could care less what else was to come. They did lose a some interest when Tony started putting Brendan's Cozy Coupe Car together. He was required to assemble it when two boys crawling in and out.

Christmas morning we opened presents from Santa. Again, he was just as happy with the Backyardigans wrapping paper. In the early afternoon, Jeremy's mom, brother, sister, and his brother's girlfriend came to exchange presents. I got some of the penguins that I've had my eye on at Hallmark for the last month. Brendan opened his presents but was equally amused just showing off. In the afternoon we went to Jeremy's aunt and uncle's for dinner. Someone made the mistake of introducing Brendan to the singing fish on the wall. If he got too close he was afraid of it, but loved it from a distance. They were required to hit the button to make it sing over and over and over.

On Saturday Jeremy had to work so Brendan and I ventured off to my grandpa's on our own. It was raining and foggy but the roads were fine until we hit the road Grandpa lives on. I'm not really sure you can call it a road. It's more of a death trap. Large hills, curvy, big drop offs on either side of the road, and glare ice. I have never been so happy to be out of the car in my life. Brendan was very excited b/c Grandpa has lots of bird feeders with a ton of birds. And even better, horses. We walked down to see the horses in the pouring rain. The horses came out but left as soon as they realized we didn't have anything good for them. I can't blame them.

For New Year's we went to Jeremy's co-worker, Margie, and her husband Fred's for a bit. No, Fred and Margie are not the little old couple you are envisioning. Not even close. We took Brendan and he had a good time and was a really good boy. He was amused by their gynormous dog. Every time the dog walked by he'd call out for the "horse". Understandable. He was a moose. Brendan's idea of a big dog is Riley, the skinny sheltie. We got home a little after 9. Brendan and I were in bed shortly after that. Since I was still sick and tired, Jeremy went to another party without me. I did wake up and turn on the TV long enough to watch the ball drop before going back to sleep. Exciting times.

That's pretty much the jist of it all. Here are some pictures. There are quite a few since I've been such a slacker.

Christmas at Grandma & Grandpa's...

Christmas morning at home...

Christmas at Dick & Sandy's with Kelly and her ferrets...

Merry Christmas

Make a Smilebox greeting

Santa's Elves were here...

Last night Santa's Elves came and filled Brendan's stockings. He honestly could care less. He doesn't quite get the concept of opening presents. Oh well, he'll get it sooner or later.

There are FABULOUS pictures of Maddy that my friend, Julie, did on her blog if you want to check it out. Feel free to gush. She and Alicia will appreciate that.

Here is a picture of Brendan from the other night playing with Dad.

Santa's helper

We finished up decorating the tree the other night. I was sitting on the floor putting hooks on the ornaments and Brendan took to adding bulbs (without hooks) all by himself. Here is a short video of that. This was the same night he was jammin' to Rockin' around the Xmas tree so he still looks like an orphan.

More Maddy

I tried to upload this along with the pictures yesterday and wasn't having any luck. So, here is a short video of Maddy from yesterday. Nothing exciting but cute. It was pretty dark in the room so a majority of this is pretty dark. If you haven't already seen the pictures, be sure to scroll down.

Welcome to the world...

Just to keep the Ahlers clan informed (and anyone who knows Alicia)


Madelyn "Maddy" Mae Weinshrott

was born early this morning. 7 lbs 12 oz. 20 inches long.



For the record, Brendan is not a fan. He's not jealous. I think she scares him. He couldn't get away from me and to Uncle Tony fast enough.

Rockin' around the Xmas Tree

Last night I was decorating the Christmas tree and Brendan was playing with some of the penguin stuff he came across. He's a fan of the Hallmark penguin thing I got a few years ago. The penguins ring their bells and sing. This is him enjoying the tunes.

As always, the videos are pretty dark. I have no explanation as to why he's wearing no pants. I think that was a half-assed attempt at getting him in his pajamas. And the bib is not filthy as it appears in the video. Wet, but not dirty. I don't know why it looks so gross. Please don't call the social workers.

Gonna have to face it your addicted to

Vicks. Yes, you heard me correctly. Vicks Vapor Rub. He can thank Grandma for that one. It doubles as a learning mechanism. It's hours of fun taking the cap off and putting it back on. But, it smells so damned good. Watch his eyes in the 2nd video as he inhales.

Straight from the heart

All I can say is that Allie is going to be SO pissed.

Cha cha cha

We did a lot of running this weekend. But, it was nice outside on Saturday so we took advantage and went out to play in the woods. He probably would've played all day if I had let him.

You can't quite tell, but his hat is stuck in the branches so he can't move.

Oooo, leaves. Good fun.

I'm outta here.

In the last week he has discovered his love for Sour Patch Kids. He loves them and inhales them without even puckering. His new favorite phrase? Cha cha cha.

Climb every mountain

If it doesn't move, we are going to climb it. On second thought, who cares if it moves. We'll climb it anyway.