Christmas...

Wow! This past week was like a whirl-wind! We had something every night, and sometimes during the day. We were busy baking, wrapping, shopping, eating, opening presents, singing, laughing, going to programs, playing games, watching movies, and did I say eating!?! It sure was fun!! We really had a great Christmas celebrating Christ's birth with family and friends!

My sister Kate, brother Luke, and soon to be sister-in-law Kristen were all in town from California...it was SO nice to have my whole family together! We were able to spend a lot of time with them, which was great! The boys just love spending time with family, whether it's hugs from the grandparents, playing with cousins, or being silly with aunts and uncles they always have fun! We missed Kevin's sister Kim, our brother-in-law Tim, and their kids who were Florida this Christmas...enjoying the sunshine and warm weather for us!

Here are some pictures from this past week...

Program...

Caleb's school program was this past Tuesday night! The church was packed full of people watching the 1st through 5th graders perform. There were so many kids in it and they really did a good job! It was a fun night and Caleb had lots of special people there watching him...special thanks to all of you who came! It really meant a lot to Caleb having you there!

Naughty or Nice...

I've been wanting to post this all week...This past Sunday after church Kevin and I were busy in the kitchen making lunch. We were both "into" what we were doing and not paying much attention to Levi playing in the living room, by the Christmas Tree. However I came to stop and looked up at Levi when I heard him excitedly say "CHOO..CHOO..CHOO..CHOO". And what did I see, you guess it! Mr. Levi had opened up one of his presents!! I guess he really wanted the Thomas the train toy! :) It's funny, because he actually opened HIS present...but what a stinker with how quietly he did it!! We honestly didn't hear the ripping of the wrapping paper, but he was hiding behind the coffee table. The other great part was when I said to him "Uh-oh what do you have?" And he proceeds to say "Thank You, Thank YOU!!"

I'll let you decide if he is naughty...or nice, because he did say Thank You!!!

Kevin right away went and grabbed the camera and Levi proudly showed off his wrapping paper pieces!
The chocolate around his mouth also makes me think he got into the M&M's candy dish as well! :)

the program...

So this morning was Ethan's Preschool Program...he was SO excited for it!! It was suppose to be last week, but his school had a snow day that day. So he had to wait an extra week, and he was going crazy!! As Ethan's excitement grew for the program here are a few fun stories that happened....

My mom was watching Ethan and Levi, while I helped with Caleb's class last week. So while they're riding in the car, Ethan from the backseat says to my mom
"Aren't you just SO excited for my program Grandma??"

Last night we put the boys to bed and Caleb was talking to Ethan and after a few minutes Ethan says to Caleb "Please stop talking Caleb, I need to sleep...otherwise I will be yawning, instead of singing at my program tomorrow!!" Kevin and I just laughed and laughed!! On a side note, honestly they have the sweetest and funniest talks ever after we put those two to bed. I love to be in the kitchen listening to their "talks"...most nights we are able to get a good laugh! Even this morning Caleb says to me "did you hear what Ethan said to me last night about yawning, instead of singing...that is so funny mom!"

Ethan wanted to be Joseph, not a shepherd...and he definitely made that clear! So he would "check out" every Joseph we would see on Cards, Nativity scenes, Books, etc. He wanted to make sure his outfit would look like Joseph! (Special thanks to Great Papa for his cane!)

So here are a coupe pictures from his program...

Ethan and his fellow classmates did such a great job...it was a JOY to watch! Ethan you were a wonderful Joseph! We are so proud of you, keep letting your light shine for Jesus! We love you buddy!!

SNOW DAY #2...

This morning Caleb comes into the kitchen laughing with a dripping wet tissue..."Mom, did you know that you can throw this at the bathroom mirror and it will stick?!?"

Me..."Please don't!!"

So Caleb walks back to the bathroom and I hear him say..."I told you Ethan, she wouldn't like it!"

I am sure there is much more fun to come on this lovely SNOW DAY! :)

SNOW DAY...

Today was the first SNOW DAY of the school year! Caleb was just about to bundle up and head to the bus stop, when I thought we should check if his school was canceled...and sure enough it was! Hip-Hip-Horray! It's always fun to have a SNOW DAY!

The boys spent most of the day playing outside in the "s-NO-w"...as Levi calls it! They went out 3 different times to play, one of the times Levi and I joined them along with some neighbor friends. Levi wasn't so sure about the snow at first, but it didn't take him long to join in on the shoveling and other snow fun!

When the boys needed a "warm-up" we came inside, got Levi down for a nap, and Caleb, Ethan, & I made Christmas cookies! The boys have been asking everyday for the last week if we could make them and so today seemed like a good day. Here are some pictures of our fun SNOW DAY!

Our tree...

Over the weekend we went and cut down a Christmas tree, it almost didn't feel right because there was no snow! We had a good time searching for the "perfect tree" with the boys and my parents. We got a really big tree this year...the boys said it had to be taller than Kevin and it is! Caleb and Ethan really had fun and got into hanging the ornaments on the tree. Levi loves to point at all the ball ornaments and say "bubbles". The boys also collected trains and train tracks to put around the bottom of the tree. We sure are having fun enjoying the season already! Here are a some pictures of us getting and decorating our tree!

Outside...

We have really been enjoying the wonderful weather this month! The boys have been able to be outside a lot, which is good...they love to play with their neighborhood friends, skateboard, ride bikes, play by the creek, and the list goes on. Here are a few pictures of the boys playing Hockey with Kevin a couple of Sundays ago. Even little Levi likes to join in on the fun!

Notice Caleb's "high waters"...in the last month he has just gotten SO tall, yikes!!

When you ask Ethan what he wants to be when he grows up? His answer is always..."A Hockey Player!"

Levi is sporting a new hair-do...he looks so much older now!!

the Wii...

One of Ethan's most favorite things to do is play the Wii...yes our boys were lucky enough to get one last year for Christmas from their Papa and Grandma Fishy! And I must say it was a great gift, for the whole family! :) So yesterday Ethan, Levi, and I are downstairs playing the Wii and the boys decide to take a break and play trains. Well I thought I would take a minute to practice my hitting/swing. Ethan ALWAYS beats me in Wii Baseball and it's not by a little, were talking like 10 point difference. So I am "practicing" and all of the sudden Ethan walks up and says

"Let me show you how it's done!"

Halloween

The boys had fun carving pumpkins and trick or treating this year...Caleb's pumpkin was the only one out of our "backyard pumpkin patch" that we were able to carve. Hopefully next year we can grow some bigger pumpkins!! Ethan didn't like the mustache Kevin painted on his face, so Kev washed "some" of it off. Later on in the night when E figured out he still had some of it on it was quite funny! Levi loves wearing his horse costume around the house and saying "giddy up", however tonight he really didn't want it on. So that was kinda of bummer trying to get pictures, but I got a few...enjoy!

Grandma Great...

This month we celebrated my Grandma's 88th Birthday! We praise God for her and His faithfulness!! She has such a strong love and commitment to God and her family! Here she is with her 6 great grandchildren...

We love you Grandma and thank you for all your love and support!

Peek-a-boo and Oreos...

and it isn't just a normal Oreo...double stuff orange filling for Halloween of course! :)

I got invited...

A couple weekends ago we *ALL* went up to the Fish Ladder to see the Salmon. This is something that Kevin usually does with the boys every year, but this year they let mom come along too! So of course with me along, comes pictures!!

Hip-Hip-Horray!!

K-man lost his FIRST tooth tonight!! It was quite an exciting night here at the Hart house!! We have really been wanting it to come out, since his "big tooth" was already coming in. The big tooth honestly is halfway in so he doesn't have too much of a hole. K has been waiting a LONG time for this! Last year the kids in his Kindergarten class got to put their name up on a board when they lost a tooth and he SO badly wanted to be a part of that. But tonight was HIS night!! He is looking forward to showing his friends and teacher at school on Monday!
It's kind of hard to see in the pictures, but my mom made this super cute "Tooth Fairy Pillow" with a special pocket for his tooth...he can't wait to see what the Tooth Fairy leaves him tonight!! Poor E-bugs, he's not so sure about the Tooth Fairy visiting our house tonight while we are all sleeping! However Caleb is "on" to the Tooth Fairy...just before bed he says, "I know Mom is the Tooth Fairy!"

ARTPRIZE

The other night we took the boys downtown GR to see ARTPRIZE...it was a fun night walking around downtown checking out the different art pieces. Besides the "art" the boys really enjoyed seeing the people fly fishing and kayaking in the Grand River.
It is definitely something to check out if you haven't yet. Here are a few pictures from our night...

Wuv you..

Levi is at the fun age when your vocab just explodes...he repeats EVERYTHING you say, but also is able to understand and answer some questions. Some of my favorites: "Hello-o-o-o"..."Oh my"..."Hungry"...His favorite I think is "Here". He is ALWAYS saying "Here" to one of us and then handing us something! :) Levi can say Caleb and E, but most of the time you hear him say "Boys". This morning he was walking around the house saying "Daddy, where are you?" Too cute! He still LOVES our neighbor's dog...so we hear "Myah" and "Woof Woof" a lot. With two older brothers it didn't take him long to learn this trick...fake burp and then say "Excuse me". He also will say "Stinky" and then you know he needs a dipe change. Caleb and Ethan find it quite funny though, because his excuse me and stinky sound about the same. Of course there is nothing better then when he says love you. Yesterday when I dropped him off at his class for church he says "Bye Mom, Wuv you!"

And we sure love our Levi, he adds SO MUCH joy and laughter to our home!

The boys on their bikes...

Go Lightning Chargers!!

It's SOCCER time again and boy is Caleb having fun! This year he is in the U-8 level so they have goalies and Caleb LOVES to be goalie! He does a really good job at it too...diving for the ball or drop kicks he has it under control! Kevin and my brother Nate are coaching again this year and are doing a great job with the boys. The boys on the team were divided on two different ideas for the "team name", so Kevin took part of each of their ideas and came up with LIGHTNING CHARGERS!

We are enjoying another season of SOCCER here at the Hart home!

Ethan's turn...

He has been waiting a long time for this...first day of PRESCHOOL!

Labor Day Weekend...

We had such great time camping in Ludington this year! The weather was perfect...we went to the beach, bike rides, hikes, campfires, fishing, and of course ice cream and supper at House of Flavors!! The kids had so much fun playing with their cousins...yes all 10 of them! :) We had lots of laughs and many great memories were made...