Family Portrait

We got some more pictures done at the Picture People last week. We were in need of an updated family picture because in our last one, Jordan is only 9 months old. Jordan didn't do as well this time as a couple weeks ago in his single session. He was running everywhere and did not want to smile very much. So we can wait another year before we get another family one done. But these three pictures I am posting turned out pretty good. We also changed the colors slightly in each picture to the retro style when we bought the pictures. So these pictures you are seeing aren't the true colors.

Christmas 2007

A couple days before Christmas, the kids went out and built a snowman. It was pretty nice outside, so the snow was starting to melt, and Carter could stand the temperature. This was the first time he had really been out and played in it this year. He and Savannah had a blast. They actually built a snowman in the back yard and the front yard.

I guess she's a tomboy snowgirl. :)

Christmas was a lot of fun this year. Carter was especially fun to watch open his gifts this time. Jordan of course still needed a little help. I did find the ultimate gift though for Carter. He absolutely loves the Toy Story movies and I found a Halloween costume at The Disney Store right after Halloween was over. So I got it for a really good price. He wore it all day on Christmas and he even went to bed in it! He even put it on as soon as he got home from the babysitters last night. Nik and I think he thinks he is actually Buzz Lightyear when he is wearing it. Even on Christmas all day at my brother's house, whenever people would say Carter, he would look at them all serious and say, "It's not Carter, it's Buzz". And then when we asked him where Carter was, he said he was on the phone.

Savannah and her Peyton Manning Jersey. This was her #1 request for Christmas!!

Jordan and his Thomas the Train. He looked so cute riding it.

To infinity and Beyond!!

Hunter at Lance's house on Christmas Day. He played with those trains the majority of the time. He had a blast.

Buzz Lightyear and Graham

Youth Group Party at My House!!

We had quite the crazy weekend. Nik is the head youth pastor for the Jr. High youth at our church. Saturday night we had a party from 5pm - 9pm. Recently, God has blessed our church with a married couple who also have a heart for youth named Chris and Kai (pronounced Kye). They have been ministering to a lot of the youth in their neighborhood and brought them all along to join the party. So on Saturday night, we had 30 youth in our house. Craziness!!!! And it gets even more crazy. 20 of them ended up spending the night. We had a talent competition in the basement and the kids ripped it up with rap, break dancing, and much more.

The next day church was cancelled, so Nik and Kai gave an amazing message. The group left around 4pm on Sunday. I was ready to have my house back. :) But the kids had an awesome time. Here are some pics.

Puddle Cookies?

So I wasn't going to post anything, cuz I really have nothing new to talk about, but Nik has been hounding me the last 2 days about a new post. I told him to post himself, but you know how that goes. :) Love you honey!! :)

Well, this is pretty embarressing, but since I have nothing else to talk about I might as well share... I got a peanut butter kiss cookie recipe off the internet and decided to make cookies the other night. I made them just fine, except when I took them out of the oven and placed the kiss on top, it melted pretty quickly. So the next pan that I pulled out of the oven, I decided to immediately take the cookies off of it and put them on wax paper to cool. I waited 2 minutes before I put the kisses on and they STILL MELTED. What the heck. I don't know what the deal was. Here are some pictures of them though. I was told they are cute. I think they look sad. Haha... Oh well, they still taste the same I guess.

Elmo and The Picture People

Friday afternoon while I was at work, I received an email message from my neighbor (a radio dj) who had 4 extra tickets to Elmo Grows Up at the Coliseum for Saturday at 2pm. I was very excited that he had thought of us and called him right away to tell him that we definately wanted the tickets. Nik wasn't feeling well though this morning, so I asked my friend Amy and her son if they wanted to go with Carter and I.

It was a really good show and we were on the side but ended up in the first 6 rows. The boys had a ball. They were selling Elmo helium balloons for $8.00. Can you believe that? Geez. Talk about a money maker. My camera died after the first picture I took. I was pretty bummed that I didn't think to charge it before we left. Oh well, this was still a cute pic of one of four giant posters they had up when we first walked in.

Carter and Elijah excited to see Elmo and Grover!!

On are mall trip the other night we went to Picture People to get some pics of Jordan taken. We used our free 8x10 coupon and bought one other pose. But gosh, all of them are so good, it was hard to choose!!! Here are the proofs.

We got this one for our free 8x10

This was the other pose we bought. They zoomed it in for us though and changed it to a retro (darker shades) look.

My Child the Translator

When we were at the mall last night, I forgot to mention a story that Nik told me that I just couldn't stop laughing over. Of course I will probably find it more funny than you becuase he is my kid, but oh my goodness....

So anyway, we were at the mall and Carter needed a diaper change, so Nik took him to the bathroom. While they were in there, Nik said a big Mexican man came in to do his "business". Well, I won't go into detail, but I guess this man started making grunting noises, oh my goodness!! And at the same time, he was speaking on his cell phone in Spanish. At one point he paused, and all of a sudden Carter yells out, Tomato Tomato Tomato Tomato Tomato!! Oh my gosh, I would have died. I asked Nik if the man was quiet after that, but Nik says, he just kept on talking. Hillarious!!!

Santa and Me

Tonight we ventured off to the Glenbrook Mall. Nik had some gift certificates that he wanted to spend, and I thought we could all go so that the boys could get their picture taken with Santa. I wasn't quite sure how well the boys would do because when Savannah was their age, she was terrified at the very sight of Santa.

Jordan was pretty squirmy on Santa's lap and started to whine/cry, so we decided to get a couple shots with just Carter. Those turned out really well. The first three pictures are what our package came with, and the last few pictures are what I took. I couldn't believe that they were allowing parents to take pictures with their own cameras. Bonus!!

Jordan later revealed to us that Santa had bad breath.

Christmas and Birthdays and Gingerbread Houses, Oh My!!

We had our Stiver christmas this year early because my sister-in-law is due right around Christmas and they live in Indianapolis and didn't think they would be traveling that week since it was so close to the due date. So we had it at their house in Indy today. It was a wonderful/chaotic day. This was the first time a sibling has hosted Christmas. And on Christmas Day it will be at my other brother's house. I am sure it's a nice break for my parents.

We also celebrated my brother Lance's birthday. Don't worry Lance, I won't reveal how ancient you are. :) But there were "plenty" of candles on that cake. :) The kids also had fun making a gingerbread house. Great idea Tara!!

There was great food, good fellowship, and some really great gift giving. The kids had a ball. And next year we will have another "boy" to add to the grandkids. Oh my!!

2 Grandparents, 5 Grandsons, 1 Grandaughter (1 Grandson on the way)

Poor Savannah always gets chased by her all boy cousins. :)

Nik and I

Uncle Brian organizing the gingerbread house

The gingerbread crew.
Playdough time.
Mission Complete.
Two happy gingerbread kids.