Whew...is it really over?

I can't believe Christmas is actually over. We had SUCH a fun day that it seemed to fly by. It started with Grandma & Grandpa Ringger coming down on Christmas Eve. We surprised them with the fact that Eli was sick and that Jerome and I were going to church and leaving the kids with them. LOL After we got home from church, we put on their new Christmas PJs, sprinkled some Reindeer food for Rudolph, put out some famous Grandma Ringger cookies for Santa and turned off the fireplace so he could make his grand entrance.

I think I was more excited than the kids. I was awake at 4:30 and couldn't go back to sleep. I think Dad & I paced around all morning waiting for the kids to wake up! Finally, the boys were up and after groggily singing happy birthday to Jesus they started to tear into their gifts. I think the favorites were their remote control racecars...however getting them to run was not an easy task. Dad & Jerome worked on them for 30 minutes with no success, but it took me 2 seconds to read the instructions and realize that they didn't have enough batteries in them (there was a second compartment that was not obvious). Mom and I got a good laugh out of that one! LOL

Anyway, the boys had a fun and relaxing day playing with their toys and hanging with Grandma and Grandpa. I am so glad we still have the Ringger Christmas on Saturday because it makes the "day after Christmas" not seem so gloomy! So I guess, it's not really over yet! whoo hooo!

New Christmas PJ's...I actually think Eli was smiling here, although he appears on the verge of a meltdown. Give him a break, he between 101-103 fever all day!

Spreading the Reindeer Food out front...

Grandpa working on the Race Car...what the %$#% is going on with this thing??

Cereal in my new Lightning McQueen bowl...

Mostly for Aunt Micki...

Micki,

I took a video clip of Eli opening his gift yesterday for you and girls to watch, but it was too big to send thru my email....so here it is! He loved his dinosaurs, and they have converted a corner of the playroom into "dinoland". It's funny, because how they did it is strangly famililar to the Barbieland that I used to build in our basement. Caden explained to me that they had an area to give the dinosaurs a bath (with pretend water, much to their dismay), feed them, beds for them to sleep, etc. I guess this is the boy version of Barbies!

Anyway, thank you again...they really do love them!

Lacey

P.S. I just watched this again, and I guess I could have put pants on Eli before his big video debut...but we are potty training and the less layers the better around here! Sorry!

Funny things...

A friend of mine just posted a bunch of little cute things her kids have been saying, and I thought it was such a good idea. I always think I will remember the funny/cute things they say and they are usually gone from my mind by the next morning.

So anyway, Caden had me cracking up just now. I put him down for a nap about an hour ago. Well I have heard them up there for the last hour talking, singing, counting, etc...anything but sleeping. Finally, he started yelling for me and I went up there. As soon as I got in his room, he said "Oh Mommy, I had the most wonderful dream". Trying not to crack up at the new use of the word wonderful, I told him that he wasn't telling the truth because I have heard him talking up here the whole time. He proceeded to tell me that "that wasn't true because he had a wonderful dream about sharks and sea creatures...and that he was a diver swimming with them" HA!

Maybe you had to be there...or maybe I am lacking some adult interaction today, but it was pretty dang funny!

Happy Birthday Eli!

We can't believe it, but our little boy turned 3 yesterday! We had a great party at a place called My Gym, where Eli goes to gymnastics once a week. We had 17 little ones running around the place. The instructors were awesome and had all the kids had a blast!

Basketball birthday cake

All the kids lined up for pizza & cake

The Birthday Boy!

Eli sat on the trapeze swing as all the kids sang happy birthday!

Eli on the zip cord, his reaction sums up the whole party...he was just a wild man and loving it!

Pizza Time! Here are the kids marching to the pizza & cake area...of course after getting a little hand sanitizer...LOL

Here is Caden going down the zip cord...I loved his feet in this picture, he was kicking 100 miles per hour!

Merry Christmas!

Alright, I have am going to cover a couple updates in one blog...time is getting short around here, so this is the best I can do!

First we have pictures of our annual Gingerbread house making contest. This year the boys both got to do one by themselves and it was quite an adventure. Never in the past has either boy ever actually tried to eat the candy, but for some reason this year Caden was obsessed with it. I think he ate a pound of candy that night and I finally have had to place the completed houses on top of the kitchen cabinets because he keeps picking pieces off the house...yuck! It was a very fun (and messy) night though!

Next we have our Breakfast with Santa. Our chuch hosted a great event and the boys could not wait to go meet santa this morning. They were a little frustrated to find out that "Breakfast with Santa" actually included an eating portion of the event, but overall they were great. Both boys told Santa they wanted a Race Car with a remote control and Eli added that it needed to go "super fast".

At the house before we left...we can't wait!!

At breakfast...so excited!!

"Bring the big guy out, or it's going to get ugly in here!"

Finally, we get to have some face time!

What a great weekend!

Having a beer at Nick's in Bloomington between the wedding & the reception...

At the reception...

Jerome and the groom, Joe...

Jerome and I just had the BEST weekend ever! We went to an old med school classmates wedding down in Bloomington. The couple and their friends were awesome, and the reception was the biggest party I have ever been too. They had a huge live band, open bar, etc. Here are some photos from the night. Oh, and the best part is that the kids spent the weekend with Grandma & Grandpa Ringger...Thanks Mom & Dad!!!

This little boy was hysterical at the reception, and he was GOOD. I had to take a quick video of him getting low, low, low

Pizza Night...and the weekend!

The boys and I went up to my parents this weekend while Jerome spent time in Sunny Miami with friends. Being around my hilarious family, definitley made my weekend "alone" much better! My sisters both talked about it on their blogs (links on the side)...Ginger even came up with a top ten list of weekend memories, which is pretty hilarious!

Before we left for the weekend though, we had a fun family night of making homemade pizza. The boys loved making their own dinner, and Eli actually even ate his pizza. Caden, of couse, took one bite and said "I not yike that".

Pre-School Pictures

We got the boys' school pictures back last week. They turned out pretty cute...much better than our Christmas card picture that we posed for last week, but that is a whole different story. They even took one of them together, which I didn't know they were going to do, so I had them dressed differently. Things are going great around here, just not much going on for once...and I am enjoying that! The boys and I are heading up to Mom & Dad's on Friday/Saturday, so if any of my siblings are reading this...we would love to see everyone! Miss you! Lacey

Happy Halloween!

Our boys were little sharks this year for Halloween and Daddy deserves an award because he handled trick or treating all by HIMSELF this year! I actually spent the weekend in sunny San Diego with my girlfriend Jenn. She had a conference there and I was still a little bitter about having to cancel my last girls weekend due to the hurricane that hit South Carolina...so I used my airline credit and flew to CA. We had a great time...good food, good drinks and lots of great girl talk!

Jerome and the boys had a blast this weekend though...and I was pleasantly surprised to come home last night to find the house actually looking pretty decent and the boys were freshly bathed and in bed already! What a great Daddy!

DISNEY detox...

Our best attempt of a family photo at Disney...at the Dolphin Hotel


Eli in front of the Castle!

The Safari Jeep ride at Animal Kingdom, and I know will not believe me, but this photo was NOT staged!

Boys with their "Bugs Life" 3D glasses...

Well, we are home and finally starting to get back to normal around here. I think the boys were so happy to sleep in their own beds and play in their playroom. Despite all the sickness, we had a great time in Disney. It was fun to see how excited the boys got about every thing...the tram ride from the parking, the characters, fireworks, parades, etc. Here are just a few pictures from the big week!

When Daddy takes them shopping...

they always come home with something interesting! Today it was was new fishing poles for the boys...they can't wait to bring them to Grandpa's house next summer and practice!

Also, cousin Carlie gets a "shout out" from Eli. Lately he has been all about "best friends". He told me yesterday that Carlie was his best friend. So cute!

It always happens!

Well our Disney trip is going okay, but, of couse we have a sick kid. It never fails, when my kids get into anything that resembles a hotel room...one of them gets sick. We went to Hollywood Studios on Sunday and had an OKAY time...mostly because Caden was just out of control. He cried about everthing (i.e. Eli is on my side of the stroller, the sun is too bright, my legs are cold, Lightning McQueen is too scary, my head is hurting, my ears are hurting, I'm not feeling well, etc). Eli on the other hand is a Disney dream kid...he participates in every activity, he literally danced and skipped down the streets of Hollywood Studios, and was excited about everything we did. By the end of the day (well actually morning, we only made it until about 1pm)...I was ready pack it up and fly back early!

So I was not surprised when he woke up Sunday night with 102 degree fever. I know he is a difficult kid, but he seriously was not himself. So since then he has been on round the clock ibuprofin and as long as it doesn't wear off he is pretty good. Night time is the worse since the meds seem to get out of his system. We still went out yesterday and he did pretty well. We went to the Animal Kingdom park, which was our first time and they LOVED it. The african safari ride was awesome. It was truely a jeep ride thru the safari...we were within 100ft of crocadiles, hippos, lions, elephants, rhinos, etc. The jeep even drives thru a river thing, which was kind of crazy! They also had a dino land area which was really fun for boys. I was not that excited for Animal Kingdom because everyone I talked to said it was just a "big zoo", but it was definitely my favorite so far.

Well anyway, Jerome has meetings all day today and we are having a lazy pool day. I think it's what we all needed, since no one slept well last night. The boys are napping now and I am hoping it's a LONG one! I will be sure to put some pictures up next week. Miss everyone!

Love,
Lacey

We are in Disney!

Sorry I haven't been keeping up on this very well...I know that so many of you just can't sleep at night without your daily Adams' Fam fix, but we have been BUSY! Last weekend we hosted our big annual Adams Fall Party, which was a huge success. We had over 100 people show up and partied until the wee hours of the morning. I am actually amazed (and honored) that we have so many people that consider us friends!



Once we got that past (and cleaned up the aftermath) it was on to the next project...packing for Disney! Jerome has a conference down here this week, so the boys and I decided to tag along. The flight down went remarkably well, and the weather is awesome. Our resort is really nice and the boys LOVE the very heated pool and huge playground. We haven't been to anything "disney" yet, so as of right now the boys both think that our hotel room and pool is "Disney". Caden asked me in the pool this morning if we could stay here a yong (means LONG) time because he really loves Disney World better than our home. They will really impressed if we actually make it to a park! LOL



Alright, well the boys are actually napping and Jerome is at meeting this morning...so I guess it's nap time for me too! I will post some pictures next week when we get back.



Have a good week everyone!

Lacey

Summer is ending...

and we are so sad about it! We try to stay outside as long as we possibly can at night enjoying the last few warm nights. Here is a little video of the boys trying to play hopscotch...coordination is obviously not one of their strongest traits, that must be from Jerome! LOL

Growing Boys...

I was the mommy helper in Caden's preschool class this week and it was so cute. I can't believe more mature kids act when they around their peers. Caden was so cute with his little friends! The boys are growing so quickly and I am trying hard to remember all the funny things they say throughout the day. I wanted to write down just a few so they will stay in my memory...

Last week Caden's teacher talked to class about how it is important to use people's names only and not bad words...they have been having a lot of name calling (poopy head, stinky feet, doodoo brain (my personal favorite). Anyway, that afternoon I heard the boys up in the playroom talking and Eli must have used one of the prohibited words, because I heard Caden tell him "you know Eli, God hears you when you talk and he doesn't like words like that". Of course, Eli then proceeded to ask Caden about 100 times "why God hear me?, why God hear me?, why God hear me?". Finally, Caden was frustrated with the questions and said "oh, nevermind".

Another funny story, coming home from swim lessons the other night we were discussing the different things grown ups can do and kids cannot (drive the truck, sit in the front seat, drink soda pop from McDonalds, sleep in daddy's bed, etc). This conversation led us to talking about what they wanted to be when they grow up. Without one bit of prompting...they both knew instantly what they wanted to be. For some reason I don't think they will surprise you! Caden wants to be a school bus driver and he MIGHT let Eli ride, he wasn't sure about that. And, Eli wants to be a doctor like Daddy.

chicago pictures...finally!

Here are our Labor Day weekend pictures...

finally!

Popcorn on the pull out sofa after a long day...






The boys loved the view from the hotel room...











Their favorite ride at Navy Pier...they rode it over and over and over again

On the ferris wheel at Navy Pier

Awww...so sweet. This moment lasted about a 1/2 second though, despite having bribed them with ice cream!

A giant crab at the aquarium- it's Sebastian! (you little mermaid fans will get that one)

Wild animals at the Rainforest Cafe. The snake popped out at us from the ceiling (much to Eli's dismay)!

We're back!!!

Alright, well we are back from our trip out East to visit our Adams side of the Family...and we had a great time! We had a condo on the beach and filled it to capacity with family for the week. The boys had so much fun and even the 11 hour drive was not as painful as it could have been. A few of the favorite activities of the week included fishing, crabbing (yes we actaully caught LIVE crabs!), rides/games on the boardwalk and, of course, the beach & pool. I think the best part of the week was seeing the boys have so much fun with their cousin Jaylen though. They were like three little monkeys running around the condo all week long. Jaylen is 18 months now and could keep up with Caden & Eli with no problem at all. There are many, many, many more pictures than these...so if you are interested then let me know and I will send you the snapfish link. :) Hope everyone had a great week, we are all happy to be home!

Our first crab! The boys were not too sure about the whole thing, and Eli kept wanting to know if it was "dangerous". (this crab eventually had a standoff with Mommy and escaped- Daddy was not happy about losing his prize catch, though it was quite funny!)

Eli fishing off the pier...below is video of our first "BIG" catch! LOL Notice that when Jerome asks them if they caught a fish, they instinctly say "CHEESE" because they think he taking their picture.

Bathtime!!

Caden loved Jaylen so much...sometimes a little too much!

Believe it or not, this is about the best picture that we got of the three of them together...it's hard getting three three boys to sit still and smile!