Mommy the Mystery Reader!

I had so much fun today surprising Sean's class to read a book. I read the Polar Express and Llama Llama Holiday Drama. The kids were so well behaved and listened so nicely on the carpet. What a cute little class! After all the clues were given this morning Sean figured it out and knew it would be me!

 They were such good listeners!

What a fun bunch!

Decorating

 Excited about his new hat

 Putting the first ornaments on the tree

 What a helper!

We were able to get the house all Christmas ready today. Sean was so excited to get the decorations out and Carter loves to help "re-arrange" of all the ornaments everyday!

Thanksgiving 2012

We have a lot to be thankful for this year. My mom has gotten a clean bill of health and has returned to work. That is wonderful news for our family as it has been almost 1 year that she has been battling breast cancer. Sean is doing wonderful in pre-k and Carter is learning new things and growing so fast!

We traveled to Charlottesville to be with the Rettig family for thanksgiving. As usual we had a wonderful time. Sadly we brought some stomach flu germs with us and spread our flu to the rest of the family.  Oops!

Such a big girl!

Sean loves his Aunt Annie and the ipad!

I could eat her she is so cute!

Thanks Nana and Annie for making an awesome t-giving dinner!

Table is all ready for dinner!

She loves rocking in Nana's chair

Her hair is getting so long!

The Rettig Men and their mustaches. . .

Dinner time!

Nana is at the kids table!

Carter didn't eat much from her plate but wanted to eat from Daddy's

Sean got pumpkin ice cream for dessert!

He loves his Nana!

Everyone's sleeping but these two cuties. Eating some cereal for breakfast.

Snuggle time with Poppi

Time to pick out some poinsettias

Visiting the horses

Fun!

Now time to ride the lawn mower!

Carter's turn

A little pictionary..the girls won BTW :o)

Sean played, too!

Dance party!

Thanks Uncle Drew for the dance music!

SOOO much fun!

The pukes.

We've had a rough couple weeks in the Rettig house. Carter has had a cold on and off for a month or so and then she came down with the stomach flu which was closely followed by me, Dan, and Sean getting the stomach flu. Sean threw up the night before we were supposed to leave for Charlottesville. and had to miss his thanksgiving feast at school. I hope we are all on the mend now and germ free! yikes.

Sean's Pre-K Thanksgiving Program

 Sean was an Indian who taught the Pilgram's to fish

 

So proud!

This literally melts.my.heart.

Mommy's B-day dinner

Since Nama and Auntie were in town we decided to celebrate my birthday a few days early with a nice dinner out. Mama Cucinas is a local family Italian restaurant and it is delicious! The kids behaved themselves and me and Dan were able to regain some of the calories we ran off earlier in the day.

 Cheese!

 Not going to smile Mom!

 The runners after a nap, lots of water, and some rest! 

(Dan is growing a mustache for a fundraising for school. Can you tell I am not a fan?!? ha ha)

Everyone had a blast!

Mommy and Daddy ran a half marathon!

We did it! Dan and I ran a 1/2 marathon! We've been training since August and all of our time, hard work, energy and aches and pains were so worth it! Dan finished super fast at 1:43 and I finished just under my 2:15 goal at 2:14. I am not going to lie and say that it wasn't hard or painful because it was but it was so awesome to cross that finish line to get our official 1/2 marathon medal. Sally brought Sean down to cheer for us and he even made a sign (well Nana made a sign, ha ha). It was such a great day for our family!

 

 Daddy finishing strong!

 Mommy finishing strong!

 Our biggest fan!

 So glad to be done!

 Post race snuggles!

Post race brunch! YUM!

If you want a full report on my 1/2 marathon experience you can read it at: http://donotworryaboutme.blogspot.com/2012/11/i-did-it.html

A wonderful and yummy Sunday morning

Everyone took advantage of the extra hour of sleep this morning which is rare in our house! We had plenty of time to get up and get ready for church. After church we came home and made a big breakfast! It was a great way to start off our Sunday!

 Sean's mickey mouse pancake

This is her 7th pancake. Yes, she loves pancakes!

Sean working on his breakfast

YUM!!

What cuties! I cannot believe they let me take this picture!

Melt my heart!

Hey Car are you 1 or 3?!?!?