Merry Christmas from the Rozenboom's

More Christmas cookies

Our first batch of cookies didn't make it to Christmas so on Monday we made a few different batches of sugar cookies and the kids had fun decorating again.  Also Nile wants his two front teeth for Christmas!!

Countdown to Christmas

It has been an unusual week at our house this week.  Early Sunday morning, like the middle of the night!, Aubrey got sick in her bed.  Jeremy got her cleaned up while I got the bed cleaned up.  She was back to sleep and then up again at 3:30 AM sick.  Teamwork again in getting her and the bed changed and back to sleep.  In the morning, when the sun was actually up, she didn't get sick anymore just some diarrhea.  She was not happy about having to miss Sunday school either.  The rest of Sunday Jeremy was home with her and she ate normal and rested.  That evening she seem completely back to normal.  Jeremy and the boys went to Osky to see our niece and nephew's Christmas program.  After they came home everyone got ready for bed.  I was still up working on a few things when I heard Hayden getting sick all over the floor in his room.  Yuck!  At least the sheets I can rinse off in the sink and throw in the washing machine!  The carpet was a mess, luckily I have a good friend with a carpet cleaning machine and it worked wonders Monday afternoon.  We got Hayden back to bed Sunday night with a bucket and he made it most of the night OK.  I tried to take Nile to school on Monday morning but he was upset about going to school without Hayden and wouldn't get out of the car.  So I had all three home Monday.  Tuesday I was able to get Nile to school but Hayden had to stay home again since he didn't keep his supper down the night before.  By Wednesday everyone was feeling great and back to school for the boys and a "normal" day for Aubrey and I.  Thursday and Friday I am babysitting.  Thursday we went to school to watch Nile and his class perform their Gingerbread Kid Caper program.  They all did a great job!  So far the rest of us have been able to stay healthy and Jeremy has been working a lot of hours,  We are all looking forward to some time off together to celebrate Jesus' birthday.  Today is the last day of school for the boys until January 6 and the last day of work for Jeremy until January 2.  We will also be off babysitting until December 31 so it will just be the 5 of us.  With the cold temps forecasted for Monday I see a lot of Christmas movies, board games, and hot chocolate in our future! 

I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and remember the real reason we celebrate!
God Bless,
The Rozenboom's

Christmas program at church

Tonight we had our annual Christmas program at church.  I helped with the songs and actions this year but we did have one difference for our family - it was Hayden's first year not being in the program and Aubrey's first year in it.  Our church has the 3 year olds through 2nd grade in the program so Hayden has "aged out" and Aubrey is just getting started.
The kids all did a great job!  And Aubrey didn't lift her dress up over her head!
We took a few pics at home with our tree before heading to church.  Aubrey was in the front row with her class and Nile is in the back row with his class.

Date night with the kiddo

Friday night Jeremy and the boys headed to Osky to watch the Pella basketball teams play.  I decided since the boys were going out for some fun Aubrey and I would do the same.  I told her during the day Friday that she had to take a nap if we were going to go to the movie that night so she finally gave in and cuddled with Minnie and Aurora while she got some beauty rest.  After supper the boys headed to Osky and the girls went to the movies.  Aubrey and I saw Frozen in 3D here in town.  It was a really good movie.  We both liked it a lot and the 3D was great!  Even though Aubrey and I do spend most of our time together if was fun for us to have a girls night a do something different and I know the boys had a great time watching Pella defeat Osky!

Christmas cookies

Well after 5 Thanksgiving/Christmas get togethers the past 4 days I am stuffed!  I was nice to see everyone and catch up - and save postage on our Christmas cards by hand delivering them!  This year we had two sides that did a combined Thanksgiving & Christmas get together so that made things a little busier but now our December calendar isn't looking too bad.  We have our church kids Christmas program next Sunday night and that is always fun.  I am leading the singing and actions again this year and it is Hayden's first year to watch since he has "aged out" and Aubrey's first year to preform!  Should be interesting!

Earlier this week Aubrey and I made cut out sugar cookies and on Saturday morning I made some frosting and let the kids go with decorating.  They had a blast and did a great job!

30 Day of Thanksfulness

I have seen many people posting on facebook the past few years about the 30 days of thankfulness.  This year I decided to do it as well but I wrote it in my notebook and will post it here rather than on facebook.  There are still 3 days left but I went ahead and added them in so I could have the whole list here.

I am thankful for.....
1. my savior Jesus Christ
2. my loving, supportive, hard-working husband Jeremy
3. my parents who have show me how to live as a Christian, be financially responsible, be a good wife
4. our church where I have the opportunity to volunteer and teach others as well as learn myself
5. our first born child who was the biggest surprise but the best thing I could have been given, Hayden Cole
6. my health, it isn't perfect but I am able to do what I need to do and so much more
7. our second child who challenges us daily but is also so loving and special, Nile Edward
8. our second surprise and third child who is my baby girl and loves to dance and sing, Aubrey Jane
9. our house, it may not be the fanciest house but it is more than we need and we have space to spread out a little now
10. our Hawkeye friends and fun times together
11. our Veterans and service members
12. my ability to cook yummy food for my family
13. the beauty of God's creation all around us
14. friendships that have stood the test of time and distance
15.the surprise of flowers just because
16. our small group at church
17. fun family outing together where memories are made
18. sunshine in the bright blue sky
19. my babysitting kiddos
20. my hometown, Pella, IA
21. the wonderful teachers my boys have had in the first years at school
22. fresh fallen snow, all glittery and perfect
23. my in-laws, I got a great "new" family when I married Jeremy
24. my brother Daron, who I get to see a little more now since he is back in the Midwest
25. forgiveness, from my husband, children, friends, and most importantly God
26. caffeine for days I stayed up to late studying
27. hot oatmeal on cold mornings
28. the smell and taste of fresh baked bread
29. meals shared with family and friends
30. dates with my husband, whether it is a weekend away or a meal for just the two of us

I hope you take the time to stop and count your blessing this Thanksgiving season before rushing into the Christmas season.

Iowa Basketball Game

Yesterday we took the kids to Iowa City for an Iowa Basketball game.  We stopped in Williamsburg to get Nile some new jeans since his tend to get holes in the knees very easily!  Then we headed to Olive Garden for a delicious lunch, so yummy!  On Saturday I ordered our Christmas cards from Costco and they were ready to be picked up when we stopped in Sunday!  And a good price - cant beat that.  We needed to get some new lights for the house for Christmas so we picked those up and hopefully they will last us a few years.  We don't seem to have very good luck with lights for our house.  

At the game we had great seats and the kids each got a fun item to cheer with.  Aubrey is in love with cheerleaders right now and had a great time using her own pom poms and watching the big girls.  It was a great game and a fun day as a family.  I took Aubrey down by Herky during the game but she wanted nothing to do with him.  Oh well.  On the way home we stopped at everyone's favorite McDonald's and then home to bed.

Weekend away for an Iowa football game

This past weekend Jeremy and I headed out to Indiana to watch the Hawkeyes play against Purdue.  We traveled with 8 other friends.  Jeremy had been out to Purdue twice before and saw the Hawkeyes lose both times so he was anxious to see them win in West Lafayette.  We headed out Friday after lunch.  We had to make a pit stop in a tiny town in Illinois and when we came back out we could not get the car to unlock.  We had to wait for an hour for a sheriff to come and open the door.  Not sure what the problem was but luckily we didn't have any more problems with the car the rest of the trip.  We got checked in to our hotel around 9 PM and headed out for a bite and a drink at Walt's Other Pub.  The next morning we ate a quick breakfast at Ihop and headed to tailgate til the game started.  There were lots of Hawkeye fans everywhere and we all had a great time.  I missed the kiddos a lot but it was nice to have some adult time as well!!

Halloween 2013

This year we took the kids to a few houses and then went through trunk or treat at our church.  The boys wore their transformer costumes that we bought in 2010 I believe, they will not be fitting into them next year!  Aubrey has more dress up dresses to pick from than she knows what do to with but ended up going as Princess Aurora.  She loves to dress up and wears her play dresses weekly if not daily!  I love having a girly girl but dread the "discussions" we will have in the future about what we can wear and where we can wear them.

at home before heading out for some candy

at trunk or treat - for some silly reason I am unable to save this file once I rotate it

Halloween party

This past weekend we had a Halloween party at Jeremy's cousin's house.  This was the first year we were able to go.  We had to leave early because we were having a birthday party for my grandma the same night but the kids had fun while we were there.  We got to go on a hay rack ride and we won the scavenger hunt!  We are looking forward to going again next year!

two football players and a princess on the hay rack ride

looking for clues on the scavenger hunt

reading the clue

it's hard to run around in all these layers and a dress!

 

Naptime part 2

As I mentioned a post earlier we have been struggling with Aubrey's naps.  Here is a picture from last week when we had gone to the library in the afternoon and gotten a few books and movies.  She was supposed to be quietly watching her movie and then she feel asleep.  Today she had "quiet time" so I could get some homework done.  She was looking at the Toys R Us catalog that came in the mail and showing me things every few minutes and when I asked her to stay in her room until I told her I was done with my paper she feel asleep in bed.  

Naptime

We have been struggling with what to do about afternoon naps for Aubrey for a little while now.  I have been trying to encourage "quiet time" in the afternoons now so I am still able to have a little break and get some homework done.  But many days she still ends up falling asleep and then we have trouble getting her to bed at night.  I think Aubrey is a lot like me and is a night owl!  One day last week I had kept her up and I was talking to my mom on the phone when we noticed that Aubrey had fallen asleep on the rug!  She slept here for about 20 minutes and then I carried her to her bed and she slept for another hour or so.  

She is currently in her room "resting" and I am guessing she is sleeping while I type this and listen to an online lecture.  I guess for now we will just go with the flow and keep working with the quiet time while we are home in the afternoons.  

Hayden's 9th b day party - with friends

Last Saturday for lunch we headed over to Happy Joe's for lunch and games to celebrate Hayden's birthday with a few friends.  After playing the games and eating some yummy pizza he opened presents and got a free clown sundae!