New Years Noon

We love the Dierlam's and we always have so much fun when we all get together.  Which is quite often because we have kids around the same age so they understand the struggles of finding a babysitter, the misery of taking a toddler to a restaurant, and watching hours and hours of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.  Mallory and I meet in middle school and have been two peas in a pod since then.  We cheered together all through high school and we are pregnant again together, if you have ever been pregnant it just makes it more fun to go through it with your buddy! This will be Mark and I's second and Mallory and Jeff's third, more kiddos equals more fun right!Mark and Jeff meet when I started dating Mark, but I am pretty sure it was love at first sight for these two.  Seriously we were at a wedding and it was the first big event Mark and I went to together and a little intoxicated Jeff learned over to Mallory and commented about Mark, " I think we are going to be best friends!"
We have a tradition on New Years Eve with the Dierlams, this year made it 4 years and we plan to continue it until well who knows.  I am sure it doesn't sounds exciting to most people, but we enjoy it and I really do look forward to it.  Our big plans for NYE are simply to hang out with our families, I know crazy!!! The first two years we went to Turonis gobbled down yummy pizza and then always ventured back to Mal and Jeff's for dominoes after laying Will down for the night. Then we quickly added Lanie and Norah to our party and decided it might be more enjoyable to order in and let the kids just run crazy and we didn't have to worry about the battle that happens every time we take small children out to eat, I will tell you about the Los Bravos melt down sometime.  So even though we change things up here and there the basic plan is to always go to Mal and Jeffs with jammies packed and fun to be had.
This year we added the fun of going to CMOE our children museum.  They have a lot of activities plus some special things for what they call New Years Noon since most kiddos are asleep on the actual Happy New Year moment.  We had such a good time playing in the magic tree house exhibit and the magic show was the best part.  Lanie enjoyed the rabbit and got upset when she couldn't touch it, but Will (Mal and Jeff's oldest) was in love with the magic show and sweet Norah was just happy to run around with her shoes off!
After some much needed naps we started our party at home and after we got all the kiddos to bed we played some game, enjoyed our sweat pants, and watched some Rocking New Years Eve with Ryan Seacrest.  So even though our day/night was not full of fancy dresses, champagne (well the boys had some the two preggos did not partake), and wild moments, I spent my NYE exactly how I wanted to surrounded by my family and plan to keep it that way for quite awhile :)

Lanie driving Norah around a small glimpse into the future with these two crazies!

Laura Ingalls Wilder  

Laura and Almanzo ;) 

Christmas part 1

Saturday we had Christmas at my parents house.  Since we live 3 1/2 hours away from extended family my mom,dad, and brothers have always just celebrated Christmas as a little family of 5, but over the years more and more amazing new members have entered the small family of 5 which now adds up to 17 with another one on the way :) The Maxheimers have lots of littles and there is something special about Christmas when you can be with them, they tend to make everything more magical. It can be alitttle crazy since we take turns opening gifts, but the looks on their faces when they open something they were hoping for is priceless.
My Mom has always been an amazing gift giver. She never ask people what they want she just listens and spends time with people to figure out the perfect gifts that would bring that extra smile. As my niece Anna was looking at all her treasures she said "how does grandma Amy always know what to get"! I saw my sister in-laws shine with excitement over gifts I know my Mom bought months ago.
And then Zach literally jumped with joy over a new bible with his name on it.
With all the joy, excitement, and new toys I couldn't help but notice the best gift that was given on Saturday came from my Mom and Dads amazing example of love and generosity.  My parents have always set an example for my brothers and I that Christmas starts with Jesus. I hope that Mark and I can set an example for Lanie like my parents did for me.  Tomorrow morning before Lanie opens presents Mark and I will read the Christmas story, she might not understand it all, but she will in time understand that the reason we celebrate is all because our savior came to us on that holy night. 

Polar Express

Something is still down with Blogger , which means I currently can't update my blog account, which means I can't add pictures just yet! I promise as soon as it is up and running I will do picture post :)

This weekend was crazy busy and no time to rest because the next several weekends are looking to be about the same.  Friday right after work Lanie and I went to OneLife and got to watch the Big Deal Christmas Theater.  This is meant more for older kids and it's a once a month outreach our church does. Lanie and I decided to go this time though and cheer Daddy on because he was in the production this month as the Angel Gabrielle.  Mark looked great in his all white, members only jacket, wings, and white wig. He was a trooper because he was not feeling well at all, he actually spent the next two days in bed. 

After the show cousin Isabel came over for a slumber party, we had such a good time.  Then Saturday the gals because Mark was still down and out, went to a birthday party for our good friend Libby-Kate who turned 3!!! The party was at the inflatable fun factory and for this pregnant momma chasing and climbing around with Lanie about did me in.  After the party we went home for nap time and a small rest before we were off again to Uncle Zach and Aunt Melissa's for dinner and cookie decorating.  It was so wonderful to watch all the cousins play with each other and even though it's sad that they are all getting a little older on the plus side it means that all the adults get to actually sit and visit with each other. I love my brothers and sister in-laws and cherish my time with them :)

Lastly on Sunday Lanie and I were off to church with Mark still home sick, so I called in my back up , my niece Anna to go to Polar Express with us, not only did she have fun, but she was a huge help with Lanie love.  It was so amazing to see Lanie experience the excitement of all the fun the train adventure brought.  Two of my favorite parts were when were at the French Lick Resort and they have all these cool displays and decorations and Lanie found this elf display.  She thought it was so cool that they were her size and that she could honk their noses she loved her little elf friends.  Then my other favorite was when she saw Santa board the train she let him hold her and she just studied him and then finally gave him one of her hugs which are the best. 

I get asked all the time if we are going to do the Santa thing with Lanie and usually my reply is why not I don't see any harm in it. We will first and foremost teach Lanie that Christmas might have pretty lights, presents, yummy food, and fun games, but it will always be Jesus birthday before all of that.  As independent and strong willed as that little 1 1/2 year old is I can tell she has a good heart and as long as we as parents guide her in what the real meaning of Christmas is I think she will figure out Santa on her own at some point like most kids do.

Gobble Gobble

So it's been awhile since I got a post up on Lanie Weekly, my bad! We have been super busy with kids parties, church, holiday festivities, and etc. Last week we celebrated Thanksgiving and we started it off just how it should be. Tuesday night out life group volunteered at the Evansville Rescue Mission and helped pass out Thanksgiving baskets.  It was really neat because each family (1,700 to be exact) came through with their box and we put the items in their boxes. It gave us a chance to interact and wish each family a Happy Thanksgiving.  Mallory and I had the easiest job, which was to pass out literature to the families.  Other people in our group were lifting potatoes, onions, and turkeys all night.  Overall it was an amazing event and our lifegroup is proud to partner this year with such a great organization next up is gathering gifts for the family we adopted.

Then Thursday we packed up and went up to the Wade Thanksgiving.  We hung out with the whole family, ate some yummy food, and then decided it was time for Lanie to take a nap.  Not going to lie I was little tired myself so Lanie and I went up to her Aunt Gena's to take a snooze.  We had ourselves a nice little nap and then the rest of the family joined us for make your own subs! We do the traditional meal with Mark's extended family and then dinner is just with cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents :) We were back on the road late that night to get ready for the Maxheimer Thanksgiving.

This was the first year my Mom asked me to host and I was super excited to.  I got color sheets for the kiddos and activities, had a actual adult table set up and the kids were in the kitchen/ dining room.  Everyone chipped in with sides and my Dad made a yummy Turkey and Ham.  Then Papa and Mimi started a tradition that I hope they continue because I loved it.  They gave each grandkid (yes all 9 soon to be 10) Christmas pj's.  Then each family got a recordable book all about the first Christmas. The best part was they recorded themselves reading it.  So now we hear Mimi and Papa's voice about 20 times a night as Lanie flips through her book.

Then Saturday we put up our Christmas decorations and trees and played in the annual M & M poker tournament. This year Mark walked away with 2nd place and $70, and I got out early, but then played a side game and walked away with $15, so with the cost of us playing and paying the babysitter we still came out $30 on top!

I will add pictures from all these fun events soon, when I tried to add them it said I needed a larger package, but it won't work right now for some reason!

This is Halloween!

What a fun weekend we had with friends at the annual Dierlam Family Halloween party.  Mark did an amazing job making our costumes while I worked on Lanie's to make her super cute.  We decided to be the Ghost Busters this year and Lanie was our ghost that we caught. Mark used his creative skills to make a pretty awesome proton pack that puts the real one to shame. Lanie sported a onesie ghost face with a tutu of black and grey that I actually made.  All the other families had some pretty awesome costumes too, we had Alice in wonderland theme, Artist, Peter Pan, My Little Ponies, Ninja Turtles, Smores, fire fighters, and many more.  We played some fun games with the kids and then the kids just played and the adults had fun playing Mafia.  We love that we have so many great friends with kids all close to the same age because we can do fun stuff like this. We look forward to many more parties and fun times with some really awesome peeps :)



Who ya gonna call???





Halloween morning before we left for work. Lanie has a big Halloween party at daycare today :)



Working Mom :) :(

Being a working Mom has it's pros and cons all wrapped up in one crazy, messy, busy, chaotic schedule.  I was pretty established in my career before I got pregnant with Lanie and I knew that there was no way I was going to be able to step away from my job.  I love teaching students with special needs and even though some day are extremely challenging it's part of who I am and what makes me, me! I knew when I had her and spent 9 weeks straight with her it would be hard to go back to work full time, but I missed my job and teaching.  I am a big supporter in that every mother should do what works best for her and her family.  I don't think you are a better mom if you stay home or if you go to work.  I get to play stay at home Mom in the summers when I am with Lanie, and I will be the first one to admitt that some days in the summer could be much more productive, but instead get spent watching way to much Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.
It's always a struggle to know that when I drop her off that someone else is watching her for 9 hours.  We are extremly lucky though that we have some amazing people that love on her and give her all the support she needs all day until Mommy and Daddy can get to her.  Some days are harder than others to drop her off, but what makes it better every day is she gives me a big hug and a smile and has never shed a tear when I have to tell her bye bye for the day.

Praying

We always ask Lanie to join in with us when we pray before dinner, but most of the time she is to busy eating or doing something else to concentrate on praying.  I would like her to, but then I also remember that she is 1 1/2 and doesn't really understand all of it yet.  The other night when we were praying I noticed that she started folding her hands and bowing her head and was starting to realize that she might actually be following our actions.  So sometime last week I told Lanie to pray for Papa and Mimi and this had to be the sweetest prayer ever! I am so happy to know that our sweet girl is already talking to God. ( some problems with the video so I will have to hold you over with a picture until I can get the video to work)