Another Birthday Celebration

Wow! Yet another birthday celebration this evening. G's uncle & aunt from DC came into town along with his cousin Zach who lives in Waterloo to celebrate January birthdays (Henry 01.01, Bean 01.04, Me 01.23, Neen 01.25). Rae had us all over for a yummy dinner and various desserts. Henry loved eating cake, of course, and playing with all of the toys at Zee-Zee's house. Ben liked eating crackers, his normal veggie & fruit, a roll, and more crackers! Both kids were good, but by 7pm Ben was ready for bed, so we came home.

The Crew...G, Ben, Zach, Neen, Henry, Bean, Dee, Rae, Kara

Ben crawling towards a chair....

...pulling himself up....

.....and making sure I was watching the entire time!

Henry & Mommy with silly faces!

My new favorite picture of me with my little men

Snow Day #2

Not much snow yesterday around noon...but LOTS today...4-5 inches I think!

I got the call around 9pm...NO SCHOOL WEDNESDAY! So today is another fun day in the Mohrmann basement. We are warm...thanks to space heaters. Last night was interesting to say the least. Because the heaters draw so much electricity, we could only have the kids heaters on medium in their rooms. We ended up bringing Henry into our room and I slept with him and space heater #1. G slept in Ben's room on the little single bed we have in there with Ben and space heater #2. G was up quite a bit checking on the basement and space heaters #3 & #4, making sure our pipes weren't freezing. I didn't get a good sleep because I had Henry kicking me and sleeping parallel to the pillows with his feet in my face. I tried to keep him warm & under the covers, but didn't have much luck.

We are thankful that our furnace is arriving around noon & should take about 4 hours to install. We will have heat tonight! Yeah! I have decided I would NOT have been a good pioneer on "Little House on the Prairie" days.

Below are pictures from today. Ben now pulls up on everything and stands. He can hang on with one hand while using the other to pick something up off the ground.

"Check me out Mommy! I can stand!"


"Yes, it's SOO much fun to do!"

"When I crawl, I crawl with something in my mouth. Turbo walks around with toys in her mouth, so that means I can too, right?"

Mohrmann Boys

Ben looks freaked out! The other picture they both had their eyes closed and weird smiles.

Snow Day #1

We had some icey/sleety stuff come to town Monday night into Tuesday. My school got called off around 10pm Monday night, which it was nice to know the night before. Henry, Ben, Turbo, and I spent the morning playing in the basement. Around 10 I went upstairs to go to the bathroom and realized our heat wasn't going past 62 degrees, even though it was set at 68. The blower was not kicking on, so I called G. He came home at lunch and tired to reset it, but it still didn't work. We called a heating place who sent a service guy out. He determined we either needed to replace the burners which in parts alone would be $550 or get a whole new furnace. Our furnace has a life of 15 years and it's 17....the rest of the furnace is not in very good shape, so we decided to go with a new one. Not to mention the new one could be installed the next day, and the parts to fix our broken furnace would take AT LEAST 7 days to come in. So we were chilly on Tuesday, but thankfully we had electricity and used space heaters to keep warm.

Below are pictures from Henry, G, & Turbo playing outside at lunch time. We didn't really have that much snow, more ice and sleet, but Henry liked it anyway. After dinner, Henry had fun outside with Daddy sledding down our neighbor's driveway and shoveling our driveway. By dinner time we were having big fluffy flakes and about 2 or 3 inches had fallen.

Ready to go!

See...not really that much snow...yet!

Turbo enjoyed getting outside too.

Thinking about making a snow angel on the sidewalk.

Walking down the sidewalk

Henry attempting to make a snow angel. Ben & Mommy as snuggly warm (kind of) inside!

Inside after playing...watching PBS and drinking hot cocoa before naptime!

Celebrating the big 3-1

Saturday night, after Mutti's big 95th b-day party, I got to celebrate my birthday with some friends from high school. It was so nice to get to visit with them and be out without my kids! Thanks to Nana & Papa who babysat Henry & Ben while G and I enjoyed the evening. And thanks to the best sister-in-law, Erin, who drove us home!! We had a great time and my friend Susan said we must do that everytime I come into town...not sure about EVERY time, but more often for sure.

Tyler, Me, Lindsey, or Lou Lou. She was a very first friend when I moved to Rogers. She used to live on Buckskin Circle with me!

Rachel & Me....we both went to Drury and mom to TWINS, Taylor & Grant! Still not sure how she survived infanthood!

Me & Alan...Rachel's husband and my friend from Drury. We got to travel to Costa Rica between our Sophomore & Junior years...what fun that was!

Mandy, Me, Susan, & Erin

G had to be in the picture!

Lou & Me

Susan & Me....Susan is mom to the VERY cute Adelaide & Mabel, Henry & Ben's future wives! :) We also played high school basketball together....Go Mounties!

Rachel, Megan, Marcus, & Me....Megan & Marcus are expecting baby #1 in September! WOOHOOOOO! Megan was the one with the really big glass of water.

The BEST sister-in-law....ERIN KRANER!! LOVE her!

Jeanie (Max's girlfriend) and my youngest brother, Will. (Married to THE BEST sister-in-law!) Max was in town working, so poor Jeanie had to meet all of us for the first time and hang out while Max was working! She seemed to think we weren't too crazy.

Mutti is 95

Mutti turned 95 on January 18 and my parents had a party for her on Saturday January 24. We went down to Arkansas for the party Friday after work. It was a very nice afternoon and I think my grandma enjoyed it. Since she is just "wintering" with my parents, she doesn't really have any friends there, so my parents invited some neighbors, my mom's Bible Study gals, and some of my friends who live in Rogers. Henry loved that there was cake and also that he got to see his Arkansas buddies, Taylor & Grant along with his girlfriend, Adelaide and her little sister Mabel. Max was in town from Portland for business and his girlfriend, Jeanie flew in as well. Henry loved getting to hang out with Uncle Max, Uncle Will, & Aunt Erin.

Mutti's cake

Henry & Adelaide enjoyed singing to Mutti and they helping her blow out the candles.

CAKE! Henry looks like he is made at Adelaide, but he really does love her!

Henry being silly with Uncle Max

Uncle Max, Henry, Jeanie

Uncle Will & Ben....he still has 20 years before that is happening Will!

My Day

Today is my day....my birthday! It's not a big one, just #31, but it's special to me, because I am the proud Mama to 2 GREAT little guys! Last year for my big 3-0, I was pregnant with Ben and didn't have some huge, blow-out party. I did get a surprise 30-60-90 party though! I turned 30 last year, then Gregg's grandma turned 90 2 days after, then his Mom turned 60 just 2 weeks after that! Gregg's mom hosted a wonderful party for us that Neen (grandma) and I had NO idea about it. Ben came around in May, so when he turns 30, I will be 60 and Gregg's mom will be 90! We will have to have a party then.

Anyway...today has been a good day. Henry & G made me oatmeal and toast for breakfast. I got to open cards from them and Henry & Ben made me a beautiful card with their hands traced in it. They sang happy birthday to me and then Henry asked where the cake was! We are leaving for Arkansas after work today and will be driving 5.5 hours, so no cake for me tonight, but that is fine. Henry told me that I get to pick where we will stop for dinner and my friend Renee' is bringing me lunch today! That is a special treat for a teacher since we don't get to leave at lunch.

G brought me lunch yesterday since he is not really taking a lunch today in hopes of leaving work a bit early so we can get on the road. One of my most favorite people in the world, Kelly (and her husband Justin), sent me a beautiful flower arrangement in the shape of a cupcake! It had a candle in the middle, so last night all 3 of my boys sang happy birthday to me & Henry helped me blow it out.

It's been a fun birthday so far. We are going to Rogers to celebrate my grandma's 95th birthday. Her birthday was the 18th and we are having a little party for her on Saturday. Later that night, G & I are going to go out for drinks with my brothers, sister-in-law, & friends from high school. I am looking forward to an evening with my friends! We'll celebrate my birthday on Sunday with my family before we leave. My grandma wants Saturday to be HER day and won't share it with anyone! I guess when you are 95 you get what you want.

Here are some picutres from last night.

Utah Trip

Friday January 16: We (K & G) leave for Utah - fly fro STL to Salt Lake City, UT

Satruday January 17: We ski most of the day & get back to hotel in time to shower and go see a movie (Gran Torino) before having FREE happy hour at our hotel and then dinner there.

Sunday January 18: Ski most of the day again...sore from the day before, but lots of fun! Back to hotel for showers & I took a little nap before FREE happy hour again & then had dinner with Stacey Parker & Steve.

Monday January 19: Leave early in the morning, but home by 2:00! So glad to see our little boys, but know they had SO much fun with their grandmas! We sure love our moms for watching our guys while we got away to celebrate 5+ years of marriage! We had a fun time skiing and can't wait until Henry & Ben are big enough to take a trip like that with us.

Saturday, getting out of the car & heading to the lifts!

Me, ready to go down the green runs....easy ones!

What a pretty view!

K & G riding the lift...I got "artsy" as G said and took the picture of our shadows in the snow below!

Using the self-timer for a picture of us hanging out

The Morman Temple at Temple Square in downtown Utah. Since we are "Mohrmann" we figured we should check out all the "Morman" buildings!

Stacey Parker & Kara after a yummy dinner @ Red Rock

Tombee Update #2

So over the weekend Gregg & I were in Utah skiing and our moms took turns watching our kids. We found out yesterday when we got home that Tombee left with Nana (my mom) on Sunday and went back to Arkansas with her for a week long visit. But, Tombee missed Henry too much and flew back to St. Louis. Tombee was very tired from his flight and was resting all day yesterday while Henry & Ben went to Peggy's house. (Peggy is our sitter who watches Ben each day and Henry when he is not at school.) Henry was glad Tombee came back, as he didn't think he could wait until Friday night to see Tombee again. We are going down to Arkansas this weekend to celebrate my grandma's 95th birthday....and my 31st which is on Friday. Anyway, thought the newest Tombee information was funny & would share. Maybe I can get Henry to draw us a picture of Tombee that I can scan & post on here. I am dying to know what our bird friend looks like!

40 & 40

Henry went to the doctor yesterday for his 3 year well child check-up. We have a very healthy little man! He weighs 40 pounds and is 40 inches tall. He is in the 97th percentile for weight and 90th for height. Henry was a very good boy and was so excited when Dr. Zuckerman told him he didn't have to have any shots! (No more vaccines until his 5 year check-up, before he starts kindergarten.) Today Henry is getting a hair cut and he loves to have Tara cut his hair, because she gives him a sucker (or 2) when she is all done. Just wanted to give an update on Henry, since Ben got an entire post for turning 8 months old. Both kids have been sleeping good for 3 nights now and are excited to get to spend the weekend with Zee-Zee and Nana! Gregg and I are going to Utah tomorrow for our 5 year anniversary trip. My mom & Gregg's mom are on kid duty and I know they too are excited to spend time with their "boys" while we are away. I hope Henry & Ben behave! We will post some ski pictures when we return.

Tombee Update #1

Henry has informed us that Tombee is living with us forever now. His home is in the dinning room. Tombee is not a boy or a girl..."He is a bird Mommy. You are silly thinking he is a boy!" Yes Henry uses the pronoun HE, yet Tombee is not a boy. He does wear pants according to Henry and a scarf if it is cold. I asked if Tombee has any brothers or sisters and he told me no. Somedays Tombee gets mentioned all the time, and other days he gets talked about just once or twice. Oh, Tombee does race Henry to see who can finish peeing on the potty first. Pretty sure Tombee is a boy!

Click on Tombee to read the first post about our bird friend!

8 Months Old

Hi everyone! I am 8 months old today. Yes, I know, it's hard to believe but in 4 short months I will be 1 year old. I am doing great! I officially have 4 teeth...two on top & two on bottom. I am a good crawler and get faster each day. Today my mom made several attempts to get pictures of me and I was just too quick! This morning I crawled off the chair & she caught me as I was falling. This evening I would only sit still for one good picture, which my mom posted above. I love to try to get Turbo's water before anyone notices...I also make my way for the basement steps when I hear Henry playing down there, but my mom always seems to get to me before I can explore those things.

I have started to pull up on things and can make it to my knees all by myself. I smile & laugh at everything and am a pretty happy little (big) guy. Henry & Turbo are 2 of my favorite things in this world...besides my Mommy & Daddy of course! I love to drink my bottle so much that I can't be bothered with baby food. I do enjoy yogurt in the morning and I do a good job of eating a veggie & a fruit for Peggy at lunch. By the time dinner comes around, I am pretty fussy and sometimes won't finish my food. I refuse to eat that gross rice cereal....I mean come on people, it doesn't taste like anything! I am ready for some big people food. Good thing I have 4 teeth now.

Last night was the best sleep people in our house have had in a while....my two top teeth have been trying to come in & I have been waking up (a lot) at night. Last night I went to bed at 7pm and slept until almost 6am. No waking up! And my big brother Henry didn't get out of his bed either! Boy were my parents very happy this morning.

I appreciate you all checking in on me & my family. We are all healthy & happy! So far 2009 has been a fun year and it's only day 13.

Lots of love to everyone! BAM

Yogurt Face

Ben loves yogurt...well the 2 days he has had it he has liked it! He was looking extra cute yesterday (Sunday) afternoon and I had to get a picture of my almost 8 month old! He is getting so big...he crawls and pulls up now. He is also cutting the 2 top teeth which is a whole other story. Basically it means no sleep at the Mohrmann house for Mom & Dad! But we love this guy anyway!

Rub-a-Dub-Dub

The Mohrmann boys in the tub!! The other night Henry & Ben were taking a bath and looked extra cute. They both enjoy the bath and so far, Henry has been sharing his toys. I realized that these were the first pictures of both of them in the bath since Ben's first real bath when he was just days old!

This is Ben trying to poop....I had to get a picture because he turns soooo red!