My loveable little 2 year old...

Happy Birthday, Mason!! I love you to the moon and back!

Hope your day is full of lots of fun, laughter, "junk food", and joy!

My Sweet 4 year old!

Happy Birthday, Carter! I love you bunches!!

(Updated to add more pics!)

OUCH!

Stinky news...well...it might make some of you laugh and when the soreness in both knees, my left side, entire back, and right arm are feeling better, I might laugh too...

So this is the story...

Yesterday, we were walking into the Bohemian Bean (I was so excited to order my first latte in like 2 months...) We parked in the parking lot across Johnson street and walked over. I carried Mason and Carter walked beside me. After we crossed the road I looked and saw that to get onto the sidewalk, we were going to have to step over a fair amount of snow...

So being the careful, loving mother I am, I looked at Carter and insisted that he hold my hand so that he wouldn't fall on the snow/ice.

Being the independent little booger he is, he assured me, "Don't worry mommy, I'll be okay."

"FINE!" I thought. I'll show him - if he falls, then maybe he'll learn his lesson and realize that he DOES still need to hold onto mommy's hand!

So, holding Mason in my left arm, purse on right arm, I step over the snow, (right onto an invisile slab of extremely slick ice) my feet start to slip out from under me. AHHHH! Instinctively I tried to pull myself (including Mason, the purse, AND my growing belly) forward so that I don't knock myself and Mason out. Well, this would have worked fine if the momentum wasn't extremely strong. Hmphf......

Well, I did manage to pull us all forward instead of backward, but the momentum was just too much and I fell to my knees (skinning AND bruising them up...OUCH! This summer, when Carter falls off his bike and skins his knees, we're going out for ice cream! No more, "toughen up, kid!")

Let me assure you that Mason landed on his feet (thank you, lord!) but he did bonk his head on the brick wall of the library (no scratches or bruises, though!).

Instantly Mason and I were crying/whining and I look back at Carter to make sure he is okay too....When I look back I see a very concerned soon-to-be-four-year-old with wide eyes and his tiny little hand over his mouth with his jaw dropped!

His first words to me, "Mommy, you falled down, maybe next time you should hold my hand!!"

WHAT!?! Ugh...

Since this incident yesterday, Carter has repeatedly told me that he is steady and I am not....ARGH!!!

Lesson learned. By me.

He is growing up...he really doesn't need to hold my hand (as much) anymore.

Coming Soon...

A catch up blog post!

Just so you are all aware, the Fiechters are still alive and doing well. We still don't have a computer in our home (other than a loaner lap top from Brad & Lynn ~ THANKS!) Therefore, I have not been able to blog much. BUT - tonight is the night! We are finally getting our computer.

But....I do want to finally formally announce ~

A HUGE THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU WHO WERE THINKING PINK!!

ITS A GIRL!

We are very excited...We think her name is Adalynn Marie...(but remember, Mason's name was Blake up until 20 minutes after birth! ;) )

More on this story and more at another time...

Computer Crash

Thanks everyone for the wonderful advice on cookware. We are thankful for the advice, yet we still have not made a decision.

For now, we have a different investment to be thinking about...a new computer....YUCK! We are both so bummed, but our computer has officially crashed. Therefore, we are without internet at home...You may not hear from me much over the next several days...or weeks... :(

I'll be back when our new computer arrives...

Wishing you all a Happy New Year!

Advice Needed: Comment NOW! (please;) )

We are in serious need of advice on making a new purchase:

Cookware!!

We initially bought a set of T-Fal teflon pans from Walmart and they worked fine for about 2 1/2 years, but now the teflon is flaking off! YUCK! Therefore, we are in the market for new pans. These are some of the guidelines/decisions we need to make:

1. Not interested in cheap pans that will need replaced within the next 10-15 years. Lifetime guarantee would be ideal.

2. Do we buy teflon/nonstick again or switch to stainless steel? (are stainless steel healthier for us?)

3. I'd love to have Pampered Chef - are they worth the price?

4. What other pans are good ones to consider?

5. MUST be dishwasher safe. No exceptions! ;)

What kind of cookware do you use? Do you like it? What do you wish you had?

Thanks for the help! ;)

Happier Times

Phone is back.

Van is back.

Headache is gone.

Nick is home.

All is good.

Sorry for complaining! :-)

No Good Very Bad Day

No phone.

No van.

Major Headache.

No Good.

Very Bad.

:-(

You amaze me...

Dear God,

Thank you for the friends that you have blessed me with. Sometimes, I wonder why you gave me soooooo many wonderful, Christian friends. Where would I be without their influence? You amaze me.

Thank you for safely bringing us together for our reunion last night. Once a year we are together ~ and once a year we become the best of friends all over again. I feel so blessed that we feel so comfortable together and that our conversations go from...um...well...private, to crazy, to laughter, to spiritually edifying, to comfort, advice, to memory lane, etc...We come from 6 very different paths of life yet there isn't a silent moment all night! Lord, you AMAZE me!

All I feel is thankfulness and amazement...but I do have one request, Lord....Next year - do you think you can give us more than just 6 hours together? Maybe an overnight trip? THAT would Amaze me! (of course, I'll still stand in awe of you if it by chance doesn't work out! :-) )

Love,

Jessica

Snow FUN!

We all bundled up and took advantage of the beautiful snowfall this afternoon! We had such a blast! Carter was so excited to wear his "new" (thanks to Gabe) snow boots and snow pants!

Poor Mason didn't have any special gear, so his legs and feet got a little cold and wet! He didn't mind too much! :-)

Here they are before take-off. If you can't tell, they are saying "Cheeeeeeeese!"

Mason giggled the whole time while on the sled, but his favorite part was eating the snow!

So, we decided to make real snow cones! Yum! We filled our cups up with snow....

Then took them inside and flavored them with grape juice!

What a fun day! Thanks to Nick for doing all the pulling. I know he had to be exhausted because he mentioned buying a snowmobile someday....Just what we need..Ha!

Next snowday:

1. Build a snowman

2. Snowball Fight!

Did you spend any time playing in the snow today?????