Last night was a long night for Kellen, Aaron and I. Kellen's cough is back and it got worse when he laid down last night. The cough got barky sounding. Aaron and I did our best to get Kellen comfortable and to sleep. Kellen finally fell asleep close to 1am! He woke up at 7am, so needless to say he is a bit clingy and easily agitated today. He is down for a nap right now. :)
Before that night time issue, our evening was good. The kids played. Kellen got out the tunnel to crawl through. He has a lot of fun with that. We had the Penguins game on... they lost. :(
Tonight we are headed to a Winterhawks hockey game that starts at 5pm. Aaron's work has a suite! Ooo La La! We got enough tickets that we were able to invite our friends Megan, Steve and Parker. It should be a lot of fun.
Happy New Years to everyone! We look forward to a great 2009!
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Monday, December 29, 2008
Semi Normal Schedule
Today we were back to pretty much a normal week schedule. Aaron went to work and the kids went to daycare. Of course, Kristin is still on break from Kindergarten this week. My office is shut down this week. So, instead of going to the office I took care of some things at home and ran some errands. The Christmas decorations, except for the outside lights, came down today. It was too rainy to get up on a ladder today. The kids had a lot of fun seeing all of their friends today. Almost everyone was back at daycare from the Christmas holiday. I picked up Kellen early to take him to a re-check on his ear tubes. The right ear tube has fallen out, yeah! He still has the one in the left ear and that is okay. No ear infections and he is getting along just fine. Kristin and Kellen both did a good job of playing peacefully tonight. They each played separate from one another, which is nice! No picking on each other. I think they both had enough interaction with other kids at daycare and needed some alone playtime. Kellen also decided he wanted popcorn tonight. He went to the cabinet where we keep the popcorn popper and he got it out saying "popcorn." He was not to happy when we told him no. Maybe later this week. :)
Happy 35th Anniversary Mom and Dad!!!
Happy 35th Anniversary Mom and Dad!!!
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Elmo
Today we went shopping for another Elmo-related item. Any guesses? Did you guess potty seat? Yep, Kellen is transitioning to the potty seat. He's sits on the potty at daycare a couple times each day and we decided to continue the trend at home. No success as yet, but Kellen doesn't seem to mind sitting on it, so it's another step in the right direction. He wakes up dry in in the morning and after nap, and he usually tells us when he is wet or dirty, so we're headed in the right direction.
Here's a photo of Kellen with the new racecar that he likes to play with. He likes to
push the button to make it go forward and then he chases it across the room. The other photo is Kristin sporting her new Iowa State gear.
Kristin and I have been reading new books at bedtime that she got for Christmas. It's been a welcome change from Magic School Bus and Curious George, at least for me. :-)
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Thawing
Yesterday and today we have been thawing out. :) This makes getting around easier. I drove my car today for the first time in about a week. The kids went to daycare for the morning on Friday while I got groceries and some things done around the house. The afternoon was spent playing with all the new toys. We got a suprise by UPS last night at about 8:30pm with a package from my brother. UPS is working some major long hours to catch up for all the days that they couldn't deliver due to the road conditions. Aaron and I put the presents under the tree for the morning since the kids were already in bed.
Kristin and Kellen saw those presents right away this morning. HA! They have eyes for that. Aaron had to put them up until I was up and we were ready for present opening. After we were all ready for the day we headed to Target. We had a couple of returns to do and a little shopping to do. We got there early enough to beat the crowds. During Kellen's nap Kristin and I played a couple games of Sorry. After Kellen's nap I took the kids to get their hair cut and Aaron went to Lowe's for a few things. The evening was filled with more playing with new toys. Kellen's new favorite is the car from Uncle Brett. He loves to make it go (it has buttons you can push on top for different sounds or to have the car go forward or backward). Tons of fun!
Here is a picture from Christmas day. Yes, the wrapping paper was flying!
Kristin and Kellen saw those presents right away this morning. HA! They have eyes for that. Aaron had to put them up until I was up and we were ready for present opening. After we were all ready for the day we headed to Target. We had a couple of returns to do and a little shopping to do. We got there early enough to beat the crowds. During Kellen's nap Kristin and I played a couple games of Sorry. After Kellen's nap I took the kids to get their hair cut and Aaron went to Lowe's for a few things. The evening was filled with more playing with new toys. Kellen's new favorite is the car from Uncle Brett. He loves to make it go (it has buttons you can push on top for different sounds or to have the car go forward or backward). Tons of fun!
Here is a picture from Christmas day. Yes, the wrapping paper was flying!
Play the video to see Kellen with his new Elmo doll that talks.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Merry Christmas!
As you can imagine, we spent most of the day exploring the new toys with the kids. Danelle's uncle John got to come over and play with the kids too. We're glad he could make it. We weren't sure how accommodating the roads were going to be, but he said the main roads were fine, it's just a matter of getting in and out of the neighborhoods still.
Danelle made a great lunch of roast, potatoes, and carrots Delicious! Kristin had fun after lunch making necklaces out of beads with John. I think Kristin had three or four necklaces by the time they were done.
Kristin and I made it outside in the afternoon while Kellen was napping to make a snowman. The rain/sleet that had been falling stopped just as we were getting bundled up. We had lot's of fun making the snowman and looking around the yard for things to use for his face. Kristin named it Frosty. We then made snowballs and took turns seeing how far we could throw them.
After Kellen got up from his nap, Danelle took him outside to see the snowman, and then they took a short walk around the block. Kellen loves to be outside, even in the snow. He did not want to come inside again.
Merry Christmas, everyone!
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Twas The Night Before Christmas...
A relatively uneventful day for us today, at least as far as the weather is concerned. We got more snow overnight, but then it turned to rain so the latest snow didn't stick around for very long. We've probably still got 6"-8" on the ground though. The main streets are down to bare pavement, but when you turn off onto a neighborhood street you have to go up onto about 6" of snowpack.
Danelle made my favorite meal for dinner tonight, cheddar chowder. It was great. Kellen liked it too. Kristin isn't so sure yet.
Chances are, you are reading this on Christmas day. Merry Christmas from our house to yours!
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Dinner Out
Today we were back to a semi-normal routine. Daycare was open, but not until 8:30am. Aaron and I took the kids to daycare along with the gifts to the teachers. The parking lot was fun as it had not really been driven or parked in yet. The kids had fun today with their friends.
Aaron stayed home and worked from his work laptop. I headed into work to finish up a few tasks. There were only 3 of us in today. It was like a ghost town in our business park area. However, when I was leaving the parking lot was getting plowed. After I left work I ran a few errands. Wow was there a lot of traffic and with all the snow it was slow going. After I got home, Aaron headed out for an errand and I went to work on shoveling our sidewalks. I also got to our neighbor's sidewalk and a path to her front door. I now fondly refer to shoveling as my workout for the day. Now we wait for morning... we are to get more snow tonight and early morning.
Tonight we got to have a fun dinner out with our friends! We just headed over to Shari's and had dinner/breakfast and exchanged gifts for the kids. We all had fun. Kellen was pretty excited for his new toy and book. Kristin got a craft potholder maker (I had one when I was a little girl) and a Hello Kitty book of games. Our friend Parker was very excited with his new Knex... I think he wanted to go home and start building. :) The next couple of days will be fun and exciting. A White Christmas for the Isenhart's this year.
Aaron stayed home and worked from his work laptop. I headed into work to finish up a few tasks. There were only 3 of us in today. It was like a ghost town in our business park area. However, when I was leaving the parking lot was getting plowed. After I left work I ran a few errands. Wow was there a lot of traffic and with all the snow it was slow going. After I got home, Aaron headed out for an errand and I went to work on shoveling our sidewalks. I also got to our neighbor's sidewalk and a path to her front door. I now fondly refer to shoveling as my workout for the day. Now we wait for morning... we are to get more snow tonight and early morning.
Tonight we got to have a fun dinner out with our friends! We just headed over to Shari's and had dinner/breakfast and exchanged gifts for the kids. We all had fun. Kellen was pretty excited for his new toy and book. Kristin got a craft potholder maker (I had one when I was a little girl) and a Hello Kitty book of games. Our friend Parker was very excited with his new Knex... I think he wanted to go home and start building. :) The next couple of days will be fun and exciting. A White Christmas for the Isenhart's this year.
Monday, December 22, 2008
WOW
I left the office at lunch time and made my way home after helping folks get unstuck. the snow stopped around mid day. Not supposed to get any more tomorrow, but the snow isn't going anywhere soon, so I'll work from home, probably for the rest of the week. It was a very vibrant winter wonderland on the way home. The two neighborhoods without power in the morning had their electricity back and people were walking everywhere. In the road. Guess it was easier for them to walk in the packed snow than on the sidewalks with 1' + drifts. Some on skis and snowshoes too.
Back at the house, Kristin and Kellen are really enjoying playing in the snow. We went out for a while this afternoon. They
each investigate the snow in their own way. Kristin dives right in and enjoys measuring the depth with a wooden ruler. Kellen is more passive in his approach, though he did really enjoy 'sledding' down the top of the snow pile at the side of the driveway that we created from shoveling. Most people here don't even own shovels since it only snows usually once a year and then melts fast. I think we're the only house on the block with a shoveled driveway.
Danelle escaped to the grocery store in the truck after I got home from work. She'd been stuck home for several days and needed to get out. She was able to get us set up for Christmas dinner later this week. I think she enjoys driving the truck as much as I do. She commented on the 'moguls' in the road. They're large ice-bumps on top of the sewer manholes. The snow melts because the sewer is warmer, but then the water freezes into big bumps. Since only the highways get plowed, our streets are filled with moguls.
Dusk was very pretty tonight. Snow everywhere, on the trees, yards, houses, roads. Kind of glowed in the end-of-day light.
Looks like the midwest is getting hit with a nasty cold spell. We hope everyone is staying warm!
Sunday, December 21, 2008
The Kind That Sticks to the Shovel
Kristin and I went out in the snow/ice this morning. Kellen would have gone out too but he had a pretty good 'I don't feel good' fit right before we got ready and he just could calm down enough to get his snow clothes on. Kristin played in the snow while I did some shoveling and put chains on the truck. Kristin had a really good time sto
mping through the ice layer into the snow. We then went inside for lunch. By then Kellen had calmed down and was back to his normal self. Outside of the crying fit, he had a much better day today. Much less sneazing and runny nose and hardly any coughing.
After lunch I test drove the truck with the chains on around the block. They worked pretty good. Also did a bit more shoveling. While Kellen was taking a nap, Danelle and Kristin baked gingerbread men, er 'girl', cookies.
Later in the afternoon Kristin went back outside, this time with Danelle. Danelle did more shoveling while Kristin bounced about. Danelle managed to get most of the driveway cleared off. It was a challenge since the ice was heavy and the snow wanted to stick to the shovel. We decided to keep Kellen inside because of his cold, so he and I palled around inside. He likes to say 'ho ho ho' whenever he sees a Santa on TV, and you can ask him 'What does Santa say?' and he'll give you the answer.
During inside play the kids got out the princess tent and had a good time with that.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Snow and Lots of It
7 inches of snow and counting. That is definately a record amount of snow that we have seen in the past 10 years in this part of Oregon. It has been snowing all day and is to snow for a few more hours and then turn to freezing rain. Oh joy!
Before the snow got too bad Aaron and Kristin made it down to Kristin's ice skating lessons. The rest of the day we were all home. I guess you could say we all got restless. The snow is beautiful and the kids like watching it. We also had fun watching all the birds at the bird feeder today. I even went out to fill it this afternoon.
Kellen has a cold with a cough and very runny nose. He took a pretty short nap this afternoon because he woke up coughing. We hope for a better night. Kellen has had some cough suppressent and the vaporizer is on.
Tomorrow we will be home since the roads will be a mess. We will get the kids out to play in all of our snow if it is not too icy.
Before the snow got too bad Aaron and Kristin made it down to Kristin's ice skating lessons. The rest of the day we were all home. I guess you could say we all got restless. The snow is beautiful and the kids like watching it. We also had fun watching all the birds at the bird feeder today. I even went out to fill it this afternoon.
Kellen has a cold with a cough and very runny nose. He took a pretty short nap this afternoon because he woke up coughing. We hope for a better night. Kellen has had some cough suppressent and the vaporizer is on.
Tomorrow we will be home since the roads will be a mess. We will get the kids out to play in all of our snow if it is not too icy.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Snow Day? Snow Week!
We had a dusting of snow this morning, but temperature was hovering around 32 degrees and threatening to ice up. No kindergarten for Kristin as a result. She'll have been off school for three weeks when she goes back after the new year. No ice today though. And daycare was open too so both Danelle and I were able to make it to work.Kristin had fun playing in the snow with her friends at daycare. This photo was taken by one of the teachers there yesterday. The photo of Kellen is from when Santa came to daycare earlier this month.
Nothing too exciting at the house this evening after work and daycare. We were all tired from the long week. Kristin and I watched Imagination Movers, a show on the Disney Channel, while Danelle and Kelle
n colored at the table. Kristin enjoyed reading her Curious George early ready book at bedtime. It was called 'Costumes', and featured the long u sound. It was book ten in the series, only two more new ones to go, and then we'll start back at the beginning.
n colored at the table. Kristin enjoyed reading her Curious George early ready book at bedtime. It was called 'Costumes', and featured the long u sound. It was book ten in the series, only two more new ones to go, and then we'll start back at the beginning.Lot's of snow predicted later in the day tomorrow. There thinking 6 inches or more. Thankfully it's supposed to warm back up into the upper 30's early next week.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Potty!
Again no school today, which was crazy since the roads were fine. It got up to 40 degrees today, but they called off school last night. UGH!
Tonight the kids wanted to play with the tunnel again. Kristin was having fun standing in it and Kellen thought it was pretty neat too.

Kellen sat on the potty for the first time today at daycare! We need to go shopping for a new potty seat for at home. :)
Kristin had a good day at daycare and got to see her friend Emilie that is in full day Kindergarten. Since there was no school today, she was at daycare.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
More Snow
Yes, more snow. However, the snow did not stick for long. The temps got above freezing and now we have slushy roads. It is raining for now. They are thinking we will drop below freezing tonight, so that will make the roads nice and icy.
Daycare was open today, but no Kindergarten again. Kristin got to go on a last minute field trip to the pizza place (Papa Murphy's) upstairs from daycare and make her own pizza. She made a pepperoni pizza. Kellen was grumpy this morning with going to bed late. He also woke up really early for some reason, but he was able to go back to sleep. :)
Tonight we played with the tunnel and other toys in the living room. Kellen did a little coloring. Kristin was interested in the bills (nice!) and helped Aaron sort them by date due. WOW... we are fun sometimes. HA! Kellen kept going around saying ho, ho, ho. Very cute!
Daycare was open today, but no Kindergarten again. Kristin got to go on a last minute field trip to the pizza place (Papa Murphy's) upstairs from daycare and make her own pizza. She made a pepperoni pizza. Kellen was grumpy this morning with going to bed late. He also woke up really early for some reason, but he was able to go back to sleep. :)
Tonight we played with the tunnel and other toys in the living room. Kellen did a little coloring. Kristin was interested in the bills (nice!) and helped Aaron sort them by date due. WOW... we are fun sometimes. HA! Kellen kept going around saying ho, ho, ho. Very cute!
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Ho! Ho! Ho!
No kindergarten again today for Kristin. At this point, I wouldn't be surprised if she got her Christmas break a week early this year. With more snow on the way and no plows, I don't think she'll be back in Kindergarten until the new year. Daycare was opened late today, but at least they were open.
The second photo is of Kristin writing a letter to Santa Claus at Macy's.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Snow Day
Today we had a snow day. Kristin didn't have school and daycare was closed. 3-4 inches of snow pretty well shuts down the Portland region. Lack of snow plows and salt. The only thing put down on local main roads is sand and the plows only really work on the highways and interstates. Aaron made it to work and back safely today. The kids and I made it up to the grocery store for a few things. We played outside for awhile this morning and I got salt down on the driveway and sidewalk (shoveled last night). Kristin got to go play with a friend during Kellen's nap time so I got a little quiet time to get things done, like wrapping some presents. Tonight we stayed in out of the cold and tried to keep the kids entertained.
Tomorrow... still cold and no Kindergarten. Daycare is open, but late. We are in for a long week of cold temps for the area and more precip on Wednesday and Sunday. What fun! The snow is actually not going to melt right away. Maybe we are in for a White Christmas.
Tomorrow... still cold and no Kindergarten. Daycare is open, but late. We are in for a long week of cold temps for the area and more precip on Wednesday and Sunday. What fun! The snow is actually not going to melt right away. Maybe we are in for a White Christmas.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas
Kristin had a blast playing in the snow. I think it was Kellen's first time. He did not like getting all bundled up. He fought and fought getting his snow pants and boots on. Once we were outside he was a lot better though. Kristin did snow angles, tried a little sledding, and made snowballs to throw at dad. Kellen mostly enjoyed watching and using a beach shovel and pale to fill the pale with snow.
I managed to make it down to Sherwood for my hockey game. There weren't very many people out so with driving slow and the 4-wheel drive I did fine. Good thing I went since we ended up without any subs so I got to skate the whole game.
Yesterday was filled with errands and fighting traffic. Everyone was out because of the snow forcast and also because of the shopping season. Kristin and I went to the mall. It was a crazy mad house experience, but we survived.
No kindergarten for Kristin tomorrow. We won't find out until tomorrow morning if daycare is going to be open. It's supposed to be cold all week with more snow in the forecast.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Jingle Bell Rock
Her Curious George early reader book set arrived earlier in the week. We were up to book 3 tonight. Kristin really enjoys figuring out the new words. I can tell when she gets tired though.
Kellen painted a piano that had been cut out of construction paper today at daycare, which was a continuation of the music theme in his room this week. He must still be pushing those molars because he was very tempermental again this evening.
Kristin wanted me to take the attached picture so she could show off her jingle bell earrings.
It's supposed to be really cold here this weekend. At least as far as Portland goes. It may even snow. Hopefully not, since there are always plenty of errands to run this time of year.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Idea Racing
The photos are from last night. I didn't manage to get a good one yet of Kellen looking into the camera with the antlers on. Kristin lights right up for the camera of course.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Reindeer
Tonight Aaron had a late meeting, so the kids and I did a little shopping after dinner. Kellen found a reindeer headband (really 2 headbands) at the Dollar Tree and loves wearing it. Kellen was very cranky tonight. :( Seems to be teething with those upper 2 year molars. I can't wait for those 2 teeth to come in... then we will have a break from teething!!!! HOORAY!
Photo is from last Saturday at Kristin's skating lessons.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Flashcard Fun
Kristin guessed the pattern right yesterday - it was the gingerbread today. She also learned about Christmas traditions in Mexico at kindergarted today. Her class got to rotate into a different teacher's room to learn about Las Posadas and make craft poinsetias. She also came home singing Feliz Navidad. José Feliciano has nothing on Kristin. :-)
Monday, December 8, 2008
Sometimes the Red Eye Just Works
The other photo is from yesterday - Kristin got a big kick out of putting the angel on the tree.
Kristin is learning about time this week at daycare. Today she brought home a clock fashoned from construction paper and a clip of some sort that allows the hands to move around the face of the clock. She did a great job with it. At kindergarten she is learning about patterns. Today's pattern involved gingerbread men and presents. The kids had to guess what the next thing in the pattern is and they'll find out if they were right tomorrow.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Take 2
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Wow busy!
Friday, December 5, 2008
Kleenex Robot and Zoo Lights
Kristin brought home her book order books yesterday. They were temporarily out of a set of Curious George books that we ordered, but everything else made it home ok. We read Hello Kitty Ice Skating Princess last night.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
No Binky Makes Kellen Unhappy
Apparently Kristin has a Christmas tree project in the works at kindergarten. She told us a little bit about it today. She did the journal portion of her project today and is looking forward to doing the craft part of the project tomorrow. At daycare, they continued the theme of careers in uniform, learning about the post office. They mocked up a mailbox and got to write letters, put them in evelopes, and then put them in the mailbox.
Danelle donated blood today. Usually it goes pretty well for her but this time not so much. It bruised her pretty good and she's on the sore side this evening.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Back to School
Kellen had a good day today. We had popcorn tonight and he really enjoys that. He also had fun tackling Aaron tonight.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Wet Hair & Jammies
A quite evening at home after long days for all of us. Kristin didn't have kindergarten today due to a teacher in-service day, so her daycare took her class to Out of This World. Imagine a McDonalds play structure times 10, with additional bounce-house type play structures. She was wore out when she got home.
Kellen was a little tired too after playing with his little friends all day after a four day break. He
colored while sitting on Danelle's lap for about 45 minutes before bath time. Kristin worked on so
The top photo is Kristin watching 'Imagination Movers' while Danelle was trying to get her attention for a picture, which explains why she's not looking at the camera.
In the photo of Kellen, he's showing off after climbing up on the couch all by himself.
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