Playing with Eli

Last night we went over to my Aunt Nancy and Uncle Gary's house. Both of there kids (my cousins Jenni & Kari) and there families were in town to celebrate Thanksgiving and an early Christmas. (Jenni is pregnant and due with her second baby January 1)....and since they live in St. Louis, it is her last "big" trip. Kelly got to play with Eli again....they play REALLY well together! :) She also got to see Baby Jaxon (who is 4 months old now...and getting really big!) Here are a few pictures!

Kelly playing the drums while Eli is playing with the Jack-in-the-box! Both toys (from when Jenni and Kari were little.....were a BIG hit!)
Kelly and Eli in the hallway...playing with the old Fisher-Price train and helicoptor! They pulled those two toys around the house a bunch of times!

Visiting SANTA at the library

Brian, Kelly, and I went to the library this morning to see SANTA and Mrs. Clause. Kelly wasn't quite sure what to think.....she didn't cry, but she didn't smile either. We had practiced what she was going to tell Santa she wanted for Christmas....but she didn't say anything. The local paper even took a picture of Kelly on Santa's lap.....even though she looked unsure....we'll see if it's in the paper this week. The library also had three crafts that the kids could do while they waited to see Santa....Kelly thought they were all FUN! She made a snowman popsicle ornament, a tree pipe cleaner ornament, and a candy cane mouse.

Kelly isn't quite sure about Mommy setting her on Santa's lap!
DADDY'S GIRL!
(Kelly was showing Daddy around the library...where we get books, where we get movies, where storytime is, AND OF COURSE.....the kids computers! Daddy thought I should take a picture of her at the computer playing a game!)

Potty training........

I have been working on potty training Kelly for about 6 months now......a VERY FRUSTRATING PROCESS! (I truly believe it is the hardest part of parenting so far!) Anyway, I have kind of "given up" the last few weeks. My doctor told me (along with many others), that anything I gained in these last few weeks before the baby was born, would be lost once the baby came along. So, we still ask her if she wants or needs to go potty, but we don't push it. This morning she went through and EMPTIED her dresser........yes, everything was out of all her drawers. Needless to say, she found her Elmo underwear and wanted to wear them.....so I let her. I told her she had to tell me when she needed to go potty, otherwise Elmo was going to get wet. I asked her a million times, but it was always "No Mommy, me no have to go potty!" Well, of course she had an accident! I am not doing so well at this potty training part of parenting! Any suggestions..........

Kelly showing off her Elmo underwear....while holding her turtle purse! She wanted a treat in her purse....and I told her she could put one in there, AFTER she went potty! (She didn't get a treat!)

Happy Thanksgiving

The Snyder Family hopes everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We had a great day with extra yummy food! (I got some of my favorites....S'more pie, cinnamon rolls, mashed potatoes, scalloped corn, etc.) We spent the afternoon at my mom's house with Brian's family and Nancy and Gary. Kelly was the only kid there....so needless to say, she had everyone playing with her at one time or another! Then we went to my dad's house around 5:45 p.m. and spent a little time there too....where Kelly got to play with a lot of her cousins! I only took a couple pictures....I wanted to get a family picture of Brian, Kelly, and I (our last one before the new baby comes), but Kelly was too tired by the time I got around to it. I only got Kelly with one set of her three grandparents too....even though she got to spend time with all of her grandparents. I did manage to get a picture of Kelly playing with Play-Doh with her uncle David...whom she doesn't get to see a lot! We hope everyone had a great day! Hopefully, we will be calling you soon, with news of Baby Snyder # 2! (It could be anyday now!)

Grandma and Papa Murray with Kelly (and Elmo)

Uncle David and Kelly playing with PLAY-DOH!

Puzzles are fun!

Kelly and Daddy had fun tonight putting together a Dora puzzle. Kelly sat at her fun art desk....the puzzle fit perfectly!

Daddy helping Kelly put together a puzzle.

Kelly is excited when the Dora puzzle is all put together!

A sleeping toddler!

There is just something special about a sleeping toddler! Today is the first day that Kelly and I have both gotten to spend the ENTIRE DAY at home since the middle of August. (We have had a few weekend days that Brian, Kelly, and I were all home on Sundays). With swimming the last 3 months, and then last week every day was filled up....we didn't get an entire day at home...so I declared today PJ DAY!!! Kelly and I are both spending the entire day lounging around in our PJ's! Kelly wanted to watch a show on TV for a couple minutes before naptime.....when I went back to our room to check on her, she was asleep on our bed. :) So peaceful! I am going to cherish the few days I have left with just Kelly and I lounging around at home....before we know it, she will have a baby sister!

What a group!

A few weeks ago, we had my Dad and Jackie's anniversary party at Timmerman's. Tom Bierie took a picture of our WHOLE GROUP....all 27 of us! Here is the picture....with all the kids at least "looking" at the camera! (Kelly isn't smiling at all....and actually looks scard and confused). Soon our group will be up to 29.....with Baby Snyder #2 due in 3 weeks and my sister Staci is due in April too.

Kelly's 1st trip to the dentist

Today was Kelly's 1st trip to the dentist....she did GREAT!!! (Probably better than both Mommy and Daddy...since we both don't like going to the dentist). The dentsit counted Kelly's teeth - SHE HAS 17!!! (Only one of her two year molars has come in...she has three more to go). She was a little hesistant at first, but did really well overall. She was excited because she got a new toothbrush, a little kids toothpaste, and a couple stickers too!

Kelly looks like such a BIG GIRL in the dentist chair!

The dentist is counting Kelly's teeth!

State Swim Meet

We had a VERY successful state swim meet on Saturday! We got 18th place as a team....the highest we have placed in the last 6 years. There were 57 teams competing at state and only 34 teams scored points (you have to score Top 16 to earn points and there are 24 girls/relays in each event). Our highest places were 7th and 9th....both in the 200 free. We also got 10th and 12th in the 500 free. I had another girl break a varsity school record in the 200 free too. We have broken 3 varsity school records this season (200 free, 200 IM, 500 free). It was a very successful season.....now I have my team banquet on Tuesday night and then I can start to focus on all the things I need to get finished before I can have a baby in less than a month!

State Team on TOP of the podium during warm-ups!
What a group!

Hotel Fun!

We made it to Marshalltown!!! It was a crazy drive with the weather, but once we got to the hotel, everyone had a great time.....including Kelly! She ran up and down the hallway....went into all the girls rooms, and helped them decorate too!!! She helped Mommy wake the girls up on Saturday morning too! She did really well sleeping in the hotel room bed too....she didn't want to go to sleep, but once she gave up.....she was out for the night!

Before we checked into the hotel....we had our normal stop at the Welcome to Marshalltown sign......it was VERY COLD this year....AND SNOWING too!

Kelly helping the girls decorate there doors and the hallway! Here she is helping them blow up balloons!

Kelly having fun with all the decorations!

Kelly with the State Team in the decorated hallway!

When we got back to the hotel after watching a little bit of diving....Kelly and Daddy were playing with Play-Doh in our room!

State Swimming!

Friday morning started off with practice at Loras. We then went to Wahlert for our prayer service. After we loaded up the suburbans, we stopped in Dyersville to get Brian and Kelly. The girls looked at all of my swimming pictures and played with Kelly....then we got on the road again! It snowed the entire way!!! Nothing like the first snowfall on November 7! (I felt like I was coaching boys swimming again.....and driving them to the state meet, which is in February!!!)

We stopped in Dyersville to get Kelly & Brian (they followed us to State). Here are some of the girls with Kelly. The girls bought her a hat, kind of like theres, at Baby Gap! She loved it!

After Friday morning practice and the prayer service.....there is always time for a few pictures! Here is my State Swimming Team 2008!

Mommy's birthday

Thursday was my 32nd birthday! It was kind of a whirlwind....and didn't really feel like my birthday at all. I guess it's just like that after you have kids. Anyway, it was state week (we left for state the next morning)! I had practice until 6pm, then a quick dinner, and back to my mom's house for ice cream cake.......I only had until 8pm though, because it was 8th grade open house at Wahlert and each sport/activity has a booth for the incoming freshmen next year. Then it was back home to pack and get ready for state. Brian and I are still hoping to celebrate my birthday sometime soon!

Kelly and Mommy!

It's not a birthday in Kelly's eyes......unless you can blow out candles! Here Kelly is helping me blow out my candles.

Playing in the LEAVES!

Brian and I took Kelly outside this afternoon to play in the leaves! She kept saying "This is fun, Mommy!" We were trying to rake the leaves......but it was a losing proposition with Kelly playing in them! Oh well, she had a GREAT TIME!!!

"This is FUN, Mommy!"

Running through the leaves is SO MUCH FUN!!!

Tara's wedding

My friend Tara also got married yesterday! I wasn't able to attend the wedding, due to the district swim meet being the same day. Brian and I went to the wedding reception after the results came as to who qualified for the state meet. Here is a picture of the 4 of us that have been friends since the beginning of high school. (Molly and Jen were two of the four bridesmaids).

Emily, Tara, Molly, and Jen

District Swim Meet

Saturday was our district swim meet.......we had a GREAT MEET!!! All of my girls had 100% best times of the season, and they tapered REALLY WELL! The entire group of 9 will be going down to the state meet next weekend. Everyone qualified that we thought would qualify, so we had a very relaxing evening waiting for the final cut-off times to be posted. This is a great group of girls.....the front row of 4 are all seniors.....I will miss them a lot next season! All 4 of them have been a part of the state team for all 4 years!

My 9 varsity swimmers......all of them are going to state, either as a qualifier or an alternate!

Tabby pointing to her time in the 500 free.....5:19.49! She broke our varsity school record! It is now her second varsity school record this season.....and we still have the state meet next week!

Trick-or-Treat

Trick-or-Treating worked out great this year. It was a no school day for my swimmers (due to parent/teacher conferences). We had practice early and I was able to get Kelly dressed and have lots of fun Trick-or-Treating! My mom and I took her to Hy-Vee first, while waiting for Daddy to get off work! Hy-Vee was a HIT with Kelly. (I highly recommend for anyone thinking of Trick-or-Treating at Hy-Vee in the future!) We walked around the store and Kelly got LOTS of stuff....and GOOD STUFF! (chocolate milk, plastic Tinkerbell cereal bowl, twinkie, fortune cookie, coupon for a free kids meal, string cheese, baby carrots, peanut butter, a glow braclet, candy, etc., etc., etc.) After Hy-Vee we went to my aunt Nancy's house. Yep....she didn't just get candy there either.....she got candy AND a Hello Kitty coloring and sticker book too. We then went to Grandma and Papa Murray' s house, but she was already REALLY TIRED by that point. She had a good nap on the way home to Dyersville and was ready to walk around our neighborhood. She started off slow, but ended up loving it! I hope everyone had a wonderful Halloween!

Kelly stopping for a quick picture, while in Hy-Vee! I know....she is an adorable butterfly!

Kelly walking through Hy-Vee Trick-or-Treating

Kelly picking out some candy at one of the "stops" at Hy-Vee! After Trick-or-Treating at Hy-Vee, we went to Grandma and Papa Murray's house. Kelly was REALLY tired by this point....and we had only been to Hy-Vee and my aunt Nancy's house. She wasn't cooperating for any pictures.....but she HAPPILY let them fill her bag with a Caillou movie and candy too! Here she is sleeping, while holding Caillou and her blanket. She had a "power nap" on the way home, so that we could Trick-or-Treat in our neighborhood!

(I took off part of her costume so that she wasn't so hot in the car!) While Trick-or-Treating in Dyersville, we stopped at Grandma and Papa Snyder's house. Kelly got lots of FUN stuff in a spongebob bag.....a Mr. Potato Head, candy, etc. As you can tell, she was EXCITED!

Eating at the Star Restaurant

On Friday.....Halloween day.....at lunchtime.....Kelly went out to lunch with Grandma and Papa Murray, and my aunt Laurie from Airzona. Laurie was in town for my great-aunts funeral and wake service. They were all VERY BRAVE and took Kelly to the Star Restaurant! (Brian & I haven't taken her to fancy restaurants yet!) Kelly loved it, and from what I hear, was VERY GOOD. As you can see below, the restaurant gives kids a mini-DVD player to watch a movie while they wait for there food. Thanks for the pictures, Laurie!

The server brought a DVD for Kelly to watch while they waiting for there food......as you can tell.....it was a BIG HIT with Kelly!

Kelly and Papa watching a DVD of Hello Kitty....and Kelly was eating the Dippin' Dots that came with her kids meal!

Papa, Kelly, and Grandma walking out of the Star Restaurant.

Kelly running after a good lunch at the Star!