Ali, Jerry, Alayna, and Jared January 2010

Alicia, Jerry, and the kids came home January 16th thru 24th.  While they were here they had Alayna's 5th birthday party!  Here are some pics from the day.

Miss Alayna

I LOVE this facial expression!  Too adorable!

Jared got a present from Aunt Betsy, Uncle Jim, Rachel, Carl, and Thomas a fish net that floats (to help him go fishing with Daddy!)

MOVIE REVIEW Alvin and the Chipmunks the Squeakquel

Brittany, Mariah (friend), Clay and I met Tina and Connor at the movies to watch Alvin and the Chipmunks 2.  It was so good!  I really thought it was as good if not better than the 1st one.  The kids don't seem to understand that we had the Chipmunks when I was growing up and that is why I enjoyed the movie as much as they did.  Oh well!  Brittany very much enjoyed that the lead Chipette was named Brittany.  Very cute, very worth seeing this movie!

My knee, oh, my knee!

I usually don't consider myself much of a wimp but this week I am feeling pretty wimpy!  Let's start with what happened.  Early Wednesday morning I decided to be a nice wife and not turn on our bedroom light so I wouldn't wake up sweet, sweet Chad.  All I needed was a pair of socks.  I used my good ole cell phone to light the way to the dresser.  Grabbed my socks, the cell phone light went out as I turned to walk out of the room and then THUD!  I ran smack into the electrical heater in our bedroom.  It is the plug-in old looking heavy kind of heater.  The type of heater that I wouldn't be able to move around very much if it wasn't on rollers.  Well, let me just tell you that with my knees I knocked it completely over!  Mainly my left knee took the biggest hit but my right knee has a little bruise.  As you can tell from the above picture my left (or in the pic the right side) it is still a little swollen and it isn't near as boney as the other.  I know, Chad had trouble figuring out which knee it was too!  I, on the other hand, have no trouble figuring it out.  It HURTS!  I am walking better today but I can cry about it if I want to (like a typical wimp!  HA!). 

Watching Lauren play at IWU 1.5.10

Chad, the kids, and I went to watch Lauren (who plays for Huntington University) play basketball at IWU.  Although Lauren's team lost it was exciting to see Lauren play.  She played the entire game as their point guard-not bad for a freshman!  The kids really enjoyed having Lauren babysit last summer.

Birthday Party for Brittany (9) & Clay (7) 1.3.10

As a surprise for Clay we had Marsh make his cake this year.  We took in Jay Cutler's (Bears quarterback) football card and they blew it up.  Clay LOVED it.  When we asked what piece the birthday boy wanted he wanted the pic of Jay!  We got him to take just the jersey.  He ate all of his ice cream and up to the letters and the number then he said he wanted to save the rest.  I asked him what he was saving it for and he said he wanted to keep it!  As in not for later keep it, as in keep it as a keepsake!!!  TOO PRECIOUS!  We then proceeded to have a talk about mold and what that would do to the icing.

I made Britt's cake again this year.  She wanted flowers everywhere.  I think my cake turned out really pretty!

the kids blowing out the candles

Clay (sporting his new Lebron James Cav's jersey) with Ellery and Brittany

Bryce and Caleb chilling out

Opening gifts

Lincoln playing

Look at Jay and Lincoln's profile! 

I just had to throw this picture in-this is Miss Madi at Brittany's basketball game.  I love that she thought nothing of lounging out playing her ds!