I am taking over this blog for now. You can still see all the cute pictures of the kids and their antics at www.westbergfamily.net
This site will be more I how deal with family life. Not necessarily a place to complain, but just to make observations and maybe ask for advice from other parents.
Saturday, we decided to have family fun. We packed the kids up and we all went swimming at an indoor pool in town. It was lots of fun. They have a waterslide and water shooting everywhere. Jared really enjoyed himself and Beka is learning how to go underwater. It really is fun to watch them play in the water.
Sunday, of course, was SuperBowl. I read a really good book. I am just not that into the football game.
And now Monday, we are all sick. Well, not Andrew. He is lucky like that. But we will survive. Any prayers for health would be appreciated though.
This weekend we had some very special people visiting. Beka and Jared's paternal grandparents visited. They came up to wish Beka a Happy Birthday. Friday night, we received a nice coating of wet snow. So while the grandparents were here, we all went outside and built a snowman. Beka and Jared loved doing it. 
I think the snowman turned out pretty good. He isn't lasting long though.
We celebrated Beka's birthday with much fanfare and food. I decorated the house a little with crepe paper. She got to pick the food. She wanted to go to the "crab legs place". Yes, I know she has expensive tastes. Beka and Jared both helped me bake the cake and decorate it. She was really excited to get to talk to both sets of grandparents on the phone. Overall I think she really enjoyed her day. I love to watch her when she is all excited. Beka kept dancing around the house singing, "I am the birthday girl!" It was adorable. 
Okay, my children are definitely part of the 21st Century at least technology-wise. I never take a picture without one or both of them asking, "Can I see it?" Digital is great.
Beka is especially catching on.
Andrew and I were talking about Denzel Washington for some reason one night. Beka pipes up, " Mommy, what is his favorite color?"
"ummm...I don't know, Beka."
"That's okay Mommy. We can just look it up on his website."
Another example:
Beka: "Mommy, I just push the website button and Waaaa....laaaa there it is."
Can you tell the internet is a major part of our lives around here. Now I am just nervous about when she figures out Instant Messaging.
We were involved in a lot of activities over the past couple of weeks. It started off with Beka's Christmas program at preschool on the 15th. Beka was dressed in her Christmas dress and then she was dressed as an angel. All the kids did a wonderful job singing. Afterwards everyone enjoyed some cookies.
On the 20th, Jared and I attended Beka's Christmas party at school. We made stocking ornaments and played put Baby Jesus in the manager (kinda like pin the tail on the donkey). Jared really enjoyed being part of the class. Oh there was also a storyteller who told the story of the mice in the the tale The Night Before Christmas. The mice wanted a Christmas tree but it had to be very small because mice live in tiny little holes.
We spent Christmas Eve with Andrew's family. The kids received some very nice gifts as did Andrew and I. Christmas Eve dinner was served at his grandpa's house. All the cousin played well together and the food was delicious. Andrew and I really appreciated the time we got to spend with the extended family. We attended the Children's Church program with the family also.
Christmas Day was spent with my parents and brother. Andrew made omelets and I am taking everyone else's word for it that they were good. (Eggs = yuck)
My family is very blessed. We have so much extended family that give us so much. I can't even begin to list here all we received in gifts and in blessings. It was so nice to be with everyone as we celebrated Jesus' birth.
And one picture just because my kids are cute.
The Shoups, honorary grandparents, gave this advent calendar to Beka and Jared. I really think it is wonderful. It focuses more on the birth of Christ than on the presents. Beka and Jared get excited every morning when it is time to take the next character out of the calendar. I have emphasized that on the last day baby Jesus will be born and put in the manger. So, they know it counts down to Christmas and present, but also to the birth of Jesus.
The snow started falling today around 11:30pm right as I was picking up Beka from preschool. It hasn't stopped falling yet. I would bet we have about 4 inches out there now. So, the kids and I got out the blocks today. We built bridges, roads, and towers. We had a lot of fun. 
I know we have posted alot today. But I just got this picture off the camera and I just can't resist.
Over night we received about 2 inches of snow. Beka and Jared were thrilled. When Beka woke up this morning, she had to show everyone the snow. So after nap, I took them outside to play in the snow. First, we had to get out the boots, snow pants, coats, hats, and gloves.
Then we went outside. OH the squirt bottles they are holding are full of cornstarch, water, and food coloring. Coloring the snow with the squirt bottles is fun.
Beka decided to make snow angels while Jared wanted to hit Mommy with snowballs.
The best part of going outside in the snow is the hot chocolate when you come inside.
Thanksgiving was a wonderful time for us. We got to visit lots of family and eat lot of food. The children really enjoyed seeing all of their grandparents. My parents had a surprise. They had redone their living room with new carpet and paint. It looks fabulous.
Beka and Jared have been ready to decorate this house for Christmas since Halloween. I put them off and said we were not going to decorate until after Thanksgiving. I did give in a little and let them make posters for their walls. Well, we arrived back at our house the Saturday after Thanksgiving and I somehow managed to hold them off until Monday. The tree is now up and decorated. They have garland hanging in their rooms. We need to get some of those cling things for the windows yet. But I think we have made a great start.
Beka is already discussing what kind of cookies Santa needs for a snack. It should be an interesting Christmas. Beka talking about Santa's snack reminds me of one year when I was a kid, my wonderful Aunt Sherry mentioned to my brother and I that the reindeer needed a snack too. Of course, we were then on a mission. The reindeer had to have a snack. Aunt Sherry brought over feed corn on Christmas Eve and told us it was for the reindeer. My brother and I sprinkled a full coffee can of corn all over our patio. I still don't know what happened to all of it by morning but it was gone just as if the reindeer had eaten it.
Today winter officially started in Illinois in my opinion. We woke up to snow flurries that continued off and on all day. Nothing accumulated, but it was enough for me to decided that winter is here. The kids were overly excited when they discovered it was snowing. They really wanted to go outside, so out we went.
Jared decided this afternoon to build a fort out of some old cushions in the basement. He declared that he had a garage door and front door. He played down there for a very long time.
On a side note, when did my daughter decide she was going to be all girl? Beka has always been into princesses and dress-up, but she could also play in the mud and get dirty. Over the last two weeks that has all changed. Now she only wants to wear dresses and doesn't want to get dirty. I am not ready for this, but I want her to be herself. So....I guess I should buy some more dresses.
Tonight, the family watched a DVD of the Broadway show STOMP. This show is the percussion team that uses ordinary things, such as trash cans, as instruments. It is highly entertaining. All of us enjoyed it. But Jared loved it. He would sit and watch the show for awhile and then all of the sudden....I. MUST. MOVE. He would get up shake his little tush, jump around, dance, wiggle, or whatever else he could do to move with the beat. Jared really could not just sit there and listen to the sounds he had to experience it. It was so cool to watch. But the best part had to be when the show went off. Everyone was inspired. All the instruments in the house (drum, tamborine, maracas, walls, bowls, etc.) came out to be played with. You name it; it was beat on tonight. Even Daddy got into the act. I just sat back and enjoyed the show. It is so wonderful to be a family.
We took the kids to Apple Blossom Farm recently. It is a place that has a petting zoo, pumpkins, monster truck rides, and a giant slide. They also have a corn maze. The place is really fun to visit in the fall.
Andrew made me do it. That is my only excuse.
I have to say Andrew was a completely grossed out by feeding the goats. He kept asking for the wipes to wipe all the goat slobber off his hand. It was funny. It is always so great when we take time to be a family together.
Today, was Beka's Halloween party at school. Oh excuse me "Fall Party", whatever, they all dressed up and got candy. Jared was invited to be an actual participant in the class too. The idea was to bring the kids to school. Then the parents went out to the cars and gave out candy from our trunks....thus it is called trick or trunking. The teachers were super and took Jared along with all the other kids.
After the trick or trunking, we went in and played games and had snack. It was neat and scary to see Jared acting like all the other three-year-olds. He is my baby so I am a little sad to see him fit in so well. But I am also excited that the transition next year won't be too hard. Jared listened to the teachers well and behaved. Beka was a great big sister too. She watched over him and kept him in line. 
Lastly, here is a class picture.
Fall has arrived here. Actually, I think winter has arrived. The kids have worn their heavy coats the last couple of days. Anyway, before that, we were enjoying some lovely fall weather. The leaves have changed color and started falling to the ground. Which meant we had to rake the yard. Luckily, the kids in the neighborhood plus our own wanted to help. 
But you can't rake leaves without jumping in them.
I took Beka and Jared to pick out pumpkins the other day. Instead of carving them, we decided to paint them. Beka started out making a face and then just decided to decorate. Jared used the "polluck" method. He took two paintbrushes and just whipped the paint on there. 
And I don't know where they got this idea. But suddenly, Beka started doing headstands on the couch and Jared followed. 
During the last few days of our vacation, we went to Orlando. We took the children to Sea World. It was the perfect place to take my two. We visited all the animals in about 4 hours.
One of our first stops was the stingrays and the kids tried to feed them.
The stingrays are kept in the big pool you see above and they just keep swimming around and around.
Then we saw the dolphins. I think those animals were Beka's favorites.
We also saw manatees....
...and sharks.
We made it to two of the shows. We went to the Shamu show and in my opinion it was overrated. There is only so much a killer whale can do. The other show was one with dolphins in it. It was awesome! There were divers, dolphins, and birds. The kids really enjoyed see in all the performers do their tricks.
We spent the next day in the pool at the hotel. The children did fine on the flight back too. When you ask Jared about vacation, his first response: "We flew on a big AIRPLANE!" So I am assuming that was his favorite part. Overall, it was a great time. Jared and Daddy really bonded more while we were there.
We have been so busy around here. The kids are growing up so much so fast.
Jared is talking almost as much as Beka now. He is still not doing any better about her going to preschool. The whole while she is gone I hear him whine: "I go preschool." "I big boy." I really do wish there was someway to send him too.
Beka is, of course, loving preschool. Surprisingly, she is the most popular girl in class. Everyone wants to play with her. She gets drawings and hugs from the other children before we leave. She is always very gracious about it though. She worried me a little when she came home and told me: "Mason likes my hair in a ponytail so I need to wear it that way." Fortunately, by the next preschool day she had forgotten that. Mason is the only boy in her class.
Andrew and I have been busy too. We are looking at houses. I know it is a surprise. I really never expected to move from where we live now. We have decided though to try to get in a neighborhood that has better schools for the kids. The school district here is changing all the schools into community K-8 schools. This change means that our children would go to a school with very low, below the state average, ISAT scores. I just don't like that idea. We looked into private schools, but they're just way too expensive in Peoria. So, that change has added some stress and taken away some of our time. Hopefully, house hunting will go smoothly.
We had a small sandbox in the backyard. Well, after so many times of rain getting into it, the sand is gone. Now yesterday it rained and water collected in what used to be the sandbox. Beka and Jared decided it would be fun to play in. It started out innocently enough with them taking shovels and scooping the water into buckets to then water the grass. The activity ended with them pouring buckets of water over each others head until they were soaked through. They kept asking if they were wet yet. I ended up stripping them and sending them straight into the tub. They were so wet.
