Christmas with Grandma & Grandpa

The O'Mara Cousins are ready for presents!!

Bryce also received his birthday present from Grandma & Grandpa because they couldn't make it to his party. He got the one and only thing he asked for: Tractor & Trailer

Grandma & Grandpa O'Mara and Us

Sean, Erica & Quinn

Blake & Grandpa

Bryce & Grandma

Tim & Sean were thrilled to receive designer dress shirts & ties their Dad picked out

They really looked nice on, too!

Erica & I received warm cozy robes,

I love mine, I have it on right now!!

Blake also got his video game he has been wanting (Leapfrog Leapster) and Bryce received the Handy Manny Truck (top of his list). Thanks for everything Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Sean, Aunt Erica, & Quinn!! What a great Christmas.

Christmas at Mimi & Pa's

Christmas Eve was spent at Mimi & Pa's house along with Uncle Allen as we prepared for Santa's arrival. Blake and Bryce made Santa a plate of cookies and a glass of milk, which they left on the fireplace along with a bowl of carrots for the reindeer.

Then Uncle Allen tracked Santa's route on the computer to see if he was heading our way

It was so fun this year because Blake and Bryce were both so excited and fully understood the magic of Santa

They snuggled with Mimi and Pa for a while before heading off to bed

When we woke in the morning we saw Santa's sleigh tracks on the patio

or if you ask Bryce, that is where Santa parked his truck

Santa left so many presents and as they started in to their stockings Blake says, "I don't understand what's happening here." When I asked what he meant he replied with a concerned look: "I am not getting anything I ordered".

I once again explained that Santa can't possibly provide EVERYTHING he asks for, but that he should be patient because these are only stocking presents, there are more under the tree. GEEZ!!!

Blake and Bryce ended up very happy and appreciative for the gifts they received, especially the Michigan and Michigan State outfits from Mimi and Pa. (They always play pretend football and Blake is Michigan and Bryce is MSU. We are and always will be a house divided :) They also got transformers, batman action figures and much more!! Uncle Allen took them shopping 3 separate times to spoil them with gifts. They are very lucky little boys.

Thank you thank you for a perfect fun-filled Christmas, we love you Mimi, Pa, & Uncle Allen!!

More than words

Why I love being a Mom:

We've been out of town at our parents houses for the holidays, and we had a perfect Christmas. I can't wait to get home to share all of our pictures and some cute stories! Happy Holidays!!!

Happy 3rd Birthday Bryce

Our baby boy turned 3 years old on Sunday and we celebrated on Saturday with a Camping Birthday party. We love birthday themes, but this one was a little challenging in the middle of winter. We dressed in camping gear, had a mini camping adventure to find the birthday presents, and feasted on camping food such as hot dogs, sloppy joes, spaghetti salad, and potato chips. Brycie loved every minute of it!!

Bryce with his Diego cupcake cake (I thought this was pretty close to our camping theme)
He loved his cake, especially the frosting that turned his teeth green

He received many great gifts thanks to his family and friends,

here he is in a fireman get up

Meanwhile, Blake and my cousin Michelle's husband Mike played with another one of Bryce's gifts . . . the geo trax airport. I think Mike enjoyed it more than the kids!!

Thank you to everybody who celebrated with us, it was a great day :)

Woolman ~ O'Mara Christmas 08

Last night was our annual Woolman~O'Mara Christmas party. We had a lot of fun as usual, Thanks for everything Woolmans, we love you!!

Sweet Baby Jenna

Bryce, Taylor, and Blake

Snow Boys

Blake and Bryce are loving the foot of snow that dumped on us yesterday.

Bryce was even more excited to come in and get some hot chocolate. You can't tell from this pic, but he apparently marinated his nose in his drink!

Christmas Program

Blake had a busy week at school with a birthday party for Jesus and a Christmas program. He did so good at the program, stood tall and proud, sang all the songs & did the motions, and beamed with pride through it all.

Blake with his teacher, Mrs. Ethington

You can see him singing in between the heads in front of us

Walking out, he said to Bryce, "Bud, Bud, did you see me up there?"

My two boys, they honestly melt my heart, they are so huggy and lovey toward each other

Great job, Blake! He has made so much progress since September, we are very impressed with his school and his teacher and so is Blake!

I survived 6 kids

Since several families were in a bind today due to Nancy's injury I offered to watch the kids since I had the day off. There were 6 kids: three 4 year olds, one almost 3 year old, one 2 year old, and an 11 month old. Nancy only has 4 of them at a time since one Mom and I work opposite days, so this was an unusual occurrence for them to all be together. It went exceptionally well and call me crazy, but I had a lot of fun!! I would definitely do it again. A special thanks to Aunt Erica who came over so I could go pick the boys up from preschool . . . don't know how it could have worked without your help!

Here they are Blake, Bret, Collin, Ty, Bryce, and Ella

Christmas Spirit

Christmas is so fun, but it is even more special to see the sparkle in your children's' eyes this time of year as they anticipate the magic of the season!

My boys love to look at the ornaments every night

If you recall the incident a year ago in which Santa was beheaded, they are taking a much softer approach this year.

We have been busy preparing for Santa's arrival as you can see. However, I would like mention that we are saddened today as the boys beloved babysitter, Nancy, fell yesterday and broke her hip. She had surgery today and has decided she will no longer be watching kids. Blake has been with her since he was 3 months old, she is a huge part of our lives and we love her dearly. We are so sad for her and wish her a speedy recover and a slower paced life! We are now on the hunt for a day care and we are getting ready for a BIG transition. The boys will have to be in separate rooms and we all know they are not used to being apart, so wish us luck as we prepare them for this big change.

He Eats!!

He eats, he really really eats! We are still making progress with Peanut Butter Blake. We have an agreement that he is allowed to have his peanut butter sandwich for lunch but has to eat what we are eating for dinner. We have one snag in our program, though, being a creature of habit it proved to be too much to have a new item each day. He always requests the same thing he ate the night before. Soo, we allow him 2 nights with the same "new" food choice, then after 2 nights it switches to a different choice. At this point I am ecstatic that he is getting some meat into his diet, so however it happens is fine with me. He has always needed to be eased into new situations, so this is no exception.
He has enjoyed pork chops, spinach & asiago cheese chicken sausage (I know, brave, right?), and chicken nuggets. Even if he drinks a glass of milk and a glass and a half of water with dinner, by golly he gets it down.
And Bryce is still our eating champ. He plows through a couple bowls of salad before dinner even starts, gobbles up his meal, then polishes it off with a grapefruit for dessert. What a guy!

Out with the Peanut Butter

I have been getting a lot of flack lately about Blake eating countless peanut butter sandwiches. Trust me when I say we have tried and tried and it got to be more stressful for me than anything. It would truly ruin my evening with my family and that is just what I want after a day at work!! We routinely put "real" food on Blake's plate and have him touch it, smell it, and occasionally lick it. Now it has just taken a serious turn once again.

The meal: Tuscan Pork Chops, roasted potatoes, and fresh green beans
The players: Dad, Mom, Blake, Bryce, and Mimi who's in town for a conference
Here's how it went down . . .

Before Dinner - Bryce is very excited to taste everything on the table

(Notice his shirt, "MOM FOREVER" . . . its my favorite, hehehe)

Blake is sceptical, but playing it cool

(Notice his pursed lips at the mere mention of dinner food)

1st attempt we get the hand

2nd attempt he turns his head


3rd we pause for a moment of sadness

Now we have the entire arm covering the eating orifice . . . this is going just as we suspected

Meanwhile Bryce ate all his pork chop, a few bites of potatoes, and several green beans

He celebrates with a cookie

The rest of the action was not caught on film due to the fact that the star of the show would not sign the waiver. Blake insisted if it was going to go down, it not be caught on tape, he thought he might damage his reputation.

Here's what you missed: We finished eating, cleared the table and left Blake there with his pork chop and potatoes. He sat there as usual, holding his ground. This time it was Daddy who went in the for kill . . . it all seems like a blur now but somehow Daddy did it, he got Blake to eat one bite of pork chop!! The crowd went WILD as he ate 4 more bites and smiled through the pain. It was a moment of victory in the O'Mara household tonight and we are looking forward to what tomorrow brings.

For the record: Blake does take a multi-vitamin, drinks a nutritional shake each day, and in addition to his peanut butter he eats fruit, salsa, yogurt, cereal, and many breakfast foods in which we sneak such things as sweet potatoes and eggs.

Thank you all for your concern :) If anyone has any new suggestions or would like to come food train my child by all means call me at any hour!!!!!!

Little Workers

Busy Boys hard at work.

Blake works such long hours he has to pull his desk chair over to his work bench.

Mr. Fix it has his work cut out for him

He just couldn't get the right angle, but found this fetal type position provided the perfect leverage as he fixed the desk light!

I am one lucky Mommy to have a couple of live in handy boys :)