Ry Ry is 8 months and Amanda is Officially 2 1/2!

Happy 8 months Ryan and Happy 2 1/2 years Amanda!

Ryan enjoys dressing preppy & is adorable in the morning

I'M 8 MONTHS OLD NOW! (Feb. 25 2008)

Video of Ryan getting ready to boogy. He is actually getting on all 4's and rocking now. Watch the wrist action and when that doesn't get him anywhere, he tries to wave 'bye bye'!

He does wave 'bye bye' now and claps his hands on demand now! What a big boy!

Amanda, Natalie and Mommy made Red Velvet cupcakes for Amanda's

2 1/2 year birthday celebration. Natalie shows off the Birthday Cake

flavored ice cream w/blue frosting ribbons and sprinkles in it!

Yum!

Little Brother Tommy - IWCOA Hall of Fame Inductee

Tom LeCuyer of Plano was recognized as a 2008 Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association (IWCOA) Hall of Fame Inductee on February 15th. LeCuyer wrestled for Plano High School from 1993-1996 where he won three state championships and was named the Outstanding Wrestler in the State for Class A and as a First Team All-American for USA Wrestling in 1996. LeCuyer went on to wrestle for Northern Illinois University from 1996-2000 where he was named as team captain and most valuable wrestler in 2000 as well as being an NCAA qualifier.

(Tommy pictured w/former coach Joe Cliffe)
Formal Induction ceremonies will be held April 26th in Countryside, IL

Happy Love Day!

Well, the morning started off by Natalie waking me up and telling me to come downstairs. She had a surprise! So off we went, downstairs, and when I turned the corner....this is what I saw first...

A dozen red roses from my hubby and a beautiful card.

Then, Natalie handed me her Valentine card, that she signed all by herself....here is the envelope. Doesn't this make your heart melt? She was so proud and so was I, of her.

Then it was time for Natalie to give us the Valentine she made at her Valentine's Day party at school the previous day!

And then the girls wanted to get in the crib with Ryan and wish him his first

"Happy Valentine's Day"! Our little Sweet Heart!

Mommy gave the kids Valentine balloons, Amanda opens her card from Mommy & Daddy, Natalie's Valentine platter she painted at Color Me Mine and surprised Daddy with and making donuts with Grandma Catey, hopefully a new Valentine's Day tradition!

Love,

S, J, N, A & R

Long, Freezing Cold, Windy, Rainy, Snowy Winter

Well, this has to be one of the longest winters as far as weather goes....it just hasn't given up for weeks now. It's either freezing cold, windy, rainy, icy, foggy or any combination of the above. I'm so SICK OF IT! YUCK! So, anyway, we have been doing a lot of things to help us stay busy and keep our minds off of the weather. Life is good and we are all happy and healthy, so far, for 2008! I'm sure when the weather breaks, we will all be sick....but for now, it's all good.

Here are some pix of recent days...

Cutie Cupcake & Pretty Princess

Sledding & Winter Wonderland Festival

Amanda is bundled, Natalie sleds & Mommy is FROZEN!

A replica of Sue's head (1 of 4 that exist) at Dino Days + crafting at Winter Wonderland Festival

Cookies & Hot cocoa! Yum!

Over to Grandma & Grandpa's for a short visit and baking!

Artist Natalie and her assistant Artist Amanda

Donna invited Lisa, Rob, Sydney & Jane over for dinner and we had a splendid afternoon of eating and visiting!

Pictures of Valentine's coming soon!

Fat Tuesday & Natalie's 1/2 Birthday!

We celebrated Natalie's "1/2" Birthday on Fat Tuesday! Yes, we are continuing the fun tradition of celebrating 1/2 birthdays!

It all started on the day Natalie turned 6 months old. We were in Malibu that day, strolling around with our beautiful daughter, having a Starbucks, in and out of shops.....beautiful sunny SoCal day....and I came up with the idea of celebrating her 1/2 birthday! Why not, right?

So we called Rob & Lisa, invited them over and rushed to the grocery store to find a birthday cake. Oh, we had to find the perfect cake! And we did. Natalie smiled at the mini clown cake and so that was it. Mommy was so happy. So was Natalie! (haha!)

Well, the 4 1/2 birthday started with lunch at the mall McDonald's & a carousel ride (thanks Grandma Diamond) and then I told Natalie she could pick something out at Claire's Boutique. What a fun place for little girls. Well, it took some time...but Natalie picked out the prettiest necklace....what a big girl.

Anyway, we have continued the tradition....some of the celebrations have been more low-key, but this year we celebrated on FAT TUESDAY, so we (Mommy) took that theme and we had a little Mardi Gras party too. Here are some pictures of the 'birthday girl' and our Mardi Gras celebration. KING CAKE! Yea, that's Lisa gettin' in to the spirit too!

The King Cake The girls each find a baby

Jesus in the King Cakes

Auntie Candy gets in the Mardi Gras spirit too!

Happy Fat Tuesday!
~ MARDI GRAS ~