Day Trip into Town

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We decided to head to our little downtown area to just get out for a bit. We hit a little museum so the kids could run around and on our way home the guys dropped us girls off to this great little store near our house so we could do a little shopping before calling it a pizza night and heading home. This was our last night together and boy did we have a great time! Thank you so much to Mom and Dad, Dan and Steph for making the trip to us and helping us celebrate our very first Thanksgiving in our new home! We love you guys more than words can ever say! MWAH!!!

Game ON!

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This game was SO SO SO MUCH FUN! Steph gave us all low down and we started playing. Call or e-mail me for the details if you want a really fun game at any party!
I can't even tell you how hard we were all laughing it was just one of those nights. In this album you will find my favorite picture of dad ever. He is CRACKING UP and I love it! You will also find several pictures of my brother with the most ridiculous looks on his face while wearing a wig he found in CJ's toy chest. EPIC NIGHT!

(Day after) Thanksgiving Cocktail Party

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The day after Thanksgiving we decided to add a little excitement to the weekend and have a "kick off the holiday season" party! We had the best night with our great friends and new neighbors! This was also the last night we would see Anita and Jan for good being they were moving to Puerto Rico two days from tonight. There were tears for sure but we wish them all the best!

Grab Bag

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A couple of pictures from a walk in the woods and Corey doing the Clark W. Griswold version of the first official lighting of the house. We all stood in the driveway and did the drum roll! FUNNY!

Giving Thanks

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Some silly dinner pictures. You can't see Lanie but she was there behind dad! What a wonderful dinner with amazing people! Corey and I felt so proud to be hosting and all sitting together at our new table. We COULD NOT ASK FOR MORE! I really love the picture of Maddie with the scrunched up face. This was taken after a sip of SPARKLING apple cider. She said it kept tickling her nose from the bubbles but she loved it and kept doing it over and over! Silly girl!

Thanksgiving Prep

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Some fun pics of all of us hanging out all day Thanksgiving Day! Cooking took center stage and we all just helped out and enjoyed each others company!

Dan and Steph Arrival

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At about 11:00pm while the kids were in bed (mom and dad stayed home with them) Corey and I headed to the Milwaukee airport to grab the two VIP visitors from California. It had JUST started snowing for the first time of the season and we were on our way to grab Dan and Steph!!! I can't even describe how happy I was! It meant more to me then you will ever know guys that you decided to spend this year with us! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!! We love you guys so much and had a BLAST hanging with you! Also a huge thanks for the very beautiful candle with the oil...AND for the Star Wars game and accessories for the Wii! You guys spoiled us rotten too!
We love you!!!!

Ramping up to T-Day

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After our girls trip in Chicago, my mom hopped the train with me back to Kenosha and stayed here for a week! It was so nice to have mom to help with all of the Thanksgiving prep! Dad arrived Wednesday afternoon, Dan and Steph on Wednesday night and we all kicked off the holiday season right! A HUGE thanks to mom for all of her help and spoiling of me! :) We had a ton of fun picking out the table decorations, cooking and shopping! What could be better?

Girls Trip 09

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Lighting of the lights in downtown Chicago mixed with my mom, grandma, aunt, and two cousins equals THE BEST WEEKEND EVER!!!!!!!
This is one for the books! We vowed to NEVER miss it again! The six of us had the time of our lives as we celebrated being together AND my cousin Meghan's engagement to her long time boyfriend Mike who we all ADORE! Scrolling through these pictures brings the entire weekend back for me. You will find major memories here. All of us laughing and crying while telling stories, a picture I adore of Meghan and I right after she asked me to be in her wedding, my eyes are full of tears, Grandma telling some REALLY funny stories at the Bistro 110 while having dinner, overall just six girls in the big city having the most magical weekend you can imagine! We were missing a few....cousin Sarah just welcomed beautiful baby Molly so she was CLEARLY creating magic all her own so I can only imagine what next year has in store for us....shall we start a paper chain now?!?!?
OH...and Meghan found her WEDDING DRESS TOO!!!! She looks stunning in it! Stay tuned to the blog and we will post her in the dress after the wedding which takes place Labor Day weekend!
I LOVE ALL MY GIRLS!!!!!

Evelein we will MISS YOU!!!!!!

From Eveleins Birthday and Miss you

So we headed over to Anita and Jan's for our last Mommy's Tea before their big move to Puerto Rico! Anita and I were in labor at the same hospital at the same time and our little girls were born only a few hours apart! It was really hard to watch the baby girls playing together all day knowing that it will be another couple years before they will be back....if they come back. Jan got a great job promotion at work and so off they go! Baby Evelein is the baby far right in all the pictures. She is such a cutie and we are really sad to be losing some amazing friends. We will be crossing our fingers that you guys get transferred back here in a couple. Till then, enjoy the sun and get ready for some visitors....we are coming! Oh and check out their little BFF shirts! So cute! Our friend Deirdre got them for all the babies for their birthdays!

Lanie's Birthday

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We had a wonderful birthday party at our house for our baby girl who turned ONE on November 11th. I'm not quite sure how a year has passed already but when "they" say you blink your eyes and your kids grow up...."they" MEAN IT! Lanie has been perfect from day one. She is happy, silly, full of personality for a one year old, and always tries to keep up with her brother and sisters. We have made so many great friends here over the past 2 years and really want to THANK YOU ALL for being so wonderful to us and for coming to spend Lanie's first birthday with the Lallo family.
Oh and check out her cake!!! We have always called her Lanie-bug so it was just a given that she NEEDED a Ladybug cake...right?!?!?

Lights, PJ's, Action

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The cuties in their holiday jammies from last year. I couldn't resist a few pictures of these little faces!

Hike and Tulips

Taking a hike in our woods to show Bumpa and BB around and planting the 100 tulip bulbs they brought us as a house warming gift. Thanks you guys!






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Bumpa and BB

Bumpa and BB were able to head our way for a quick visit.




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Maddies Vanity and Park

Maddie enjoying her gift from Mommy, Daddy, CJ, Cassie, and Lanie and some fun at our park!




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Halloween Party Time

After Trick or Treating our neighbors came over to our place for a little pizza party night and a Wii tournament! John, Jackie, Aleah, Jackson, Lexie, and Ellie have become fast friends. It's so fun that they too have three girls and one boy! We were meant to meet for sure!




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Trick or Treat

Just a few shots of the kids right before heading out to Trick or Treat! We had the best year yet with our little Indiana Jones, Purple Butterfly Princess, Strawberry Shortcake and Ladybug! We are LOVING our new neighborhood and our neighbors! Every house was decorated so cute and our friends Nancy and Randy even had a huge crock pot of hot apple cider out for everyone as well as a little shot of RUM for the grown ups to add! WHAT A TREAT! :)




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Opening the Gifts

A few shots of Maddie tearing into her gifts. Her big gift from us was her first big girl Vanity!




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Maddies Birthday Party

It was a really cold day up at Apple Hollar but we had a wonderful time with some of Maddie's buddies as we celebrated our little girl turning FIVE!!!! THANK YOU to everyone who braved that cold day to join us! Maddie you are SUCH an amazing and beautiful little girl. You act AT LEAST 3 years older than you are, always helping out and loving everyone. We are so happy we can call you OURS!
We love you so much honey!




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Barto's Halloween

A little disappointed in ourselves that we failed to clarify the adult costume expectations, the Barto's neighborhood Halloween celebration was still a hit. Now that the standard has been set, we will not disappoint again!




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Halloween @ Schmids

Halloween at the Schmids! Great, great fun!




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You've Got Mail

The Wordens, Mom and Dad Doctor and the Roemers wasted no time in utilizing the kids personal mailboxes. The sent big envelopes containing individually addressed cards for each of the kids. We delivered the mail and let them notice that their flags were up. They were delighted! Good work guys!




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CJ's Halloween Party

The girls joined big brother at his 1st grade Halloween celebration.




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Roemer's Gift

Our wonderful friends Joan and Tony stopped over to see the kids, the completed house and enjoy a walk on our trail with us. We were really looking forward to being able to hang out with them and are so happy they are part of our lives. They brought a beautiful bottle of wine, a card and a Lowes gift certificate as a housewarming gift. Great for all those little project nights, right? Well, not so little. After they left we sat talking about how much we loved being able to see them and how generous they were after all they have done for us in the last two years and noticed the decimal point was misplaced on the Lowes gift card. It was for $150! Wow! So, we used that, a 20% of coupon and another $30 and installed our over the stove microwave we had been saving for. Such spectacular and thoughtful friends. Thank you!




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Buh-Bye

Super short and sweet visit but we packed in a lot. Bumpa gave each of the kids a ride on the tractor before our departure.




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Farmers' Rocket

This is a Cassie-ism that we are in no hurry to correct. The Farmer's Rocket (Market), back in Muskegon. Reunited with The Cheese Lady! Whoohooo!




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Mom's Surprise

Mom and Dad have surprised us with visits so often since our move and it really helps the kids when they miss them. We were excited to be able to return the favor when Maddie's B-day party was postponed due to weather. We packed a quick bag and headed to Michigan to let Maddie and Amie share there birthday celebration. Tons of fun!




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Cub Scouts

Cub Scout night for the big man!




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Special Maddie

Our special big girl and the lil' mommy of our crew turned 5. We love you darlin'!




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Park

Our neighborhood park. Only a nice short sidewalk bike ride away.




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Fun with Nikki and Izzy

Another visit to Apple Holler with our friends and now even closer neighbors from back home (15 minutes), Nikki and Izzy.




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Sleepover

Kids having a sleepover. 9 heartbeats in the house that night!




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Stinkers

It is worth the mess just to hear these little buggers let out their naughty laugh.




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Bunco

Indoctrinated as true Wisconsinites. Bunco night!





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More Trail

We have been getting full enjoyment out of the trail and even extended it to the horse farm back in the woods. It was a nice after dinner/before bed walk.




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Mummy Tea

Cruising through these in an attempt to get caught up. Thank you for your understanding. ;-)




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Won't you be...

...my neighbor. The kids with their new buddies.




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Breakfast Visitors

As we sat eating breakfast we were graced with a few deer in our backyard. Awesome!





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Punkins with Pumpkins

The kids had some skills on their pumpkins this year. Jen rocked it too.





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Hugs

Affectionate lil' buggers.




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Costumes Dress Rehearsal...

Lil' glimpse of the Halloween costumes.





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Trail Blazin'

Everyone came prepared for the main event of the weekend. Blazing a quarter mile trail through our woods. Thank you everyone!





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Apple Holler

Our visitors enjoying our favorite apple orchard with us.





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Worden Visit and Surprise

We didn't have to wait long to break in all ten seats of our new dining room table. We had a weekend visit from Great Grandpa and Grandma Worden and the kids were SOOO stinkin' excited. In addition to creating wonderful memories they brought the kids a bunch of fun gifts. The highlights were an EXACT replica of Grandpa's tractor that has provided many a ride for the kids and a handmade Worden edition set of mailboxes complete with flags and brass nameplates to put next to their playhouse outside. The mailboxes have already received kid specific mail from Grandma and Grandpa Worden, Aime and Bumpa, Aunt Kate and the Roemers. The kids check daily for a raised flag out the back window and have even used it to send inter-family mail to one another. Lucky, lucky kids.

We were just getting ready to sit down for our dinner with two empty seats when there was knock at the door. Thinking I was going to have to tell a neighbor friend to come back after dinner I opened the door to Mom and Dad Doctor shouting "SURPRISE!! It was FANTASTIC! We fueled up that evening for the trail-blazing the following day. We made a quarter mile trail through our woods to the horse farm so the kids could go visit whenever they liked. Thank you for the wonderful surprise and for all the help Wordens, Mom and Dad. Drop in anytime!!




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House After 4 weeks

Sneak peak of the house after 4 weeks. We decided to give an early Christmas present to each other and get a formal dining set. We needed enough chairs to fit our family and a few other guests or eventually our family with one spouse each. You gotta plan this stuff! With our leaves and additional chairs we can seat a total of ten.




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CRAZY housewarming gift from the Scroggins Family

Probably another reason the blog is behind is the freakin' SPECTACULAR house warming gift from the Scroggins. A Wii and Beatles Rock Band! They came to the consensus that it would be something we could all laugh and enjoy together. Wow, were they right on! It has been a huge source of entertainment for many a get-together and "quiet" family night at home. The kids know quite a few songs now but fall into full on entertainer mode for Twist and Shout, Here Comes the Sun and Yellow Submarine. What an incredibly thoughtful and fitting gift to encourage family togetherness and sillyness. THANK YOU SCROGGINS!!!!




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Dan and Mandi's visit

The is a HUGE post full of a ton of pics from a perfect weekend with my best friend! Dan and Mandi headed our way in Sept. to see our new home after only 2 weeks of living here. We had a great time apple picking, eating, laughing, talking, and playing with the kids. It's so nice to have such perfect friends! We love you guys!




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Kids being kids

Just a few pics of our silly goofballs and Lanie falling asleep while eating.




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Furniture Shopping Reward

The kids embraced the move with an attitude we would certainly not expect out of kids their ages. They also were impeccably behaved for the subsequent furniture shopping trips to make a small attempt to fill this place. We let them choose their prize and all enjoyed Baskin Robbins in the afternoon and Rainforest Cafe' for dinner. Way to go big kids!




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New Friends in the Neighborhood

Kenosha is awesome. Quiet street, super friendly neighbors and in a coastal city feel that really reminds us of West Michigan. We were especially delighted to meet the neighbors two houses down who also had 4 young kids, also one boy and three girls. They have become fast friends and have really helped us feel at home in our new town.




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