Catch Up!

It was brought to my attention at Thanksgiving dinner that I have been slacking on the blogging. So I will attempt to catch everyone up on the last few weeks.

We last left off on Jason's birthday weekend. As every Heiple birthday tends to do, Jason's birthday lasted all weekend. It ended on Sunday with a small celebration with his parents. Joseph and grandpa bonded well during their nap on the couch and Olivia and grandma worked hard to make daddy a birthday cake.

The following week (the 10 - 14) was a blur. I was extremely busy at school and at home with Livi, Joey and the pups. Nothing big went on that week.

The following week (the 17 - 21) was filled with Heiple family fun! To start off our week, Grandpa Dressler came down for a visit. Once again Joseph bonded with him while sleeping on the couch. Then on Friday Olivia went to see Winnie the Pooh Live! She LOVED it! First off she had mommy and daddy to herself, and to top it off she saw all of her friends from the Hundred Acre Woods with Mickey and Minnie hosting the event! Needless to say we still hear about her show. Then on Saturday, Jason and I snuck away for an anniversary gettaway. It was the first time we have gotten away since Joseph was born. Jason had the whole weekend planned! We had a great, RELAXING weekend and got all of our Christmas shopping done!

***My cousin Kim had her little boy this week. We welcomed Zachary Clayton into the Dressler family...YEAH!! We also found out we are going to be an Aunt and Uncle again. Jason's sister is expecting in June! Olivia said she wants it to be a boy, but I told her she needs a girl cousin to play dolls with...we will just have to wait and see.

This week has been relaxing and filled with family time. It has been so nice to sit back and just spend time as a family. On Wednesday, we went out and picked out a Christmas tree. Olivia is so fun this year. She is beginning to understand the holidays, and get really excited about all of the activities that go along with them. She was pumped to decorate the house and the tree for Christmas. Joseph did what he does best...slept. We also made our first gingerbread house together. Olivia was very excited about her house. I don't think we will ever be able to throw it away. On Thursday we went up to my grandma and grandpa's house for Thanksgiving dinner. It was nice having everyone together. God blessed us all with good health which allowed us to get together. This year we have to be SO careful with Joseph and exposure to illness. Praise God that we have been healthy so far!

As an added treat to our visit to Great Grandma and Grandpa's, we opened our Christmas gifts from them. Olivia took the liberty to open mommy's, daddy's, Joseph's, and her presents. She had a blast!

***Today I also got the phone call that Olivia's Godmother Katie (my best friend since second grade and the Maid of Honor in my wedding) just got engaged...YEAH! We are very excited for her!

Well I think I touched on most of the highlights of the past few weeks. I apologize for my lack of dedication to blogging. I will attempt to do better!

We hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and know that we are thankful to have you in our lives!

Trick or Treat and HAPPY Birthday!!!

The past two weeks have been completely crazy at the Heiple house with family activities and work! My principal has been sending me to quite a few meetings lately (which is a honor) and I have been working on report cards/parent-teacher conferences like a mad woman. God has also blessed me with 3 profitable photo shoots, which Jason has been working on like a mad-man :)! Due to lack of time, I go out and take the pictures, and Jason develops them at home...what a team!

Last weekend Olivia and Joseph LOVED Halloween. They started off the day with a big surprise from the "Big Pumpkin." Then later in the day my mom and Jim came over to the house and celebrated with us. They stayed home with Joseph (our little cow :) ) and helped him to hand out candy while Jason and I walked Olivia around. She really had a blast this year. She seemed to really understand what the holiday was all about, and walked around to each house saying "trick or treat." The past two years she was either too young to talk or too shy to say anything. We had a great family night together.

Yesterday we celebrated Jason's youth. He turned the BIG 34! Olivia, Joseph, and I got up early in the morning and made daddy heart-shaped waffles. We treated him to breakfast in bed and since a certain 2 year old couldn't wait (I do mean Olivia), he also received his presents. Later on in the evening, my dad and Patty came down and treated us to Outback Steakhouse...yum!!! We ordered ahead, they picked it up, and we dined at the Heiple house. Then we enjoyed a little birthday cake with ice cream. Olivia is to the age now that she counts down to special occasions. She couldn't wait for Halloween, now Thanksgiving, and she is ALWAYS asking when her birthday is coming. We have already chosen the theme and what cake I am going to make, so she is pretty pumped!

Well those are the Heiple updates! We hope all are well, and know that we love you and think of you everyday!