Christmas

Christmas Eve:

Christmas Day:

Best presents for last:

We're so blessed to celebrate this special day with family!

Chuck E Cheese celebration

Ethan wanted to wait until Nana & Grampa made it here for Thanksgiving weekend to celebrate his birthday with them.

 

 

 

can't forget the cake!

Ethan's Seven

Rainbow-Themed decorations

 

presents 

and cupcakes

Happy Birthday, Ethan!  We love you!!

Painting Update

A year and a half later and we're FINALLY done painting all the rooms!!!

2015
January: boy's bathroom - repainted with the original color Behr match to Sherwin William Open Seas in Satin.

February: living room & dining room - Behr match to Benjamin Moore Moonshine in Satin.

March: guest bedroom - Behr match to Benjamin Moore Lancaster Whitewash in Eggshell.

April-June: took a break

July: guest bathroom - Behr match to Benjamin Moore Louisburg Green in Satin.

August-October: took a break

November: basement family room - Behr match to Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter in Satin.

2014
June: accent wall going down the stairs - Behr match to Sherwin William Pennywise in Satin kitchen - Behr match to Glidden Cranberry Zing in Semi Gloss

July: staircase walls & fireplace room - Behr match to Benjamin Moore Moonshine in Satin

August: Ethan's accent wall - Behr match to Benjamin Moore Mill Springs Blue in Eggshell
-the rest of the walls - Behr match to Benjamin Moore Polar Frost in Eggshell

September: just last week we tackled our 1/2 bath - Behr match to Benjamin Moore Palladian Blue in Satin

October: Gavin's acccent wall is Behr match to Benjamin Moore Van Deusen Blue in Eggshell
-the rest of the walls - Behr match to Benjamin Moore Polar Frost in Eggshell.  

November: master bathroom - Behr match to Benjamin Moore Rockport Gray in Satin.

December: master bedroom - Behr match to Benjamin Moore Moonshine in Eggshell.

"Twittering" on Blog

I finally went to the doctor yesterday after being sick for a month now.  It's strep.  Ugh!  Good new: I got some antibiotics.  Bad news: I'm contagious until 6:30pm tonight.  No MOPS today =0(

"Twittering" on Blog

No school today so I took the boys to watch Inside Out.  They loved it!  Can't beat $2 ticket and $2.5 popcorn @ University Mall.

"Instragram" on Blog

Candy arrangement the day after: By Ethan

Transformer & Spidey

Ethan wanted to be Jake the Pirate, but that costume doesn't come in his size.  Strike 1.  Then he decided he wanted to be Mickey Mouse.  That doesn't come in his size either.  Strike 2.  Out of frustration and not wanting to be anything else, he decided, the day of, that he was going to be Transformer - from two years ago.

 

  

A little too short and a little too tight, but it works!    

Just for Laughs

Gavin wants to be "just like Daddy!"

Pumpkin Carving

Once again, we didn't carve pumpkins last year let alone buy one and Ethan was pretty upset about it.  So, this year we MUST carve pumpkins and bake the seeds.  Apparently, my husband isn't art-sy and found this whole thing somewhat stressful so I decided to pitch in.  The boys got to clean out the inside (Gavin wasn't a fan of the slime), I free handed the design while he carved.  It worked out great!  Good team work family!

 

 

 

Looks pretty awesome!

Ethan's Loose Tooth #3

Somebody decided to pull out his own tooth tonight while Brian and I went on a date.  We came home to find a fort on his dresser surrounding the tooth with a note as usual.  It said, "Thank you Toothfairy.  Love, Ethan"  Brian went in to do the exchange but didn't grab the note.  So I had to go back in to get it.  While in his room, I noticed that his shade wasn't shut all the way so I fixed it.  Apparently, the noise stirred him and he sat up in his bed telling me that he lost his tooth.  I thought for sure I was caught, but thankful he had no recollection of it the next morning =0)

"Instagram" on Blog

Look at what Gavin made at preschool today!

Fun, Family Day & Army 10 Miler Race

Brian took off 1/2 day from work so we could have lunch together and spend the afternoon downtown DC.

 Freebies at the race packet pick up

 Checking out the Army's helicopter

 Yummy ice cream!

Seeing the White House for the first time

I can't believed we've been here for 3-1/2 years and neither Ethan nor Gavin have seen where the president lives...apparently, only in Clifford Goes to Washington book.  It was about time!  Anyway, THAT was exactly what we all needed and I could tell that the boys love tanks were full.

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Despite hardly training for this 10 mile race, Brian ran it in 71 minutes which is not bad at all!  Recovering afterwards was a little tough though.

"Twittering" on Blog

Thankful I can get out of bed this morning and take everyone to school!

Fall for Fairfax '15

We didn't go to this last year and because Ethan LOVES doing the same "tradition" every year, he specifically request that we attend and don't miss it again this year.  Since I came down with a horrible head cold and couldn't even get out of bed, Brian decided to take the boys out of the house so I could rest.  It was rainy and cold so a lot of the rides were closed, but they had fun with whatever was available and came home happy anyway.

Ethan's 1st Grade Fun Run

I decided to go in and have lunch with Ethan and wow, were there lots of energy in the cafeteria!  I don't remember it being THIS loud last year.  I guess the kids were super excited for what's to come later that afternoon - The Fun Run!  Because it rained, they had to move the whole thing into the gym.  Lights were off, the path were lined with colorful LED lights and the music was cranked up.  It was a little crammed and hot, but they made it work.  The boys got to go first and then the girls.  Ethan ran 35 laps and had a blast!

 

Getting ready to run

 

Inside the gym 

  

After the race

 

 Mrs. Giostra's 1st Grade Class

Mamma Wisdom of the Week

Since Gavin is usually a late riser, I decided to draw out all of his Morning Routine for him.  That way he can refer to them and know exactly what he needed to do in order to get moving a little faster.  So far it has been helping!

"Twittering" on Blog

Ethan's horrible cough/seasonal allergies (repeat from last year) came back AND Gavin woke up with a fever.  Had to cancel a coffee date with a friend this morning =0(

Ethan's Loose Tooth #2

Woke up to Ethan knocking on my door this morning being super freaked out.  Apparently, he wiggled his tooth loose, saw blood and scared himself.  After all that was taken care of, then the excitement kicked in as he headed to school.

That night, the tooth fairy decided to be more generous and left him four quarters since the tooth fairy female side kick thought we were being too cheapo.  With the tooth, we also found a bracelet and the sweetest handwritten note saying,

"Dear Tooth Fairy, 
Thank you for the money so so so much.
Love Ethan
I love you Tooth Fairy."

Of course Ethan was super excited to get the money, but his logical mind started asking questions whether the Tooth Fairy is real or not.  And "If Santa and the Easter Bunny isn't real, how can the Tooth Fairy be real?"  Not sure if we will get very far with this one.

"Twittering" on Blog

Got up and got all ready for BSF only to wake Ethan up to find that he has a low grade fever. I guess we're home bound today.  So bummed!

"Twittering" on Blog

Had a bonfire with the boys tonight and Kaika spotted two copperhead snakes behind our house.  It was pretty freaky!

"Twittering" on Blog

Good news people!  The Billmans have finally joined the 21st century and now have unlimited texting.  Woot woot!  Now you won't owe us 20c every time you send a text our way ;0)

BSF & MOPS 2015

Fall schedule is underway.  BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) has started on Wednesday and we will be studying the Book of Revelation which I'm super excited about.  MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) has also started and this year I'm helping out in Publication instead of heading up the discussion group again.  Here are some of the advertisement I've done:

  

Flyers

  

 

Postcards

Magnet

Welcome Packet