Manion Photos 2011

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Skating Lessons

Here is a short, very amateur video I put together of Isaac that my mom took when she was here. I like the song on it but Mike can't stand country music so he is not a fan. I think it's cute to think of these little boys slipping around on the ice to this song. Enjoy!

Here is a post from my phone last month that I forgot to put in!

We went to the world's largest Christmas store today! It's in Frankenmuth, MI and we go at least once a year. We love picking up unique ornaments there, they have a huge selection locally and from all over the world. Each year Santa gets some ornaments for the boys to represent activities they enjoy or a memory we have of them. Stay tuned for what he will bring later this month. Of course, there is a great outlet mall nearby that we enjoy too!


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Big Snow/First Skating Lesson/Backyard pics

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Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

We had a great time this Christmas. It was really fun to see Isaac start to get excited about Christmas and understand a little about what it was really about.We went to see a live nativity with our neighbors and he thought that was cool. He got to ride a donkey and was so proud of himself. He just has trouble understanding how donkeys, a manger, baby Jesus, and Christmas presents all fit together. At least he understands that Christmas is baby Jesus' birthday.

The boys sure did get spoiled by theri families this year! so much so that Santa didn't really feel the need to get them much =) They got a tool bench that is pretty cool (it's the Step 2 one and has things you can build with it), a fire station and polic station manly "dollhouse", and from Santa Isaac got hockey skating lessons and hockey skates. I get to take him to his first skating lessons! I'm so excited!I can't imagine how I will be as they get older, I'm just so proud of them. I'm sure I will just think he is the cutest out there on the ice, as long as he isn't crying . . . My friend Jenn might even come and photograph the event for us. I know, we are too much, but we are super excited for them. Jenn and Joe got Isaac and Luke new red wings hockey sticks and hats for christmas which they love!

Our Christmas was very relaxing and full of fun. My parents came down for a few days last week and we were able to have a real Christmas celebration with them. Mike and I also enjoyed a date night while they were here. It's a real treat to have them watch our kids, we can go out without any worries! On Christmas day, we celebrated with Joe and Jenn which was lovely, we are each others families away from home =) On New Years we all went over to our neighbors and hung out which was fun too!

Hope you all had a nice Christmas too! God Bless!!

O Canada

Here is a video of Isaac that my mom took. He has much respect for the great nation of Canada. It's so funny to us! Mike and I are laughing in the background. Today we were watching junior hockey international competition on TV and Isaac sees them line up in formation in preparation for the teams anthems. He immediately takes of his hat and puts it over his heart, of course that would be the Red Wings hat he had on =)

Manion Photos Sept-Dec 2010

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Giggle giggle

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Apple picking and Blandford Nature Center

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guitar guy

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More Halloween

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Happy Halloween

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Horses

Funny statement of the week:
Isaac goes running into the living room complaining about Luke running off "Daddy, Lukie let go of his horses!"
Guess he really listens when mike says, hold your horses.

Isaac says today at dinner: "mommy, lukie is growing up and pretty soon u will have two boys"

He is so sweet and knows exactly the way to my heart!

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Isaacisms

Mike catches Isaac eating a tootsie roll today. He says, "Isaac what are you doing, why are you eating that?" He knows he can't eat candy by himself. Isaac says, "Nothin' daddy, I'm just having a protein bar." Apparently mommy's protein bars have too much chocolate and not enough protein if they taste like a tootsie roll =)

Happy Halloween!

Trick-or-treating was fun this year! We went around the neighborhood with our nieghbors and their family. Isaac was a "hockey guy" and I will definitely post pics when I finally download them from my camera! Luke wore Isaac's halloween costume that he had when he was one. It is a pumpkin costume that I made. I really felt like my boy was growing up wathching him run around the neighborhood trick-or-treating, holding hands with his little neighbor girlfriend. I just love being a mom, watching them grow up, seeing all of their stages. I feel so fortunate to have two little boys and they just change right before our eyes. We are such a lucky family! God has given us the best blessings!

Bumps n Bruises

We are initiated into the raising boys club! Luke got his first set of stitches on Thursday. Isaac was the only witness but Mike was in the garage (for a second!) and heard a scream. He came into the house to see Luke walking into the kitchen post accident. Mike couldn't tell where he was injured at first bc of the well, blood, but he cleaned him up and realized he split his forehead. We tried to avoid stitches but he needed them. I am so grateful to my attending, Dr. Taylor, who is a peds ENT, for sewing him up!! It meant so much to me bc I couldn't be Dr. to my own kid. It hurts me more than him! So Luke has four stiches from the corner of the wall, Isaac said he was trying to show him how to be a hockey guy . . .

In fairness to Isaac, he was genuinely concerned and was so sweet and caring to Luke. It was a total accident.

updated photos!

Some photos from Luke and Isaac's most recent shoot! These were taken by my friend, Jenn, who actually delivered Luke!
Isaac: 3 yrs
Luke: 1 yr

We love our babysitters!

Isaac probably didn't mind that mike was working and I am in indianapolis! Jenn and Joe did a great job!!






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Another hockey boy!

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Indy

Well all of our fun traveling is done and now I am doing some not so fun traveling. We all went back to KS for a few days in May and in the meantime Mike and I left the kiddos with his parents and went to Miami for a few days. It was a nice relaxing time to be together. Now I am in Indianapolis where I am doing a rotation for one month. I have to come back here in September too. It is a great rotation, in terms of getting to see interesting surgeries and things that isn't even done in Grand Rapids. I was definitely ready for a change to am thankful to be doing some different and fun surgeries. Of course, I terribly miss my kids. We stay busy here which helps and I am working on a research project. I'm also trying to update some baby books while I am here! I have been running a lot here too and found some nice trails. The worst times are at night when I miss my kids and I'm in my hotel so prayers would be appreciated for my kids who miss me too, my husband who is being a single dad at home for a month, and for me who is missing my kids! So a lot of you may be getting calls from me on Friday nights and Sunday nights on my drive from Indy to GR and back on the weekends I go home!!

On a happier note, it is just amazing to watch Isaac continue to develop his language skills. Last week, he had an owie and Mike told him to pray to Jesus to help make himself feel better. The next day, he said, "Jesus helped me feel better daddy! Daddy, who is jesus? Where does he live?" After Mike tries to explain . . . "Where is heaven?" he's been very inquisitive about Jesus lately. Saying to Grandma as she left today for church, "Gamma, do you love Jesus?!" I guess he wanted to confirm that he wasn't the only one who had heard about this Jesus =)