Random stuff from January

This is completely out of order but I forgot to post about the great time we had at the Monster Trucks this year. My dad used to take my sister and I (and sometimes our friends) to the Monster Trucks EVERY year. This is a fun tradition that my dad has shared with us for a long time and something that I looked forward to each year. Well this year was Emilys first time to go. I knew that it would either turn out great or be a total disaster. So, we drove separate! She was really nervous for the first 10 minutes and I was beginning to think that this was going to be a waste but she pulled it together and really got in to it. She loved rooting for the different trucks to win and even came home with her own Grave Digger (which she calls Grave Tigger :-) truck. We ended up having an excellent night and she can't wait to go back next year.

The night was filled with LOTS of junk food- YUCK (and she got the stomach flu that very night)

My dad and Emi had the best time together that night




Matts friend, Ryan, happened to be there with his family. He dressed up for the occasion :-)


Grammy and Papa brought over dinner the other night. She thought it would be fun to have Emily make the pizzas by hand. She did a really good job and the pizzas were delicious!



I walked outside the other day to find Emily and Matt making a 'rock' climbing wall in the garage. He tied some rope at the top of the cabinets and Emily was climbing up the stacked tubs. They have such an imagination.....

Amys Farm

The other day some of my mommy friends took a little outing with the kids to Amy's Farm. We all had a wonderful time. It started to rain off an on but we didn't let that stop us from having a great time. She started off the tour with letting the kids pick vegetables out of the veggie garden. Then we got to go into the goat/ sheep petting area. They had a couple of newly born goats (only a couple of days old). Then they fed the goats the veggies they picked. Amy then brought out the little chicks for the kids to hold. They also had little piggy's, roosters, turkeys, ducks, geese, and kitties wondering around. The coolest part was probably when the kids got to feed the baby cows big bottles of milk. After that they got to see a huge cow and a couple of horses. Lastly they got to get on the big tractor and pretend they were driving it. Overall it was a really fun day for the kids and us mommies too. We're going to try to set up more of these play days for us stay at home moms because we need to get out and be with other great mom friends.

Here are some pictures:
Jack picking lettuce

The kids feeding the goats

Jack seemed to love the goats, he kept giving them kisses

Most of the kids (this picture is missing a few that were running around)

Maggie holding the chicky

Emily feeding the baby cow his milk bottle

Emily, Van, Lauren, and Carson driving the tractor

My birthday

My birthday was a couple of days after Christmas and we had our usual family get together with my parents, grandparents, my sisters family and my family. This year my 2 uncles from my dad's side joined us too. We had dinner at TGI Fridays and then back to my parents house for my favorite homemade cake- Rainbow cake with rainbow icing (I ask for the same thing every year because I LOVE IT!) and presents. This was the best birthday I've had in a long time. The whole day was just wonderful. Matt and the kids were exceptionally great to me all day and it was a nice, relaxing, low stress day. After Jacks morning nap we made it out to Downtown Disney to walk around and go to build a bear again. We had a gift card and Emily was anxious to go back and get another teddy bear. It was a beautiful day and I appreciated all the calls and birthday wishes!
Washing, combing, and fluffing her bear

Dressing her bear

Dinner at TGIF

My lovely grandparents

Emily and Lauren being silly

Blowing out the candles

Sea World Part 2

We went to Sea World for a second time this year. When we went the first time a few months ago we had tickets to go again free before the year end. So a couple of weeks ago, we decided to head to San Diego. This was very exciting for Emily to go again since she thanks God every night in her prayers for Sea World, dophins, and most recently bat rays. The day looked a little dreary but the weatherman said no rain until the evening. He was wrong. Fortunately we got a few hours in before the rain started and that was just enough because the kids were beat. Sea World had all of there Christmas decorations up and carolers singing (which was a hit with the kids). Here are a few pics for the day.

Playing in the Elmo playground

Singing and dancing with the Christmas carolers

Sleepy time

Christmas Time

WARNING- REALLY LONG AND LOTS OF PICTURES

Merry Christmas from the Doerrs


I really love Christmas Time. Although it can be super busy, I just love spending time with family and friends. It's always so nice to see relatives that you don't get to see throughout the year and spend time talking and catching up with them. This year was extra-special because my uncle Roger was in town from Minnesota. I haven't seen him since Matt and I got married and even then I really didn't get to spend time with him because I was so busy with the wedding. So it's been a number of years since I've actually got together with him but I think we made up for lost time. He was also a hit with the kids. Emily and Jack thought he was great and are still talking about him (he had to leave this past Tuesday after being here for a week).

The last few weeks have flown by. Here are some pictures of the fun times we had this holiday season.

We went to see Santa Clause at the mall again this year. He was a hit with Emily but Jack didn't like him at all. Emily kept trying to hold his hand and tell him, 'it's okay, your sisters here with you.' She told me after that she was trying to take care of him and protect him. It's so sweet when your kids show love to each other.


Grammy and Papa (Matt's parents) came over for dinner (and so Brittany could color my hair) and Grammy made Reindeer ears with the kids. They were really cute and the kids enjoyed doing the project with her. She substitutes in Kindergarten a lot so she has a lot of good ideas like that.


Emily had her holiday performance and party at preschool about a week before Christmas. She was so adorable up there singing her Christmas songs. Her favorite one was Feliz Navidad. All the kids in her class really got in to that one. It was also a special treat that Matt got to be there pretty much the whole time. My mom and sister and Lauren were also there watching her so she had quite an audience. The picture below is Matt in her classroom reading a book to Emily and a bunch of her friends. Those are the moments that are priceless. I do thank God that my kids have such a wonderful daddy.




This is just a picture of my sister's family and my family at church on the Sunday before Christmas. My mom bought the kids their Christmas outfits and they all wore them that morning.

Christmas Eve was spent at my Uncle Ralph and Aunt Carla's house (my dads side). There was about 25 people there, including Carla's family. Since Carla isn't blood related, we only get to see that side once a year. So it's a lot of fun to catch up with them and their lives. We have a traditional Norwegian dinner with lefse and lutfisk (yuck). Luckily, we also have Swedish meatballs and other yummy food.

The kids and a few of the adults

My dad, Amanda, and Uncle Roger

Carla's dad is Jewish and behind the kids he lighted the manor a




Opening presents Christmas morning. Both the kids were a little overwhelmed. They would have been fine getting one present. I think that the whole thing was a just a little too much for them to handle.


What a mess... look at what this house has turned in to!


After we opened presents at home, we went over to my parents for a little bit to open some more presents. Since my uncle was staying with my parents on Christmas Eve, he got to be part of the Christmas morning chaos. From there we headed over to my grandparents house.




At Papa and Gaga Basses house we had a wonderful lunch, opened presents, the kids got to play with their toys and chatted.
This was Jack doing his hohoho face for the camera.

Emily got a makeup kit from Papa and Gaga. She loved it but it got all over her face.


Jack kissing Grandma under the mistletoe.

My aunt Kerrie Sue and cousin Kacy taking the kids and the dog on a walk.


Our final stop on Christmas Day was to the Doerrs house. We did more presents, more food, and more chatting. It was so very nice to see Matt's side of the family. We are so spoiled that we live near both of our parents and get to see them quite frequently. But it's always nice to see the extended family on this special holiday.
My sister in laws and I (and Emily)

Royce and Emily playing in the couch with the puppies

Aunt Kelly and Jack looking at the big blowup at Grammy and Papas house

Cousin Dave and his cute little guy, Charlie

Ed and Alyce, such a sweet couple

Grammy and Jack at the end of the day