Merry Christmas!

 

 

 

 

Santa was very good to us this year. We have all had a blast playing ping pong and Guitar Hero World Tour for the past week. Kate got exactly what she asked for---barbies, dollies, and clothes (what 3 year old asks for clothes?). Sam got a basketball goal that he can reach since he is always trying to shoot on the big goal. He also got a Diego train that drives us all nuts. All of the kids got new bikes & scooters---it was definitely time to upgrade & replace. Kate loves to wear all of her gear and ride (read: me push her) her barbie bike. She would stay on it all day long if I had the energy to push her around that long. Jake has not had a chance to try out his bike yet as he hasn't been able to wear a shoe since a few days before Christmas. He was playing with Sam in Steve's office and Sam pushed him backwards into something and sliced his foot wide open. The doctor superglued it but he can't get it wet or put a shoe on for at least a few more days. We are hoping that he can put a shoe on by Monday since school starts back. He has been a trooper but has hated staying inside while his brothers have been outside the past few days. Never a dull moment in our house!

December 2008

 

 

 

How can December be over already? We had lots of fun getting ready for Christmas with all of our holiday traditions. We searched for the Elf each morning, decorated the house and all of the trees (one in each of the kids room, one in the playroom, and one in the family room), saw Christmas lights, made treats for the neighbors and friends, shopped for sibling gifts, made a gingerbread house & gingerbread train, sang Christmas Carols, ate chocolate from our advent calendars each day (except Sam, who ate his a few at a time and finished well before the 24th!)...the list goes on and on. We had a really busy week the week before Christmas. 4 class parties in 3 days! Amazingly, none of them overlapped. Kate's party included the preschool program where she was an Angel. Will's party included performances by the kids---one of his favorite parts (and mine since he always waves to me in the middle). Jake's was definitely a party for older kids---his favorite part was playing limbo. Zane's class had a breakfast party. We were all ready for the 2 week break from the school routine. I can't believe it is almost time for school to start again.

Thankful...

 

As always, I am running about a week late.
The list of things I am thankful for this year is long...

1. Kids who are healthy, happy (most of the time), and fun to be with
2. A husband who makes me laugh all of the time, even when I am mad
3. A warm house that has lots of space for #1 & #2 above, plus great space for sleepovers, playdates, Christmas decorations, etc.
4. Being able to stay at home with my kids
5. A great school that my kids can walk to (and occasionally do!)
6. Southern Hospitality
7. Great friends who make me laugh and would drop what they are doing to help me out---or talk on the phone to kill 30 minutes in the afternoon
8. Old friends in distant places who keep me up to date via Facebook
9. Parents & In-Laws who love to be doting Grandparents and spend time with my kids
10. A brother who makes me laugh and reminds me of being a kid (without the relentless teasing)
11. A sister-in-law who is the closest thing I've got to a sister and will call to let me know about the latest trend, a great new website, or just to chat.
12. The sunday school class I teach at church---those kids just might be smarter than me (and they are 10!)
13. A free country where we are allowed to believe what we are safe to believe what we want
14. Amazing fall weather that allowed my boys plus 5-6 other neighborhood kids to play football in the front yard while dinner was cooking
15. A great night of shopping all night afterward with wonderful friends. Who knew I could still stay up all night?

I could go on & on but that's the bulk of it.

Happy Halloween!

 

 

Here is the crew ready for trick-or-treating. Our neighborhood is great. There are mobs of trick-or-treaters and one neighbor even did a hayride through the neighborhood (Sam did not participate---see previous post!). Steve's parents arrived and some friends of ours joined us, too. Zane stayed out later than anyone. He kept going with the neighbors after Jackson decided he had enough candy for the night!

Halloween Parties!

 

 

 

We had 2 Halloween Parties in one day followed by Trick-Or-Treating that night. Yikes! Kate's party was 1st, immediately followed by Will's. Sam enjoyed cupcakes and cookies at both!

Kate at the Pumpkin Patch

 

Kate's class went on a hayride to the pumpkin patch. Sam and I had to skip the hayride because I learned at Will's field trip that he just screams the whole time. How can a kid who climbs everything in my house be scared of a tractor moving 2 miles an hour?

Boo!

 

We did our annual Spooking on Wednesday night. Steve was gone so it was just me and the kids. Kate never quite understood what we were doing running around the neighborhood in the dark. Jackson, Zane, and Will ran fast and hid well so I think we were a success! Sam just wanted to eat the candy! :)