We Survived Christmas!

We started our Christmas present opening at Thanksgiving (on my side) and we finished yesterday.

The kids went to see the reindeer on Christmas Eve with Gma & Gpa while T & I wrapped.  The presents were wrapped for less than 24 hrs and opened within 45 min once we started unwrapping.  We attended the Christmas Eve service at church.  There is something sweet about listening to Christmas songs on the eve of the big day. 

T's folks came over on Christmas Day and watched the kids open their presents.  We were really blessed this year.  We used some Christmas money to purchase a pool table/air hockey/ping pong game table for the basement.  T & I always wanted a pool table, and while it's not a full size one, we still get to play.  The kids are having fun learning to play pool (on something other than the Wii). 

Yesterday, we had T's side over for presents.  It was a lot of fun to visit with everyone.  The kids enjoyed playing with the Wii, the pool table, and hide-and-go-seek.  (Not sure how they pull the last one off in our basement, but somehow they always do and they have fun doing it.)

We ate way too much food, but it was all so good!  (Guess that means I'll have to break out that Wii Fit board I got for Christmas.  Darn it!)  Hope you all had a great Christmas!

Enjoy your day!

Merry Christmas!

AD's Last Day

AD started gymnastics this last summer and continued through until this week.  Mon was her last gymnastics practice for awhile.  AJ & T both start basketball in January and then move into volleyball and baseball.  I think AD missed playing soccer with her school friends, but she did a great job in gymnastics.  Sometimes it's nice to branch out a little bit and try new things.

Her bronze teacher, AD, & her silver teacher

Maybe she can start up again in May or June.  Right now she is looking forward to a break (she can actually stay home instead of racing off to TC after school on Mon) and t-ball.  I am looking forward to shopping during the day again instead of after gymnastic practice!

Enjoy your day!

Christmas Break

Well, we made it through the week of school before Christmas break.  It was chaos, but we have now moved into the relaxation of two weeks to rest.  (Ha ha ha!  If I was done Christmas shopping, it would be even more restful!)  The girls' concert went well and they enjoyed their weekend with Gma.  AT is feeling better (I think I liked cuddle boy better than ornery boy).  He was able to go out to pizza with T & I Fri night and enjoyed a Polar Express event at a friend's house.  I think he was still glad to see his sisters come home, though.

On a sad note, though, we had to tell the girls that we think one of our cats may be gone for good.  Our sweet Nike, a black cat, has not been seen for days.  He is our "house" cat, meaning when you open the door to go outside, he is right there wanting in the house and to be held.  His brother, Socks, is more independent and the one that wanders to hunt.  I am really fearing the worst because Nike would not stay gone this long if something hadn't happened.  If you have seen a black cat up in our neighborhood or wouldn't mind checking your sheds or garage to see if he got caught in there, we would appreciate it.  I think the girls are going to canvas the neighborhood and knock on doors.  Keep your fingers crossed.

So as to end this posting on a good note, if you are on my Christmas mailing list, I haven't forgotten you.  It has taken me a while to get my Christmas cards ready.  They will be going out this week and so if they miss you for Christmas, they are Happy New Year cards then! ;-)

Enjoy your day!

Ho Ho Ho!!

After a long week for a sick little boy (which we finally found out he had strep), he was very excited to get out of the house.  Tonight was the town's Winterfest Lighted Parade.  People amaze me at how creative they are at decorating, especially moving vehicles!  Afterwards, we went and stood in line to Santa and Mrs. Claus.  Their reindeer were a little sluggish and the workers announced it would be another 15 min (we had already been there for 15 min) before Santa and Mrs. Claus made it.  T looked at me like "do we stay?"  So I start asking the kids if we should come back another night.  AT starts crying and when I ask him what's wrong, he says "I want to see Santa."  After the week he's had, I couldn't say no.  Luckily, Rudolph must have gotten the sleigh moving because not more than 5 min later, Santa showed up.  AT was so excited to see him that he kept trying to run up and hop on his lap.  When it was finally his turn, there was no holding him back.

AD was excited to relay her request to Santa.  AJ wasn't sure she needed to go sit with Santa, but after some nudging, she seemed okay with it.  She ended up telling Mrs. Claus what she wanted, so let's hope that message gets to Santa. ;-)

AT, Santa, AD, AJ, Mrs. Claus
Christmas 2010

One more day of school (concerts and Christmas parties) and then it's time for a break!  Can't wait.

Enjoy your day!

My oh My, It's Been Awhile . . .

Yes, sadly it's been a long time since I had last written.  October found us finishing up with sick kids, (mainly AT), a lovely memorial service for T's Gma, and Halloween.  (Which is sadly the last pictures I have posted.)  November was a busy month and I could not believe how fast it flew by.  We had sick kids every other week throughout November, including when we were getting ready to go to my folks' for Thanksgiving.  My Gma flew out from MN and we had a wonderful Thanksgiving/Christmas time.  The kids were able to open presents at the same time.  (I just hope they remember they already opened a bunch!)  Had a great time visiting, playing in the snow, riding a snowmobile.  Glad to remember I haven't forgotten how to ride one and so did my Gma.

It was sad to go home but the roads were really yucky.  It took us twice as long to go over the mountain pass on the way home.  This is what we saw:

Bumper to bumper traffic on ice as far as the eye could see.  I love snow, I love winter, but I hate driving in it.  Especially when semi's are locking up next to you and you are just waiting for them to slide into your side. 

We made it home fine and then had AT's Preschool Thanksgiving party.  (We had some snow days that cancelled all chance of having it before Thanksgiving.)  Our PS teachers do a phenomenal job with the kids and they are so cute.

As you can see, AT is now wearing glasses.  We found out that he has the same eyes as AJ:  farsighted and possible lazy eye developing.  He has been a trooper wearing them and it takes some getting used to.  T was so funny when we were ordering them because the sales guy holds up a pair and says "These are the most durable" and T went "Sold!"  AT is so busy, but he has been really good with them.

December came in with snow and right now is snowless.  All our snow has melted in the last two days of 40-50 degree temps.  AJ won the spelling bee for her class and competed in the District one last Wed.  I wish I could have gotten a better picture of her, but she was facing the judges.

This week starts our Winterfest. The girls were able to go and decorate Gingerbread houses on Sat. (AT was sick again!)
 

Well, I know there has been so much more that has happened in the last month or so since I wrote, but obviously these were the highlights.  Christmas Concerts coming up this week and then T and I probably need to get our Christmas shopping done (oops!). 

Enjoy your day!