Christmas Past

Don't be jealous about my feathered look.

Love looking back, and I look forward to making new memories with my own kids(and better hair choices).

Much Love and Merry Christmas!

December Happenings

Besides getting ready for Christmas there have been a few other goings ons...


Like E losing her first tooth! May I say finally? She has had her bottom new teeth in for so long and we have just been waiting for the baby teeth to fall out. She was quite excited and we talked about putting it under her pillow and the tooth fairy. She asked if she was real. I decided to be consistent (since we've nixed the reality of santa, though thanks to her teacher she refuses to believe that he's not real) and say that the tooth fairy was just something fun we pretend. This would have been enough for her brother. However she then wanted to know who took her tooth in exchange for the money. I told her it was a secret. I wanted to keep some fun mystery going. Alas she would not let it go. Finally (and this is an hour later when I'm tucking her in) I tell her that perhaps I'm the tooth fairy. Her response, "no you're not." I can't win. BUT, at 4am I wake up to this face looking at mine, "mommy, i found money."



Last Friday was gingerbread house day in her school. She was mostly concerned with eating it rather than the design element. (there was also singing, see below for video)



It was my niece Ella's birthday celebration on Sunday and I made her this box. I love it. My E does not because it's black. She did approve of the jewelry that I put in it as did the birthday girl.


V became quite adept at saying the word "cake" with a smile, over and over.

Our first big snow!

They were so excited.

They love coming in for the hot chocolate.

It's not my favorite thing, but I can't deny it's beauty.

Today we had cousin's over. J was in a happy place.

We made ornaments. (thanks peggy!)

And tonight we celebrated the main man Dennis in our house. Happy Birthday love!

Just For Fun

Now that we are on final countdown.....

Christmas Play

Yes. These are two of the cutest sheep you've ever seen. This little guy next to E was very proud and would ask "did I sing awesome?" He did. E did too. All the kids did such a great job this morning. I was glowing. I meant to take more pics after it was over but forgot and let them get out of their costumes. Ah well. Scroll down for a couple videos. One of J's solo and the other is from yesterday's dress rehersal.

It's that time of year! Our tree has been up a couple of weeks and we are in Christmas mode.

J had his first cello concert last Wed. night. He was in the first number, and he was front and center on stage. You'll see the picture of him standing next to the teacher, and there couldn't have been a better place for him. We could tell that he was loving it. There are two videos to capture it, but only a couple people are obligated to watch and they know who they are. :)

He was most happy about his cousin Ethan coming. The rest of us were chopped liver.

We had play practice today. Hope to get some more pics tomorrow! Again, J is center stage, movin' and groovin', and E is 2 to the right from him.

Today we let J set up his train that grandpa got him a couple years ago. We put it up the years we stay here for Christmas.

Also spent the afternoon decorating cookies, with help of course. Most of these we will give away as neighbor gifts. I need to make other treats first.

Post T Day

It seems like Thanksgiving was forever ago, but really only a week has past . Here are some captured moments from our festivites.


E's class at school had a "feast" of cereal.


V had a snack there too.


Waiting for everyone else to get to mom mom's house. We were the first ones there.


Annual cheeseball turkey. (yes, it's my own creation)


Forcing her into a pic w/ me.


yum


Some of our favorite people made these pilgrim hats out of marshmallows and cookies. Huge hit w/ the kids.

Happy Thanksgiving

J 4yrs old- november 2005

6

Yup. My girl is 6. There is something so big girl about the sound of that number, don't you think?

Celebrations started w/ lunch at Panera w/ mom mom after school on Friday. (she's started wearing her stickers from school on her forehead...i don't know..)

Then that evening her two cousins that are her age came over to stay the night.

They made their own snack. We talked about how cowgirls would need to build a fire out on the range at night, so that's what they did. I loosely followed this as I remember doing it in girl scouts/brownies.

J is not to be left out!

After snacks it was bed time and not too long until they were fast asleep.

Morning brought her breakfast of choice, baked oatmeal. Then we were off to ride horses!

They LOVED the hats I bought them. (notice my e's belt buckle...was mine from earlier days)

After leading the horse out of the pasture,

brushing him, (his name was Mel)

little bro looking on,

cleaning his hooves,

making tractor noises,

stopping for a quick pose,

or two,

it was finally time to line up to ride!

Best moment of the day. This little one likes to play it cool, but she could not contain that smile. Priceless.

Everyone, including J, got a turn.

Even V.

Many thanks to Connie for making this happen! She went above and beyond.

Then it was back home for her lunch of choice, tomato soup and grilled cheese. A good choice for a dreary, cold day.

Then cupcakes!

Horse cupcakes, of course. They almost look just like the pictures in the book.

We finished things off with presents. This is a picnic basket that I covered for her, and I made the food. Sandwich (w/ lettuce tomato, cheese, turkey slice; apple and two mini cupcakes) It was a good day and thank you to all who helped make it special!