Christmas Day

Here is our Christmas bounty! Every year I think I haven't bought very much, but as soon as it's all laid out under the tree, it's always more than I thought!

Gotta love new Christmas jammies!

Here is Kate with her Barbie Vanity-not quite the diamond castle, but she still loves it!

Adam's favorite gift was this Batman cave/hideout. He also got the ninja turtles he wanted so badly!

Gabe's favorites were his buzz lightyear and also the skateboard he asked for!.

We had a great Christmas this year! Full of fun presents

and lots of LOVE!!

Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve we had dinner at Grandma & Grandpa Harris' house with a special visit from Santa Clause!

Adam didn't want to look at Santa, but he was sure ready to tell him that he wanted a Ninja Turtle!

Kate told him she wanted a Barbie Diamond Castle.

Gabe wanted a Buzz Lightyear.

Christmas TAG!

1. WRAPPING PAPER OR GIFT BAGS? Wrapping paper. I love to wrap gifts!
2. REAL OR ARTIFICIAL TREE? I love the smell of real trees but they are just too much work. So we have a pre-lit artificial
3. WHEN DO YOU PUT UP THE TREE? Well as you see from previous posts, it was the first part of November this year!
4. WHEN DO YOU TAKE THE TREE DOWN? I'll probably take it down a day or two after Christmas
5. DO YOU LIKE EGGNOG? Usually, it depends on the brand. I don't like it when they are too thick and coat the roof of your mouth
6. FAVORITE GIFT RECEIVED AS A CHILD? I really can't think of one!
7. WORST CHRISTMAS GIFT EVERY RECEIVED? I also can't think of a bad one!
8. HARDEST PERSON TO BUY FOR? I hate trying to figure out what to buy my parents.
9. EASIEST PERSON TO BUY FOR? The kids...as long as I don't buy something super early before they change their minds!
10. DO YOU HAVE A NATIVITY SCENE? Yes, but I haven't even put it up yet!
11. FAVORITE CHRISTMAS MOVIE? A Christmas Story...TBS usually plays it non-stop on Christmas day!
12. WHEN DO YOU START SHOPPING? I like to start and be done by Thanksgiving but this year I didn't finish until about 2 days ago!!
13. HAVE YOU EVER RE-GIFTED A GIFT? I'm sure I have! I can't think of one specifically!
14. FAVORITE THING TO EAT AT CHRISTMAS? Probably all the homemade cookies/treats!
15. COLOR OF LIGHTS ON THE TREE? White/clear
16. FAVORITE CHRISTMAS SONG? Oh Holy Night and Belive by Josh Groban
17. TRAVEL AT CHRISTMAS OR STAY HOME? Stay Home. It's no fun to unwrap toys only to bundle up to go to someone else's house!
18. CAN YOU NAME ALL OF SANTA'S REINDEER? Of course!
19. ANGEL OR STAR ON TOP OF THE TREE? I actually have 3 big bows on top this year! I couldn't fit anything elese
20. WHEN DO YOU OPEN PRESENTS - CHRISTMAS EVE OR CHRISTMAS DAY? Christmas day!
21. MOST ANNOYING THING ABOUT THIS TIME OF YEAR? The crowded stores!
22. FAVORITE ORNAMENT ON THE TREE? I don't really have a favorite!
23. WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR CHRISTMAS? I just want to not be sick and have a good time with my little family!

Day of Quilting

There was no school for the kids today, so we redboxed Kung Fu Panda and Dora Saves the Snow Princess. While the kids watched the movies, I was actually productive AND crafty! Here is what I accomplished:

Adam lost his "dee-dee" (blanket) at Target about a month ago (this is the old fabric)

and today I found some construction truck material that was almost the same and made him a new blanket. He was so excited when I showed him the material!

He's been breaking my heart for the past month telling me, "Momma, dee-dee lost."

Then I also pieced together a quilt top for baby girl wolf. It turned out a little smaller than I had hoped so I need to add some sort of a border to it.

I couldn't do this today because I ran out of white thread and was too lazy to load up the kids and fight the walmart crowds!

HOORAY FOR ME!!!!

christmas decor and sunshine generation

So I did put up my christmas tree early. And it looks beautiful! The smaller kids tree is actually the top to my tree! So I had to improvise with the top to my old tree that is actually a different color. But you really can't tell with the bows on.

Here is the fireplace with all our stockings as well! I love decorating for christmas!

Kate had her sunshine generation show last night and it was great!

How can someone so cute look so grumpy in pictures?!

Here is a video-it's a little long-of her first song. As you can see, she had to go potty and she also kept trying to sing right into the microphone! But she did great and she loved it!

photo contest

Everyone come to this link and vote for Adam's picture! If you do, he may be able to win a cool leap frog toy. You can vote once everyday for the whole week!!

http://www.thebabycorner.com/toddler-photo-contest/

Board breaking...

Survey

Is it too early for me to put up my Christmas tree? They already play Christmas music nonstop on 2 radio stations here.

Doesn't looking at a beautifully decorated tree everyday just make you feel all warm and happy inside?

Even if that means you have to keep reminding your kids that they can't re-arrange the ornmanents. Even if it also means you have to re-arrange all your living room furniture so your beautiful tree can be placed in the center of the window for everyone to see.

What do you think? Too early?

Belle

Have you ever seen a more beautiful princess? Today was Kate's halloween party at preschool and her Belle costume finally arrived yesterday! I couldn't ever find one in the store, so I ended up ordering one from ebay and it took forever to get here!

After we curled her hair, she went to show the boys her outfit and Adam jumped up and said, "Oh sissy!" and gave her a big hug and kiss!

Halloween Party

We went to two Halloween Parties yesterday. The first was a little maze in the neighbor's backyard. After the kids found their way through they were rewarded with donuts and homemade rootbeer. I of course couldn't find my camera and have no pics of it. But the kids had lots of fun.

Then last night we went to Nate & Lori's Halloween party. We ate some good food, played some games and played a little rockband.

I didn't win a prize for best costume but I thought I looked pretty cool.

Lori's Medusa won first place, my mom's mummy won second and Paul's wizard won third!The kids had lots of fun there too!

Funniest Kid Ever

Somedays I think Adam's mission on earth is to make me laugh. He is the biggest ham!! He is always suprising me with the funny things he says or does.

Yesterday, Gabe rode his bike to school. I went out front to watch for him like I do everyday. All of a sudden Adam comes running out with this nerf gun and says,

"Shoot Gabe!"

He then proceeds to crouch down by a truck and wait for Gabe. I don't have a picture of it, but he kept raising his hand to me so I wouldn't come closer to him and saying, "No Mama. Shoot Gabe."

He then decided that hiding by the truck wasn't good enough and moved over under our mailbox! When Gabe pulled into the driveway I was expecting a big yell or something, but instead Adam just walked up to him, gave him a big hug and said, "Hi Gabe!" He then proceeded to run into the house yelling, "Shoot sissy(kate)!"

I just love this funny boy!!

Kiddie Kandid Contest

Before any of you get excited, my kids are not in the contest!! But I got an email about it and it has some of the cutest pictures I've seen!! So check out their website and you can vote up until the end of the month!
http://www.kiddiekandids.com/

Kate's 4th Birthday and First day of Preschool!!

Sunday the 31st was Kate's 4th birthday! She has been so excited to be 4 because that's when she gets to start preschool! We had a BBQ at Grandma and Grandpa's house and also celebrated Meg's 23rd birthday (sept 2). She was being a bit of a stinker and wouldn't smile for any of my pictures! She is definitely my stubbornest child! She wouldn't let anyone help her open anything because she had to do it all by herself. But she got lots of fun toys and went out to lunch with Mom and Dad the next day!

Today was also her first day of preschool. She is in a class with her cousin Landon and they get to sit by each other. She was so excited she wanted to walk in all by herself-but she finally decided to let Jeff go with her!

Gabe's first day of Kindergarten

Gabe started Kindergarten last Tuesday the 26th.

He has been excited all summer long!

He was a little disappointed that we live too close for him to ride a bus.

But the fact that he can ride his bike to school makes up for it. Adam also loves that we get to ride bikes!

So far he loves his teacher and has made a friend (he can't ever remember his name) and loves to play on the monkey bars at recess!!