Here it goes..gotta document this stuff, or the little details will be forgotten!
The CHristmas season started out making Gingerbread Houses. One year I did it from scratch and it was a disaster! And c'mon, I have 4 kids, who has time to make them from scratch? Plus I think it was fun that the kids all got to make their own. I found these cute little German style houses at Trader Joes and they were a hit!
Had tho throw this one in--Sorry Maggie, but there are AlWAYS tears!
Next...is Gary!
Who is Gary? Well our pet snail of course! He came home on a plant back in June and I thought he was the perfect pet. Doesn't shed, doesn't cry and barely makes a mess. Only a little slime here and there when he would leave his plate. Which leads me to the next part. He would disappear for a long time and we thought he had died. Then a couple of months later, there he is! I think he had crawled under the table and was hanging out there for a while. he did this twice. The kids would be really excited when they would see him again. "Gary's Back!" (of course you know where we got his name from.) Well, about a month ago when things started to get a little colder, I found Gary in a few pieces on the floor. I don't know if it was too cold, or if Miles had gotten to him. RIP Gary.
Here is a pic of my sweet boys having lunch together. I let Miles eat at the table instead of his highchair which he enjoyed--it hasn't happened since though since he is such a messy Marvin.
Next... the girls both made all A honor roll. Maggie also recieved the "THinking out of the Box" award. Her teacher says she's always challenging her.
Audrey and Lexi
Audrey with her
2nd grade teacher Mr.Huff
Next...
This year we bought our Christmas Tree at Costco for $40. This was seriously the nicest live tree we have ever had. This thing was still very much alive when we took it down, and it was so beautiful! I just had to capture this pic of us at Costco. Owen thought because we bought our tree there, that it was going to be 12 feet tall--you get more for your money!
Next...Owen had a Christmas party with the other pedo residents. I don't know their last names but basically what I hear at home are Todd, Matt, jared, Shelly Michelle and then Drama, Drama, Drama. I think Owen is ready to be done.
The kids are always so anxious to decorate the tree. And they always have to wait for Mom to put the lights on and sometimes that takes a couple of days. Maybe someday when I don't have an 18 month old, I will have more time. And they ALWAYS fight over who gets to put the star on top. They love it because Owen holds them up really high. He says when he holds Maggie that he sometimes feels like he's in a freak show because she's getting so tall. There were tears this year because we drew names and Audrey was chosen. So...Document this that Audrey hung the star in 2010. She does not get to do it for 4 more years! I don't think i even took a pic because there was so much Drama!
A few pics of my decorated house.
I made this cute magnetic/cork board for all my Christmas cards. It was full by the end of the season. I love my friends!
Next is Clarence. He is the elf on the shelf who is delivered on the door step to the kids. Maggie is skeptical and so is Audrey. Drew on the other hand....he thinks its cool that he is in a different location everyday when he wakes up.
Next...Neighbor treats. Made these cute treat plates by gluing a sundae dish onto the bottom of a plate and tying a cute bow around it. This year I made Chocolate mint cookies, Caramel pretzels, and Pumpkin and chocolate rolls. Yummy!
Next....Drew's 5th Birthday! Man, I'm really feeling bad that I didn't take more pics. It's hard having a birthday so close to Christams. I think I'm going to start celebrating it at the beginning of the month so he's not overshadowed. He was quite disappointed that his Birthday was on a Sunday and insisted that he didn't have to go to church because it was his day to do whatever he wanted. Luckily the Bishop had a special Christmas program and sent us home after 1 hour of church! Hotdog! Out of Drew's request, we went to Chuck-E Cheese the night before and he had the time of his life! For his birthday he got a new wii game which he already told me he doesn't like, and a few other things that I can't remember. Man, I need to get it together. I made him a special cake with no milk or eggs and then let him lick the beaters which he thought was most delicious! Later that night, he vomited and went to bed super early because he got strep.(All 4 of them had it within a 2 week span at different times and this was all 2 weeks before Christmas.) So, his birthday day wasn't the best, but I think Chuck e cheese made up for that. I love this kid of mine who LOVES the wii more than life itself.
I took the kids to see Santa at the mall on the 23rd. what a freakin joke! THe line was 3 hours long. What the crap was I thinking? Luckily that night we went to Ethel M's chocolate and saw their cactus light display and Santa was there! the wait was 15 minutes and he was the NICEST Santa with the NICEST elves.
Here is Miles washing his dog after being filled.
I gave Owen a remote control helicopter, and it has been buzzing through the house nonstop.
Miles and Angela loved wearing the 3D glasses
Angela preferred to wear hers upside down.
Cousins hiking to RedRock
Can you believe it? Snow in Vegas???
