The Day after...

The children are coming off their Christmas fever.
They are showing signs of being tired and bicker a little more than usual.
BUT THE GREAT NEWS IS THE TEMPERATURE HIT AT LEAST 67 DEGREES HERE!
Amazing. The sliding glass door was left open through the late morning and afternoon.
Dad and Uncle Terry assembled the trampoline with only a few little instruction narrations from me. Occassionally, reading the instructions helps when constructing something bigger than you.
The kids jumped, and jumped and jumped.
I puttered through the house and enjoyed the quiet.
Big-o-Daddy-o and I slipped off to do a few errands.
I bought a micro memory card at Office Max with Christmas. The whole kit and kaboodle for $15. AT-T wanted to charge me almost $50 for! Now I can get the pictures off my phone.
We were able to find the camera case A wanted to buy with her Christmas money.
We bought the batteries for the all the gizmos the kids received Christmas morning. Oops, the elves forgot batteries were key in getting some of those presents to work.
I learned a little more about MP3 players.
I never thought I would feel so behind my kids in all the technology but I do. I tried to play with my bil's blackberry and my eldest said, "here mom let me show you how to text." She almost seemed embarrassed that I struggled to "get it".
We went to see Uncle and Aunt Texas for a bit tonight.
On the way home I noticed the thermostat said 62 degrees. At 10 p.m. EVEN! !
I hope the weather is this beautiful tomorrow.
Tomorrow we celebrate my father-in-law's 80th birthday!
Now time to go snuggle dear sweet husband and watch the movie he has been so patiently waiting for.
So hopefully in a day or two I will be able to include pictures from Christmas and the party.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Thanks Grandma! Could you have called in 2 days instead of today!

So Grandmama called first thing this morning. She has a way of connecting with the kiddies!
To each one she asked, "Do you know what today is?" and "What does that mean?"
She got a varied replies. But they all guessed Christmas EVE!
From there the excitement has exploded.
They came for the late afternoon and evening.
Pizza for dinner, MacGyver reruns from the library.
Help with making carmel rolls.
They slip off to Grandpa's "big city loft".
The kids are so excited....
It is 9:30 and the littlest keeps sneeking out of bed and sent back to bed.
So now I hear the wails of "you're such a meanie!" And growls that make me wonder if there really is a T-Rex in the room.
But it has been 9 minutes and still no reappearance.
However, kind hearted S has brought me a pillow he found in his room (one that should be in my room.) He is presently asking me if I want anything to eat!
A is quietly waiting in her room to finish her sister's present. Sister has to be asleep first. She is in her room because I told her she couldn't hover and lurk and follow me around trying to learn secrets.
Now S has to go to the bathroom. The only one who went to bed and has stayed is M. Maybe I will give her extra sweets tomorrow!

When you are too cool for Pictures, Mom has a way!

It inevitably happens. The sweet little 3.5 pounder who you cradled in your arm and prayed home from the hospital is now "cool". And you learn it is not cool to smile for the camera. So what is a mom to do ?

She hold the camera and says.

"S-ie, smile for you mom. Smile or I am going to kiss you in front of your friends."

Then the mom gets this:

So you try again and you turn on the charm.

"I love you....(drippy syrupy sweet voice.)

I am going to kiss you (kissy sounds now)

If you don't smile, a nice smile for me. "

It is all in the asking of the question.
AND asking the right question.

The incorrect request was for a smile.

The correct request was for a "nice smile"

Then the mom gets this:

Isn't he handsome!

My cutie!

Christmas Party Fun

We took a break last week to enjoy some Christmas fun with friends.

M is hard at work making her spice ornament.

equal parts of cinnamon and applesauce and glue.

Roll it out, make shape.

Dry for 3 days...maybe depending on how thick the ornament is.

I was thoroughly impressed by M

This was a relay race.

Put on the gloves, remove the wrapper of a Hershey's Kiss.

Eat it and run back to your line so the next person could go.

She managed to do it all with thumb in a splint!

My little poser. "Take a picture of me like this"

They are holding balloons.
They are sitting still (well, my boys are)
They are listening.
I have it documented !
It is the season of miracles !
Teacher's helper now. My oldest baby is growing up.
She doesn't play the reindeer games anymore.
She likes to organize and help the games go off without a hitch.

Candy Cane Lane ! !

So after Red and Green Night we loaded up and headed on over to Candy Cane Lane where we discovered there were 7 days left till Christmas!

If you live in the Wichita area and want directions let me know!

Every house goes all out to decorate with lights.
Every house has a giant candy cane curbside as well.

The patriotic house, and has been for several years now.

The little guys got excited about seeing Santa!

He was there and we have proof!

This one is my favorite for 2 reasons.

The Happy Birthday Jesus across the highest point.

The creativity of putting a landing strip and airplane on the roof above the garage.

I bet someone there works in the aircraft industry.

Red and Green Night with the WIGGLES!

So it is Red and Green night at Awana!

Even Mom gets into the spirit of things.

I pinned Candy Canes on my clothes.

Then I kinda forgot at times during the night and couldn't figure out why

the kids wanted me to come to them...and then I would remember.

Smack those hands, jump back and hurry back to my spot in the kitchen!

It is incredibly hard to get pictures of children during the holiday season.

They just can't seem to hold still for long.

If you have more than one posing then pictures tend to look like this:

or even like this one

or you might even find yourself missing a child in the picture!

New Experiences!

D has been staring at the snow this winter. Just longing to get out and experience it. He had been sick during the last snow. The temperatures bitter cold during this snow. We finally let him out! He was euphoric and soo excited!

It lasted at the most 15 minutes. A face full of snow and he was done!
I have a dear friend who explains why her children like different seasons of the year....

The ones with summer birthdays love the hot weather, hate the cold.
The ones with winter weather love the cold and hate the heat.

Doesn't work for my kiddos.

This one, does not like the COLD! !

He hovers by the door these days and not crazy about venturing out.

My other winter birthday child, well he is afraid of sweating in the snow so he doesn't wear his coat.

All the others are summer birthdays and they love the cold, especially the hockey player.

Their mom, likes hot cocoa, hot tea, cider, cozy blankets and warm slippers in the winter.

In the summer, she like swimming pools, air conditioning and shade. Most of all the mom likes air conditioning! But then again I have a fall birthday and love fall and spring.

Snow ball Fights with Big-O-Daddy-O!

Grandpa loves watching the Child and Grand-children Play!

What could possibly make this Dad wield such a large snow ball!

A 4 yr. old who thinks he's king of the "snow plow mountain"?

Yes, he has no winter coat on.

He's afraid of "getting sweaty"

Picture mom rolling her eyes. It is 12 degrees outside.

Could it be the kids are ganging up on Dad?

Or that he's Got a Plan and Ammo?
Check out the size of these snow balls!

Could it be the 12 yr. old who obnoxiously wants her dad's pants covered with snow?

Why covered in snow? So they are wet and cold when he drives to work!
Can we say OBNOXIOUS TWEEN !?!

Or all the above and in effort of making more memories?

Dad pleads the fifth.

I happen to believe a lot of great memories were made that day!

Balm for the Hurt and Angry Heart !

So this Christmas season has been especially difficult for me. I recently checked out this book and may have to buy it because it is taking me an incredibly long time to get through it. I thought it was a novel. However, the Lord knew what I needed. It is not an easy read, it is thought provoking and meaty. I have spent way more time than I would like, this last week on issues related to the criminal trial we must testify in as witnesses. It is hard when a beloved child becomes a victim of a violent crime. I want to have the testimony of grace and forgiveness. To have people say I don't know how you do it, and in return reply, "it is the Lord who works in me." However, my fleshly desire to see this person suffer unimaginably wars with the truth of God's love and salvation for all. Then the Lord leads me to this book, written on the Prodigal Son. A different outlook of this very well known parable. A healing balm to my heart and soul as we navigate these difficult days ahead. Written not about the prodigal son, but about the son who was faithful and made all the "right" choices.
Sooo, now that I am back to blogging....lets get onto the fun stuff I have so neglected this last week due to yucky business and the foul funky mood it put me in!