chess master?!?

Carsyn has shown a sudden interest in chess. She is catching on fast and is especially enjoying the one-on-one daddy time.

merry christmas

This is year #2 for us to be on our own for Christmas day. We opened stockings, ate a yummy breakfast, read Luke 2, sang songs and opened presents. The kids enjoyed giving their well thought out gifts just as much as they enjoyed receiving gifts. We had a fun, relaxing morning.
R loved her new pink scooter!

C was SO EXCITED about her new boy doll!!

L received an astronaut set and a solar system- he has had fun playing with both together...

Couldn't resist posting the matching babies (ok, one is not exactly a baby..) notice the new pink, cozy crocs!

Merry Christmas to all of you!

i heart christmas eve

church. dinner. white christmas. popcorn. sleeping bags.

their "pose"

a Christmas miracle...

I took Dale in for his 4 week check up this morning. The Dr. said he is doing fantastic!! He can transition to walking as of right this moment. He will start therapy next week. No restrictions (except running). And the best news is: NO MORE "TEDS"!!! :)

Thanks for all your prayers and support. We love you all....

fun activity that's not very green

A few days ago I ran into World Market and purchased a bunch of rolls of wrapping paper for $0.49. I gave the kids each one, some scissors and tape and let them wrap away. At first they needed help figuring out size and cutting. Then I had the brilliant idea of cutting a bunch into different size pieces to make it easier for them. They wrapped and wrapped and wrapped. It was such a hit! An hour later they had set up a store where you could buy wrapped gifts. After everyone made their purchases we had a present opening session. It was a lot of fun AND it took up about 2 hours of the day. It was a great stay-out-of-the-FREEZING-cold activity!!

Sorry no pictures- I was too busy enjoying the solitude!

the polar express

The first grade had a Polar Express party today. It was really cute. They got to wear their pj's. At the door they received a ticket to ride the train. While waiting for the conductor they got yummy hot chocolate. Then during the "ride" the conductor read the Polar Express story. Mr. C stopped by and gave everyone a bell that a mysterious man in a red suit had left in the office. After that they made little trains out of candy and ate Christmas cookies. It was a lot of fun.....
getting tickets...

the train (both first grade classes partied together)...

C and Max (of course)...

the conductor...

mr. c passing out bells......

this makes me laugh (what is with my sweet girls?!?)...

cookies...

c's train...

party!!

Luke had a Christmas party in JK. They decorated cookies, made a craft and sang praises. Dale was able to come. Luke had a great time...



The class presented Mrs. B this personalized Christmas decoration. Each child drew a picture on shrinky-dink paper and one of the moms made this. It is SO cute!!

Reagan's class hosted a sing-a-long. It was really cute to see these 3 and 4 year olds singing praises to God. Mrs. H does an AMAZING job with these sweet children.
Reagan loves to do the motions...

ornaments

A few weeks ago I purchased glass balls and acrylic paint from a craft store so that we could make Christmas ornaments. I figured it would be fun to do over break but as I was reading Jodie's blog I realized that because of the drying time we needed to get on the ball (HA! I make myself laugh!) So tonight we began this project- which is surprisingly NOT messy. The kids squirted paint into the balls and rolled, shook and jumped til the paint covered the inside. They loved choosing the colors and watching them mix. Now we have to wait (and wait and wait) for them to dry. They did an awesome job (ALL BY THEMSELVES!). It was another fun craft!
"american ornament"...

she is very serious about everything she does...

pink of course...

1st 2 are Reagan's, 2nd are Luke's, then Carsyn's...

they are MUCH cuter in person!

reagan's 4th birthday

This evening Reagan had her first ever "kid-party". She wanted to invite 3 of her friends: Micah, Parker and Corbin (Corbin could not make it because he live 3 hours away). Micah and Parker we able to come which made Reagan's day (we also had family over). Her theme was Backyardigians. She desperately wanted it to snow so we could play outdoor games but it was way too warm for that! Instead we ate, had cake and ice cream, opened presents and played the wii. It was just as much fun (as you will see in the LONG photo account!)

R made this hat at school last week- she loves to wear it!

dinner...

Parker and his mommy...

Uncle helping R blow out the candles...

she got 6 rolls of tape (she LOVES tape)...

"I am a Manatee" book- she also LOVES manatees!


she got games from Parker...

she got bitty baby from gma and gpa- there was screaming and jumping...

playing paper airplanes...

sweet Micah...

playing her new leapster game...

sweet!

A sweet breakfast treat for my sweet baby girl's birthday...


(thank you Melanie!)

ace of cakes?!?

hardly. But I did have fun making Reagan's birthday cake. It's my first go at fondant. I think I need a class.....

is it fall?

Luke "helped" grandpa rake and bag leaves today (on this fall-like day).....

3k b-day

Today Reagan was the star in her class. It was also the day she celebrated her birthday at school. She brought in the delicious snowman cupcakes AND she had the mystery bag. It was a VERY difficult decision on what to put in the bag. First choice was elmo slippers. Then she was pretty set on her elmo costume. At the last minute she decided on her pink webkins "pluto" (poodle). The mystery bag is the highlight of 3K circle time! It was a fun morning...

painting party bags...

singing happy birthday...


checking the mailbox...

showing off her "pluto"...