One Week and Counting

Can you believe that Christmas Day is one short week away? SOMEBODY (me) needs to wrap up some holiday errands. Most everything is done - just a few things needed. We had a big weekend - breakfast and cookies with Santa and making our holiday goodies.

Breakfast with Santa went okay - Jack wanted nothing to do with Santa there. When we got to the cookies with Santa at the lake in our neighborhood, he was all about Santa and told him about the Mickey Mouse clubhouse he wants. I was so proud!

Drew was a great help with the goodies we made. We made a gingerbread house Saturday night. There were some structural problems, but we got the whole thing propped with toothpicks and let it 'set' overnight. Then I put coconut all around it to make it 'snowy'. That's pretty big considering I DESPISE coconut. Now, my whole dining room has a coconut-ish aroma. But it does look nice. Anyway, we also made the traditional cookie-press cookies. The only problem with the recipe is that I forget it makes dozens and dozens of cookies. We had fun with it all!!

Bo has been a little whiny, but the next minute he has the biggest smile. That can only mean one thing - more teeth. John verified that there appears to be the top left one coming in. We've been checking daily and it finally seems to be on the way this morning. Happy Christmas everyone!

Bubba the Elf

We had an interesting night at our house. There's an elf that Santa accidentally left behind last year when he came. Well, his name is Bubba (I know - it's all I could think of) and he's been making a ruckus in our area. He hit our house last night! Bubba knows which boys and girls are on Santa's good list - so if he visits, you know you are on the good list!

Bubba colored a picture of our Christmas tree but left the crayons all over the floor. He also left a note for the boys and candy canes. They were thrilled that he visited last night.

So - be on the lookout - there might be an elf that is on the loose in your neck of the woods. I've heard of rogue elves leaving messes after making cookies and even rolling the Christmas trees with toilet paper as a trick.

Have a great weekend... While we gear up for breakfast, cookies and then dinner with Santa - I'll be planning cocktails with Santa!!!

Getting Ready for Santa

Drew had a field trip last week and he rode the 'Polar Express' to see Santa. Here he is after telling him what he'd like for Christmas.

The boys are great - just excited about the holiday. We're having breakfast with Santa and cookies with Santa this Saturday and then dinner with him Tuesday night. That's right - we'll eventually get a good photo of them with him!! We hope you are all enjoying the holidays. I realized how fast it's going. I am going to try and make a point to slow down and thoroughly enjoy this time with the kids.

All the latest, and over my grudge

Yes, I have been holding a grudge against the internet. I updated the blog with pictures and a witty narrative. Then it happened. The internet went down. So, I have been holding a grudge and refused to work with it. I am over it now though...

The kids are great - enjoying the season - even if it IS 80 degrees outside. We decorated like mad fools all weekend getting ready for the neighborhood open house (which we participated in). BONUS - our house has been clean all week AND it's ready for Christmas thanks to the event. Anyway, the kids were patient while we got everything decorated.

We are looking forward to Christmas. Saint Nicholas visited last week - the pictures above show the boys that morning. St. Nick brought them each a book, candy (for the older two) and a toothbrush (I hope our dentist friend Mark appreciates that!!). Have a great week - I have MANY more pictures to post as the days progress :)

Hit with a flying plastic pizza

Sometimes, our house is a lot like life - according to Forrest Gump. You never know what you're gonna get. I have three boys - four counting John - in the house. I grew up with two sisters. My life is an adjustment at times.

You've heard the saying 'boys will be boys'. Each day they need time to just get the energy out. Whether it's running around outside (the best option for this!) or playing in the house, you can bet at some point each day they'll be wound up. Last night, for instance. After dinner, they decided to throw Jack's plastic food in the air in the foyer (high ceiling AND stairs to throw things down). John and I agreed it was probably a bad idea. Being the mom-in-constant-training, I decided they should just get it out.

Jack loves playing with play food and kitchens, so they were throwing the play plastic pizza when things got out of hand. A piece apparently went flying. Jack was hit. On the face. Right below his eye. A little tiny bit of blood and some swelling. All from plastic pizza. He recovered well and it wasn't too noticeable this morning.

But a lesson for you all - don't throw your plastic pizza.

A Holly Jolly Weekend Slide Show

A Holly Jolly Weekend

We are exhausted from our weekend this Monday morning! We had a busy weekend starting Friday night. We went to dinner with Aunt Katie and had mexican food. Jack wore the Captain Hook costume (complete with feathered hat) for the whole evening - including dinner. People got quite a chuckle... Saturday morning we had a Christmas parade. Drew wanted to ride so badly on the float. John's mom crafted two wonderful shepherd costumes for the boys (and King costumes for the other kids too!). We got the kids ready and left early Saturday. When we arrived - neither Drew nor Jack would ride the float. At my wits end, I tried everything to get them on the float. Finally, Drew agreed and rode. Jack walked behind the float. Once again, people chuckled at the rogue shepherd tailing the float - which won Best of Show award!!

My mom and dad took the kids for a spend the night Saturday so John and I could complete our shopping. We both had a weird feeling about a live Christmas tree and decided that we'd find an artificial tree. Wow. The prices on trees are outrageous. Not to mention, you cannot find an unlit one that looks nice anymore. Anyway - we've put up one we used in the playroom last year in the living room. We went to every Christmas tree shop around - even perusing live trees. Talk about indecisive. We did get the tree decorated, some lights put up outside and the mantel decor complete...

Then we overslept this morning - we're wiped out from the marathon shopping and Christmas decorating. Maybe we'll finish decorating tonight. But I honestly can't promise anything :)