Getting Ready for Christmas!

Our December has been full of family events and we still have more to come! ZooLights has not happened yet because of the rainy weather but we are hoping to go there soon and praying for snow! The kids are enjoying going to different "free" events each weekend in December! We are also doing our own mini-version of Advent with the kids and reading the story of Jesus' birth! Of course they are excited about Christmas and getting presents but they also know the real meaning of Christmas...Jesus' Birthday!

Jonathan made a chalkboard drawing of both the kids and I think he did pretty good!!! This really doesn't have anything to do with Christmas events but I just wanted to show off my husband's artistic ability!

I know this is not a clear picture but it was so cute! I put on Christmas music after we were done with homeschooling and the kids started dancing together! I remind them just how much they love each other when they start fighting and I pull up these pictures on the computer to remind them!

Avonlea and Daddy making a Gingerbread house at the library!

I wasn't really helping but actually watching and taking pictures but Jonathan wanted me to be in one of them too!

SUGAR!!! She almost ate an entire cup of frosting by herself and we kept on having to get more so we could finish the Gingerbread house!

Chandler was at Nana & Papa's house when we did the Gingerbread houses at the library and the librarian sent one home with us so he could do it! He was very excited that she did that!

Our little architect in the making!

Here we are at the Christmas celebration in our home town! It was super cold that night and Avonlea lost a brand new mitten...can you tell I'm upset about that. LOL! We got to see the Christmas tree lighting, Santa came through on a fire truck, we sang carols, we had popcorn, we made crafts at the library, we ate cookies, we got free chili which was so spicy it burnt our mouths out, we watched the high school band march down the road and we voted on boats that were decorated in lights! It was a fun family event, despite the cold weather and all the Kleenex we went through...oh and that lost mitten!!!

My little shepherds! We went to a drive through Nativity in G. H. and they gave all the kids little shepherd hats to wear! They were so excited about that and Chandler wears his almost every day....Avonlea has made hers into an apron or a "super girl" cape!

Happy Thanksgiving!

My little munchkin in her pretty new skirt on Thanksgiving Day!

And of course my handsome boy!

Oops...she's still learning to sit like a lady...but at least I am getting smiles from her now!

Family picture on Thanksgiving!

Chandler & Avonlea

Cute picture of Jonathan and the kiddos!

I had to get one of me with the kids too!

My precious little munchkins!

This is the one and only time Avonlea let me do this with her hair. I am shocked that she even let me do it! She kept it in for a total of 5 minutes and then she was all done!

We all had a great Thanksgiving this year! It was nice to just hang out at home up until the afternoon lounging in our jammies! We did a big family breakfast and had a family activity where we shared everything we were thankful for and it was really great to see how much the kids were aware of what they really had! Then we ate with family and the kids got to play with their cousins at Nana & Papa's house...the older ones played hours of Mario Cart (thanks to Papa) and the younger ones made sure to pull out all the toys that Nana & Papa had in their toy closet! It was so great to just be with family, hanging out, sharing about life and watching all the kids play so well together! I wish we could see our cousins more often! Thank you Lord for this great day! Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Broccoli

I was steaming some broccoli in the microwave the other day, when I took it out and opened the lid, it smelled a little funky (as steamed broccoli usually does). Chandler happened to walk by just then (unaware of the broccoli) and turned to Jonathan and said, (with an accusing look on his face) "Oh sick, dad!"

He then ran down the hall to his room totally unaware that it was actually the broccoli that made the smell...not Jonathan! We just stood in the kitchen and laughed!!

My 4-year-old has lost a tooth!!!

Yes it's true...Avonlea has lost her first tooth!

Are 4-year-olds supposed to loose teeth, you ask? No, I don't think so! I think that's supposed to happen around age 6 or 7!

But this 4-year-old has definitely lost hers! It didn't come out the normal way but it did get loose! How you ask???

From multiple traumas to the mouth from jumping off of dressers, coffee tables, beds, etc! The doctor said that there is nothing to do! I just hope it doesn't make her other teeth move around! She sure looks cute though!

Well most of the time! LOL!! Hey but she sure was excited when the tooth fairy came! She said, "Mommy, the tooth fairy came and left me 1 cent (it was 1 dollar) but she took my tooth!!!" Little does she know that Mommy has that tooth safe and sound in a memory book....with the hair she cut off...oh and the baby barrette that she swallowed and later pooped out! Whew...this little girl keeps me busy!

Trick-or-Treating in Uptown/GH

Avonlea is excited about trick-or-treating, round 1!

Chandler & Avonlea are assessing the situation before they dive in!

And away they go!

They're on the move!

Chandler getting made up for round 2 of trick-or-treating!

Avonlea too....yes she is wearing make-up...I said I wouldn't do it but I did...well it was only for tonight!

Scary Chandler!

Way to go Dad....he looks great...I just wish he wasn't always something so scary!

The pretty princess and skeleton are on the move!....CANDY!!!

Avonlea and Chandler with the pumpkins they carved....that blog will be on the way...the pumpkin carving one!

And there is all the loot....look out dentist here we come!!

Happy 32nd Birthday!

Jonathan celebrated his 32nd birthday at Fondi Pizzaria! That is one of his favorite places to eat and I must admit that they do have really good pizza! It was also Halloween, which made it more fun for the kids because they got to go trick-or-treating right after this!

Chandler got Jonathan "Kung Fu Panda" which is the perfect gift for a dad!

Avonlea got him "Horton Hears a Who" which is also an excellent choice for a dad! Jonathan likes watching these just as much...if not more....than the kids do!

Here is our family picture and yes I am in my horrible neck brace...well at least it worked out good since it was Halloween...maybe nobody noticed...yeah right!

Jonathan, Avonlea & Chandler!...all so cute!

Another cute one with the kids! Check out Avonlea's "superstar" sunglasses!

Slacker!!

I admit that I have been a HUGE slacker this time around with the blog! I only made it halfway through summer until our computer started acting up and we had to get it fixed several times and finally had to wipe the whole thing out and start again! So now that I have months of pictures to download onto my computer and then upload to my blog...my work is cut out for me! As soon as I catch up, I'll try to be more consistent about it....that way I won't stress myself out with all the catch up work! YUCK!! Anyway, I just wanted everyone to know that I am still blogging but because of the computer fiasco, I've been temporarily delayed! I hope everyone is enjoying this nice fall Sunday with you family and friends!