Wii had a great Christmas!

The kids patiently waiting to open presents! (Anna wasn't being patient!)

What Santa left....

Wow- Christmas always comes and goes so fast! Sometimes I forget to stop and enjoy all the magical parts of Christmas (like leaving milk and cookies for Santa:( oops)! The kids did great this Christmas- they got all they ever wished for... and more! Of course... they got a Wii! Well, maybe I should say, WE ALL got a Wii! I think Ryan and I have enjoyed it just as much as the kids! My arms even hurt the next day, just because of the Wii- it is great!! Thanks mom for the awesome gift!

Garrett got a basketball hoop, some games, some clothes, and lots of other things! Claire got 4 Hannah Montana dolls:), a baby doll, some handmade doll clothes, some makeup and of course, her fave, clothes! Anna wasn't really sure what to think about Christmas. However, she had fun with her new table and chair set, her new dolly, and LOTS of stuffed animals!

We celebrated Christmas Eve with Ryan's parents, then Christmas morning at home. I told the kids that they could get up at 7am... well, at 4 am, Garrett and Claire came in the room saying they weren't tired anymore... The horrible mean mom that I am- sent them back to bed... until 6:52am

We did celebrate Christmas with my dad and Connie and her family on Saturday after Christmas. We had a great Christmas this year! I love how excited kids get during this time-even when they are climbing the walls, it brings me back to my memories as a child during Christmas! What great memories!

Snow pictures!

I am not sure why he needs the goggles... but he likes them!

There is nothing better than watching kids play in the snow! I think there is something magical about it... kinda like Santa! Better than watching the kids play in the snow are the pictures... So here are some pictures of the kids playing in the snow!

All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth...

The song "All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth" is appropriate for Garrett this year! He lost his first front tooth a few weeks ago, but just today as Ryan and Garrett were doing what boys do best (wrestle), Ryan knocked out his other front tooth! After many minutes of searching for the tooth, and having a conversation about what happens when you swallow a tooth, we found the long lost tooth! You should have seen the look on his face when I explained to Garrett he may just have to "poop" the tooth out! Fortunately we found the tooth, before Anna did and before he had to actually think about it... Here is a picture of Garrett with his missing teeth!

A parade in December... are we crazy??

We ventured out into the cold, one December Saturday night! Why? You ask... well, after I thawed out my toes, fingers and nose, I could answer that question! We went to the Caldwell night Christmas parade. It was fun, but probably not worth the freezing cold EVERYTHING! The older kids enjoyed it, but from the look on Anna's face, you can tell how she felt about it (I was feeling the same way, but someone told me once that I was an adult and needed to act like one!) However, it was a nice start to the holiday season!

I think I have raised a MONKEY!

Every time we turn around, Anna is climbing! Not just onto chairs and tables, but onto counters, in sinks and making her own stools! I came into the kitchen the other day, and she had pulled out the drawer under the stove and used that as a stool to completely demolish my silverware drawer! The very next day, as I was cooking dinner, I heard silence. Well, anyone that knows what my house normally sounds like, knows that silence is very odd (and someone should be worried!) I knew that Claire was at a friends house and Garrett was with Ryan feeding horses, so I was concerned about what Anna was getting into, eating or dumping out... well, what I found was my little monkey had crawled onto the toilet and up into the sink! She had the water on and a toothbrush in her mouth! What did I do you ask? Well, I ran for the camera- what else??? She is pretty cute- but very BUSY!!!

Not mother of the year... but close!

So I will not win mother of the year this year... Let me tell you why! There was a gingerbread house making night at the school on the Monday after Thanksgiving- and being a teacher at the school, one might think we would go... well, to make a long story short, we stayed home instead! We did make gingerbread houses, but instead of going out into the cold, foggy night- we stayed at home in our jammies! I know I missed "mother of the year", but I guess I also missed "teacher of the year" :)! We had fun anyway, listening to Christmas music, eating yummy treats and making houses!

We are still here...

Yep, I haven't posted in over a month... I know! Honestly, not much has really been going on in our lives. Garrett has had basketball games every Saturday, but pictures of that aren't so exciting! Claire is busy being all girl! My neice came over to spend the night the other night and they decided to do make-up! Well, needless to say, my sister was not so pleased! In Payton's words, "My mom will FREAK!" I just laughed! and then there is Anna...She is BUSY! That is all the words I can say about her. She is climbing and pulling out everything possible as fast as possible! I don't remember the other kids being such a little terror! I am sure they were, those memories just fade fast! She is still very cute- just a pain! She also isn't really talking either! Just this weekend, I got her to say "momma"- but she just says it not knowing what it means! I am pretty sure that she is just pulling a "Kacy Ann"- I didn't talk either- mostly because I had a big brother and sister that talked for me!
We had a nice Thanksgiving- we have so much to be thankful for! My mom and stepdad came for the long weekend. We had a wonderful dinner at my sister's house, then woke up at 4am to go shopping! Even Ryan went shopping at 3:30 am!! My mom and I had a blast and got lots of great bargins! She was such a trooper- having knee surgery 2 weeks previous and was sick on top of it!
Tonight, we made gingerbread houses- it really got us in the Christmas spirit! I can't wait to put up the tree... oh wait, remember my comments about Anna? Yep- not sure we are going to put one up! She will be climbing it when we aren't looking! YEEK! We will have to see! Stay tuned for the latest pics!