Christmas 2011

Christmas with Friends

That is what a day spent with your best friends looks like:

a doorbell ring~smiles~hugs~pure excitement~helping set up

glazed donuts~hot chocolate~marshmallows~chocolate dipped spoons

Santa bingo~m&m's~helping each other find wins~calling out Santa~Christmas music

choosing a package~angry birds~trading presents~ almost everyone happy

Mr. Popper's Penguins~snuggling with friends~bean bags~blankets~candy canes

Mario Party~jumping and dancing around~screaming and laughing

 

 

 

 

 Could it get any better than that?

a story

When Ryan and I showed up at our local grocery store this weekend, we had no idea that we would run into Santa there.  Ryan immediately told him that he wasn't the real Santa but just one of Santa's helpers.  Santa told him to come and sit on his lap and give a good pull on his beard to see if it was real.  Ryan grabbed onto it with two hands and I encouraged him to be really careful and not pull too hard. Ryan seemed impressed that it was real and then wanted to take a peek under his hat to see if his hair was real.  Santa didn't mind so he took off his hat and showed Ryan his hair and then put his hat on Ryan's head, which Ryan quickly yanked off.  Santa asked what he wanted for Christmas and when Ryan told him Skylanders, Santa looked at me for help.  I said, "You know Santa it's that new video game that you are making." Santa then told Ryan a story about how Rudolph got his red nose which was from playing with the cleaners that were under his workbench and he got some on his nose which turned it red.  Really Santa?  As we were standing there saying our good byes and making our promises to be good I looked down at Ryan and saw something all over in his hair.  It didn't take but a second to figure it out that it was dandruff flakes from the dear sweet unhygienic Santa who tried to put his hat on Ryan.  The good news is though that Ryan insists that he was the real Santa because his beard and hair were real.

 Sunday at church the boys and all the youth in church sang a song for us.  The boys looked so handsome all dressed up and not one complained about going up to sing so I was very impressed.  They sang the song  "The World Needs Love" so it was a very sweet way to start our day.  As soon as we got home from church our annual candy exchange day was starting.  We used to get together each year to actually make the candy but as the family grew and we made more and more candies it was just too much, so that is how the candy exchange came to be.  Everybody brought their candies and cookies.  Mom made her fudge, peanut brittle and caramel corn.  Nicole made her toffee bars, chocolate peanut butter balls, chocolate covered peanut butter ritz, and rocky road.  I made crock pot candy, ten dozen sugar cookies, and another recipe that failed, Summer made her cherry dipped cookies and peppermint bark.  Brooke made her chocolate covered pretzels.  It's just a huge sugar fest!

After we ate an assortment of yummy food but no bread (since the person assigned the bread forgot) most of us sat around to decorate the sugar cookies. Matt gets the award for the best cookie decorator. Ryan and him worked as a team to decorate some of the best looking cookies ever! It's no secret that we get our love for food from my mom, she can't resist any leftover frosting to be thrown away.

We then played our new dancing game on the Kinect where Brooke rules as the dancing champion in the family, she knows how to bust some moves.  After that most of us loaded up and headed to the theater to watch the movie Chipwrecked.  It was a fun way to end our very full day! 

my fellas

It was time once again for our annual Christmas card picture

and the family couldn't be more excited. ha!

Since it's dark outside by the time Heath gets home from work and our weekends have been too busy,

I knew that this year it would have to be just the boys for our Christmas card picture.

I was a little disappointed that it wouldn't be all of us only because I love how all of our new Christmas outfits would match and knew that we would make a cute family.

I told the boys at the beginning of the week that one day after school we would be doing pictures.

They insisted only if the girls could come too.

I figured having the girls there would be more of a distraction for them but if it meant no complaining then I was good with it.

The boys did try complaining anyway when they saw that they would be wearing fancy clothes

but that didn't matter because everything was going to be just the way that I wanted it.

The weather was decent, the sun was shining and the boys were all healthy again so the time had come.

I called Amanda that afternoon when I decided to do pictures.

I told her that we were meeting at 3:30

that she would need to bring her camera

and that she would be the one taking the pictures

while I would be the one posing the kids.

She said okay because that's just what friends do.

The pictures took about twenty minutes to take

with little complaining from the boys

and little distractions from the girls

and little stress from me

and the boys could hardly believe their ears when they heard me say

Perfect, we got it!

I can't show you the group picture, you will just have to wait until you get your Christmas card

but here are their individual shots and I love, love, love them.

Thanks my friend!

Take a look at my handsome little fellas.

 

 

the program

So I've been to Melton the Warm Hearted Snowman Christmas Program before,

I don't remember how many times that I've seen it but I've seen it enough.

It's put on by the Kindergartners and First Graders so next year might finally be my last time.

I feel bad that I wasn't too excited about it this year until I saw how excited Ryan was for me to watch him sing.  He would be my first kid to show any kind of excitement for either a program or for me being there to watch. Ryan even happily waved and smiled at me each time he saw me in the front row, I loved every second of that.  So the program started out and there was a lot of excitement and energy from the kids.

Ryan did his hand movements and sang along.

He then started getting a little bored, I didn't blame him I did too.

 Then he started playing with his tie.

When that wasn't enough, he started wrapping his tie around his neck. 

He then quit singing all together and just started making faces.

Totally not appropriate but he was so entertaining to me! 

 After the program I wanted to get a picture of Ryan and Ashlynn. They both looked so cute dressed up for their big day. Another little girl even told Ryan that she wanted him to be her husband and he said, no way!

I then took a picture of Amanda and Ashlynn. Girls are so different than boys for pictures, Ashlynn walked right up, stood next to her mom and smiled for the picture.

Ryan on the other hand, first started by being silly

and walked right up to the camera for a close up

he then turned around and ran to me jumping into my arms when I wasn't expecting it 

he of course doesn't let go

 and he pulls me over with him

 until I let go and he drops

and then finally we get our picture together.

That's a lot of work for one picture,

but I guess he's worth it.

naughty or nice

My kids (mostly Luke and Ryan) better be thankful that they still have three weeks until

Christmas because they have been a whole lot more naughty than they have been nice!

Even with getting to see one of Santa's 'helpers' this weekend and writing their

letters to Santa it didn't seem to help get them into the Christmas spirit.

Saturday morning we headed to the school for the Christmas bazaar and to see Santa.

I don't know that this Santa helper has been helping out for very long because

1.  look at the way he is sitting and

2.  he never asked the boys what they wanted for Christmas

Ryan ran up there right away and told Santa that he wanted Skylanders for Christmas,

the other two weren't for sure about going up to see Santa but we made them anyway and

then Santa didn't ask them anything.

We managed to stay busy all weekend

visiting Santa, signing Cody up for basketball, shopping for new basketball shoes, visiting with neigbors,

Christmas shopping, lunch at TGIFriday's, Costco shopping, church and going to watch Arthur's Christmas.

All in all a good weekend.

what makes me {smile}

the kids being home for a week for Thanksgiving break

lazy days with them at home

spending a whole day baking: pumpkin cream cheese muffins, sugar cookies & pecan pies

thanksgiving at my parents house where it will always have to be

my family

Bob and Roseann (our dinner guests)

a delicious turkey dinner

the correct spelling of the word happiness (thanks to Cody)

the boys laughing at an inappropriate birthday card my brother received

Summers baby bump

the families favorite new past time (Just Dance 3)

the boys really get into it but Heath couldn't watch any longer when Matt had them

dance to Britney Spears, Baby One More Time 

 My dad even gave it a try

the boys bustin a move 

  the running man

 online Christmas shopping (lots of happy mail will be coming my way)

Luke pushing a shopping cart and knocking down a large display of expensive razors

the boxes and cardboard display were all over the floor, I was so embarrassed I couldn't help but smile. 

not one person walking by offering to help however did not make me smile.

Helping Brooke and Ricky move into their new apartment

we gave Brooke this chair which is the same chair that I nursed and rocked each one of my boys in

we don't quite fit in it the same anymore (sniff sniff)

a play date with friends down by the creek

decorating our Christmas tree

seeing the boys excited over all of the old ornaments and the new one that I surprised them with

finding out that Cody really wanted to play basketball this year

a DVR full of Christmas movies from the Hallmark channel

finishing the book "The Help" and having two new Christmas books to start

having ninety five percent of my Christmas shopping done

the kids going back to school (a few of the days got to be a little long with them at home)

the month of December starting tomorrow

past due

Really, I haven't given up on blogging not even close.

My intentions and things to get accomplished list always seems much more do-able at night

but then come the next morning I don't know what happens or where my day goes.

So since I have no new pictures to share, here's a blast from the past.

This picture screams 1989'ish

The perm, the New Kids on the Block t-shirt, friendship bracelets,

stone washed jeans, un-waxed eyebrows and bandanna headband.

Anyway here is another little recap of what's been happening with us.

We found out the great news yesterday that Matt and Summer will be having a baby GIRL! We of course would of been happy with anything but we haven't had a girl in our family since Hailey-16 years ago, so this should be fun and even up the numbers a little. Girls {three} Boys {four}

Last week I attended a Veterans Day Program at the school which I was happy that I went to.  I almost didn't go but it felt good supporting our troops and seeing all the past and present military members stand up and be applauded, it really makes you feel proud to be an American. It always makes me wonder if the boys will follow in Heath's footsteps and join too.

Also at the program they handed out awards for the first quarter and Cody and Luke both received one (in Ryan's defense they didn't hand out awards to the Kindergartners).  I had to laugh though at the awards that they did receive.  Luke received Most Disciplined Student which is a great thing but I can't believe the self discipline and control he can show at school and then fly off the handle at a moments notice here at the house with us.  The teachers always tell me how well mannered and good he is in class and I just have think (wow, are we talking about the same Luke? Luke McMullen right?) Now Cody on the other hand received Most Improved Student which is just hilarious because you wonder what he had to improve on because he is such a smart kid, he should be getting straight A's. Well halfway through the quarter I found out Cody had a little problem turning homework in on time or turning it in at all and was getting an F in reading (an F in reading coming from the kid who reads everything just doesn't make sense). Anyway he has since worked hard on being more responsible and has his grade back up to an A.  I really am very proud of my boys and think that they are wonderful kids and I was happy to be there to see them be acknowledged with an award, I hope they keep up the good work!

Over the weekend Heath and the boys Luke and Ryan hung up our Christmas lights (Cody once again opted to help me with some yard work and then hurry and sneak back in the house as soon as he could).  Luke was all talk to Ryan about getting up on the house and getting to help but once he got up there it was a different story and he was a little scared (which I would be too).  The funny thing was that when Ryan made it up there he showed no fear and kind of put Luke in his place for always picking on him.

Today I almost did what I swore I would never do (just ask Amanda): take our pet lizard to the veterinarian. We've been a little worried about Desert the last few days, he stopped eating and pooping which aren't good signs but just last night he finally pooped so we were able to celebrate and cancel the appointment.  Hopefully the little guy is doing good now because we had one little boy and his momma who was quite worried about him.

Lastly, it feels really good to finally have started some Christmas shopping.  A few things have been bought, mostly online, but I at least have a plan in place and a list of ideas to get me going. My goal is to keep it simple and have fun-no stressing.

I'm so happy that the kids have all next week off and we have a wonderful holiday to look forward too!

a sick day

So yesterday I got that dreaded call from the school saying I needed to come and pick up a sick kid. It was Luke, he wasn't feeling well. Thankfully the "symptoms" didn't last too long but when Cody got home he had different "symptoms" of his own so I didn't know what the night was going to bring. Anyway, we had a good night of sleep but that still meant a stay at home day with me today to make sure they were healthy. Today consisted of watching a Christmas movie (we had to start early this year because we always run out of time to get through them all), a trip to Moxie Java for hot chocolate, a stop at the redbox for a movie, lunch, watched the redbox movie, ate Halloween candy, worked on homework, drew pictures, ate more candy, watched tv, dinner, one more piece of candy and another Christmas movie, then it was off to bed. The boys didn't think it was too bad for a sick day!

Trick or Treat

HAPPY HALLOWEEN
From Cody {The Nerd}

 From Luke {The Ninja)

who wouldn't wear his hood, mask or carry his weapons

 but would rather go to school with his hair dyed

From Ryan {The Dracula}