I know that our crew is eagerly awaiting St. Nick's travels around the world this evening. Extra good behavior all around today and Leah is promising to fall asleep so that Santa will come. (She actually spent the night on the futon in Hannah's room last night and went to sleep really quickly ... they're planning another "sleep over" tonight.)
We will be headed to my parents house this evening for munchies, games, & movies. I just have to interject how much fun the Wii is!!! We hooked ours up Friday night at Lindsay's birthday party and it's a blast!! For Christmas day, our plan is to open gifts at our house Saturday then pile in the car (yup, still in our jammies) and head to my parents to open gifts there. Then we'll come home and relax a bit before putting on our Christmas best and heading back to my parents for Christmas dinner and my dad's birthday celebration.
Mike & I will be at work on the 26th and 27th (Hannah is thrilled that she'll be attending daycare for two days ... no, really, she's very excited!). Then we'll load up the car (the kids clothing is already packed, yup, I'm a planner) and head to PA. We'll be coming back home sometime on the 30th or 31st. Busy busy.
I hope that you all have a very merry Christmas and hope that the New Year brings blessings for us all.
24 December 2007
19 December 2007
dear Santa ... love Leah
Dear Santa,
Welcome to Santa! I saw you on the TV. I love you. I've been a lot good this year. Kaden is special, too. I would like some doll cards, please, some new clothes for Amber, a picture, a coloring book and some chips. I'm three! I have a lot to say. I love you!
Love,
Leah
Welcome to Santa! I saw you on the TV. I love you. I've been a lot good this year. Kaden is special, too. I would like some doll cards, please, some new clothes for Amber, a picture, a coloring book and some chips. I'm three! I have a lot to say. I love you!
Love,
Leah
dear santa ... love Kaden
The images I have won't upload properly, but here is the text from Kaden's letter to Santa:
Dear Santa,
My sister Leah is helping me write this letter. She says to tell you that I am pretty. I want a clean SpiderMan, a chalkboard, more toy cars, and a coloring book. My Dolly wants me to have a drum kit but Mom says that's too loud. I have been really really good this year.
Love,
Kaden
Dear Santa,
My sister Leah is helping me write this letter. She says to tell you that I am pretty. I want a clean SpiderMan, a chalkboard, more toy cars, and a coloring book. My Dolly wants me to have a drum kit but Mom says that's too loud. I have been really really good this year.
Love,
Kaden
we made a mess ...
and had a blast!
We hosted a cookie baking/decorating/general mess-making "party" on Sunday. We were sad that Angie, Isaac, Rose, Cindy, Ella, & Jaxon weren't able to join us, but we had a wonderful time with Jennie & Ryan. Lots of flour everywhere, but other than that, the mess was minimal. Jennie brought an excellent lunch and we got to enjoy our cookies for dessert. The kids are still talking about all the fun they had.
We're definitely adding that to our list of annual holiday activities.
We hosted a cookie baking/decorating/general mess-making "party" on Sunday. We were sad that Angie, Isaac, Rose, Cindy, Ella, & Jaxon weren't able to join us, but we had a wonderful time with Jennie & Ryan. Lots of flour everywhere, but other than that, the mess was minimal. Jennie brought an excellent lunch and we got to enjoy our cookies for dessert. The kids are still talking about all the fun they had.
We're definitely adding that to our list of annual holiday activities.
14 December 2007
Christmas at the Zoo
Tuesday evening, Mike & I took the kids to Christmas at the Zoo. The weather was unseasonably warm (it was 62 degrees when we left the house) but also slightly rainy. At least it was slightly raining until we got to the Zoo, then it was definitely raining. I must say that it is very pretty to walk around the Zoo at night with all of the Christmas lights. I thought the train ride was awful - 1/2 the lights were out! - particularly for what they charge you to ride it. We were going to do the cookie decorating, but it's $2 for a cookie ... after we'd just paid for the crap train ride, we decided to forget the cookie decorating (hey, we're having a cookie baking/decorating party on Sunday anyway!) and headed for White River Gardens.
I think this was the best part of the evening. The kids loved all of the trains and I loved that we were finally indoors!! There were two carolers in the rotunda who were absolutely wonderful. They took requests from the kids and encouraged us all to sing along. At one point, the man said to us "we're going to do this whole song ... if you need to leave before it's done, that's ok. The night's getting on and you've got a lot of kids!" He paused, then said "I was one of 4 kids. You kids are lucky to even be here!" That's what I thought!! Many thanks to Papaw & Totsie for the gift of the Zoo membership that we continue to enjoy throughout the year.
As far as life in general, we are getting better at managing 6 people on these types of outings. I'm even getting better at managing 4 of them by myself. The kids & I ran several errands the other night without incident, and I've successfully navigated Wal-Mart after Thanksgiving with them by myself. (Talk about a confidence builder!)
I'd post some pictures, but I've not scanned all from our photo shoot and would like the Christmas card pics to be a surprise for most folks. We took a few snapshots at the Zoo, but I've lost my USB cable for the camera, so those pics are stuck on the camera for now. I hope to have Leah & Kaden's letters to Santa up by the first part of next week, and I'm going to try to post a video clip of Leah singing Up on the Housetop.
I think this was the best part of the evening. The kids loved all of the trains and I loved that we were finally indoors!! There were two carolers in the rotunda who were absolutely wonderful. They took requests from the kids and encouraged us all to sing along. At one point, the man said to us "we're going to do this whole song ... if you need to leave before it's done, that's ok. The night's getting on and you've got a lot of kids!" He paused, then said "I was one of 4 kids. You kids are lucky to even be here!" That's what I thought!! Many thanks to Papaw & Totsie for the gift of the Zoo membership that we continue to enjoy throughout the year.
As far as life in general, we are getting better at managing 6 people on these types of outings. I'm even getting better at managing 4 of them by myself. The kids & I ran several errands the other night without incident, and I've successfully navigated Wal-Mart after Thanksgiving with them by myself. (Talk about a confidence builder!)
I'd post some pictures, but I've not scanned all from our photo shoot and would like the Christmas card pics to be a surprise for most folks. We took a few snapshots at the Zoo, but I've lost my USB cable for the camera, so those pics are stuck on the camera for now. I hope to have Leah & Kaden's letters to Santa up by the first part of next week, and I'm going to try to post a video clip of Leah singing Up on the Housetop.
11 December 2007
03 December 2007
did santa do that?
Saturday evening we took the kids to Monument Circle to see the Circle of Lights. As we approached, Cody was in awe and said "Did Santa do that?"
The kids had a marvelous time walking up the steps and enjoying the lights. Heck, I had a good time, too! After we walked around and admired the lights, we dropped their letters into Santa's mailbox ... they are so excited for him to get their letters. Hannah is getting a little old for this gig, I think ... she's the one with all the questions about how, exactly, does Santa receive these letters. And how, exactly, does Santa get to all of these places on Christmas to deliver the toys?
Then it was a stop at South Bend Chocolate Company for some hot chocolate and chocolate covered pretzels. A drive through Arbuckle Acres on the way through Brownsburg to enjoy some Christmas lights, and then home for bed.
Sunday we picked out a Christmas tree and did all the decorations. We've got our countdown to Christmas and the kids are thrilled. I'll be posting their letters to Santa over the next week or so ... they are truly adorable.
The kids had a marvelous time walking up the steps and enjoying the lights. Heck, I had a good time, too! After we walked around and admired the lights, we dropped their letters into Santa's mailbox ... they are so excited for him to get their letters. Hannah is getting a little old for this gig, I think ... she's the one with all the questions about how, exactly, does Santa receive these letters. And how, exactly, does Santa get to all of these places on Christmas to deliver the toys?
Then it was a stop at South Bend Chocolate Company for some hot chocolate and chocolate covered pretzels. A drive through Arbuckle Acres on the way through Brownsburg to enjoy some Christmas lights, and then home for bed.
Sunday we picked out a Christmas tree and did all the decorations. We've got our countdown to Christmas and the kids are thrilled. I'll be posting their letters to Santa over the next week or so ... they are truly adorable.
01 December 2007
santa claus is coming
... but maybe not to our house, if Leah has her way. Don't get me wrong, she's VERY excited about Christmas. In fact, on Thanksgiving, we had some very small snowflakes and Leah kept running around saying "Do you know what happens when it snows? Christmas." But last night, Leah revealed some hidden fears about the big Claus.
Leah & Hannah accompanied me to the store and we were looking at the Christmas decorations. Leah started talking about how she was afraid that she'd miss Santa. I tried to explain to her that she's not supposed to see Santa, that he comes while she's sleeping .... "I don't want him to come while we're sleeping." Why not? "I don't like people in our house that don't live in our house, especially at night."
Wow. I am continually amazed by how much this 3 year old has to say. And wonder if my explaination that it's ok for Santa to be in our house while we sleep will provide her any peace of mind.
In other news, the kids have drawn names for each other and will be spending some of their own money to buy one of their siblings a gift. Hannah already knows what she wants to get for Leah ... should be a fun shopping adventure and I'm hoping it teaches them a little about the value of their money and that the focus of the season (and really life in general) isn't about receiving lots of stuff for you, but giving to others. We will also have the kids help us pick out something for Toys for Tots. Hannah & Cody have been on the less fortunate side of the spectrum (anyone else remember the Christmas right after their home and all of their belongings burned down?) and I hope that they can appreciate what they have now, but also learn that it shouldn't be taken for granted.
Holiday photo shoot tentatively scheduled for next week, so check back for some new pictures and maybe even a music video.
Oh, and a special thank you to Jennie for assisting with the blog banner!
Leah & Hannah accompanied me to the store and we were looking at the Christmas decorations. Leah started talking about how she was afraid that she'd miss Santa. I tried to explain to her that she's not supposed to see Santa, that he comes while she's sleeping .... "I don't want him to come while we're sleeping." Why not? "I don't like people in our house that don't live in our house, especially at night."
Wow. I am continually amazed by how much this 3 year old has to say. And wonder if my explaination that it's ok for Santa to be in our house while we sleep will provide her any peace of mind.
In other news, the kids have drawn names for each other and will be spending some of their own money to buy one of their siblings a gift. Hannah already knows what she wants to get for Leah ... should be a fun shopping adventure and I'm hoping it teaches them a little about the value of their money and that the focus of the season (and really life in general) isn't about receiving lots of stuff for you, but giving to others. We will also have the kids help us pick out something for Toys for Tots. Hannah & Cody have been on the less fortunate side of the spectrum (anyone else remember the Christmas right after their home and all of their belongings burned down?) and I hope that they can appreciate what they have now, but also learn that it shouldn't be taken for granted.
Holiday photo shoot tentatively scheduled for next week, so check back for some new pictures and maybe even a music video.
Oh, and a special thank you to Jennie for assisting with the blog banner!
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