Christmas Ornament Countdown-2 Days Til Christmas

We went to the St. Louis Arch just months before Reagan was born in 2005.  I remember taking our back picture there and eating at Ted Drewes Frozen Custard.  St. Louis is on our short list of places to return to soon with the kids.  They would love the Arch right now. 


(Click here for pictures from this trip)

December 22, 2011

With all her countdown chains,
Reagan is making sure she won't miss
Christmas!

Highlights from today: (Click here for pictures)

• I didn't mention the other day, but Reagan has now lost her 5 or 6th tooth.  We were eating lunch and I was reading a story and looked over at her bar stool and she was gone.  I said "Reagan?" and up she popped with her tooth in her hand.  She said that she was eating her banana and bit something hard and then it fell on the floor.  During the story, she felt and her tooth was missing so she was on the floor finding her tooth. 
• So last night, Graham coughed quite a bit before we went to bed and woke up crying enough times during the evening that we brought him down to sleep in our bed.  Of course, all of this happened as I was getting into bed with my cider and popcorn to watch a tv show before bed.  Graham thought he was the luckiest boy on earth to stay up late with us.
• And late we did stay up.  I made Graham a pallet to sleep on the floor and he watched me and then asked what I was doing.  I said "I am making this for you or Daddy to sleep on the floor."  Graham replied with "I'm not."  So Robby ended up on the floor but he curled up near the heater and slept pretty well (I know, because when I was up I could hear him snoring).  Poor G couldn't get to sleep and coughed and cried off and on for a while.  After having a doozy of a fit, he laid his head on the pillow and was out like a light. 
• Soon he was sleeping soundly and I had to go to the bathroom.  I made sure Graham wasn't near the edge of the bed and snuck off to go to the bathroom.  And sure enough, I hear someone calling for me.  Seriously, all night long and someone needs me as soon as I go to the bathroom.  I thought it was Graham and headed back to our room, then heard it again and it was Anderson and headed upstairs.  By the time I made it upstairs, Robby was on the monitor asking what he needed (he thought I was still snoozing) and I gave him a shock when I told him I was already upstairs.  Anyway, Anderson was having a bad dream-later he said it was about a bomb and fire.  
• Keaton ate soon in the middle of the night but we did all sleep until 7:45 so that wasn't too bad of a night.  Reagan even said that Anderson climbed down to tell her once in the middle of the night that his clothes had fallen off.  Um, okay.  But when I was up there for his dream, he had unzipped his feeties and they were off of his arms (but I sure didn't say anything-my goal was getting back to my bed).
• Keaton spent the morning with Robby while the others went to Grannymom's house.  Keaton also spend the morning being held and the afternoon being held and the evening being held.  She did NOT want to be put down any today.  Even with a full tummy she did not want to be put down.  The only time we could lay her down was when she had fallen sound asleep.  I may have to buy a front carrier for her.
• I worked a bit, ran a few errands and then swung by Grannymom's house to pick up the sickos-Graham and Campbell.  Since Graham didn't sleep too well and complained about his ear, we had a doctors appointment.  Campbell, despite her cough that sounds like a smoker, is fine.  Graham's ears were questionably and the doctor gave us some medicine.
• Next up was a trip to Sams to get his medicine and Graham and Campbell were both very happy to ride in the stroller and eat the samples today-cheesecake, oranges, broccoli casserole, mashed potatoes, pork tenderloin, rolls, chicken salad, crackers.  And then we all went to Grannymom's house and ate again.  Actually, most of the things at Sams they would try and not like or like it alot and drop it on the floor.
• Back at home, Campbell had a nap, I held Keaton, Anderson and Reagan watched a movie, Graham threw a fit and then fell asleep 2 minutes later.  Soon Anderson and Robby were leaving for the hospital.  Anderson had one last part of his nutrition center visit to complete-an ultrasound.  Since this was at the hospital, they had to wait quite a while but he was a perfect child during it all.  
• They ran to the grocery store and when they walked in the door, I walked out.  I had had enough of it and needed a break.  Actually, I had dinner with a friend.  After Robby and Anderson left, Reagan, Campbell, Graham and I sat and looked through an American Girl magazine and planned what she was going to buy.  I don't know who will have more fun, me or her.
• When the kids used to watch movies, they would get pillows and blankets from my room and lay on the floor.  Lately, they have been sitting in a line in the kiddie folding chairs.  Today, I even saw Reagan laying across two chairs.  She said she was tired and I tried to convince her to lay on the floor but she said she was fine.  Bunch of crazy kids-folding chairs? Really?
• Tonight Graham was coughing and told Robby that since he was still coughing he would need to sleep in our bed again.  Robby explained that that would not be happening again tonight and besides I am out of popcorn so the evening probably wouldn't be as much fun.
• Look at the picture of Reagan and her countdown chains.  Robby said it took her 10 minutes to pull all of her chains tonight.  He also said that he had to stop her from making more because she was using all of the tape.  Thank goodness there are just a few days left til Christmas or she wouldn't be able to get into her bed due to all of the chains hanging down.

Christmas Ornament Countdown-3 Days Til Christmas

In 2006, we visited Natchez, Mississippi.  It was our 37th state to visit and we drove around to see a few historic homes.  Robby is trying to remind me about this trip (that section of the blog is down) and I can’t really remember but I do remember that this ornament was one of our more expensive ones.  It is strange that some ornaments we pay alot for and then others are very cheap or even free.


Click below for pictures from this trip:
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5

December 21, 2011-Campbell's Birthday

Happy Birthday Campbell!

Highlights from today: (Click here for pictures)

• Pretty early this morning, I overheard Anderson on a pretend phone saying "Santa, sorry we said stupid. Yea, we won't say it again."  I hope Santa heard him because Santa is has already done his shopping and saw the return line at Walmart the other day.
• Campbell got a new princess doll for her birthday and Reagan has claimed that (as well as her other doll she received, the boys have claimed her legos).  Anyway, Reagan was playing with all of the similar princesses in her room and was just listening to her talk to them and thought she probably won't play dolls much longer-makes me sad.
• And then Graham came over to Reagan and said "let me see their bootys."  Um, what?  Yes, I looked over to see her showing him all of their bootys.  What in the world?  
• At least once every day the kids hear the washer/dryer/dishwasher or something and shout "Daddy's home" thinking they hear the garage door.  It cracks me up every time because we don't have a garage door at this house.
• Poor Graham now has Campbell's cough.  I hope that is the reason why he fussed most of the morning long and not just because he is becoming a fussy little boy.  I overlooked the fussing because of his cough but probably won't have that much patience tomorrow.  After one coughing fit, he whined "I have the bad coughs."  Reagan said "and you have a bad cold" and this led to a huge screaming match-him saying I don't have a cold and her saying a cough is a cold.  Oh, my-hope I put those ear plugs on my Christmas list.
• I managed to straighten the house, do two loads of laundry, dust, empty the trash, laminate a few things and maintain some peace today.  So I have to call it a successful morning.  Oh, I laminated our lego instructions-should have done that long ago.  Campbell likes to rip them and then the boys tear them to pieces to haul around the room in their trash trucks.  This way, they won't get too destroyed and the kids can follow the directions and build things more than once. 
• We then had lunch, Campbell had a short nap, the big 3 watched a movie and Keaton took a few cat naps.  Before too long, I was snatching Campbell out of bed and we were headed to the Wonderplace.  We try to do one special outing for each of the kids birthdays-one special outing and one special out to eat place.  We did them both today-Wonderplace and Larrys.  
• Wonderplace was fairly empty to that was nice and the kids mostly stayed together while we were playing.  That helped but Campbell loved playing in the water-loved it.  Her shirt was wetter than her diaper when we left.  I had to stay pretty close to her since I could just see her falling in the water.  One little girl kind of followed us around and while Anderson was putting on a play, he came out in a pirate suit and growled at that little girl.  She ran and hid and we didn't see too much of her afterwards.  Reagan enjoyed the art center the best but everyone spent a long time playing blocks and sand.  
• The place closed at 5 and we then headed to meet Robby at Larrys.  The kids were all so excited and Anderson couldn't wait to show the new Larry's off to the rest of us-he had been there before.  We had our pizza, sang Happy Birthday to Campbell and they played and played.  Robby passed out quite a bit of money but Reagan had even brought her own money and was spending it freely-hey, whatever you want to spend your money on-if one tootsie roll is that important to you.
• At home, we did our Santa, snoopy and nativty and Anderson and Reagan even pulled off a chain from the chains that they had made.  Campbell did two things tonight but she was livid when we didn't let her put a light on snoopys doghouse tonight.  Welcome to the terrible twos!

White Chocolate Popcorn Recipe

Since I have had a request for the recipe for my popcorn, I thought I would put it on the blog.  Umm, it is pretty easy: one bag of microwave popcorn and then drizzle one square of melted almond bark over it and stir.  Told you it was very easy.  I am sure there is a more complicated way to make it but for me, that worked and it was edible.  Actually, I told Robby that I would probably always make popcorn like that.  Melting the chocolate is just as easy as popping the corn so it may be my new bedtime snack...or I just may continue with the nightly cookie dough.

Christmas Ornament Countdown-4 Days Til Christmas

In 2008, we went to the Forth Worth Stockyards.  It was part of one of my annual Ikea shopping trips.  The drive there was pretty memorable-Robby turned around to check on the kids (2 then) just in time to see Reagan lose her breakfast.  Seriously, everywhere.  I am uber prepared and had a change of clothes with me.  So we changed and headed on but since I just had one change of clothes, a few incidents later and Robby was at Walgreens buying that girl something to wear (as you can imagine there is not a wide selection of clothing at your local Walgreens).  He did find something suitable and we made it to the stockyards.  She perked up some briefly (good thing we were only outside).  Even though Reagan was feeling pretty rough by the end of the day, she was running around the Dallas Zoo.  I would love to go back and see the cattle drive down the street again-we just caught the tail end of it. (Click here for pictures of the trip-notice how pale Reagan is! Ha)

December 20, 2011-Campbell's Birthday Party

Celebrating Campbell's 2nd Birthday!

Highlights from today: (Click here for pictures)
(Click here for a video)

• It was another 6 in the morning wake up for the crew.  We heard Graham on the monitor crying and Robby told him to come downstairs.  I don't think he was really awake yet.  As I lay in bed cuddling with him, I wondered if he gets a bit of special treatment because he is the middle child.  He can't do everything that Reagan and Anderson can do and he can do much more than Campbell and Keaton.  When Reagan and Anderson were 3, we probably would have told them to go back to bed.
• We were all ready in time to eat breakfast at home.  Reagan never ever eats poptarts but today she decided that she wanted one-after I had passed out the last two.  She wasn't too distraught and Robby even bought her another box on his grocery store stop.
• Robby took the boys to school and double checked when Graham's Christmas party was-sure can't miss another one.  I told him when he was putting on his shoes that I would be at his party and Anderson piped in with "I wish you could have come to mine."-Dagger in my heart.
• The girls went to Nonna and Pops' house.  On the way, Campbell would lean over and look at Reagan and say  "Nonna?" asking if she was going to go to Nonna's too.  As soon as Reagan had answered that, Campbell would ask if she was going to Pops'. 
• Ms. Wendolyn told me that the first thing Graham told her this morning was that he hoped Santa came to his Christmas party like he did Anderson's party.  So I had to ask if Santa was really there yesterday and in face he was.  But poor Graham, Santa didn't show up at his party but his Mom did!  Graham's party was fun-cupcakes, games and lots of Christmas treat bags (Apparently that is the thing to do--all the Moms giving treat bags for everyone imaginable holiday at school.  I don't have the time for that-is that bad?)  Graham was very pleased with his candy canes.  
• I am surprised that Ms. Wendolyn didn't give Graham juice in his Christmas treat bag.  She told Robby the other day when Graham brought snack, he was very concerned that she saved enough juice to bring home.  She thought that was strange until Robby told her that we never buy juice at home.
• I picked up the boys and then we went to the new gas station by the church.  I thought about getting gas before picking them up but knew that would be the highlight of their afternoon-getting gas at the new gas station. It was quite entertaining to them and they couldn't stop talking about it during the day-how there was a place for trucks and another one for cars.  
• We had lunch at Nonna's house and Campbell had her first birthday cake this year.  She saw the cake and started singing "Happy Birthday."  We sang, she grinned and then she tried to blow out her candles-the boys finally had to help her.  We worked on blowing later in the day practicing for her snowman cake but it didn't help too much.  
• When we made it home, Campbell was already asleep and Keaton was hungry. I was exhausted and so when Keaton started crying, I took that as my chance to sit and feed her (and take a quick snooze).  The only problem was I kept dropping her bottle and she wasn't pleased with that.  After her milk, she was wide awake and I had had my power nap and was ready to get the house ready for a birthday party.  
• The kids played in the house this afternoon and even were a bit of help while I was trying to clean-just a bit.  Reagan did decide to make snowflakes about the time the party was starting so just imagine all of that to clean up-but since we have a fancy new vacuum everyone was clamoring to use it. 
• Graham asked to borrow my phone during the afternoon and said he was going to check the weather.  He looks at the temperature on my phone frequently-though he has not a clue what the numbers (temperature) mean.  Then he started pushing buttons and told me he was texting Dad.  Then I heard him mumble "kids been good."  I laughed and then he pretended to text "Reagan Anderson not been good."  Little stinker.
• Anderson saw Graham with the phone and asked to call Grannymom.  He chatted with Grandpa for a bit and then Grannymom called him back  Then Cash and Anderson talked on the phone and giggled like girls.  After that conversation, Graham was ready to call Aunt Dana and talk to her.  I tried to explain that she was at work and we couldn't call her then and that we would see her in just a few hours.  That satisfied him.
• Soon guests started arriving for Campbell's party.  The theme was snow and we all wore our snow hats. We had hung snowflakes in the kitchen.  There were two snowmen cakes, snowmen cookies and even snowman marshmallows for hot chocolate.  Everyone was there-Nonna, Pops, Jason, Papaw, Grannymom, Grandpa, Dana, Jenna, Lilly and Cash.  We had chili and the fixings and then the kids made snowman pictures.  
• Next up it was present time.  She received legos, a lawn chair, a doll and pajamas for her, a Cinderella doll, chalk, crayons, a puzzle, Minnie and a car and Minnie and clothes to dress her in.  She was pretty interested in her presents but the other Dennie kids couldn't sit down long enough for the rest of us to see her.  Seriously, my kids have always been so good as sitting during present time but not tonight-I am going to have to crack down on them the next birthday party we go to.  
• Then we had cake and I think that Campbell could get used to all of the attention.  And Keaton was very aware that there was a party going on today.  Last week during Anderson's party, she slept through the whole thing in her swing in the kitchen.  But today, she smiled, cooed and had a big time.
• After cake was cleaned, we had the grand finale to the party-we made snow.  It was pretty neat-actually the snow was a polymer (my new word of the week).  Anyway, it was a powder and then we added water and it multiplied and felt and looked like real snow.  The kids were in awe and enjoyed playing with it.  The boys all went up to get cars to drive through it and soon Campbell was coming in the kitchen with her hands full of cars.  We made snow, made more snow and even more.  Soon it covered the kitchen table and soon it even covered the kitchen floor.  
• The kids played for awhile and then all of our party guests arrived and Robby went to work on snow clean up.  And yes, the leaf blower was used in my house.  Apparently, the snow was too wet for the broom or vacuum.  But I secretly think, he just hadn't used any lawn equipment in a few days and wanted to catch up.  The blower worked well and got most of the snow out and we swept up the rest.  Poor Keaton, just set in her swing while Robby was blowing all around her-I looked once and her swing was even swinging because of the blower.  She was just a grinning.
• The kids stayed up and I opened most of Campbell's toys for her and them to play with.  They sat quietly and played until we told them they couldn't have any milk before bed (they had plenty).  Anderson was devastated and said the he wasn't going to leave the couch until he had milk and then later said he would sleep in my bed until we gave him milk-he is sleeping in his bed.  Robby mentioned that he wouldn't get to go to Larry's if he continued to act like that and the child quickly became an angel.  So we are going to start eating at Larry's everyday.