Christmas Ornament Countdown: 21 Days until Christmas

In 2012 when we were at Disneyland, we could see the construction on the new Cars Land.  My boys have talked about it since then and they had been counting down the days until we could get back there.  So once to California this year, we had to make it to Cars Land and it did not disappoint.  The Disney parks are just amazing how every detail is thought out.  It is a relatively small area but it is really neat.

Just looking at the pictures tonight, makes me want to watch the Cars movie again.

Here is that day's post.

December 3, 2013

(click here for today's pictures)

Away in the manger...

• I just can't remember it all and yesterday I forgot to talk about my eldest child.  We had just dropped off the fish and as I climbed back in the car, Reagan said "I don't have any shoes on!"  She was pretty panicked and begged me to stop and buy her some.  She knows that I do owe her a pair of black Sunday shoes and was told that we would get them this week sometime.  But I didn't have time to drive to the store, get out with everyone, find the right shoe, pay, get back to the car and make it to the doctor on time.  I told her to hold her head up high and act like she meant to not have shoes. 
• Since Robby brought Whitman's medicine home last night, we only gave him one dose before putting him to bed.  So we just woke that boy up as we were going to bed at midnight so he could get his second dose of the day.  He did wake up again tonight and was a bit more upset-we probably caught his ears right as they were getting bad so hopefully the meds will kick in soon.
• Now to today, the kids woke up and were quiet again this morning.  Campbell was ready to go to school and see her friends today.  And Keaton was pretty upset that she wasn't going to get to go with Robby and Campbell.  But when I pulled out breakfast she was happy as she could be.  
• But my Keaton really, really missed Campbell today.  She asked constantly where she was and Keaton kept telling me "Campbell see my dress"-she wanted to show Campbell her dress.  Even Graham asked this afternoon if Campbell was still in school and when she was coming home.  I even missed that girl this afternoon when she usually follows me around-I finished my chores, had nothing to do and even took a shower just to kill some time.  And when Campbell did arrive home, I caught Reagan hugging on her.  
• We did school-Reagan worked on multiplication, Anderson spent some time practicing typing, Graham is now writing words with blends in spelling and Keaton spent her school time getting food from the pantry and then throwing a fit when I put it back.  I spent quite a bit of my school time today watching the leaves fall out of the trees-it was like it was raining leaves.  
• I guess I didn't really do much off of my list because for some reason I decided to suggest painting today.  I don't know what I was thinking!  Ha!  Actually, I have decided that we haven't been doing as much artsy fartsy things around here and I needed to up that.  Their pictures turned out cute (thanks pinterest)
• Soon I was taking my shower and could hear Reagan, Anderson and Graham screaming.  They were going nuts.  I figured that someone was trying to kill someone else.  I called them to come to me in my "so sweet that they knew they were in trouble" voice.  But apparently they were just playing pac-man and were cheering each other on.  
• Robby and Campbell came home later and we had supper.  Quesadillas are a big hit in this house but putting the monorail around the tree was even a bigger hit.  That is what everyone worked on next.  Whitman even noticed that train moving-crawled over there and started shaking the track.  When I was tiny one year, my folks put the tree in the playpen so I wouldn't get it-maybe we should have thought about that this year.  

Christmas Ornament Countdown: 22 Days until Christmas

In September, after leaving my uncle's house, we went to Saguaro National Park.Click here for the post about that trip.
 We had read quite a few books about these amazing cactus and were pretty amazed by them.  They were really something to see-it really was a completely different landscape then I had ever seen before.  Pretty cool stop and definitely worth a Christmas ornament.

December 2, 2013

(click here for today's pictures)

Love that smile :)

• My little Whitman didn't sleep too well last night-so that meant that I didn't sleep too well either.  He woke up around 2 and then again around 4.  We worked on his nose at 4 and since he had already eaten, I tried to have him to go to sleep with me but he squirmed, crawled, laid down, got up and did this over and over until 5.  I eventually gave him a bottle and he slept great.  
• This morning he was his happy self again but his fever did go up a bit this morning before his doctor's appointment.  I didn't give him any tylenol for our doctor's appointment.  Martin said that his ears were red and had fluid.  She gave him some medicine that Robby picked up and that Whitman was given as soon as Robby walked in the door.
• Now for being sick, he is the best little baby ever.  Now, he did scream when the nurse gave him his 4 shots but as soon as I picked him up, he was done fussing-though his little lip was still quivering.  He was pretty tired tonight though and went to bed around 7.  
• Back to the morning, the best sleep of the morning for me was from 7-8.  Yep, I don't know what the kids were doing during this time but they weren't in my room-must have been those kindles.  The blessed kindles!  
• I did start moving when Robby left for work.  The big kids were busy and I had to open the front door so the little girls could wave at him.  I urged everyone to put on their clothes while I showered and then it was breakfast and school time.  
• School went semi-smoothly.  My boys had forgotten how to do school.  Graham is a perfectionist and won't try something if he doesn't think his will be right so his phonics today was a struggle.  And Anderson-well, I had written out this for him "Your dad just finished hanging Christmas lights on your house.  He went to plug them into the outlet when he saw.... (finish this story in complete sentences)"  Anderson could not think of anything.  It was like he couldn't be creative at all.  I had to prompt, give examples and stand on my head for him to finally write "He saw a grasshopper.  He caught it.  Then he gave it to me."  I guess my boy is very literal.  Also I think we might just have to work on some more creative writing.
• Soon it was 11 and time to eat lunch.  We had a fish to deliver back to the Kamps.  Thank God that fish survived-I had more than one time when I couldn't find it or didn't think it was swimming adequately.  Man taking care of kids isn't as stressful as caring for a fish.  
• Then it was doctor appointment time-Reagan, Graham, Keaton and Whitman.  The summary is everyone passed.  Whitman did have his ear stuff going on.  Graham didn't pass his vision screening so I already have him an appointment coming up at the same time I have my appointment (let's just hope that he passes the real test-Reagan has done the same thing once.  But since Robby and I have both worn contacts forever, many of the kiddos will eventually as well.)  
• Robby did meet us at the doctor's office and then he took off to Sams to fill the prescription.  Meanwhile, I took my crew to Sonic to celebrate our successful outing.  I even bought Keaton a full size drink-which she did poke a hole in with her straw.  Graham saw and got the drink to Reagan before a mess was made.  Keaton's drink was practically gone but she was not happy that we would not give it back to her.  I told her that she could have some milk (which means go to sleep) when we got home.  When she heard this, she screamed so loud that Reagan said that Whitman, who was sleeping, jumped.
• We read a few books while Keaton screamed.  I eventually went up there to get her out of bed so she could just sit and watch some tv with the others-good thing I went when I did because she had taken off her diaper and already wet her bed.  She knew that she was in trouble because when I told her to lay down as I was taking off her sheets, she didn't move a muscle.  
• Once she was calm, I passed out snacks and soon Robby was home and we had supper.  The kids were pretty wild this afternoon and evening but did finally calm so we could watch our night time show.  We did forget to pull our Santa down tonight-2nd night of December and we are already forgetting!  

Christmas Ornament Countdown-23 Days until Christmas

On our drive to California this year, we met Hank and stopped in Tombstone Arizona.  It was pretty cool.

Here are some pictures from the day.

walking down the streets of the old west.  We then squeezed into seats in the sun at the OK Corral.  It was hot, hot, hot and the gunfire was loud, loud, loud!  Anderson was the only one who could probably stay and watch the whole show.  It was something that I am glad we have done but I will never have to do again.

December 1, 2013

(click here for today's pictures)

Another day of laundry...

• This was a pretty perfect December day-church, family, naps...what could be better?  The kids slept a bit late this morning and then played upstairs quietly.  While I was up there I looked in on them.  Reagan, Anderson, Graham, Campbell and Keaton were all sitting all huddled around the lego box building floats for a parade.  
• Of course the happy siblings didn't last too long because soon it was time to get ready for church.  Thankfully the kids raced to put on their clothes because breakfast was next.  Doughnut day is always pretty big around here.  Reagan did suggest that I buy Krispy Kreme doughnuts for next week.  I politely explained, while holding my 2 big boxes of doughnuts from Sams, that my doughnuts that last for weeks cost what one trip to Krispy Kreme would cost.
• My Reagan later in the day told me that she liked our house the best.  She continued that some houses are too fixy and have too much stuff hanging on the walls.  And then she added but ours doesn't have much stuff on the walls.  Thanks for that Reagan.
• The kids did fine at church-no one fell asleep and no one got lost.  I did briefly look for Graham until I met back up with Robby.  Robby had sent Graham inside the sanctuary to say hi to Grannymom and Grandpa.  Then when we walked into the sanctuary, Graham wasn't there-but no worries, because he had already visited them and moved on to see  Nonna and Pops.
• After church, we had lunch at Grannymom's house.  Whitman was pretty tired and still doesn't feel his best.  But tonight he did feel better-glad we have a doctor's appointment tomorrow. The kids worked really hard on building a teepee with Cash and were pretty disappointed when it was time to leave.  
• We dropped Cash off and then headed home.  The kids watched their movies and I started to watch some of the game with Robby-but we fell asleep.  Actually, I don't know what game was even on but that I think it was football.  We all slept way too late this afternoon and loved every minute of it.
• When we all started moving around again-we picked up the house and I had my big 3 do a school box.  Reagan picked math and today was her first day of multiplication-woo hoo. Usually when we start something new she panics but today went fine.  The kids then helped us pick up and soon it was time for supper.
• Robby whipped up supper and of course we capped off our evening with a bit of Rockette dancing.  The kids were working on their little routine as I walked into the room but by the time that I retrieved my camera they had moved on to other things.  Oh yes, then we did watch our Price is Right and pulled down our first Santa piece.  And then it was bedtime!

Christmas Ornament Countdown: 24 Days until Christmas

Well, this is my fourth year to do my Christmas Ornament countdown.
 If I continue this, I will eventually have pictures of all of my ornaments (for when the kids break them!)  Hope you enjoy seeing a bit of the memories that are attached to the ornaments hanging on our tree.

This year we traveled to Houston for Maradee's wedding and while there we visited the Johnson Space Center.  The kids were pretty impressed with the giant play structure.  Robby and I really enjoyed the tram tour.  But the highlight was Robby getting to take part in the animal show and wearing a huge python around his neck.  He still shivers when you mention it!  Click here to see a picture of that!