Christmas Ornament Countdown 2017: 9 Days until Christmas

This June, the Dennie family went to Atlanta. The main activity of the trip was a day at Stone Mountain. We had never been to Stone Mountain and were greatly surprised at all of the activities there were to do there.

The highlight for all of my Dennies was the the ropes course. Whitman was too small to do the real ropes course but behind the big one, they had a small one set up. It was so cute and he thought that he was just as big as the other kiddos. Reagan, Anderson and Graham absolutely loved the ropes course.

Now, Campbell had a love hate relationship with it. I looked up at her once and saw that she was about to get teary eyed. I encouraged her and soon her confidence was built up and she was doing fine. Keaton was another store. She just had a hate relationship with those ropes. Robby was right beside her or behind her the entire time. He would hold her hand whenever he could but he did offer her multiple boxes of candy! She finished successfully and was a bit proud of herself. Here is the blog post from that day.

December 15, 2017

(click here for today's pictures)

• The bed was sure cozy this morning but this was the day that we were heading to Krispy Kreme to finally celebrate Anderson's birthday with doughnuts. If I had told the kids that it was school time, people would have taken forever to put their clothes on and make it downstairs. But since we said that we were leaving to get doughnuts, people were flying down the stairs dressed and ready to go.
• I guess all 11 year olds are a bit embarrassed when their large family sings Happy Birthday to them in the middle of a restaurant. Anderson sure was today and since Campbell could tell that he was embarrassed, the louder she sang. He did quickly get over it and everyone enjoyed their doughnuts.
• Once we made it home, it was indeed school time. The kids seemed fine with school this morning since their bellies were full. Since it was Friday, there load was a bit lighter and everyone, even Anderson, was finished with school by lunchtime.
• Robby and I were busy in the kitchen during lunchtime-he was making sausage balls while I was working on chocolate peanut clusters and white chocolate peanut butter clusters. It is strange how just a bit of cooking and lunch for the kiddos can just destroy a kitchen. Robby and I then spent a good part of the afternoon cleaning up.
• This afternoon, I read a few books to Whitman. I also helped some of the kids wrap their presents and wrapped a few myself. And I can't lie either, I did spend a lot of time looking at the weather forecast-snow? possibly! I just can't wait!
• The neighbors came out and the kids played some. Graham ended up coming inside. He just really felt crummy. So before I took him, along with everyone else, to Nonna and Pops' house for the evening, I gave him some Tylenol. I could already tell that he felt better by the time we made it to Pops' house.
• The kids stayed over there while we had our Sunday school Christmas party. They had pizza and all the kids even had showers before we arrived to pick them back up. We came to pick them up but Robby spent a good deal of time working on a light stuck in Nonna's Snow Village piece.
• It was after 10 when we made it home, and everyone was sent right to bed. Two ballgames tomorrow along with a visit to see Santa.

Christmas Ornament Countdown 2017: 10 Days until Christmas

Back when Robby and I were still working on our own state count, we visited Indiana and Ohio. While we were there, we took baby Reagan to a Cincinnati Reds ballgame. Reagan had a little pink coat and pretty much stayed happy for most of the baseball game.

Our blog was a lot shorter back then so reading it doesn't really give me many more details about what all happened on that trip but I am sure it was a good one.

Here is the blog (no pictures) from that short trip.

December 14, 2017

(click here for today's pictures)

• I would have hit snooze a bit longer this morning but Whitman came in and took my phone to play a game. Since I was afraid that I would go right on back to sleep, I decided to wake on up. The boys were all awake, but the girls were snoozing when I went up to open their blinds.
• Robby took Whitman to school. He was happy to go since it was lunch box day for him. He inspected his lunch and seemed pleased. (With no nut items, packing a lunch is a bit difficult for my nutella loving boy.) He also brought an oatmeal container with an oval and an octagon inside. It is "o" week. And he said his report from yesterday to Ms. Stacy.
• The rest of us looked for breakfast but since there was just one muffin left from yesterday, the kids begged for me to make more. That was fine since I have about 100 Christmas library books from the library and am trying to read them by Christmas. While the ovens baked, I read and read.
• We then started on our school work for the day. The kids did well, and there was no drama. Around noon, we ate our lunch, and then it was time for chores. We worked on their bedrooms a bit extra along with lots of work on the garage. Everyone has a big coat and a light jacket plus at least one more so that makes for lots of coats hanging in the garage. 
• The kids didn't have much of an afternoon because by 2:30, we were loading up for the dentist. Reagan and Anderson went first, followed by Keaton and Campbell. Then it was Graham and Whitman. I wasn't going to go back with him but he again turned and motioned for me. 
• Whitman was quick to tell the hygienist that she didn't have to clean his teeth because they were clean, he brushed them. I was very glad to see that he did let her clean his teeth and was pretty still during the whole process. Everyone loves getting new toothbrushes and digging through their prize chest. 
• After the dentist, the kids went to Dairy Queen for their weekly Blizzards and I ran a few errands. Actually, I just went to Michaels, Lifeway and Dunkin Donuts. I picked up a gift for Reagan at Michaels, a free book at Lifeway and a free drink at Dunkin Donuts. It took forever for me to get home-traffic was just crazy. I am glad that my gift buying list is down to about 3 or 4. 
• We all met back home and were home for about 10 minutes before leaving again for Refresh at church tonight. The kids had a good time but afterwards, they begged me to let them play at the new gaga pit. So Sara, Candice, Amber and I all ended up sitting in our car with our lights shinning on the playground while all of our kids played gaga ball. They played long enough to be frozen but they were hot when they climbed in the car.
• Once at home, Robby had cookies made for them and then it was shower time before bed. Everyone went to sleep quickly since today was such a busy day.

Christmas Ornament Countdown 2017: 11 Days Until Christmas

In March of 2006, Robby, Reagan and I traveled around Texas for a few days. One of our stops was the Bush Presidential Library (George Herbert Walker Bush.) The link to the pictures isn't working right now, which is not surprising since that was 11 years ago. It is hard to imagine that we have been blogging about the kids and travels for over 11 years. Actually, some of the first blog posts were from 1998; we weren't even married yet. Back on track, Reagan was just a baby but I can still remember the stroller that we pushed her around in all over Texas.

December 13, 2017-Happy 11th Birthday Anderson

(click here for today's pictures)

• Graham was the only one awake this morning. Robby looked for Anderson in the bonus room with Graham to wish him Happy Birthday, but finally found him still snoozing in his bed. Robby woke him up with a song, and soon everyone was stirring in the house.
• The kids made their beds, and then Anderson blew out his first set of candles for the day. I made some muffins for breakfast this morning. If I freeze muffins, no one ever eats them, but if I make just enough and we eat them straight out of the oven, they are devoured. 
• Everyone helped me straighten the house. Last night before bed, Anderson had said that he wanted to pass out cookies for his report today. He was talking about what people in different countries give to Santa. I barely had enough time so I told him that I would make them if he helped me. 
• Anderson opted for xbox instead of cooking. I almost decided that he would be fine without his cookies but then I remembered that it was his birthday and I had two girls that would happily help me. So, just 30 minutes before everyone showed up, Campbell, Keaton and I threw some cookies in the oven.
• 21 kiddos are in our little (not so little) homeschool group. The kids are just happy playing outside and probably wouldn't have missed any of our activities that we had planned. We actually didn't even get around to everything (card making and bingo).
• Sara had made salt dough ornaments that the kids painted. They were so cute and after they were mod podged and I put string on them tonight, they are even more precious. Actually, they are so cute, that I would like to make some again some time.
• Next, we did our reports. My Dennie's all did well. The theme was traditions, and Graham recapped our Dennie traditions. Campbell talked about how we make Monkey Bread each Christmas Day, gave the recipe and then passed out samples. Reagan told about mistletoe and asked for volunteers to demonstrate how mistletoe works. Anderson told about what people leave for Santa in different countries and passed out the cookies (that I made.) Keaton told the tradition of candy canes and gave some to everyone. Whitman briefly (and excellently) discussed why we give gifts at Christmas.
• Afterwards, we played charades while the moms cleaned the kitchen and poured up taco soup and the fixings for everyone. Everyone ate and then played outside some. They knew about the syran wrap balls that Sara had also brought and the kids could wait no longer. It was madness during it and everyone ended up with some candy and had lots of fun.
• We then sang Happy Birthday to Anderson and had some other snacks. The kids had enough candy and sweets today to last them for a year and coming from me, that should mean something. 
• The kids then migrated back outside. The homeschool buddies left but the neighbors came out. My kids did help me pick up some but I finished cleaning the kitchen near 5. I then called the kids in to make their sandwiches and to load up for church. 
• I ran by the library on the way to church and then it was Christmas party night for everyone. Keaton and Whitman had their pajama party. They watched a movie, had hot chocolate and popcorn. Graham and Campbell played games in their areas, watched a movie, had popcorn and m&ms. Anderson and Reagan also played games and did a dirty Santa gift exchange. They both took Starbucks gift cards and came home with a coloring book and pencils (Reagan) and 6 big Hershey bars (Anderson.)
• Everyone had a good time and when we came home, we had a drink before bed. It was a good day around here and I think our now 11 year old had a great birthday.

Christmas Ornament Countdown 2017: 12 Days Until Christmas

In December of 2005, we took off to Breckenridge with baby Reagan. I am not sure if you know this or not but day care for a baby is much, much more expensive than skiing. Reagan seemed to enjoy the day care though I was never nuts about dropping her off. We skied a few days and even had a day off of skiing.

The most memorable moment of the trip was me falling. I was standing talking to Robby and just feel right down. I didn't think anything about it until we skied on for lunch. As I pulled off my ski pants, I quickly noticed that my white long underwear was covered in blood from my knee. I had sliced my knee well enough that I had to get stitches. So off to the clinic I headed. I was very low priority that day, which was a good thing, but that meant that I had to wait for hours upon hours. I still have a scar from all of that!

The kids would love to go skiing and I think that I would be fine with that-of course, my people would all probably be wearing helmets and I would be back at the condo making soup for them!

Pictures from the December 2005 trip Breckenridge
Day 1 - December 15, 2005
Day 2 - December 16, 2005
Day 3 - December 17, 2005
Day 4 - December 18, 2005
Day 5 - December 19, 2005
Day 6 - December 20, 2005