Happy New Year 2012!!!!

You will never guess what one of my new year's resolutions is... blogging again. It used to be so easy, but over the past year it has been more difficult. But I really do love jotting down all these memories, hoping that in the future they will be a kind of inheritance for my children. To remember their childhoods and how much they are loved.

We rang in the new year with sparkling pear cider, a bazillion poppers, and a marathon of favorite shows. Emma and Chloe tried out new knock knock jokes on Brian and I. The kids stayed awake to see the ball drop over New York City. We had so much fun, I like this new trend lately of discovering our own family traditions.

Merry Christmas 2011!!!

We had a great Christmas this year. More than anything, I think we had such fun spending time together. We made batches of playdough for our friends, had hot chocolate while watching every holiday movie known to man. We painted ornaments at the local pottery shop and discovered how much we loved making them at home with sculpy. Even John, who is usually craft phobic, loved the sculpy.

On Christmas day Grandma even managed to steal a rare christmas kiss from the elusive John.

Fourth of July 2010

It had rained the whole week before July 4th and we had a bad case of cabin fever. That is probably why I said "yes" when a friend asked us to the fireworks display. If you know me at all, you know I hate the heat and the mosquitos. The only thing I hate more is port-a-potties. All of which I knew would be present for the festivities.

But the kids wanted to see the fireworks, so mommy had to suck it up :). We had so much fun! I would never have attempted going on my own, and it was so nice of our friends to ask us to join them.

John learned all sorts of fun things you can do with a flashlight, Emma and Chloe were rocking all of their glow bracelets and necklaces, the kettle corn was a big hit. But most importantly the fireworks took their breath away. Seeing the wonder on their faces, I think I would crawl across a desert for that. I still won't use a port-a-potty, but I will crawl across a desert

Easter 2010

Catch up post: Children's Museum Dec 2009

This is a good lookin' bunch of kiddos. We went with our friends the Ischy's to the Children's Museum for the Holiday exhibit. We had a blast!

A great start in 2010

Dad and John read Dinosaur Books. Then tickled and tickled. We spent time with Daddy's side of the family. Mom knitted alot. We played video games together as a family. We ordered in from our favorite Chinese place and shared all the entrees. We snuggled on the couch and tried out new hairstyles. The girls decided to try dance classes for the spring semster. We laughed at each other alot. John wore blue jeans, and he LIKED them, with a long sleeved shirt, WITH underwear. Mom felt warmer somehow. It was a banner day, and a wonderful start to the year. May all our days be this wonderful.

Merry Christmas 2009

When Christmas Day rolled around this year we were still sick. I was so glad we had done our big gift opening the week before with Brian. I had saved the kids Zhu Zhu pets for Christmas day. It was all I could do to get them wrapped and their little sleeping bags sewn. Clearly, they were a hit.... with everyone except the cat.

Brian was off working and we missed him. We canceled our original plans with Grandma and Grandpa because we just couldn't muster the energy. But, we got to catch up with them a couple of days later. We spent the 27th with my side of the family for Christmas. Everyone came into town and we got to see all our family. While my brother and his family are working away from Texas, we really look forward for the time we get to spend with them. That was super fun!

The Bass Pro Shop Winter Wonderland

Before today, I had never been to a "wilderness store". Unless you count Academy. I went there to get John a simple slingshot last year when we studied little house on the prarie. Brian was envisioning a simple split stick with a rubber band. Instead, I upgraded it to the super cool "wrist rocket" model with steel ball bearings to shoot. Brian had one of those "have you lost your mind?" discussions with me. Apparently, grown men use those to fell deer.

I guess I am not a wilderness girl. Every time I mention camping Brian starts laughing hysterically and reminds me that: A. there is no climate control in the great outdoors, B. critters live there too, C. they call it indoor plumbing cause there ain't none outdoors. This has effectively ended all camping related discussions. So I haven't ever had the need for the type of things they sell.

But I have to say, their Winter Wonderland they have set up is a little bit of awesome. These pics are the ones I took, but they provide you with a free little snapshot in a cute frame and they did a cute candy cane craft.

The kids had a blast, they have a little nerf archery/gun target practice area and I had no idea they sold toys there. Its a pretty cool store, I think we have been missing out.

And I managed to resist the urge to buy the boy a BB gun. All my neighbor's windows breathed a sigh of relief.

Happy Hanukkah or They are a bunch of animals over here

Over here at our house we celebrate both Hanukkah and Christmas. So this is the third night of Hanukkah for us. The kids have been enjoying Latkes and jelly doughnuts for dinner. Whats not to like?

The kids each got a wild animal print blanket. They look like some kind of crazy zoo all piled up on the couch. Chloe is in lurve with her zebra print fleecy blanket. They are so crazy. I can't figure out if John's is a giraffe or a leopard. I told him it was giraffe to try and get him to eat his "greens" for dinner.