Christmas Eve Fun Part 1!

One of the traditions that we love at Christmas is making something out of gingerbread. This year we decided to try a train instead of a house. It was fun and I do think it was easier to make than the house. But perhaps we are just getting better after years of practice?!?!?! After we make our gingerbread project, we leave it out for Santa and Elfie to enjoy!! (If you remember Elfie...... He is our adopted elf that comes to stay with us after Thanksgiving through Chrismtas Eve. He reports to Santa each night on wheter we are being naughty or nice.)

This free slideshow design made with Smilebox

While Visions of Sugar Plums!!

In this house we have a huge "game/teen" room at the front of our house. We use it as a bedroom for Jayson and Nathan as well as a big playroom. Well this year for Christmas Eve......... we decided to have one big slumber party and sleep together. We have a couch that pulls out into a bed in there, along with another couch and the bunk beds. We had plenty of space to sleep. So Cassie and Bryan slept on the top bunk.

Tanner and Daddy slept on the bottom bunk.

Hunter and I slept on the couch.

Jayson and Nathan and I slept on the pull out couch. (Yes, it is true I was in two different spots.) Twins did not do much sleeping so I had to move and sleep between them. :> The kids thought this was great as it was one big party! (We thought this was great because it was great kid control.) No sneaking out of the room to see what Santa brought or getting up to early. As a matter of fact...... finally at 7:00 when they were not stirring I had to start making noise. I could stand it no longer. They would have gotten up at 2:00 when they first woke up.... however, I just could not have my day start that early!!!

So while visions of sugar plums were dancing in their cute little heads.......... Busted!!! I manage to catch Santa after he got down our chimney!! I love all of the fun things that come with Christmas!!! Phone calls, Santa at the parties, emails with videos from Santa, tracking Santa on his journey!! And of course the catching Santa in the process of gift giving. My kids love, love, love it when I catch Santa each year and they wake up to a picture and a note. Christmas really is fun with kids!!!

Poverty by Orthodontist!!!!

Seriously, I remember the time we had six in diapers.(Granted I only had six in diapers for a short time, we were quick to finish potty training at that point :>.) But I must admit......... I thought that was expensive. Now we approach orthodontic care for six and well what can I say? Cars will be expensive?!?!?!? HAHAHAHA. I wouldn't change a thing actually.

But yesterday would have been known as "death by orthodontist." We had four appointments in one day. The first 2 were for Jayson and Nathan to get their braces. I must add here that we just love Dr. Buckley. He does one step at a time so the kids have a chance to get used to each step. So for six months the boys have had palate expanders and yesterday they got top braces. In six weeks they will get bottom ones and the palate expander will come out. Six weeks later we will start with the head gear. It works well for our group. Plus Dr. Buckley talks to the kids. He addresses them, gets down on their level and makes sure that they are aware of each step. No surprises. It is really what sold him to me!!! Great man!!! (As a side note, Hunter is currently in the palate expander, Cassie and Bryan are on monitor status. I anticipate Cassie starting after the first of the year. Luckily, Bryan has only lost two teeth so we still have about a year for him. :>) So as you can see the boys look charming with their red and green bling!!! They are a little sore today and a little nervous that kids will make fun of them when they go back to school. However, we have two and a half weeks to get used adjust, plus I say no one will even notice.

The next 2 appointments were for Tanner. He got an early Christmas present and got his braces off. Such a handsome young man. He also got fit for his clear retainers. So we did have to go back to get those and be reminded to keep wearing our head gear at night. He is so excited about his new smile and watching him run around with his huge grin..... Well what can I say, I am a sucker for those big brown eyes and it was worth every penny spent!!!

Merry Christmas Eve to all!!! Have a safe and fun night!!!

1st grade Christmas Program

This free slideshow personalized with Smilebox

This might be a little long. So consider yourself warned!!! Enjoy and Happy Holidays to everyone!!!

1st Causality of the Holiday!

So we have had our 1st causality of our 3 week vacation. I had run to a speech evaluation with Nathan and returned home to poor little Bryan and yet another black eye. For those of you who have been with us for years....... you know that because of his hearing loss Bryan was notorious as a toddler for falling and getting black eyes. We were very proud that we had made it a couple of years without one. Unfortunately, one of his lovely partners in crime thought that flying binders were fun and clearly mom did not mean, "don't throw binders" when she said "don't throw toys." :>

Not too bad, really. All I could do was shake my head and wonder........ really all these boys for me? Couldn't I have had a few more girls that sit quietly like Cassie and watch TV??!?!!?!?

Stay tuned. I am sure that we will have more "adventures". I have to say that Christmas song that we sang growing up, "Mom and Dad can hardly wait for school to start again" ...... Whole new meaning!!!!

1st Grade Program!

What a handsome group of kids!! Thursday was the 1st grade Christmas program. They were supposed to wear something nice and these are the outfits they chose. I was impressed to say the least. They do clean up pretty well!!!

If you notice that the blinds are open and it is still dark outside!! These poor kids have to get up way too early for their school day. The program was very cute and it is always fun for me to be able to watch them perform. They love it as well. We were lucky enough to have no homework last week , instead we practiced our songs and poems each day. So funny. I did get some video that I will try to post in the next couple of days.

We are on a 3 week Christmas break and we are taking advantage of sleeping in!!!!!
Well my friends, I am off to try and find the floor of my laundry room. It has been missing for about a week now, as we are running faster than our legs will go to trying to and get ready for the holidays. Have a great day!!