Christmas Greetings and New Year hopes

We had a wonderful Christmas.  I big gigantic thank you to my sister, Jenny and my dad, without them it would not have been nearly as wonderful.  Thank you thank you!  

The kids got many nice gifts and it was just nice to be together as a family.  We really  missed Zackers though and really hope next year he can come home for Christmas.  We also really missed extended family and we really miss all the traditions we had with them. Especially the decorating of cupcakes for Jesus' birthday.  On New Years Eve we went to see the movie Frozen, everyone except Megan, who had  to work on Christmas Eve.  It was the cutest movie and I'm looking forward to seeing it again when it comes out on DVD.  

Christmas morning I came home from work (I worked overnight from 1130pm til 8am).  I expected to find everyone waiting for me upstairs in our bedroom but what I found was a house of sleeping people.  NO ONE was awake!  So, I changed to my jammies and went to the bathroom and when I came out I heard Hannah in her room asking if it was time to get up.  We woke everyone up and came in to find a wonderous sight of gifts under the tree (thanks again to my sis and dad).  It was a low key event where everyone opended their gifts and ooohhhed and ahhhed.  Everyone was very happy.  I stayed up just a bit longer and then it was off to bed for me......the best gift I got was a big long sleep.  I slept the whole day long into the evening and it was lovely.  

I hope all of our friends and family also enjoyed their Christmas.  I'm really hoping the new year brings much happiness and fulfillment to all.

This year I'm really hoping to work on myself.  I have really let myself go and have lost my way a bit.  I'm hoping to get back on track spiritually, emotionally and physically.  Here's to a fabulous 2014.

Happy Birthday Hannah

It was Hannah's birthday on Dec 17th.  She is now 8 years old and will be baptized soon.   She is such a creative person and loves to do crafts.  She also loves stuffed animals and playing with My little ponies and petshops.  She is a very loving girl and I'm glad she still likes lots of snuggle time with me.  I'm so thankful she's in our family and I just love her more than I can say.

School of Rock

On Fridays Joe has an after school club called School of Rock.  A couple young musicians come to his school and teach the kids to play instruments and sing.   We were excited to attend his first performance.  My phone is not taking the best pictures lately :-/  You'll notice in the last picture he is wearing his Ninja hoodie....yep, he played the entire song like that.  That's my boy.....

The latest happenings

I got my hair cut again.  I really wanted to go super short the first time I had it cut short but I was too scared....I really like it super short, I may just keep it this length....

Megan made this cute gingerbread house at YW last night.  I took a picture and then Matthew devoured it (I helped a little).  Megan gave it to him.  It's nice that she's getting older and actually treats him a little better now.

A couple nights ago when I was picking the kids up at school I just had to take a pic of the beautiful sunset.  Of coarse, pictures never do it justice but it was just gorgeous.

Hannah, Joe and I made cookies a few afternoons ago.  It was fun.  Joe is such a poser!

posing again

Happy he smiled in this one!

Notice Matthew playing video games in the backround.  Don't notice the messy computer desk.

It was not a fun time getting these pictures.  Hannah was grumpy mcgrump grump and complained the WHOLE time.  Luckily vampires don't smile.

I like this one the best

Joe insisted on having a mask this year...I really don't like masks, but he was so happy to have one. 

For Joe's birthday we ate at Red Robin.  We got him an origami kit and he held this facial expression for a full minute after opening his gift.  I think he liked it....and did I mention he's a poser?

oops

Last night Hannah and Joe told me the funniest story, well, actually Aaron told me the story earlier in the day, but the way Joe and Hannah told it was soooooo much better!  The way Aaron told it was like this......

"While I was in the shower Hannah and Joe were fighting, like big fighting.  I jumped out of the shower to see what the heck was going on and while I was yelling at them my towel fell off."....

Now, this is funny, just the thought of it makes me giggle a little.  But when the littles told me I was laughing until I was crying!!!  We were laying in my bed having snuggle time when.....

Joe: Dad's towel fell off when he was yelling at me this morning.
Me: Did you see anything? 
Joe:  Yes!  I saw his weener! It's a really big one!!  I think it's two times, maybe even three times the size of mine!! 
Hannah:  I only saw his bum, but it's a really big bum!!

At this point I seriously could not stop laughing!!  Well, that got the littles laughing too and we just laid there in the bed laughing our guts out!  then....

Hannah:  He was so mad that I thought to myself...I better not laugh.

I really hope this story is not offensive...I think it's funny, but sometimes I'm a little irreverent.  :)

Happy Happy Birthday Joe!

Today is Joe's birthday!  He's 10 years old.  It's so hard for me to believe that it's been 10 years since this boy decided to make his way into the world a week early.  He was due on Halloween.  I was only in labor for 4 and a half hours with him and he's the only one that started with my water breaking at home.  He is also the only one of my babies who came into the world bald!  He has always been full of personality!  I'm sure many can remember the times he "became" the Hulk by ripping his shirt off.  Although his short life has been somewhat challenging it's also been such a fun ride...I have so so many funny stories!  He's growing into a wonderful young man.  He makes friends wherever we go and is not shy at all!  Happy Birthday Joe!

even shorter

I got my haircut even shorter...I've wanted to try a really short hair cut for a while now.  I am still not sure how I feel about it.  I think I might be ready to grow it out again...at least all the burned stuff is gone..all new hair.  Now I wonder when I'll be ready to let it all go grey, maybe in about 20-30 years...

What does the Fox Say

My family is obsessed with this video right now.  It's so funny.  Hannah even made a fox mask at her after school club.

 She was so excited and wore all afternoon and evening and even tried to wear it to bed.

A new Doo

 

So, you know how I wrote about burning my hair with my flat iron a couple months ago....I finally decided I could either hate my burned hair or hate my short hair and I went to my wonderful girl and had her chop it all off.  I told her "just do whatever you want".  I think she did a great job and I actually kinda like it.  I feel a little sassy.  I mean, I still wish I could have nice long flowing locks...but this will be okay for a while.  I may even keep it short.